The Cape Coral Power and Sail Squadron, America’s Boating Club Cape Coral, has been a fixture in the city since 1964. Its members have seen many changes in the short period of time and have an in-depth knowledge of local waterways.

With over 50,000 registered vessels on the waters, boaters new to Lee County find boating in one of Florida’s largest estuaries not like anything they experienced “back home.” Many are overwhelmed by the shear number of boats traversing the navigable areas of the estuary, and they end up with many questions and get many different answers.

Inspired by the questions our members are asked by new boaters, the squadron created a “local waters” seminar. In the seminar, squadron members try to provide information about the things people have said they wish they knew before heading out on the waters.

The seminar has been so successful that member Tom Dawson has written a book that covers the material for those who want to know just a bit more: “Barret Bonden’s Local Knowledge Recommended – Things you wish someone had told you about boating here!”

Included in this new book is a bit of history to help the reader begin to understand the environment. The Caloosahatchee River used to be a true estuary. Today it is a drainage ditch for the waters that used to feed and nourish the “River of Grass” that made up the Florida Everglades.

The Intracoastal Waterway System has also played a role in changing how boaters navigate local waters. Boaters need to learn to use intracoastal navigation aids or find themselves running aground.

The waters in Southwest Florida are also very shallow. The dredged navigational channels have depths ranging from 9 to 12 feet, with spoil areas lurking for the unwary. Venture outside the any of the marked channels and you will be likely to be turning up muck or destroying seagrass beds. Even offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico, boaters will likely have to go out more than 10 miles offshore to find water over 40 feet deep.

Like the seminar, the newest book discusses the safest way for new boaters to get to some of the popular spots in Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, San Carlos Bay, Estero Bay and on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.

This is the second book Dawson has written specifically about local waters. “Safe Boating in Southwest Florida, Your Guide to the Many Channels on our Waterways” looks at over 80 marked channels boaters will pass as they travel from the Franklin Lock and Dam, into San Carlo Bay and up to Bokeelia.

The Southwest Florida Boating Seminar is being offered Tuesday, Nov. 12, and Tuesday, Jan. 14. Seating is limited and pre-registration is needed to make sure there is a seat available. Registration information can be found on the Events Page at ccsaps.org. Copies of both of Dawson’s books will be available for purchase after the seminar along with local charts and Chart Art’s Boaters Destination Guide.

If you are out and about on Saturday mornings, stop by the Cape Coral Sail & Power Squadron booth at the Cape Coral Farmer’s Market at Clubhouse Square. Squadron members have lots of local knowledge and are happy to answer any questions you have about local boating, squadron courses, seminars and the benefits of being a member of the largest boating club in Cape Coral.