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FL Inlet Caution: Hillsboro Inlet
- Date Reported: Jun 2, 2022
- Reporter: Jani Parker
- Source: Waterway Guide Staff
- Description:
Overview: Although shoals at Hillsboro Inlet shift rapidly, dredging is frequent and local boats and the large fleet of charter fishing and head boats heavily travel the passage here.
Approach: Hillsboro Entrance Lighted Buoy "HI" is located at N 26° 15.125'/W 080° 04.462' (approximately 0.4 nm from the inlet). A course to the northwest (paying close attention to the green day marks and lighted buoys) will bring you past the jetty.
Navigation: Easily identified by 136-foot high Hillsboro Lighthouse (visible from 28 miles at sea). Proceed all the way to the red-and-white sea buoy "HI" before turning south to avoid shoals. A rock jetty extends southeast from the north side of the inlet and is submerged at the outer end. It is wise to seek local knowledge before running this inlet.
SR A1A (Hillsboro Inlet) Bridge (13-foot closed vertical clearance) inside the inlet opens on signal, except from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the drawspans need only open only on the hour, quarter-hour, half-hour and three-quarter hour. Due to the very strong currents in this inlet, vessels should contact the bridgetender before entering the inlet. Wait for the bridge to open completely before approaching.
Webcam: For a live view of the inlet visit Hillsboro Inlet View Camera.
Cautions & Hazards: A southeast wind against a tide situation can kick up a short, vicious chop that can set an unwary boater onto the shoals to the south of the inlet. Currents to 6 knots have been reported.
ICW Connection: Connects directly to the ICW at Mile 1053.
- Lat / Lon: N 26° 15.496' / W 080° 04.860'
3 Boater Comments
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Comment by: Angus Macdonald, Windigo, on Jan 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 6.0'No overhead cable at Hillsboro for years. Tides are 3 kts peak through the narrow inlet. Plenty of room to hover in far less tide on either side before (but well back from the narrowing) the bridge opens. Friendly and helpful bridge minders; do communicate with them before entering the bridge fenderway for many reasons, one is that she can't see transiting boats when the bridge is up so pre-announce you're in cue and also when you're steaming through so no premature closures.
Have worked out with any co-transiting larger craft you can see in the que on opposing side of bridge, agree who's with the current and thus has right-of-way. Do watch for speedy craft unmindful of the rules (this is Florida). There now appears to be a dredge in residence here and it is docked tucked into the still water (but just behind the often submerged stone weir) to port as you go seaward. Therefore depths are not as uneven. If you draw more than 7 feet, Port Everglades is your inlet if transiting 2 hours or more after high tide and heading South. Also, avoid Hillsboro Inlet in a sporty (15+ kts) Northeast or Southeast wind. If you're heading North in adverse tide or wind, Palm Beach affords good passage to the sea.
Day markers at Hillsboro are good and aim to clear the red and white safe water bell-like marker to the east before turning North or South as both have hazards if one cuts either corner.
Do mind fixed bridges throughout the ICW as 65' at Mean High Tide now appears to be more of a goal than a specification, and King tides take 1 to 1 1/2 feet off your clearance - you'll need to wait. To make matters worse for those with 64+ masts, about 1/2 of the bridges have allowed their contractors to hang the nav lights under bridges mid-span (it's easier and cheaper). Therefore one must bias to a side close to the fenders. I find most of the mid-span hanging lights are wired to starboard Southbound (the wire also hangs into clearance) and the reverse Northbound. Therefore Southboard, without any opposing side co-transitters, I'd head to within a safe margin to Port Fenders to avoid taking off my anchor light.-
WG Editor Comment:
Waterway Guide has verified that the cable does not exist. Note that the NOAA chart still shows it.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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WG Editor Comment:
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Comment by: Luke Carpenter on Jan 27, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'Entered from sea at low tide. The minimum draft is probably closer to 6 feet in the vicinity of #5. Check your tide tables closely. We waited outside until just before the bridge opening to have maneuvering room with all the smaller boats going straight in.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Comment by: Kristen, Key of Sea, on Dec 31, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.9'There are no longer any overhead cables at the inlet. Both TowBoat US & the bridge tender were surprised when I asked about it. Neither remembered an overhead cable being there.
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WG Editor Comment:
Most recent NOAA Chart still shows the cable. Does not show on Navionics. Reportedly removed in March, 2015.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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WG Editor Comment:
