Jupiter inlet incident

[Fr. Frank]

Like many captains who have used Jupiter extensively, i have great respect. There's a reason it was named as one of the 10 most dangerous inlets in the United States.(#8) Denny's post is absolutely right on. When I used to run the inlet going out, if there was any kind of break at all, I would circle two or three times well inside the mouth of the inlet while scanning the bar to make sure I had the best hole spotted, before running out.
Coming back in, I would approach very close to the shore, outside the inner break, so I could once again spot the hole. I would then head out until I could make a good safe turn to the hole.
With care, and good local knowledge, you can run Jupiter in most conditions with a fairly good sized boat. I was 16 and deck crew on the Anheuser yacht TICA when Capt. Lopez ran in Jupiter in 6'-8' seas, and she was an 81' wooden-hulled Broward FDMY.
On the other hand, I watched a 54' Ocean slam her running gear and props into the bottom trying to run straight in. She fell off the back of the wave and bottomed out in the trough. Were it not for a strong flood tide she would undoubtedly have broached. She drifted in on the current and then anchored in the eddy just inside the narrows. (She refused my offer of a tow, however.)
I have several times made the decision to run south to Lake Worth inlet because I thought Jupiter unsafe for any boat and any captain regardless of local knowledge.
And Boynton Beach Inlet was #4 on the 10 most dangerous list. (Boca Raton was #10) Three of the potentially most dangerous inlets in the USA (as of the mid 80's) are in Palm Beach County