Crane Creek Inlet

About

Introduction:

Located off the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near Mile 919, Crane Creek and the city of Melbourne are 27 miles south of Cape Canaveral and 45 miles northwest of Ft. Pierce Inlet. Well protected with average depths of five feet, Melbourne Harbor and Crane Creek are a popular stopping Point on the ICW with an excellent and well-equipped marina inside. The creek is too small to allow anchoring inside, however.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 11472.

Crane Creek is reached via an approach off the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) south of the 65-foot fixed vertical clearance Melbourne Bridge at ICW Mile 919. From ICW red daybeacon “6,” set a course to the east to intercept green daybeacon “1” and red daybeacon “2,” which mark the beginning of the entrance channel to Crane Creek on the south and north sides, respectively. Once you have picked up green daybeacon “1” and red daybeacon “2,” you can proceed to the east to pickup green daybeacon “3,” red daybeacon “4,” green daybeacon “5,” red daybeacon “6,” flashing green “7,” and red daybeacon “8,” all of which are visible in the image above.

Depths in the approach channel are around five feet and carry into the creek up to the small fixed bridge that ends navigation on the creek. Inside the creek is the Intracoastal Marina of Melbourne, Inc. which has extensive facilities for transients including gas and diesel fuels and a lift for haul outs. The Melbourne Yacht Club is located on the south side of the creek and may offer reciprocal privileges to members of other yacht clubs.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.