Florida....Keys....Bahama info needed.....

[Sumner]

Florida....Keys....and (maybe Bahama) info needed.....

.........everglades, 10,000 islands.......... (that area is very buggy, and really only pleasant in the dry winter months).......

...... have spent about 4 days without setting foot on land. no re-provisions at all.......

(Note: The above quote was from another thread on the Mac Forum, besides posting there with our question we decided to also post over here where more people might see it as it is not a boat type specific question. Remember though when answering we sail a small 26 footer.)

Bill how early can you get into that area without the bugs being really bad?

We are really starting to plan on trying to be down there next fall on a 4 month trip. It will take us about a week each way driving and we want to fly from probably Miami up to NYC to visit family for maybe 2 weeks and then back down there. That would leave us 3 months on the water and would probably be broke in half with the trip north.

We like the marina that was posted on the other board south of Homestead and north of Key Largo. That looks to be a central location to some extent and would provide some more sheltered water for us to get our feet wet in. We would like to get there late September to still enjoy some warm water and would leave in January for home.

Possible destinations dependant on our sailing skills and courage would be the 10,000 island area you mentioned, down towards Key West, and if we feel real brave over to the Bahamas in probably that order. Most likely not the Bahamas on this trip. Try and go to the gulf side and then work south and finally east as the water cools trying to stay were the water is warmer for swimming.

We would really like your opinions on those locals and using that marina as a base. One thing is it wouldn't be far to an airport from there.

Also anyone else that has sailed that area between late September and early January please chime in.

One last thing we want to go places were we can spend the nights on the hook and not in marinas.

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

P.S. On the not setting foot on land Ruth has you beat by 3-5 days . I finally insist that she get off the boat .

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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[Benny]

Crossing the Gulf Stream in the winter months is nothing to be taken lightly. This time of the year we get frequent weather fronts that bring winds with northerly components and some storms. Think of the Gulf Stream as a 40 mile wide river moving North at 2.5 to 3 knots. Any opposing winds create significant confused and steep seas. On the other hand coastal sailing in the Florida Keys, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico can be a delight.

 

[Sumner]

Crossing the Gulf Stream in the winter months is nothing to be taken lightly. This time of the year we get frequent weather fronts that bring winds with northerly components and some storms. Think of the Gulf Stream as a 40 mile wide river moving North at 2.5 to 3 knots. Any opposing winds create significant confused and steep seas. On the other hand coastal sailing in the Florida Keys, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico can be a delight.

Thanks Benny I've read about the problems of going across with northerly winds. At this point I don't know if we will attempt it or not. I know a number of boats like ours have made the crossing, but usually in a group. One thing we do have in our favor going both ways is time. We are retired, so we don't have to go either way on a schedule.

Do you have any favorite places you want to share that I could use the google maps on to look at?

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[dserrell]

1

 

[Sumner]

"We like the marina that was posted on the other board south of Homestead and north of Key Largo."


That's probably South Dade Marina. We've stayed there! We left our tow vehicle and trailer there while we sailed to Key West. The marina operators are very friendly and their rates are very reasonable. Caution regarding mosquitoes! Be prepared if the mosquitoes are out, I believe they prefer sailors! We were covered with bites, of course we arrived in mid June when the mosquitoes were really out! Good luck!

http://southdademarina.com/index.php?page=rates

David

Yes that is the one. Good to know you had a good experience there. I'd still like to know what the bug situation is going to be like from late Sept. into early January for south Florida down to say Key West.

The other thing I'm interested in is anchoring or beaching the boat at night. Are the tides around 3 feet in that area? This is something we have no experience with. We got our boat last January and have been out in it about 45 days at this point and have anchored every night out. We want to do that down there also if possible. Any suggestions or insight into that would be appreciated.

Or their places you don't want to or shouldn't anchor at. It seems I've read about not messing up some delicate reefs, but maybe you wouldn't want to anchor there anyway. Sorry for the dumb questions, but I would really like to know more about anchoring in that area or some links to sites where I could find out more as we don't want to stay in marinas.

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[dserrell]

1

 

[Sumner]

Sam and Ruth,

I'd call South Dade Marina they can tell you all about the mosquitoes and bugs! The following web site has tide information for Key Largo:

http://www.tides.info/?command=view&locid=12198

There are lots of great places to anchor that are convenient to shopping areas. In Key Largo we anchored in Blackwater Sound, a great place to anchor. There's a fuel dock walking distance to the local West Marine, restaurants, etc. My email address is dserrell@yahoo.com. I'd be glad to email you our trip to Key West story. The Keys are a great place to sail. You're MacGregor is perfect for that area. The coral reefs have mooring buoys you can tie off to. We had lots of fun, you will too! I'll be glad to provide lots of other info. Fair weather!

David

I sent you an e-mail for the trip. We would love to read it. Also thanks for the tips on the anchoring and buoy info.

We would like to anchor near stuff, like your Key Largo advice, but most of the time we are pretty much loaners and want to anchor by ourselves if possible. I realize that area is really popular so maybe that is not an option.

I've never seen a coral reef. Will it be obvious if where I'm anchoring has one or not?

Also we have a 22 lb. Bruce with 30 feet of chain and 200 feet of 3 twist nylon that is our primary anchor, but also have a Danforth and a Fortress FX-11 and both with chain and line for both of those. Is the Bruce a good anchor to use down there? Anyone?

Thanks and we look forward to your trip report,

Sum and Ruth

 

[dserrell]

1

 

[Sailm8]

I would recommend Frank Pappy's guide to the florida keys. It is written for sailors and addresses anchoring and anchorages. Also the florida keys chart book.

Now regarding mosquitoes.... a story. Our first long trip south on our Cal 27. We had stopped at Pelican Bay on Charlotte Harbor, our home waters, Marco island on day 2 and now Little Shark River for night 3. We go in about 3pm drop anchor about a 1/4 mile up the river in a sheltered anchorage. I set up the grill and we have cocktails and grill a nice steak (last of the frozen stuff). Turn in early. In the morning we get up and of course look out of the port to check the weather. Looks pretty dark but we are accustom to rising and sleeping with the sun. We eat breakfast and as we are cleaning up I asked my wife, "Did you leave a fan on?" since I heard this background hum. And where was the sun? We had been up for about 45 minutes and it wasn't getting any brighter. What's up with that? I take a closer look at the screen and discover they are black with mosquitoes! I mean block out the sun black. We need to get out of here and that means I have to go out there and raise the anchor. Usually my wife mans the helm and I raise the anchor. One look at her and I know it's going to be a one man job. When the going gets tough, the tough get eaten.

My wife sprays me from head to toe with DEET heavy spray. And I take a can of flying insect spray and fog the companion way screen. The bodies drop by the thousands and sunlight stream into the boat. I throw back the screen, dive into the cockpit and my wife slams the screen closed behind me. It's everyman for him/her self. I fog a path ahead of me and they fall all over the deck. I spray a circle around the bow and squat down to raise the anchor. I pulled faster and harder than I ever had in my life . We were probably doing 4 kts by the time it came up. I grab the can, and spray my way back to the cockpit. I try to start the motor and NOTHING HAPPENS!. My mind goes into high gear and I beg my wife to let me come back inside. She relents and I jump down the companion way. I quickly diagnosed the problem (burnt battery cable at the fitting at the starter.

I give my wife a choice: Stay here and hold the cable tight against the burnt fitting risking death by electrocution , or I'll stay and she can go outside and start the motor. Guess which she chooses.

I start the motor on the first try and roar out of Little Shark River at 4 knots. Did you know that mosquitoes can fly at well over 4 knots? I sprayed and sprayed until I could breath without them going up my nose. For days after went we would open a lazarette a cloud of mosquitoes would billow forth.

So in answer to your question, yeah there are mosquitoes in Florida and they can be bad. Just stay out of the 'glades after dark. I now sail all night rather than stop at Little Shark river. By the way there are no sharks at Little Shark River. They have been eaten.

 

[Sumner]

I would recommend Frank Pappy's guide to the florida keys. It is written for sailors and addresses anchoring and anchorages. Also the Florida keys chart book.

Now regarding mosquitoes................. By the way there are no sharks at Little Shark River. They have been eaten.

Great story, Ruth and I laughed our heads off. I know, it wasn't a laughing matter at the time. I've been in bad mosquito situations fly fishing small streams in Wyoming, but not quite that bad.

I found Papy's book and got it on order. I don't know about the Florida Keys Chart Book though. Is it one of these......

http://www.mdnautical.com/rmcb-fkb.htm

or

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

or do you have a link?

Anyone else have a recommendation on books?

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Sailm8]

I can't find the one I have. It was just the Keys and Tortugas. I also have one for both coasts of Florida and the keys and can't find that one either on line. I didn't pay that much for my charts. I guess the price has really gone up.

Here is a signt you might know about already but idoes give local info. Mr. Youngs guide books aren't bad either. http://cruisersnet.net/