Cruising the Keys

[Amy]

We are planning on taking our first trip to the Florida Keys in December. Does anyone have any advice on locations for moorings, dockages, (areas to stay away from), the best places to go, etc. We have a Hunter 34 shoal draft. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[hp]

Good spot

Key West Bight on the northeast side of town is where the marina and the action is. It's leeward to the southern wind and a delightful spot. To access the harbormaster, try email JWorld, which has a sailing school at the marina. Last year a fleet of four Hunters blew in during March and looked quite impressive.

 

[scott]

Key West Bight

The bight is a great marina(s). It is stumbling distance to some of the best bar's on the rock. Turtle Krawl's is just down the dock and they have great happy hour specials, no need to cook dinner on your boat when they are down the way. If you happen to be active, retired or reserve military than make sure you go to Boca Chica Marina on Boca Chica Key just north of Key West. It won't allow anyone unless you can actually show a military ID card but it is probably the best marina in all the keys if you don't mind F-14's flying 6' above your mast light from 0600-2230 hours.

 

[Wanderer138]

Key West Bight gets my vote also

We stopped there this spring after a cruise to the Dry Tortugas and it was great. The staff was very courteous and helpful, the showers are clean and there is a self-service laundromat. Several grocery stores and a well stocked West Marine are also close by and anything worth seeing or doing in Key West is a short walk away. There is also a cruiser-friendly late-night convenience store two blocks away at the corner of Margaret Street and a decent breakfast place on the opposite corner. Have fun!PeterH23 "Raven"