I am tentatively planning on hauling my 23.5 down to Florida Keys in February. Looking at Marathon Key as a possible destination. I would appreciate any advice from those who have done this already. Such as Marinas,launch sites,places to visit etc.
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Mike Epp
Looe Key
Can't address the launch sites but I can help you with a couple items. Looe Key is a wonderful coral reef for snorkeling and is just about a mile offshore from Big Pine Key. You can't anchor anywhere in the coral but they have mooring buoys free for the takin. Be careful in that area as the coral comes clear up to the surface. Otherwise very shallow in the keys......stay in the channels.
Can't address the launch sites but I can help you with a couple items. Looe Key is a wonderful coral reef for snorkeling and is just about a mile offshore from Big Pine Key. You can't anchor anywhere in the coral but they have mooring buoys free for the takin. Be careful in that area as the coral comes clear up to the surface. Otherwise very shallow in the keys......stay in the channels.
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bill walton
Keys visit
We lice down here and keep our 42 at a marina in MArathon. I'm headed up to the boat later and will jot down the coordinates for some places we love to sail to for the day or to anchor/moor for a couple of days. The weather is great for sailing the south side of the keys. The northers blow nicely but there's no fetch for big swells to build as long as you sail up and down Hawk channel.
We lice down here and keep our 42 at a marina in MArathon. I'm headed up to the boat later and will jot down the coordinates for some places we love to sail to for the day or to anchor/moor for a couple of days. The weather is great for sailing the south side of the keys. The northers blow nicely but there's no fetch for big swells to build as long as you sail up and down Hawk channel.
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Steve Gautney
You have quite a long trip planned . . .
Michigan to the Keys is a very long haul. I assume the vehicle and the trailer hubsearings are up to it. . . .I have never been to the Florida Keys but I urge you to make advance arrangements to have a mooring or slip available. I took my 23.5 to Destin, Florida this summer and was amazed at the rudeness and the relative hostility of the harbor/dock personnel. They did not have time for my sailboat at the launch . . .their business was in powerboats and fishing. All of the "transient" or temporary slips were already reserved . . .me, my wife, and children were yelled at, cursed, and otherwise treated very poorly when we pulled into this very busy harbor. One would think the few minutes we took to dock, lower the mast and trailer the boat cost these guys thousads. Destin is a place we thought we knew (15 summers) until we bothered these folks with our sailboat. My advise is to either make advance arrangements or rent a boat when there.
Michigan to the Keys is a very long haul. I assume the vehicle and the trailer hubsearings are up to it. . . .I have never been to the Florida Keys but I urge you to make advance arrangements to have a mooring or slip available. I took my 23.5 to Destin, Florida this summer and was amazed at the rudeness and the relative hostility of the harbor/dock personnel. They did not have time for my sailboat at the launch . . .their business was in powerboats and fishing. All of the "transient" or temporary slips were already reserved . . .me, my wife, and children were yelled at, cursed, and otherwise treated very poorly when we pulled into this very busy harbor. One would think the few minutes we took to dock, lower the mast and trailer the boat cost these guys thousads. Destin is a place we thought we knew (15 summers) until we bothered these folks with our sailboat. My advise is to either make advance arrangements or rent a boat when there.
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David Hirtle
I'm envious of your plans and the mobility that a smaller boat has (sometimes!). My wife and I recently returned from a trip down the ICW and around Florida. We found the personnel at most of the marinas accomodating. There are always a few! Marathon is the "cruisers winter home". You will be in the company of numerous boats; from small daysailor to larger charter, they all go to/through Marathon. For that reason alone I would consider it a must to make a reservation for a slip (mooring?) You can call the Florida Marine Patrol (FMP) and they can advise you with regard to launch ramps. Another subject you might want to think about is your boats registration. FMP are sticklers for registrations. I assume by the length of your boat that you are State Registered. They allow an out of state registration 30 days before you MUST register in Florida. It's purely a matter of money! If you have a Documented Vessel, one is immediately required to register and obtain their decal for youur vessel (they don't make you Title or number.You will enjoy yourself...study your charts, water's pretty thin in some places. Purchase a copy of Frank Papy's Cruising Guide of The Florida Keys. Great reference. Enjoy, the long term cruisers will want to talk with you....
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Jon Bastien
Destin not so bad...
...As long as you launch from one of the ramps a little further up the island. When my wife and I lived there, we usually launched our 23 at Liza Jackson Park or Blue Water Bay, and then sailed to Destin harbor... The dock hands were a little unaccomodating, until you shop in their stores or eat in their restaurants. If you're affiliated with the military at all, there are ramps in very good condition on Eglin or Hurlburt AFB's marinas. ALL of the ramps mentioned here are free, have plenty of parking, and no overhead obstructions (so you can get your boat out of the way of the ramp to raise or lower the mast). They're all pretty busy, so blocking the ramp is a pretty big no-no, but if you move away from the ramp, you'll usually field a lot of compliments on how nice your boat is! ;o) --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
...As long as you launch from one of the ramps a little further up the island. When my wife and I lived there, we usually launched our 23 at Liza Jackson Park or Blue Water Bay, and then sailed to Destin harbor... The dock hands were a little unaccomodating, until you shop in their stores or eat in their restaurants. If you're affiliated with the military at all, there are ramps in very good condition on Eglin or Hurlburt AFB's marinas. ALL of the ramps mentioned here are free, have plenty of parking, and no overhead obstructions (so you can get your boat out of the way of the ramp to raise or lower the mast). They're all pretty busy, so blocking the ramp is a pretty big no-no, but if you move away from the ramp, you'll usually field a lot of compliments on how nice your boat is! ;o) --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
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Paul Mieszczenski
Lots of choices
Mike, check out this web site for all sorts of good stuff about the keys. www.fla-keys.com has phone numbers from each area chamber of commerce. The marina information is a little weak but I'll bet you can get some info to find exactly who to call. David is right, Frank Pappy's guide is a must. We were at Faro Blanco in Marathon three years ago and ran into a couple who had launched their Paceship 23 at Pennekemp in Key Largo and sailed the 60 miles to Marathon on the outside with no problems. They were planning to sail back on the bay side and cut back into the Atlantic at Snake Creek and then up to the park and the trailer. There are lots of options and all of them are good. P.M'ski OD25 Ursa Minor
Mike, check out this web site for all sorts of good stuff about the keys. www.fla-keys.com has phone numbers from each area chamber of commerce. The marina information is a little weak but I'll bet you can get some info to find exactly who to call. David is right, Frank Pappy's guide is a must. We were at Faro Blanco in Marathon three years ago and ran into a couple who had launched their Paceship 23 at Pennekemp in Key Largo and sailed the 60 miles to Marathon on the outside with no problems. They were planning to sail back on the bay side and cut back into the Atlantic at Snake Creek and then up to the park and the trailer. There are lots of options and all of them are good. P.M'ski OD25 Ursa Minor
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John Pruitt
Fla. Keys
A person cruising the Keys should have on board the book CRUISING GUIDE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS by Frank Papy. It was a big help to me.
A person cruising the Keys should have on board the book CRUISING GUIDE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS by Frank Papy. It was a big help to me.
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