Has anyone launched from Pennekamp Park in Key Largo?

[Greg2230]

Hey all!

We're planning a trip cruising the middle Keys this January. The plan is to launch from South Dade marina, but some one brought up the idea of launching from Pennekamp. I love the idea, but wasn't too sure about overnight parking in the park. I called today and spoke with the ranger there and was told I could park overnight BUT...I have to be an annual park pass holder AND pay the daily rate (which the person I was talking to had just found out they raised the daily rate to $13.38 with tax). So, for a trip of 10 days, launching from Pennekamp, will cost $91 for an annual pass and $13.38 for 9 nights. This comes to a grand total of $211.42 Could this be right?

Has anyone here launched from Pennekamp and parked overnight? How much did YOU pay?

BTW...South Dade marina caters strictly to trailer sailors. I think the ramp is $10 and parking is $5/day

www.southdademarina.com

 

[Sailm8]

Not sure if they are still in business but right down the road is the Holiday Inn Marina with a ramp. I took a slip and sailed out the there for a week and it wasn't too bad $$$ wise considering you could walk to the grocery and a buch of bars and resturants. The ramp was small with a sharp drop off but I could launch and load our Cat 22 with no problem.

 

[Ross in Tampa]

I have launched there lots of times.

Yes, you can park there, but you do have to have an annual park sticker. If I remember it's about 90 bucks, but it's good for admission to ANY state park after that.

You can also park at the Carribbean Club across the street and up the way about 1 mile. They have a large lot, and it's well monitored and their charge is very modest.

If you have specific questions email me... ross_in_tampa@yahoo.com

 

[Larry Neese]

we live in the Lower Keys, on Summerland Key, yes that rate is right, and for security reasons I would leave your rig in Monroe Co. we have almost no crime, traffic will be slow on the stretch but worth it, Boot Key Harbor (Marathon) is an excellent mooring site, good facilities, sail the extra 10 miles one day to Bahia Honda, another great spot and free, look us up for boat drinks Keysskipper

 

[David S]

I have launched there lots of times.

Yes, you can park there, but you do have to have an annual park sticker. If I remember it's about 90 bucks, but it's good for admission to ANY state park after that.

You can also park at the Carribbean Club across the street and up the way about 1 mile. They have a large lot, and it's well monitored and their charge is very modest.

If you have specific questions email me... ross_in_tampa@yahoo.com

I have taken the glass bottom boat tour, How far do you have to motor from the ramp? It seems like a long way to get to deep enough water to sail. It looks really shallow on each side of the channel .

David S

 

[David S]

we live in the Lower Keys, on Summerland Key, yes that rate is right, and for security reasons I would leave your rig in Monroe Co. we have almost no crime, traffic will be slow on the stretch but worth it, Boot Key Harbor (Marathon) is an excellent mooring site, good facilities, sail the extra 10 miles one day to Bahia Honda, another great spot and free, look us up for boat drinks Keysskipper

Hi Keysskipper, I trailered my oday 22 from Asheville NC to Little Torch Key in June 2007 and launched there on LTK ramp and docked for 3 weeks at my sister inlaws on Astrangia Ave on LTK and sailed in the channel between LTK and Big Pine Key. I was too timid to venture far as it is really shallow there. I bought a chart there at the BPK Marina and some other things, they are good folks there. I would have liked to sail in tandem with some one local that knew there way around the keys. If you would like to correspond with me at hds<wtf>ebastian@<kcu>charter.com . I plan to make another trip to FLA this summer ( I like hot weather ) in 2009 if we could get together.

David S

 

[Ventolines]

Pennekamp

I took my boot down to Key Largo and launched at Pennekamp a few weeks ago. I stayed at Pennekamp at a slip most nights; just daysailing. The facilities are good and the price is right to launch.

I investigated using Caribbean Club for parking my truck and rig. They are more than reasonable at $10/day. So if you are going to be away for an extended period that's the way to go.