Hi! I am planning a trip to key west and plan on staying at the mooring fields there.have a 26s.has anyone have experience with the 26s in key west have heard that wind comes from north and it gets rough also a long dingy ride.any comments would be appreciated.
Key west
- Thread starter dglindaman
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which mooring field? the one next to the main channel can be rough. (traffic)
they do have a dingy service (5$ / trip) -IIRC.
north winds in winter are rough. that's a front. wind clocks from east to south, then west (beginning of front), then north (the front), then NE then east and warmer, and calmer. -repeat every 7 days....
when?
-fronts haven't pushed through the entire state, yet. that will change shortly. Then they stop making it all the way trough sometime in april or so.
-imho, key west is over rated.
great restaurants, hotels, shops, bars, and tourist traps. but you have that in a lot of places. expensive too. lower and middle keys FTW.
they do have a dingy service (5$ / trip) -IIRC.
north winds in winter are rough. that's a front. wind clocks from east to south, then west (beginning of front), then north (the front), then NE then east and warmer, and calmer. -repeat every 7 days....
when?
-fronts haven't pushed through the entire state, yet. that will change shortly. Then they stop making it all the way trough sometime in april or so.
-imho, key west is over rated.
great restaurants, hotels, shops, bars, and tourist traps. but you have that in a lot of places. expensive too. lower and middle keys FTW.
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Thanks for the info , plan on staying at city of key west mooring field $300 month free pump out and dingy dock, little concerned I plan to visit late dec concerned about winds From north causing rough ride on ball and long wet dingy ride. If you have other Florida suggestions im open!
Thanks for the reply!
Thanks for the reply!
Okay, first off I havnt a clue. But we were down there in 06 and stayed on Sugarloaf at a motel. Ive studied maps, zoomed in on google, there has to be a 1000 places north of KW available a lot cheaper/free. They also rent scooters all over, you could probably even carry your own? There is a small private airport on SL key, Dans High Sky something something. Cool dude, I bet he would know somewhere. Or ask around at the 100's of sandal,T shirt and trinket shacks.
Even with a large hard bottomed dingy, during a cold front it will be a very wet ride back and forth from the dingy dock to your moored boat. We had friends that stayed there last winter and chose to stay on the boat during a norther. From the dingy dock, it's only a 10 minute walk into town, though.
With your M26, I would suggest the city run mooring field in Marathon. It has excellent protection from the north. In the winter there can be a waiting list, but with your shallow draft you can find lots of good spots to anchor in the lagoon while you wait for a mooring. Marathon is very boater friendly and it is a short bus ride down to KW.
With your M26, I would suggest the city run mooring field in Marathon. It has excellent protection from the north. In the winter there can be a waiting list, but with your shallow draft you can find lots of good spots to anchor in the lagoon while you wait for a mooring. Marathon is very boater friendly and it is a short bus ride down to KW.
1+ on boot key in marathon. ( queue sumner?) its a huge anchorage.
but marathon (town) is more spread out for shopping, supplies. but with the other cruisers you might get lifts/rides...
December can still be warm, but the fronts are still fronts with some wind. it would be bumpy since its pretty exposed.
if you go to Key west and a front is pushing thru, use the dingy shuttle service.
are you planing on sitting on the mooring mostly? (you want to shore experience or more of the remote anchorages?)
clairbore young's cruising guide or pappy's guide will be helpful for your trip. (try ebay).
tell me more about what you want to do, how many aboard, interests, etc, and budget.
key west is expensive. but you may wish to get a slip for 2 days when fronts push through...
ps: I think you'll need to buy a dingy permit to land.
but marathon (town) is more spread out for shopping, supplies. but with the other cruisers you might get lifts/rides...
December can still be warm, but the fronts are still fronts with some wind. it would be bumpy since its pretty exposed.
if you go to Key west and a front is pushing thru, use the dingy shuttle service.
are you planing on sitting on the mooring mostly? (you want to shore experience or more of the remote anchorages?)
clairbore young's cruising guide or pappy's guide will be helpful for your trip. (try ebay).
tell me more about what you want to do, how many aboard, interests, etc, and budget.
key west is expensive. but you may wish to get a slip for 2 days when fronts push through...
ps: I think you'll need to buy a dingy permit to land.
The wind can come from anywhere in Key West. So, you have to deal with it. But, there is no snow there. There are a couple of free anchorages down there where you can just drop a hook and stay as long as you like at no cost. Then you can take your dinghy into Lands End Marina where Turtle Kraals is and keep it there daily for about $7 a day. Years ago it used to be $4, but the last time I used it, they raised the price. The thing is, it is safer there than if you just bring it up to a public dock where it probably will disappear. Key West is a hoot, especially if you are young. Old farts probably don't like to party that much anymore and the atmosphere is party, party, party. There are, as mentioned, some fabulous restaurants, if you can afford good food. Otherwise the cheap food is available as well. I have sailed in and out of Key West several times and the longest I have stayed there at one time was about 41 days back around 1990. The last time I was there was a couple of years ago for Key West Race Week, which took place after delivering the boat from Savannah, GA to Ft. Lauderdale where we then raced the Lauderdale to Key West Off shore, then Race Week. But usually I have cruised in the area - the smallest boat being 27' and the largest 47'. It's better than shoveling snow!!! But those commenting on dealing with the winds and waves down there....well.....it is pretty protected and you just have to deal with whatever M Nature deals out. I have had much more harrowing dinghy rides across cuts in the Bahamas when the seas on the outside were 18 feet. Have fun in Key West. Look for the green flash!!!!
B.Bill, you do know the macgregors are waterballast and low displacement sailboats, right? so its pretty bumpy in 2' seas where a normal sailboats would be fine....
I've never anchored out in key west. always been in a slip. (and in powerboats)... also not exactaly sure where the city mooring field is.
I think if you can get on the other side of flemming key (garrison blight) you'd be better off than on the wisteria isl side.
-ck out active captain. interactive noaa charts, with satilite mashup...
I've never anchored out in key west. always been in a slip. (and in powerboats)... also not exactaly sure where the city mooring field is.
I think if you can get on the other side of flemming key (garrison blight) you'd be better off than on the wisteria isl side.
-ck out active captain. interactive noaa charts, with satilite mashup...
Attachments
First have you been to the Keys before? And where are you going to put in at?
Thousands of people like Key West, Ruth and I didn't. We had the boat at Boot Key Harbor (Marathon) and rented a car there to go back over to Ft. Myers Beach to look at the Endeavour that we ended up buying. We got back to Marathon and still had a day before we had to turn the car in and drove down to Key West for the day. We just didn't like it, but I can see how some people would. I thought it would be more laid back, but it wasn't. Just too packed with people (this was on a Sunday) and you couldn't find parking and on and on. Just not our thing and we wouldn't want to anchor or moor there for any length of time. We might take the Endeavour back down at some point and try again. I've also read horror stories about taking you dinghy in there also.
Not sure what your experience is with being on anchor or a mooring with an S for any length of time. 90% of the time we love it, but anchored over by Marco Island with waves coming in from passing boats it was a real pain. I wouldn't want to be on an anchorage for any length of time where you were dealing with constant waves (either wind or boat driven).
We did put the Mac on a ball at Marathon for a few days when we rented the car and stayed on her there a couple nights before and after the rental. It is very protected so is a very nice anchorage or mooring field....
.... if you like to be around a lot of other people. It will be packed during the winter and you might not get a ball. We got in there in the dark the first night and...
... anchored way down at the end in not much water where the chart also showed submerged wrecks. There isn't too much room outside of the mooring field there. They have a web site that explains it all and I'd go there.
Here could be a big negative about Boot Key. If you go in there and register and get a ball you have to have a marine toilet that can be pumped out. We use wag bags and that wasn't good enough for them. We had to sign a paper stating that we would have a sanitation system that could be pumped out within one week. We signed the paper, but didn't comply and left before the week was up. They said also that signing the paper didn't mean that law enforcement wouldn't necessarily ticket us in that week for being in non-compliance with what is require in the whole Keys protected zone. We left and started working north and were never boarded and checked for the head. We were stopped by imagration and checked for registration and our U.S. ID and game and fish stopped us and checked for safety equipement.
I think a boat under 26 feet (which the Mac is at 25-10) is exempt but good luck arguing that with the people at Boot Key and since it is a city mooring field they can probably do anything they want.
We did enjoy being anchored over on the Gulf side at Fanny Keys at Marathon and as long as the wind is out of the East that is good. If I was staying there and didn't have a head that could be pumped I'd stay on the Gulf side with east winds and move to Boot Key if a system came through and stay anchored there and not check in.
You can then pay to use the dinghy dock there that is very convenient. You can also get a cab for about $5.00 from there to about any place in Marathon. The marina is not that close though to stores. If you stay on the Gulf side about the only place we found to take out was....
....Keys Fisheries. They let us tie our dinghy there while we got supplies. Walked to a WM, but taxied to other places.
You are going to have to consider how you are going to manage the head down there. We use Wag Bags and can easily carry 2 months worth. If you have a porta-pottie then you might have a problem. I don't know where you would dispose of the contents at Marathon (either side) and don't know what you will be up against at Key West.
If you are a senior I think the bus from Marathon down to Key West is only suppose to be a buck or two.
There is more info on Fanny Keys and Boot Key Harbor on out trip here....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/FL-spring-2011/FL-Spring-11-16.html
Do you have a chart plotter with charts of the area and a depth finder? I wouldn't want to be down there without either.
Good luck and take warm cloths as it can get cold down there during cold fronts as we found out in Dec. on the west coast,
Sum
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wow sumner, I didn't realize they gave you such a hard time on the wag bags... might be a non USCG approved issue. ?
OTOH, the dumping of a pottie could be a real problem... since they don't want you using a toilet.
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/answe...sion/L3RpbWUvMTM0OTkyMzEyNS9zaWQvMy1tZU9wOGw=
Boating - toilets, sewage and no discharge zones.
Answer ID 1084 | Published 12/24/2002 01:43 PM | Updated 09/07/2012 02:00 PM
Does my boat have to have a working toilet? What are the regulations for discharge of sewage from a vessel? What is a "no discharge zone"?
The following is part of Florida Statute 327.53 relating to have a working toilet on board when in state waters. To view the Statute in its entirety, visit http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm:
"(1) Every vessel 26 feet or more in length which has an enclosed cabin with berthing facilities shall, while on the waters of the state, be equipped with a toilet. On a vessel other than a houseboat, the toilet may be portable or permanently installed. Every permanently installed toilet shall be properly attached to the appropriate United States Coast Guard certified or labeled marine sanitation device.
(2) Every houseboat shall be equipped with at least one permanently installed toilet which shall be properly connected to a United States Coast Guard certified or labeled Type III marine sanitation device. If the toilet is simultaneously connected to both a Type III marine sanitation device and to another approved marine sanitation device, the valve or other mechanism selecting between the two marine sanitation devices shall be set to direct all sewage to the Type III marine sanitation device and, while the vessel is on the waters of the state, shall be locked or otherwise secured by the boat operator, so as to prevent resetting.
(3) Every floating structure that has an enclosed living space with berthing facilities, or working space with public access, must be equipped with a permanently installed toilet properly connected to a Type III marine sanitation device or permanently attached via plumbing to shoreside sewage disposal. No structure shall be plumbed so as to permit the discharge of sewage into the waters of the state.
(4)(a) Raw sewage shall not be discharged from any vessel, including houseboats, or any floating structure in Florida waters. The operator of any vessel which is plumbed so that a toilet may be flushed directly into the water or so that a holding tank may be emptied into the water shall, while the vessel is on the waters of the state, set the valve or other mechanism directing the sewage so as to prevent direct discharge and lock or otherwise secure the valve so as to prevent resetting.
(b) All waste from Type III marine sanitation devices shall be disposed in an approved sewage pumpout facility.
(c) All waste from portable toilets shall be disposed in an approved waste reception facility.
(5) Every vessel owner, operator, and occupant shall comply with United States Coast Guard regulations pertaining to marine sanitation devices and with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations pertaining to areas in which the discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited."
All marine sanitation devices must be U.S. Coast Guard Approved. All waste from portable toilets shall be disposed of in an approved waste reception facility. Restroom toilets are not approved reception facilities. Some of the chemicals used in portable toilets do not break the waste down to acceptable levels nor do they kill disease-causing organisms. Marinas are encouraged to use funds from the grant program to install approved waste reception facilities at their site.
Since October 1, 1994, boaters are prohibited from discharging untreated sewage into fresh or within coastal salt-water limits. Coastal limits are 9 nautical miles on the Gulf and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic Ocean. "No Discharge Zones," also known as NDZs, prohibit boats from discharging treated or untreated sewage into water bodies. In these waters, a "Y" valve has to be closed. The NDZs in Florida are: Destin Harbor, the City of Key West waters, and state waters within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. You can view the complete Federal Register notices for each of these areas at http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html#fl. In all states, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs without interstate navigation and where entry or exit by boat is not possible are considered NDZs. This prohibition includes treated sewage from marine sanitation devices. It does not apply to gray water from showers or sinks, only sewage. For more information about marine sanitation requirements for boaters, please see the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's web at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/cva/.
they do have a contact us link:
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/home
OTOH, the dumping of a pottie could be a real problem... since they don't want you using a toilet.
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/answe...sion/L3RpbWUvMTM0OTkyMzEyNS9zaWQvMy1tZU9wOGw=
Boating - toilets, sewage and no discharge zones.
Answer ID 1084 | Published 12/24/2002 01:43 PM | Updated 09/07/2012 02:00 PM
Does my boat have to have a working toilet? What are the regulations for discharge of sewage from a vessel? What is a "no discharge zone"?
The following is part of Florida Statute 327.53 relating to have a working toilet on board when in state waters. To view the Statute in its entirety, visit http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm:
"(1) Every vessel 26 feet or more in length which has an enclosed cabin with berthing facilities shall, while on the waters of the state, be equipped with a toilet. On a vessel other than a houseboat, the toilet may be portable or permanently installed. Every permanently installed toilet shall be properly attached to the appropriate United States Coast Guard certified or labeled marine sanitation device.
(2) Every houseboat shall be equipped with at least one permanently installed toilet which shall be properly connected to a United States Coast Guard certified or labeled Type III marine sanitation device. If the toilet is simultaneously connected to both a Type III marine sanitation device and to another approved marine sanitation device, the valve or other mechanism selecting between the two marine sanitation devices shall be set to direct all sewage to the Type III marine sanitation device and, while the vessel is on the waters of the state, shall be locked or otherwise secured by the boat operator, so as to prevent resetting.
(3) Every floating structure that has an enclosed living space with berthing facilities, or working space with public access, must be equipped with a permanently installed toilet properly connected to a Type III marine sanitation device or permanently attached via plumbing to shoreside sewage disposal. No structure shall be plumbed so as to permit the discharge of sewage into the waters of the state.
(4)(a) Raw sewage shall not be discharged from any vessel, including houseboats, or any floating structure in Florida waters. The operator of any vessel which is plumbed so that a toilet may be flushed directly into the water or so that a holding tank may be emptied into the water shall, while the vessel is on the waters of the state, set the valve or other mechanism directing the sewage so as to prevent direct discharge and lock or otherwise secure the valve so as to prevent resetting.
(b) All waste from Type III marine sanitation devices shall be disposed in an approved sewage pumpout facility.
(c) All waste from portable toilets shall be disposed in an approved waste reception facility.
(5) Every vessel owner, operator, and occupant shall comply with United States Coast Guard regulations pertaining to marine sanitation devices and with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations pertaining to areas in which the discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited."
All marine sanitation devices must be U.S. Coast Guard Approved. All waste from portable toilets shall be disposed of in an approved waste reception facility. Restroom toilets are not approved reception facilities. Some of the chemicals used in portable toilets do not break the waste down to acceptable levels nor do they kill disease-causing organisms. Marinas are encouraged to use funds from the grant program to install approved waste reception facilities at their site.
Since October 1, 1994, boaters are prohibited from discharging untreated sewage into fresh or within coastal salt-water limits. Coastal limits are 9 nautical miles on the Gulf and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic Ocean. "No Discharge Zones," also known as NDZs, prohibit boats from discharging treated or untreated sewage into water bodies. In these waters, a "Y" valve has to be closed. The NDZs in Florida are: Destin Harbor, the City of Key West waters, and state waters within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. You can view the complete Federal Register notices for each of these areas at http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html#fl. In all states, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs without interstate navigation and where entry or exit by boat is not possible are considered NDZs. This prohibition includes treated sewage from marine sanitation devices. It does not apply to gray water from showers or sinks, only sewage. For more information about marine sanitation requirements for boaters, please see the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's web at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/cva/.
they do have a contact us link:
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/home
They didn't care about the wag bags except to tell us to not dump them in their trash. Their rule said that you had to have a waste tank that could be pumped and that they would send a pump-out boat to your boat to have it pumped out on a schedule. So if you didn't put in the pumpout fitting and have something to pump out they would know as the pumpout boat would be reporting to them.
I think that this came about since there are so many people there living on boats year around that work in town and use the boats as apartments more or less. The harbor had become a cesspool over the years and had a bad reputation due to that fact. The problem is that they told us that was also the rule for the whole Keys and I don't feel it is because of your next comment.
The Mac is less than 26 feet so it technically doesn't even need a toilet of any kind and if it does have one then it can be portable. If it is "permanently" installed then you have to have it attached to the holding tank and such.
The above I believe is Florida's rule and not the ruling of NOAA who administers the Key's Sanctuary. Note the following that is from NOAA:
Again the above is from NOAA who administers the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Note the second part that states...
"Acceptable methods include, but are not limited to, all methods that have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard." So that part says that you are not limited to U.S. Coast Guard approved devices.
They just don't want you dumping and the wag bags acctually stop that from happening better than a porta-pottie or even a holding tank since you are not very limited about how much you can keep on board. We had all 7+ weeks on board at the end of the trip. We couldn't do that even with the 20 gallon holding tank in the Endeavour.
I think most of the the regs you were quoting are Florida Regs and not NOAA regs. That is a big problem down there as who has jurisdiction over you as the two don't agree. Florida's regs were made tougher a few years ago due to the number of people living permanently in boats that were dumping up along Florida's coasts and cities not so much the Keys.
I think the wag bags meet the law with NOAA and there again the boat is under 26 feet, but if you do get ticketed you might have to go to court to make your case as the officer might not want to try and understand it.
One thing in ones favor with the wag bags and a device with no holding thank that can be discharged through the hull is that it is less likely that you are dumping. We were checked at Marco Island and once they saw that the head with the wag bags in it wasn't connected to a thru-hull they were satisfied and left. But that was the Sheriff's department and not a state official. We were check on that trip by the Sheriff's department, Home Land Security and Florida Fish and Wildlife. We weren't checked by the Coast Guard, a Florida official (who I don't know who that is unless it is the Fish and Wildlife) or by anyone connected with enforcing NOAA's rules (who might be the Coast Guard unless they have their own law enforcement). There are lots of entities down there that can check you :cry:.
If we went back with the Mac we would put in some kind of holding tank with a pump-out fitting so that we had that even if we used the wag bags. No thru-hull for direct dumping though. The Endeavour meets all of the requirements as it has a standard setup found on most cruising boats.
It is a mess, but I think the chances if you aren't in Boot Key Harbor on a mooring ball of having to deal with law enforcement on this issure are slim. If you do go in there and want to moor you are going to have to deal with their regs though. Go in and anchor, which is hard, and maybe don't worry about it .
As I said before I wouldn't enjoy being moored in there on a long stay. There are much prettier places to be. Just go in when there is a severe front,
Sum
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Thanks sum!
I have been a secret fan for a long time,read about your trips and mods on 26s,very helpful.I have changed my mind and have decided to use the city mooring at Marathon.Yes this will be my first trip to the keys.My boat is equipped with Lowance depth finder,sonar, chart planer,GPS.also have an autopilot,and pump out electric head which I really like.I plan on doing no blue water sailing. I will be trailering my boat from Missouri,also plan to stop in Ft Meyers where a freind has a free slip for me.Talked with the city and they told me about a place for a trailer,also a new ramp that is loser to mooring field.I am a little concerned about how rough it will be on the ball in Dec also will be single handed so securing the ball in rough water may be a problem.I surmise that Marathon is more protected than Key West.Very excited about my adventure.I am retired been looking forward to this for a long time! Any suggestions ,tips will be appreciated.
Best reguards
Dennis
I have been a secret fan for a long time,read about your trips and mods on 26s,very helpful.I have changed my mind and have decided to use the city mooring at Marathon.Yes this will be my first trip to the keys.My boat is equipped with Lowance depth finder,sonar, chart planer,GPS.also have an autopilot,and pump out electric head which I really like.I plan on doing no blue water sailing. I will be trailering my boat from Missouri,also plan to stop in Ft Meyers where a freind has a free slip for me.Talked with the city and they told me about a place for a trailer,also a new ramp that is loser to mooring field.I am a little concerned about how rough it will be on the ball in Dec also will be single handed so securing the ball in rough water may be a problem.I surmise that Marathon is more protected than Key West.Very excited about my adventure.I am retired been looking forward to this for a long time! Any suggestions ,tips will be appreciated.
Best reguards
Dennis
Where in Missouri? I grew up in north St. Louis County.
The water won't be rough in Boot Key. We didn't have a real problem catching a ball there and it was our first attempt, but there were two of us. If I was by myself I'd back into one and catch it by the side of the cockpit and then once you have the line work forward to the bow and tie off. The Mac handles well in reverse and such so just ease up to it on the side. Catch it by the side of the cockpit and then work forward. We tied to it like a bridle. If you haven't done it look on the internet for how to tie up. I wouldn't try and catch it off the bow by yourself. The balls and boats are pretty close together. Ruth chickened out our first pass thinking she was going to run into the boat just ahead of the ball and went around and we got it the second pass.
Besides the main channel in and out of Boot Key there is another channel that looks like it might be ok with the Mac.
It is Sister Creek, bottom middle arrow. We didn't use it as we went back to the Gulf side after leaving there, but I would enquire about it. If conditions were good and you wanted to go out and sail on the Atlantic side you might be able to use it to good advantage.
The mooring field is where the right arrow is and it is a ways all the way out through the main channel over to the left. So Sister Creek if usable would get you out possibly quicker. Most people that use Boot Key Harbor go in and sit there until they leave.
Now if you want to go to the Gulf side here is some info.
On the chart above you go to the Glulf side under 7 Mile Bridge where the top arrow is after leaving Boot Key, right arrow. When we came from the Gulf side to the Atlantic side the water was a lot rougher on the Atlantic side and I think the water in there gets confused between the Gulf and Atlantic sides.
Also the currents can run quite strong at the bridge. I didn't have a way to check at the time using SeaClear, but the chart above is one I did today using OpenCPN, free and the free NOAA charts. Notice that an option with OpenCPN is that you can see predicted currents at some locations, in this case the bridge. Notice that on this coming Monday the currents can run just under 3 knots there at times. Be aware of that and be cautious about it if going back and forth there. Going with the current you are going to have to run 5 knots or so over ground to maintain steerage (easy to do) and against it you will only be making about 2 knots into it over ground running 5 knots.
We didn't spend any time on the Atlantic side, so don't know what it is like there generally, but when we were going back and forth it was calmer on the Gulf side, but the winds were pretty much easterly then.
Sounds like you are covered on the head deal. That is good. Where is the ramp there? Also don't forget the taxi service is cheap and reliable if you need to get from one place or another.
Have fun and report back,
Sum
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Small world. My folks retired to Branson in the 70's and I went to Drury College in Springfield for one year in the early 60's. Hope to take Ruth and maybe the Mac to that area at some point. Pretty country,
Sum
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http://ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/mooring-balls-and-info/
This link has a good map of the mooring field. We had a heck of a time finding which ball was ours. They gave directions on the vhf as we were coming in, but a map in hand would have helped. Best to print it out and have it in your cockpit.
This link has a good map of the mooring field. We had a heck of a time finding which ball was ours. They gave directions on the vhf as we were coming in, but a map in hand would have helped. Best to print it out and have it in your cockpit.
Good idea to do that. It is confusing there and one can see why there really are very few anchorages there and only in very shallow water as the mooring field takes up everything.
One thing I forgot that if you put in there and can find a place for the trailer you will have your car right at the boat. That would be handy (no taxi's required).
Sum
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OP might want to consider Ft Myers Beach.
Fantastic beaches, keys have very little in the beach dept.
$15/nite moorings plus room to anchor in a very well protected basin.
Good sailing in the gulf, protected from north & east.
Good trips to Sanibel & Captiva and more.
If you need a Key West fix, you can take the jet express cat to KW from FMB, 2 hours one way.
Fantastic beaches, keys have very little in the beach dept.
$15/nite moorings plus room to anchor in a very well protected basin.
Good sailing in the gulf, protected from north & east.
Good trips to Sanibel & Captiva and more.
If you need a Key West fix, you can take the jet express cat to KW from FMB, 2 hours one way.
Took the picture above of the Key West Cat on our anchorage going into Ft. Myers Beach. Lots of current there. We could of moved in further but wanted to head south early the next morning to Naples/Marco Island. That ferry is an interesting deal for a trip to Key West. Cheaper and easier and faster than driving all the way down there from the west coast. Once in Key West a person could take the day trip out to the Dry Tortugas also.
For someone with a smaller boat like the Mac I'd maybe suggest a little further north for an area to spend time in vs. Ft. Myers Beach. Up in Charlotte Harbor where there is a lot of more protected sailing. Still it is a large area where you can be out of sight of land in one direction or another.
You have....
... Pelican Bay and Cayo Costa and its beaches. We liked Roosevelt Channel by Captiva.....
..... Nice places to eat and just a short walk to beaches on the Gulf side. That is a nice anchorage that is well protected and it doesn't take too long to get out to water you can sail in. You can go down to Ft. Myers Beach and out if you want to or up to Punta Gorda. Lots of options in that area.
At Marathon you are kind of stuck in some ways. We really liked the keys north of Marathon from Shell North. I guess it boils down to if Dennis has good anchoring gear and wants to go that way or stay on a ball some place. Anchoring gives you so much more flexibility. If I wasn't tied to the 'ball' idea I'd put in at South Dade Marina and spend some time in Barnes Sound and south on the ICW on the Gulf side and explore down to Key Largo and south of there on the Gulf side. Lots of anchorages with different protection. It is pretty and the water is nice and clear (compared to the west coast). And there are areas that you can sail a Mac in and enjoy it.
My only reservation about the west coast and even the keys is that in Dec., Jan., Feb. it can still get cold and to me there is nothing worst than trying to escape cold one place and finding it where you are going. We ran into low 30 deg. weather in Dec. over in Charlotte Harbor. It was unusual, but spending the night in the boat in the low 40's isn't fun. The east coast and down into the Keys would be somewhat warmer, but I've read people's accounts about being cold in Key West those months and even the Bahama's. We absolutely loved March/April and by the end of April the water was even warm enough for me to get into it. Those are the months we are aiming for this next spring. We will be on/in the boat at the yard during Jan/Feb when we can plug a spacer heater in and hope to be on the water the 1st of March,
Sum
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