Keys cruising advice

[George Henry]

Going to Boot Key, Marathon area to launch this spring for a week long cruise to Key West and back. Has anyone launched in this area?Looking for a safe place to leave truck and trailer with easy ramp access. I am more than willing to pay for storage. Any one done this?Any and all advice appreciated.

 

[Guest]

2 Boatyards

You can contact Driftwood Marina, located at the eastern end of Boot Key (Marathon) at 305/289-0432, or the Marathon Boatyard, located at the western end of Boot Key (right next to West Marine) at 305/743-6341. Using Marathon Boatyard puts you in the water closer to Key West. Robert Pancza

 

[Harvey Small]

Key Largo?

We put in at the Holiday Marina on Key Largo. They were very nice about letting us leave our truck & trailer for a week. We rigged & launched one day, stayed aboard overnight & left in the morning. After three days in the Hawk Channel -- one night at a marina & one on the hook -- we arrived in Key West. After eating our way across the island, we took the Greyhound bus back for the highway equipment and drove back to Key West. We used the ramp at the Municipal Marina. By dropping the mast first and checking the tides we were able to pass under the Garrison Cut bridge easily.Have a great time!

 

[Stephen Dawes]

Bahia Honda Key..

My wife and I spent 2 weeks cruising the keys in january. We trailered our H260 from Raleigh, NC to the Marathon FL area where we launched and sailed down to Key West for a week.We were with another couple who fortunately had done this trip before and had found a great 'home base' in the Keys. Bahia Honda State Park is 7 miles south of Marathon and has fantastic services. The entire key is actually a state park and offers camping and marina facilities. The boat ramp is excellent and parking areas are secure. In fact the Key is patrolled by the park security 24hrs. Renting slip space includes truck/trailer parking and shower facilities. There is also a nice cafe and gift shop. Cost about $30 per night.For our trip we actually paid for a full two weeks slip space ( for van/trailer storage) and then took off to Key West for a week.Bahia Honda was absolutely beautiful and, with hindsight, we wished we had stayed there longer instead of taking a week in Key West...Good Luck and enjoy the Keys..Stephen DawesH260 Tender Morsel