I will be visiting the mother in law in Key Largo the week of March 22 and in an effort to minimize the actual "visiting" I shot my mouth off to my much loved wife about renting a 30-40 ft boat for a few days of day sailing/ night docking or a couple of overnights on the hook. Anyway, so far the only boats I have found in the Key Largo to Islamorada area are Morgan 41s (28,000 disp. and 4 foot 2 inch draft)and I now learn that the whole area is shallow ( less than 20 feet is shallow to this Puget Sounder)and thats a big tide-range week. I found a 35 footer swing keel, but it was already taken. So does my plan still make sense with the Morgan or would I be better off getting a beach condo with use of a skiff or 20 foot swing keel boat, or should I chuck the whole concept and just do some beach snorkling?. The Capt.Papy cruising guide was recommended in the archives, but I haven't sprung for it yet. Anyone know of charter companies that I might have missed. Treasure Harbor Marine in Islamorada has the Morgans. Scott
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Morgan 41
Scott I have chartered the Morgan 41 out of Destin Florida before. It is a great boat for the shallow waters we have down here on the Gulf Coast. The 4'1" draft is perfect and the fore and aft staterooms and large salon configuration of the Morgan Out Island 41 is great either for private time for wife or great to double with another couple. I know you will appreciate the Morgan 41. She is not a racer but a very comfortable cruiser with a nice turn of speed. Handles rough weather no problem. Just anchor in 8'+" and you should not have problems with the tide. Do not short cut the turns and keep the markers close in tight places. Venture close to the crusty edges and you will drag its just a way of life down here. If you venture close to the crusty edges on a rising tide you get unstuck faster (smile). Look at it this way; you get to watch the bottom just as much as you watch the sky with opportunities to excel! Discuss your float plan with the local charter/fisherman and they will provide tips for the area. You will do fine. Have Fun! Jim H-27 1990
Scott I have chartered the Morgan 41 out of Destin Florida before. It is a great boat for the shallow waters we have down here on the Gulf Coast. The 4'1" draft is perfect and the fore and aft staterooms and large salon configuration of the Morgan Out Island 41 is great either for private time for wife or great to double with another couple. I know you will appreciate the Morgan 41. She is not a racer but a very comfortable cruiser with a nice turn of speed. Handles rough weather no problem. Just anchor in 8'+" and you should not have problems with the tide. Do not short cut the turns and keep the markers close in tight places. Venture close to the crusty edges and you will drag its just a way of life down here. If you venture close to the crusty edges on a rising tide you get unstuck faster (smile). Look at it this way; you get to watch the bottom just as much as you watch the sky with opportunities to excel! Discuss your float plan with the local charter/fisherman and they will provide tips for the area. You will do fine. Have Fun! Jim H-27 1990
Terry , Jim thanks. Fred ....
as soon as I figure out where Seabeck is I'm going to TP your boat, and you know it will be wet when you try to remove it. Great web site you have, but I'm still buying a case of triple ply. Scott
as soon as I figure out where Seabeck is I'm going to TP your boat, and you know it will be wet when you try to remove it. Great web site you have, but I'm still buying a case of triple ply. Scott
Come on down
Don't miss the chance. I'm in Orlando, but keep the boat in Miami Bay. It's a four hour drive but well worth it. We usually get in to maimi about 9 pm and sail down to Presidents Cove, about three hours. It is west of Key Biscane, some where by B.B. Reboso's old house. Great story about him in one of William F. Buckley's sailing books. It involves the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. It's about 40 miles south down Biscane Bay to Gilberts. A great stop over point. Easy access, good restaurant, great bar overlooking the water. The reataurant even cooked up a big grouper we caught crossing one of the sounds on the way down. The bay for the most part is 11 to 12 feet deep and up to 10 miles wide. There are barrier islands and a couple of shallows of sand that cross the entire bay. These are clearly marked with good channels. We often make the trip back at night. Nothing like sailing those big bay areas in a warm breez. I've kedged off a lot of those bars after cutting corners. All sand never any damage. The bay intrecoastal route is well protected and i've never seen more than a two foot chop. You can go outside at the Stilt House cut just south of Key Biscane or 30 miles south at Angle Fish Creek. Until recently I was sailing a 33 foot Tartan with 6 foot keel. Could not make the later cut unless it was high tide. Tried it once at night in 3 foot seas, just slamed up on the rock bottom on the out side and had to kedg back-out. Did a couple hour lay over sailing into the Ocean Reef Club. I got the impression they were more into million dollar power boats. I also had to kedge off a sand bar in the middle of the cannel going into Coconut Grove. I now have a Hunter 37 cutter with 4 foot draft. No problems anywhere, unless you get out of one of the channel cuts. Pumpkin Island is a great lay-over, it's just south of Angle Fish Creek cut and about 3 hours north of Gilberts. With 6 foot draft I could get all the way around the "Perfectly round island, can't miss it on the chart" so you can always lay-up out of the wind. Always a few sail boats there. The water is usually clear there and an after noon snorkel in the 8 foot grass flats is interesting. Other than this cut and another creek within a mile, you cant really get from the inside bays "Intercoastal" to the ocean. I have never been much further south than the bays next to Largo, which have other good restaurant accessable by boat. I have been told you can head 60 to 80 miles further southwest down the intrecoastal to Islamarada and possibly get access again to the ocean. We have managed to amuse ourselfs out the Angelfish Creek route for several years. There are some marked reefs about five miles out, with mouring balls. Sombraro Light Reef is about 15 miles south. Once in the ocean there are some very shallow reef heads in close, a marked north south route up to 20 feet deep and then more shallow reefs, then a drop off to several hundred feet. A good chart and GPS are important here and I always keep a watch on the bow. Those bay sand bars are one thing, but the coral heads are another. A lot of markes out here and it can get confusing. It's also easy to accidentally shortcut the markers comming back in. At an angled aproach it just never looks quite like the way you left. Definately mark the exit point from the chanel on your GPS. Angle Fish Creek it's self is worth the trip. There are some charter groups out of Miami. Don't know the names, but one school often shows up at Gilberts with two or three boats. Sort of a final exam for the crews. Always fun people excited about sailing.
Don't miss the chance. I'm in Orlando, but keep the boat in Miami Bay. It's a four hour drive but well worth it. We usually get in to maimi about 9 pm and sail down to Presidents Cove, about three hours. It is west of Key Biscane, some where by B.B. Reboso's old house. Great story about him in one of William F. Buckley's sailing books. It involves the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. It's about 40 miles south down Biscane Bay to Gilberts. A great stop over point. Easy access, good restaurant, great bar overlooking the water. The reataurant even cooked up a big grouper we caught crossing one of the sounds on the way down. The bay for the most part is 11 to 12 feet deep and up to 10 miles wide. There are barrier islands and a couple of shallows of sand that cross the entire bay. These are clearly marked with good channels. We often make the trip back at night. Nothing like sailing those big bay areas in a warm breez. I've kedged off a lot of those bars after cutting corners. All sand never any damage. The bay intrecoastal route is well protected and i've never seen more than a two foot chop. You can go outside at the Stilt House cut just south of Key Biscane or 30 miles south at Angle Fish Creek. Until recently I was sailing a 33 foot Tartan with 6 foot keel. Could not make the later cut unless it was high tide. Tried it once at night in 3 foot seas, just slamed up on the rock bottom on the out side and had to kedg back-out. Did a couple hour lay over sailing into the Ocean Reef Club. I got the impression they were more into million dollar power boats. I also had to kedge off a sand bar in the middle of the cannel going into Coconut Grove. I now have a Hunter 37 cutter with 4 foot draft. No problems anywhere, unless you get out of one of the channel cuts. Pumpkin Island is a great lay-over, it's just south of Angle Fish Creek cut and about 3 hours north of Gilberts. With 6 foot draft I could get all the way around the "Perfectly round island, can't miss it on the chart" so you can always lay-up out of the wind. Always a few sail boats there. The water is usually clear there and an after noon snorkel in the 8 foot grass flats is interesting. Other than this cut and another creek within a mile, you cant really get from the inside bays "Intercoastal" to the ocean. I have never been much further south than the bays next to Largo, which have other good restaurant accessable by boat. I have been told you can head 60 to 80 miles further southwest down the intrecoastal to Islamarada and possibly get access again to the ocean. We have managed to amuse ourselfs out the Angelfish Creek route for several years. There are some marked reefs about five miles out, with mouring balls. Sombraro Light Reef is about 15 miles south. Once in the ocean there are some very shallow reef heads in close, a marked north south route up to 20 feet deep and then more shallow reefs, then a drop off to several hundred feet. A good chart and GPS are important here and I always keep a watch on the bow. Those bay sand bars are one thing, but the coral heads are another. A lot of markes out here and it can get confusing. It's also easy to accidentally shortcut the markers comming back in. At an angled aproach it just never looks quite like the way you left. Definately mark the exit point from the chanel on your GPS. Angle Fish Creek it's self is worth the trip. There are some charter groups out of Miami. Don't know the names, but one school often shows up at Gilberts with two or three boats. Sort of a final exam for the crews. Always fun people excited about sailing.
Scott,
I owned a M 41-OI in the 80's; sailed it in the Keys, and agree w/ all that Jim said. Ran mine aground alot... it tough, you can't hurt it. I now have a 420... draft 5.5'; and have been taking it to KW for the past 3 Winters. Like Russell said, pay attention to the charts and have a couple of good GPS's... there's plenty of water to go where you want, as long as you pay attention. As the others have said, get some local knowledge when you charter... and ... Have fun... I think it's Sunny and about 80 degrees down there today....
I owned a M 41-OI in the 80's; sailed it in the Keys, and agree w/ all that Jim said. Ran mine aground alot... it tough, you can't hurt it. I now have a 420... draft 5.5'; and have been taking it to KW for the past 3 Winters. Like Russell said, pay attention to the charts and have a couple of good GPS's... there's plenty of water to go where you want, as long as you pay attention. As the others have said, get some local knowledge when you charter... and ... Have fun... I think it's Sunny and about 80 degrees down there today....
Caution!!!
Treasure Harbor requires fairly high tide to transit the entrance with the Morgan. That means the harbor is not accessable during much of the day.
Treasure Harbor requires fairly high tide to transit the entrance with the Morgan. That means the harbor is not accessable during much of the day.
J. Baker
yeh, the charter company there was up front about that. Kind of funny though, to have 3 Morgan 41s in your fleet at Treasure Harbor, maybe that is why the charter rates are modest. "OK, you're all checked out Mr. Wilson, have a great sail, just don't try to leave the dock for the next 4 hours." Scott
yeh, the charter company there was up front about that. Kind of funny though, to have 3 Morgan 41s in your fleet at Treasure Harbor, maybe that is why the charter rates are modest. "OK, you're all checked out Mr. Wilson, have a great sail, just don't try to leave the dock for the next 4 hours." Scott
Try Florida Keys Sailing
They have a number of different boats. They are in Marathon on the bayside, with quick access to the ocean. Their link is below.
They have a number of different boats. They are in Marathon on the bayside, with quick access to the ocean. Their link is below.
Any boat is great in that area
Perfect spot for anchoring or docking. You could also charter a Hunter P42 or any other Hunter out of Miami Beach Marina (day trip to Key Largo)but the draft of the Morgan makes it even easier. Great diving and snorkelling. There is another charter company out of Sunset Marina in Miami do not have the link. Treasure Harbour would be OK too.
Perfect spot for anchoring or docking. You could also charter a Hunter P42 or any other Hunter out of Miami Beach Marina (day trip to Key Largo)but the draft of the Morgan makes it even easier. Great diving and snorkelling. There is another charter company out of Sunset Marina in Miami do not have the link. Treasure Harbour would be OK too.
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Sailing the Keys
We rented a Hunter 376 in Miami Beach and took two days to sail to Key Largo. It was great. We rented from Florida Yacht Charters. The good thing about renting in Miami is that two days to sail to Key Largo and two days to sail back. equals less visiting time!
We rented a Hunter 376 in Miami Beach and took two days to sail to Key Largo. It was great. We rented from Florida Yacht Charters. The good thing about renting in Miami is that two days to sail to Key Largo and two days to sail back. equals less visiting time!
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