Sailors of the Keys

[MrUnix]

I believe Plantation Yacht Harbor has a 25 foot minimum length to rent a slip, and reservations have to be made 60 days in advance.

I grew up in that place.. it had one of the few white sand beaches in the upper keys, and my wife and her family lived on board a 60+ foot Hatteras there (before I married her!). Great area for boating, both motor and sail. Nothing like watching the tourists gasp in horror as you go running out into the shallows trying to catch a 3 foot black tip shark by hand. Unfortunately, they turned Tavenier Creek into a fixed bridge with only about 16 foot of clearance.. so if you want to get to the ocean, you have to go south to Snake Creek.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[sailingandsuch]

Sailor Boy-
I have been planning on taking my Montgomery 17 down to the Keys for a three week (or so) cruise in January too. I just found out last night that it may be VERY possible and I will probably end up going down there mid-late January and staying for about three weeks.

My hopes are to find a marina/boat landing that I can safely park my vehicle and trailer at for the duration of the trip. Have you had any luck finding such a place? Ideally I would like to put in midway of the Florida Keys and not to awfully far towards Miami if I can help it. I would be willing to pay for storage, but not an insane amount.

Maybe we could share our research and help each other out? Then definately get up with each other once we are down there.

Do you have a certain time in January when you want to head down? What is the duration of your cruise?

 

[shemandr]

Bahia Honda campground is booked ahead quite a while. They have fairly strict rules regarding launching on their ramp and staying at the dock - which is apart from the ramp. I would review and understand them before planning a the trip. I've launched my brother's fishing boat there but don't remember the depth, or steepness of the ramp. It didn't seem sailboat friendly.
Most folks who trailer their boats to Key West Race Week have their boats launched at one of the yards. They are very good at it and the rates are reasonable.
The last two times I was there, it was June and once we had a tropical storm and the other time it was too windy to go fishing - or snorkling. The Keys are great but you still get bad weather. One trip there in college we froze our buts off. That was in April. So pack a bit more than shorts and tee shirts.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Ok, I scouted ramps a few years back. I would look at grassy key marina. they have a power wire over the parking, so you have to get close to the ramp before raising the mast, but they have parking.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=grass...,0,2101512443578019932&sqi=2&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6


that or sea bird in long key. sea bird puts you closer to channel 5 crossover...



http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sea+B...&hnear=Overseas+Hwy,+Layton,+Florida&t=h&z=19

all the other good ramps were no overnight parking...

 

[Sailor boy]

Mrs Mac has just opened a second restaurant down the street... Yummmmmmmm. RL

 

[MrBill_FLL]

that is not a bad rate if its good in the winter... (season)..

its an excellent location. but not close to much shopping. -then if you have your truck, you're set.

one other option is launch in homstead, and take the truck and trailer to the mobile home park near us1 (southern comfort trailer park). they store trailers for the race track, and of course rvs

http://www.socorv.com/gallery.htm

its not as nice as the pics (IMHO)>

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=south...rida+City,+Miami-Dade,+Florida+33034&t=h&z=17

lots to the east (and west) are empty dirt, and holds trailers for LT storage. would take a 5mile taxi ride to get back to the ramp...