the keys in march

[steve dautovic]

We would like to trailer our 24 ft. sailboat to the keys in march for a month, any ideas?

 

[seadaddler]

Search

I am surprised some one has not jumped in with info but maybe try doing a search here on this forum.
I have see many discussions on what you want to do,try trailing to keys.
Nick

 

[teebutch]

I am wanting to do the same not sure what the best month or time of the year would be best.

 

[Terry in Naples]

The best time to cruise here and the keys is the fall and spring. Summers are hot and humid and rains nearly everyday and always a possibility of severe tropicalmweather. Winters are blustery with storms that come up and last for days.

 

[Sailm8]

For years we sailed the keys in our C22. My wife taught in a year round school district and had 3 weeks off every 9 weeks so we spent many of them in the keys. Part of the time we trailered from the midwest and part of the time we found a place to store the boat in the keys. The biggest problem we had was finding adequate launch ramps. Our trailer had a tongue extension and we found many of the ramps too short to launch and especially retrieve the boat. The tides were very important because we needed every inch of water.

Other than that we had a great time. Find a copy of Frank Pappy's guide to the keys. We went to his lecture at the Atlantic City Sail Expo years ago and were sold on the keys.

I should add that after weeks of living on the C22 we found a rental condo with a slip that made our trips much more comfortable.

You might also consider a little further north. Charlotte Harbor, Sanibel, Ft Myers Pine Island, Cayo Costa.

 

[seadaddler]

Trailer

Try searching with trailer sailors here and just in search here, have seen many sailors doing what you want discussing it here.
We love west coast of Fl. for sailing but the weather has it's own mind and some times it can get pretty windy in the Keys and even we have had to change our plans further north in Punta Gorda,Ft Myers,Naples too in the winter months.
It can be beautiful one week and than the next week so cool and windy you can't go boating but in the Keys so much other things to do.
Nick

 

[teebutch]

What would your best cruzing grounds be if u had 2-4 weeks be in Florida? Prefer cuuzing in sheltered waters for the wife with nice scenic sheltered anchorages.

 

[Bill1565]

What would your best cruzing grounds be if u had 2-4 weeks be in Florida? Prefer cuuzing in sheltered waters for the wife with nice scenic sheltered anchorages.

North side of the keys, in Florida Bay is where you want to be. Lower keys is more wilderness, shopping restaurants more common in upper keys.

 

[BWagner]

We spent all of last winter in Marathon at Boot Key Harbor. Had a great time there -'excellent cruising community, all the conveniences you could want along with a nice sheltered mooring field where you can secure the boat and not have to worry about it at anchor. They charge $300 a month for a mooring there and that includes use of their shoreside facilities. Excellent place for a newbie.

 

[chp]

Check out Sumners trip to the keys. Very detailed. http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/macgregor-trips-1-index.html

 

[Ken]

Keys

Stayed a month winter of 2012 at Boatman's Mangrove marina on Travernier key, quiet, great sailing. Much over looked, there is also an anchorage out in front. Hope to return this winter as well.
http://www.mangrovemarina.com

 

[steve dautovic]

keys

For years we sailed the keys in our C22. My wife taught in a year round school district and had 3 weeks off every 9 weeks so we spent many of them in the keys. Part of the time we trailered from the midwest and part of the time we found a place to store the boat in the keys. The biggest problem we had was finding adequate launch ramps. Our trailer had a tongue extension and we found many of the ramps too short to launch and especially retrieve the boat. The tides were very important because we needed every inch of water.

Other than that we had a great time. Find a copy of Frank Pappy's guide to the keys. We went to his lecture at the Atlantic City Sail Expo years ago and were sold on the keys.

I should add that after weeks of living on the C22 we found a rental condo with a slip that made our trips much more comfortable.

You might also consider a little further north. Charlotte Harbor, Sanibel, Ft Myers Pine Island, Cayo Costa.

Thanks for the info, we are currently looking for a condo with a boat slip as you suggested, good sailing to you Steve

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Steve we have done trips like this with trailerable boats a few times in the winter. The best marina is probably South Dade Marine (http://southdademarina.com/). They are setup for trailerable boats and you can leave the truck and trailer there. We even started as far north as Stuart and came down the ICW, Biscayne Bay then Bayside to Marathon with our Hunter 260. Too many bridges. The Keys are made for a small boat. Lots of scenery, sheltered, but it can be windy. We always found a place to tuck into. The trailering in winter conditions is the worst part of the trip.

I have a photo collection of one trip here, https://picasaweb.google.com/macsailor/StuartFlToTheKeys#5801164545128821666 and here, https://picasaweb.google.com/macsailor/OttawaToKeysCruise

good luck, enjoy the trip, Bob