Association Forum - Florida Keys

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Florida Keys

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jesse camp
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
84 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2006 : 13:30:20

I was looking at trailering down to the upper to middle keys of Florida labor day weekend. Can anyone make a suggestion on a marina on the Atlantic side to stay for 4 nights. I will probably stay in one area and make day trips out to the reefs for snorkel/scuba diving.
I found the Holiday Isle Resort to look promising, at $50.OO per night with electric. Thanks

Jesse Camp
Orlando, Fl
5550 SK SR 25
Sea Trekker

Jesse Camp

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2006 : 14:37:02

Hi Jesse,
One of the problems in the Keys with any marina is also having a place to park your truck and trailer. Make sure you discuss that with them before you make your reservations.
Holiday Isle is a very busy place with charter fishing boats and dive boats.
John Pennekamp park has a few slips which are cheap, but they don't have a lot of ammenities, but they have a really good ramp, probably the best in the Keys. Not all marinas have a ramp, make sure you check on that too.
When I go to the Keys I stay at La Siesta Marina on the gulf side at mile marker 80.5, but that would be problematic for doing day trips to the Atlantic. I like that place as it is very laid back, quiet, and really near Shell and Lignumvitae keys which are great anchorages. I don't like noisy marinas at all.
There is a small marina right next to the Channel Five bridge which has a ramp, I forget the name of it though. Sorry.
Good luck and let us know how your trip goes.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2006 : 20:39:53

Frank, there is a Marina on the west side of channel 5, it's SeaBird Marina. We stayed there a couple of months ago. They have a ramp and launching was easy. Recovery was a little challange, but we have figured that our problem was blowing the ballast before retrieval. Next time we'll leave the bung in so that boat sits deeper on the steep ramp. It's an easy motor out of the marina into the bay and then out to the ocean via the big bridge.

Jesse, we're thinking of going down that way over labor day weekend too!

Paul.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2006 : 07:35:12

Yeah, I think it was Sea Bird.
My favorite marina, La Siesta is going dockominium in about a year, so I'll only have one more chance to visit next winter.

Edited by - on

jesse camp
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2006 : 08:19:27

Thanks for the input. I called Pennykamp, Sea Bird and Holiday Isle
and chose, Holiday Isle. The rate is $50 /day and there are onsite
amenities. I have read bad reviews mostly towards the motel facilities
We will sleep on the boat. With the AC on and the hatches closed
we should be okay. I will review when I return. Unfortunately, like
other marinas in Florida, developers are going for the more upscale resorts and condos. The number of marinas with transient slips are
going bye bye. I am already considering a inflatable for anchoring out.

Thanks
Jesse Camp
5550 87 SK SR
Sea Trekker

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2006 : 11:32:32

does Holiday Isle have a ramp and parking facilities?
That would certainly be good news as I will be looking for a new base of operations after next winter.

One other thought. If you will be sailing up to Pennekamp park and do not want to sail back, you can anchor out in Largo sound. Very protected. You can rent a mooring ball if you want to for 17 bucks. I have a plow anchor so don't worry too much about anchoring in the weeds like I did with a danforth. You could even dingy in, and sneak into the campground showers. Not that I would ever do such a thing

Good dining can be had at Lorelei and Bentleys on islamorada. Great lunches at Wahoo's.

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

Members Avatar

144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2006 : 11:56:24

Check the depth of the ramp at Holiday Isle. I remember using one either there or very near and it was very shallow for my 17' powerboat. Lastly, the parking used was not fenced in or otherwise protected.

FYI

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2006 : 14:00:20

good point.
Many ramps in the keys just don't cut it for sailboats.
Even some of the best must be timed with the tides, even though max variation in the keys is about a foot and a half to two feet
tide times vary considerably depending on where you are in the keys too.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.