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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Sailing in the Florida Keys

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Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/27/2009 : 06:42:47

Has anyone got any tips and expectations on sailing in the Florida Keys, specifically off Bahia Honda and Marathon? I’m looking to trailer to the keys, put the boat in the water and spend a week trying to hit all the snorkel spots. I hope to stay anchored at night most of the time instead of staying in a marina (read cheap!) and I already have reservations for Bahia Honda State Park for a few days to clean up. Has anyone stayed at Bahia Honda with their boat? Can you anchor off the bay side? This unfortunately will not be a romantic trip; it will be to introduce the grandkids (three of them, 5 to 11 years old and very well mannered) to what lives under the surface.

Ed
HisHorse
1979 SR/SK #1393
Green Cove Springs, FL

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5445 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2009 : 08:41:20

Ed, I visited Bahia Honda and the state park a few years back. It is a very beautiful place, and I have the hat & tee-shirt to prove it. I don't know about the moorings, but as I recall they had two campsite areas on land. I recall seeing several boats near the Rte 1 bridge on the western side of the island.

They have an excellent info center right there at the park, so I would google the phone number and give them a call. Florida dept of parks has a good web presence, so you could probably start there.

The few things I do know about sailing in the Keys is that
(1) its extremely shallow and since the tidal range is only a few feet, its not much less shallow at high tide,

(2) the aids to navigation (ATONs or bouys) can be extremely confusing, especially to newbies, and it is not uncommon to find yourself on the wrong side of the ATON,

(3) the Marine Law Enforcement are very very very concerned about not disturbing the seabed, not dropping anchors on coral beds, not disturbing the seagrass, etc as they should be. Many errant boaters who dig up the grass are fined, and have to pay to remediate the beds.

As always, the locals know exactly what to expect (some of them are members of this Forum), so make sure you talk with a lot of locals before you go, talk to law enforcement beforehand, ask the park services what to expect and prepare: have the most up to date electronic and paper charts, get the guide books and have a backup plan.

Figure out where you can stay (motels) if the weather does not cooperate, find out about rainy day activities for the kids like the movies, the library, the malls, etc. Again, preparation is cheap insurance that everyone has a good time.

And enjoy!

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2009 : 11:15:44

There's also Ohio Key, the key immediately preceding Bahia Honda that has a store, marina, camping, etc. Good close place to buy stuff!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 06:28:50

Marathon is VERY cruiser friendly, take a bus the rest of the way... Cheap mooring balls, no hassle from the FWC, and everything is easy peasey.... Beyond that stuff gets sticky and very regulated and kinda ugly..

sten

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 11:31:05

I still love the keys, but they aren't what they were 40 years ago. Not much is, including me.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 12:40:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 I still love the keys, but they aren't what they were 40 years ago. Not much is, including me.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Our family had a place on Cudjoe Key starting around 1975. We sold it about 10 years ago. It is true that the Keys have developed heavily over the past several decades. Still, there is something special about them and I would love to cruise and snorkel there some time.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 13:54:55

Hi there,
I have trailerd my 25 down to the Keys several times.
the two best boat ramps are at Bahia Honda and Pennekamp park. Of course they do, taxpayer funded.
You can anchor on the bay side of Bahia Honda, you just cannot get into the marina basin from there. You would have to travel around Key west, or go down to the seven mile bridge just north of Marathon. You can't get under the bridge. You will have to sail out to the ocean side.
In the keys you are either "oceanside" or Bayside. Depending on wind direction you either have rough seas, or it is relatively calm compared to th e other side.
I highly recommend the book by Frank Papy on cruising the keys. I think it's better than the Claiborne book.
I used to base out of the La siesta marina in Islamorada. they are closed now. Going dockominium I think.
You can only switch from oceanside to bayside at the snake creek bridge, the channel five bridge, or the seven mile bridge, or go around Key west. Or drop your mast.

Have fun

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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.