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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.
I will be heading to the Keys for February and March. I will be using Sunshine Key Resort/Marina as our base. It is just west of Marathon, if anyone else will be down there.
Dave, a few questions: Are you taking DD? Can you launch from the RV site? Is this the resort at Pine Key? Are you RV'ing, Cruising, or staying in one of their cabins?
Sunshine Key resort/marina is at the east end of Big Pine. We are taking DoubleD and will be staying on it for two months as we did last year. The marina is reasonable and we get to use all of the resources of the resort. We will use the marina as a base and take trips around the area.
The RV spots are over $2000.00 a month, about average for the Keys. The marina is $470.00 a month. Most marinas are 3.00/ft or more. If you are coming for the boat show, look at the South Dade Marina. They are trailersailor friendly. I went to the Miami Boat show last year and was not impressed.
Where do you store the tow vehicle and trailer while you are down there? Do they provide space and if so, does it cost extra? And, can you un-hitch your trailer and use the vehicle?
Good questions John (Kukla), that's our biggest hurdle down here in SoFla. We have stayed at Sunbird marina in Long Key, and they allow as you asked, the marina is kinda clutsy (was 2 years ago, they may have sprused it up) but it did have shore power and water at the 'slip'
Right now we're looking to see if we can wrangle time off for peggy to allow us to take JD down to pine key, but like you, we need more info .... "input! ... input! Stephanie"
They allow you to store your truck and trailer there as long as you have dock space. They won't let you put your boat in and leave your truck/trailer for an extended period. The marina is primarily for the use of the trailer park. There are only a few people staying on their boats.
OT: Having been to Fl a couple doz times for week or less jaunts, I know i want to snowbird in a few years when retired, but am not sure where or how (even consider non-water states?). Want to be efficient about it, dont want to be in a dump, but dont need luxury by any means. Figuring 3 months a year for starters. Living on a small to mid size boat with ac is acceptable, depending on water calmness/sleep-ability and neighbors (party's all nite, barking dogs won't cut it).
I know this is kinda OT, but is there any web sites that anyone knows of that discuss snow-birding options that are NOT run by realtors and give honest assessments?
First, you won't need AC in the winter. If you stay down in the Keys, it seems to be less of a partying crowd in the winter. Your best bet would be asking people in diffent boards for advise. I think you will get more of an honest appraisal of different marinas. If I wasn't at Sunshine Key marina, I would be at Marathon City Marina's mooring field.
Small marinas and mooring fields are cheaper as long as you don't need electric hookup. A solar panel and or wind generator will keep you in electric on the hook.
Thanks DD. You mentioned moorings available. Are they relatively quiet (eg - does the fishing fleet roll by a 4:30 am?), is there shore facilities and laundry?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Sunshine Key resort/marina is at the east end of Big Pine<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Weeeeeell, not really. It's about 5 miles ENE on Ohio Key with Bahia Honda Key immediately to it's west.
I don't know about a fishing fleet in Marathon. I slept through the construction boat leaving Sunshine Key Marina leaving every morning last year. You will probably have some kind of noise anywhere you go, It just depend how out of joint if makes you. If noise is an issue for you, you will probably want to anchor out, away from civilization.
DaveR - East of Big Pine is good enough for government work. It is also west of Marathon, of course the Seven Mile bridge separates them.
DaveR, That's alright, I was giving a general response. And by the way Bahia Hondo and Sunshine key are both part of Big Pine Key. They use Big Pine Key as their address. Sunshine Key (Ohio Key) is the eastern most part of Big Pine Key before you get to the Seven Mile Bridge.
Actually Dave T, Each Key is it's own entity. Much in the way that I live in Volusia County, FL but not in an incorporated area , my address is called South Daytona because that's the closest Post Office, Big Pine Key is the closest Post office there.
My wife and I plan on going to the Miami show, partly because we've never done it, and partly because a Korean organization that has an Enviro show and a Boat show wants to meet us there. We do plan on hitting the Keys shortly thereafter. We draw 6'6" and are 39 feet long. We could use any heads up info you all know about.
sten DPO '82 C25, FK SR SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Currently in Ft. Laud...
Redviking, You couldn't use our marina with your draft, we barely fit with 3' draft. You would probably like Marathon City Marina. Plenty of services and you might be able to get a buoy or some dock space.
We did the Miami show last year, we won't be doing it again.
Our new solar panel and Engel frig are doing great, plenty of power and cold beer.
I have been down here two weeks and went through two large rain storms with wind gusts over 30mph. My solar panel mount and my enclosure have help up well. And for those who worry about leaks, I have not had a leak so far and that included one whole day of rain.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by britinusa</i> <br />Sten, when are you going to be in our area? (Fort Lauderdale FL)
ooops, forgot I had posted here. I'm moving to Dinner Key in Miami today for a mooring ball while I fly to Boston for some work.
sten <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sten we will be heading south this Friday (We are flying in so we won’t have our boat ). First stop will be a place called the “Hammocks” in Marathon. Monday we will be heading over to the Fort Myers area, to visit friends. We will finally be ending up in Miami Beach (Salara Surf Side) on the 25 & 26th. Don’t know if we can hook up, but would love to share a cold one with you if possible. Renzo gave me your number, so I’ll try (It’s not good to drink alone )
ooops, forgot I had posted here. I'm moving to Dinner Key in Miami today for a mooring ball while I fly to Boston for some work.
sten <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sten we will be heading south this Friday (We are flying in so we won’t have our boat ). First stop will be a place called the “Hammocks” in Marathon. Monday we will be heading over to the Fort Myers area, to visit friends. We will finally be ending up in Miami Beach (Salara Surf Side) on the 25 & 26th. Don’t know if we can hook up, but would love to share a cold one with you if possible. Renzo gave me your number, so I’ll try (It’s not good to drink alone ) <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We'll probably still be there. I think I am coming back on or about the 25th.
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.