Florida Keys
 

Hi

Geoff and Tina Burgess (English couple) aboard their Morgan 416 are heading from Honduras to the Florida Keys this spring. New to that area - anyone with advice on anchoring places, books to get etc. etc. would be most welcome - email tinawburgess@hotmail.com

many thanks

Geoff and Tina
S/Y S'Ours

My humble suggestion would be to check out the Keys cruising guide co-authored by Morgan Stinemetz. For updated info you might wish to check http://www.CruisersNet.net and examine the menu to screen left. Fair winds.

Geoff & Tina, We're on a 413 '73 OI w/4'3" draft. We anchor at Newfound Hbr, Tavernier, Lower Matecumbe bight inside the high bridge at Long Key, & plenty of places "bayside" with our shallow draft,-Cowpens, Sunset Cove, Backwater Sound, Tarpon Basin, Buttonwood Sound. We also cross from Hawk's channel to the bayside at Angelfish Creek on the north end of Key Largo. Does your 416 have a similar draft? There are some 4'6" spots (sand) north of Matecumbe on the bayside. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

Captainforce,

I see you have been living aboard since 72? How has it been? Considering doing the same.

I guess it's been great. I've never lived in a house as an adult so I have little to compare. I'll likely move ashore if health requires in the future,- unless I find an assisted living marina! Take care and joy, Aythya crew

recently found this website:
Boot Key Harbor

author is a local out of Marathon.

Had some stuff I'd not found in Papy's "Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys" which is pretty good and recommended to me by a local btw

My F-27 trimaran has been served well by a Fortress except in grass, and I've purchased a Manson to fix that problem. Sure like that Manson.

There are free mooring balls (6, if memory serves) on the west side of Indian Key. Also in about the same location on the Bayside. Last I knew you could hang for a week. It's also near one of the bridges between the Hawk Channel and Bayside.

Boot Key Harbor is a good central location for an extended stay.

A lot of people use the NE side of Rodrigeuz Key for anchoring, as well as Stock Island east of Key West.

Just got back from the Keys. Download OPENCPN.org and the NOAA nautical charts. It's all free. The locals are great on the radio about suggesting anchorages. (and there are a ton of places) Mostly just get out the binoculars and start looking for a bunch of mast.
At Key West I understand the military is limiting anchoring in some of the more popular areas north of Key West Bight so you might check that out when you get there.
We didn't get to spend any time in the Dry Tortugas but we were told they are awesome also. Careful studying of the charts showed a bazillion places I would have liked to check out but there were some time constraints on our trip. "Most" of the people in Key West were awesome. There's a boat yard at the entrace to Safe Harbor you definately want to avoid though.

Try the graphic Interactive Cruising Guide on www.activecaptain.com.

No charge, and pretty up-to-date.

One of the neatest places I've found is the west end of Crawdad Key along the edge of Boca Grande Channel. It's approximately 14-miles west of Key West and provides great protection from winds of nearly any direction. The snorkeling is great, lots of lobster, but lots of big, bull and hammerhead sharks during certain times of the year. I've anchored up on the channel edge inside the anchorage area and caught dinner using nothing more than a small piece of red cloth for bait.

Good Luck,

Gary :)