Boot Key harbor in Marathon

[brak]

Has anyone been to Boot Key harbor in Marathon, in the Fl. Keys? How is it as a long term anchorage? How nice is it and can it be used as a base for good daysailing?

[camaraderie]

It is great on both accounts as the new mooring field and cleanup has gotten rid of a lot of the derelicts. PM to the Beezer as he spent much of this past winter there and can give you more up to date info.

[brak]

Great, thanks Will do!

[PBzeer]

Some good points. $250 a month (plus tax). Basic necessities within a mile.
Some bad points. Facilities haven't been updated yet. Having to dinghy in.

You get a weekly pump-out and dinghy dock privileges, as part of your monthly fee. You can also take a bus (hour and a half) to Key West for a few bucks. There's a park nearby as well.

You can be out sailing in less than an hour, and many people make short trips from there and return.

All in all, I found it a good place to be.

[brak]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Some good points. $250 a month (plus tax). Basic necessities within a mile.
Some bad points. Facilities haven't been updated yet. Having to dinghy in.

You get a weekly pump-out and dinghy dock privileges, as part of your monthly fee. You can also take a bus (hour and a half) to Key West for a few bucks. There's a park nearby as well.

You can be out sailing in less than an hour, and many people make short trips from there and return.

All in all, I found it a good place to be.

That is not a cheap mooring. Wow. How is the anchorage there? Is it possible to anchor at all? What about docking - how's the price on that (I mean, if I've got to pay - might as well, I guess).

The chart looks good - looks like just out of the harbor, south-south-east, and open water, right? Is the bridge opening time restricted?

[brak]

Also - I am reading this: Sanctuary
Is the situation with groundings really this dire? Can a boater that goes aground in a sailboat be fined that much? What are realistically the chances of that? Anyone has experience with that?

[garymcg]

They can and will fine you that much. 2 or 3 years ago a dive boat smacked the reef off of Key West, the fine was HUGE (something like 40k) and the boat wasn't all that big. Like the article says, the fine is levied per square foot of grass/coral you disturb.

Some parts of the Keys are sketchy, some not so bad. The middle Keys around Marathon are OK, but I swear to god we ran aground in a 2 person kayak about a mile offshore around mile marker 22. If you're going down there you need to mind your charts.

[brak]

Mind the charts or not - sh*t happens, and everyone runs aground at some point. Well, that means I have to think of my winter plans some more. Can't afford that much risk.

[SAILORDUDE01]

NOAA Ck. this web site out and it might help with your plans, I also going sailing this winter in the keys and I plan on staying down at key west at the Garrison bight Mooring Field on the web site it say the charge is $15.76 Daily or $276.88 monthly hope this helps

[RickQuann]

Brak ... you can live on the hook for free in the backcountry, but you'll have to be more resourceful and frugal with resources.
If you think you might want to tie up, sometimes private slips / spots on canals are available in the local newspaper upperkeysreporter-dot-com - Your best source of print and online news about the upper Florida Keys

Originally Posted by Stever407

I like Islamorada, but then again I'm a little prejudice I grew up there.

Stever407 - I too like Islamorada the best! My sister Teresa grew up there, my Mom has lived there for 40 years, my brother Tim has lived in Tavernier for 25 years and owns a business; "Island Custom Embroidery" , next door to the infamous "Whistle Stop".
It's the best water in the US, our caribbean. Here is a view from Moms condo at the Coral Harbour Club