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Extended Stay in the Keys - What's Your Preference?

8K views 46 replies 22 participants last post by  AlanBrown 
#1 ·
Looking at spending a month at either Marathon or Key West, and wondered which one would be the better choice for taking a mooring ball?
 
#2 ·
John, just for my own information, what do mooring balls cost there ? Thanks,
Paul
 
#3 ·
$250 (probably plus tax) at Marathon, $276 (with tax) at Key West is the current published monthly rate. Marathon includes one pumpout per week, not sure about Key West.
 
#7 ·
John, I assume that you haven't spent any time ashore in Key West and Marathon. Otherwise, I think you'd certainly have your own opinion.

I can't comment on mooring ball availability, other than guessing there is a low probability of getting one within the next few months. Marathon's big attraction is sport fishing, so expect lots of powerboaters and diving charter boats to be sharing waters with you.

Key West is . . . well Key West. Expensive restaurants and high costs for provisions can be expected, as well as very "colorful" local personalities. We've always stayed in B & Bs, but hung out by the wharf district quite a bit. KW is a fun town and would probably be my choice to stay if arriving by boat.
 
#8 ·
John,
As a young, fit man, you're going to need an automatic weapon to fight off the natives in Key West. I'd suggest that you shoot at their dinks (boats, not their peckers) as they approach. This way you can hack at their fingers with a knife as they try to climb over the rail. If even on manages to get aboard, well... you have two options: either take your own life, or just grit and bear it. Anyway, good night and good luck.
 
#31 ·
i'm surprised you also didn't suggest the o.p. hang a noose by the yardarm to ward off african americans.

would any other poster have objected to that hate speech or would they have remained just as silent as when you call for hacking at the fingers of gay men?

would the moderators have let such a post stand for so long?

shame on you all.
 
#9 ·
TB - I've spent no time ashore in either, hence my question, as you surmised. Marathon seems like it's better price-wise on shore though (provisions, etc). Maybe I'll just have to spend a month at both :)
 
#11 ·
The both option. ;) That's one way to do it.
 
#12 ·
I don't know what you're going to do in Marathon with no car, it's not exactly pedestrian friendly. As to provisions, if you can get ashore in Key West you're a ten minute bus ride from Winn Dixie and I doubt the provisions in Marathon can be had any cheaper.

When you say Marathon I'm assuming you mean Boot Key Harbor. I don't know if there would be any moorings available in Key West and staying at a transient slip is prohibitively expensive. Any number of cruisers anchor out at Christmas Tree Island, but there is also a large population of crusty Keys liveaboards.

It's more expensive in Key West because frankly there's no comparison, Marathon is just a strip of highway and Key West is a historic seaport with the largest collection of historic wooden buildings (1800 in the historic district) in the nation.

Anyway, if you can do it, Key West is a great town and very pedestrian friendly. As to expensive restaurants, bah, there are plenty of cheap places to eat, just stay out of the tourist traps on Duval St. and you'll do okay. Key West has a surprising number of decent restaurants for a tourist destination.

If you went to Marathon, then Key West, once you got to Key West you would say to yourself "I'm sure glad I didn't stay in Marthon!"
 
#14 ·
I'm in Fort Pierce, leaving for Miami in the morning (overnight hop). You guys going to the Bahamas? If so, where you crossing from? (Been waiting to hear from you, figured you where already in the Bahamas.)
 
#15 ·
We got a late start. Thinking of leaving from indian key or here depends on if we can get a good window behind this next front. screwed off to long in Sarasota and missed this one. Its ok though we need to pick up a few things before we go.
 
#21 ·
Hey John,
Missed you at Indian key the weather snuck up on us and we had to leave sooner than I thought. we are in Bimini now.
We liked Marathon met a lot of real nice folks It is definatly cruiser friendly
every thing you could possibly need for your boat is available there.
good place to be if your planning any repaires.
Don't miss the Overseas Lounge. raining hard gotta go scrub the boat:)
water here is .50 a gallon
 
#22 ·
I'm still in Miami anyway. Probably stay here till the front passes before heading down the Keys. 15-20 on my butt isn't my idea of fun :)

Was there space at Marathon? I think I'll stay there a month, then over to Key West.
 
#23 ·
When we left they were only 1/3 full lots of room but they say it fills up fast. when the season gets rolling. 250 a month gets you use of the dingy dock showers and once a week the pump out boat will come by and pump your holding tank out. phone number is 305-289-8877. whe you get there get ahold of the smorgass boat they well give you a welcome kit that has all the info you need in a nice canvas bag. maybe we will track you down on the way back planning on being in key west some where around the 20th of Jan.
You need a chute! 15 to 20 from behind is a ball:D
 
#24 ·
No chute and not even a pole. But I'm in no hurry. Sounds like I need to get there by next week though. Have fun and we'll hope to see ya on the way back.
 
#25 ·
John,
My brother kept a boat and an RV at Knight's Key, which is right by the bridge in Marathon. He and his family lived in the RV, and they day-sailed for grins. The place is definitely expensive, but the location and setting are awesome. Fun little tiki bar there to boot. They'd sail off in the morning, and the local yokels would be having drinks there and toast them as they departed, and they'd still be there and toast them when they returned at dusk... Some heavy drinking going on down there...
 
#26 ·
John, I've stayed at both and enjoyed one as well as the other. Marathon is more cruiser friendly but Key west was defiantly more fun....may find this link helpful... http://marinas.com/view/overview/212 we anchored in Man-O-War harbor just north of "G31". form there it's a short ride to the city dingy dock. Depending on winds you could round Flemming and take a mooring.
Bill,
 
#27 ·
We left Marathon a week or two ago and the moorings were nowhere near full. In fact about half were empty and there are a lot there. It is pretty convenient and there is easy access to stores, etc. The prices seemed about the same as on the Mainland except gas and diesel are higher and marina slips are steep. I expect it will get much busier by Christmas however.

Marathon is a good stop along the way but I am not sure I would want to stay there tooooo long.

I have not stayed on a mooring at Key West, but I know the anchoring there is a challenge. Lots of current and very crowded. Other anchorages are unprotected. Lots more to do in Key West than Marathon.
 
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