Whats the best times to holiday around the Keys for a cruising holiday?
Moonie
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Florida Keys
Florida Keys
Looking for a change next year.
Whats the best times to holiday around the Keys for a cruising holiday?
Moonie
Whats the best times to holiday around the Keys for a cruising holiday?
Moonie
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Billy
- First Officer
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:50 pm
- Location: Dunn NC 2001-26X140 "XX"(DoubleCross)
Do you really want a change?
Plan on being at Key West near the last of October--FantasyFest. (Note: not for minors.) If you want to return to reality, weigh anchor and move up to the next key or head west to the Tortugas. Five of us (3 X boats) did it a couple of years ago and had a blast.
As for hurricane predictions--that's the way I take them---predictions. Do your research, plan, watch the weather and go. At least with the Mac, you can power up, get it back on the trailer and get out of there.
Plan on being at Key West near the last of October--FantasyFest. (Note: not for minors.) If you want to return to reality, weigh anchor and move up to the next key or head west to the Tortugas. Five of us (3 X boats) did it a couple of years ago and had a blast.
As for hurricane predictions--that's the way I take them---predictions. Do your research, plan, watch the weather and go. At least with the Mac, you can power up, get it back on the trailer and get out of there.
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
- Posts: 2166
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
The hurricane season officially started started yesterday, June 1st. Two years ago I did Homestead to Bimini, last year Key West to the Dry Tortugas, both in June/July. I'll be doing Bimini again with 23 other boats, mostly Macs, in a little over two weeks. In July Billy's headed for the Abacos with a group of three other Macs.You may have to wait until December after the hurricane season to decide to go.
Sorry to sound like I'm poking fun, but avoiding FL and the Keys during hurricane season seems to me about equivalent to staying away from Colorado ski resorts from December to April because there's liable to be a snowstorm.
That's why we have weather reports and trailer boats. In twelve hours we can easily be 4-600 miles away from a projected hurricane track. Pay attention, plan ahead, use discretion and have a blast in the Keys. I certainly plan to do so.
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John McDonough
- First Officer
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 8:57 am
- Location: pittsburgh pa..2000-26X--Honda50
Worst Case Senerio...If I trailer my 26X to Southerb Fla. and park it. I sail/motor out to key west. I hear a report that a hurricane is coming. How long would it take me to get back to the trailer, and how much fuel. then when its on the trailer, how much traffic. Our mayor in a recent discussion on evacuating the city in case of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. I replied, we alrerady have a plan, its called rush hour.
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Dan Cowett
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:52 am
- Location: N.C.
Florida Keys trip log - have fun
If you would like photos or more info email me @ dcowett@triad.rr.com
Trip Log for New Adventure 5/10/02 5/25/02
Florida Lower Keys
Days 1&2 Fri. 5/10/02, Sat. 5/11/02:
Bonnie and I headed out from Greensboro N.C. fully provisioned for a 2 week trip to the lower Keys of Florida. We stopped for the night in Palm Beach and arrived at Sunshine Key Marina on Ohio Key, Saturday at 2:00pm. The weather was looking bad so we decided to have lunch at the Seven Mile Bridge Grill back in Marathon (great Mahi burgers!) before we rigged the boat.
We secured the boat in our slip at about 4:30 and had a great evening, relaxing, grilling steaks and socializing with local folks fishing at the campground.
Day 3 Sun. 5/12/02:
We headed out of the marina with a warning buzzer on the outboard telling me the motor was overheating (DAMN!!). After making several phone calls and finally getting some good advice from the Harbor Master (John George a wealth of information), we called Dock Side repair and got on his list for first thing Monday morning. Meanwhile John George helped me plot a course for a back country rout we were considering for the last part of our trip north of the lower keys. There are no Marinas or provisions in that part of the world very secluded well talk about that later.
Day 4 Mon. 5/13/02:
Dockside Repair man Chris showed up promptly at 8:30 as promised and after 4 hrs of labor and running for parts, a failed test run and more parts, the problem was fixed. The water pump impellor was fried as well as some associated parts due to the heat generated. A hint to owners of Honda 50s change the impellor every 100 hrs of use. Impellor is the weak link. O.K. Enough of that stuff.
Bonnie and I had a great stay at Sunshine Key but were ready to leave on our adventure. We set out and anchored on the north side of Bahia Honda Key. We swam, snorkeled, and were paid a visit by a sailor and his dog from the only other boat in the anchorage. We had an excellent sunset, grilled steaks, great wine, a truly wonderful evening.
(Photo #1 sunset@ Ohio Key)
Day 5 Tues. 5/14/02:
Temperatures in the upper 80s, no wind and flat seas The Ocean looked like a turquoise lake. We set our course for Bahia Honda State Park Marina only accessible from the Atlantic side by sailboat. We motored the whole way east to Moser Channel, crossed under the Seven Mile Bridge, and west back to Bahia Honda. The beauty of this place cannot be understated. We tied up at the Marina, snorkeled off the beach, walked up to the bridge and saw several large Sharks, Barracudas, Rays, and Tarpon, and met a lot of interesting people cruisers who have been on the water for months, a couple getting married on the beach, crispy sun fried locals just doin their thing. You gotta love it. The view off the bridge is considered one of the best in the Keys. Great sunset.
(Photo #2 Bahia Honda lagoon)
(Photo #3 Sunset over Big Pine Isl.)
Day 6 Wed. 5/15/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, clear skies, wind 5 to10 knots, 2 seas. We stocked up on ice and set our course for an anchorage in Newfound Harbor. We had a wonderful day sailing downwind most of the way. We drooped the hook in the lee of a small un-named mangrove 24.38.9N/081.23.1W that we nicknamed Flappy Duck Isl. due to an enormous amount of Cormorants, Egrets and Cranes living on this small patch of vegetation. The sounds coming from shore were like the sound track from Jurassic Park. We snorkeled, and swam, surprised to see lots of new choral heads blooming in shallow water. Cool looking stuff. We grilled some delicious cheeseburgers and had a great sunset. Getting dialed in on the Florida Keys.
(Photo # 4 Flappy Duck Isl. Newfound Harbor)
Day 7 Thurs. 5/16/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, clear skies, wind 5 to10 knots, 2 to 3 seas.
We stopped at Dolphin Marina on Little Torch Key for fuel and ice before heading out to the main channel. Our next stop was to be about 16 miles southwest at Geiger Key. Sailing conditions were near perfect. Geiger is advertised as the Back Side of Paradise. The marina channel is not well marked and their radio didnt work, I called them by cell phone to get some directions and they sent a guy who was sitting at the bar out in a dingy to guide us in. It would have been nearly impossible for someone to get across the shoals and through the mangroves otherwise 3 maximum depth at low tide. We saw 2 large brown Sting Rays swim directly under the boat (crystal clear water) as we headed toward the channel. What a Cool Spot!!!! Slip cost was $20.00 per night cheap for the Keys. This place was maintained by the Navy in the 40s and 50s and is now a campground/marina with a restaurant, bar, clean showers, power, water, fuel, ice. We had a nice stay there tied up against the old, padded concrete sea wall w/ a free air show (BIG FAST FIGHTER PLANES COOL!!!) from the nearby Air Base that starts promptly at 8:00 am every day. We met some interesting characters here folks that just decided to step off the mainstream of life and just kind of Hang Out living on their boats in the harbor, fish, snorkel and live the good life. We met the owners of this place and they told us they were planning to mark the channel in the near future.
(Photo # 5 New Adventure docked @ Geiger Key Marina)
Days 8,9,10 Fri. 5/17/02, Sat. 5/18/02, Sun. 5/19/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, partly cloudy skies, wind 10 to15 knots, 2 to 4 seas.
Destination Key West We arrived at Conch Harbor Marina in Key West Bight at about 3:00pm, tied the boat up, Bonnie and I had the quintessential cocktail and went for a walk that took us to Mallory Square for the Sunset Festival, sight seeing, bar hopping, shopping and people watching for the next 2 days. Key West has everything, no details necessary just go there and have a good time. We only planned on spending Friday and Saturday night there but the weather turned bad and we had to stay an extra day if you have to be stuck somewhere Key West isnt a bad place. The slip cost was $60.00 per night (off season rate). The Conch Harbor Marina is very nice - However - it does not offer good protection from the main channel or the weather for small boats. During the nightly storms that occurred we were constantly being bashed up against the sea wall slip we were tied to, and the wakes from large vessels entering the harbor caused continuous rocking that made it hard to get a good nights sleep. Garrison Bight is another choice that is cheaper and appears to be well protected from the weather and wakes. I chose Conch Harbor due to the close proximity to town.
We had a great time in Key West but Bonnie and I were ready to get back out on the hook and explore the Back Country of the lower keys.
Day 11 Mon. 5/20/02:
Temperature in mid 80s, partly cloudy skies, wind 10 to15 knots, near shore waters - light chop.
Light chop my ass. NOAH radio is not always accurate in all places as we found out. We headed northwest out of Key West into the main shipping channel and then northeast from 20.40N/81.50W on a 22 mile journey to the Tarpon Belly Keys northwest of Kemp Channel. Fickle easterly winds and 2 to 3 foot seas kept the wind on the bow almost the whole way made for a wet, bumpy ride. We rounded Sawyer Key, headed southeast @ .126, nearly ran aground a couple of times before we found enough water to get to the lee side (SW) of Crane Key. We dropped the hook and started to seriously relax for the first time in days. The water was as flat as a N.C. fishing pond. I decided to do a little fishing while Bonnie laughed at my impatience because the fish were not cooperating. The only thing I caught was a good buzz. After dinner we sat and looked at the stars in the clear sky and listened to Tarpon rolling in the channel. This Back Country Rout as they call it - is absolutely gorgeous but there are no marinas, provisions, channel markers, shoal markers, (except for what the locals have installed). If you decide to take this rout you need to bring everything you need for a couple of days.
(Photo # 6 Sunburst Sunset Crane Key)
Day 12 Tues. 5/21/02:
Temperature in upper 70s, cloudy skies, scattered showers, east wind 10 to 15 knots, near shore waters 3 to 4 w/ 2 swells.
While having our morning coffee Bonnie noticed that we were stopped swinging on the anchor and were moving backwards. The increased wind caused us to come unhooked and drag anchor. I let out another 40of rode and tried to re set it no good. As it turned out we hooked a clump of sea grass and it fouled the anchor. Most of the bottom in this area is soft mud/sand and sea grass. Our primary ground tackle (generally never lets us down) 10 lb Super Hooker w/ 20of chain wasnt up for the job.
We got resituated and headed northwest into the main channel and northeast @ .069 for a bumpy, wet ride with wind and waves on the nose to FL G 4s 16ft 4M 57 24.50.4/81.25.8 marking the entrance to Big Spanish Channel. We then headed south following the channel markers passing through a couple of showers, shallow water (some 3 in the channel) until we reached the lee side of Crawl Key. Here the Super Hooker failed to set after 2 attempts time to bring out the big gun 14lb Delta. Perfect for this type of bottom. It set on the 1st attempt and stayed set. We snorkeled for a while seeing lots of new choral blooms, Sea Anemone, and some other cool looking creatures living in the sea grass. After a relaxing dinner with some delicious cold beverages (block ice holds up really well), we watched the sun set, listened to the local radio station plays mostly 70 music. An approaching storm motivated me to set our other 2 anchors. We went to bed, watched a video movie (weve been watching pre taped movies every night) and got a good night sleep.
Day 13 Wed. 5/22/02:
Temperature in upper 70s to mid 80s, partly sunny skies, scattered showers, east wind 15 to 20 knots, moderate chop in bay area.
My Mac 26x New Adventure does not like 20 knot winds, neither do I, so we sailed off under a reefed main and 110 jib furled to about 50% to our final destination back to Sunshine Key Marina on Ohio Key where we started. This was by far our best sailing day yet. The boat was totally in control, wind on the beam most of the way. I could walk away from the wheel for long moments to adjust sail trim, use the bathroom, fix a cold one, take photos, and remain on course. It doesnt get much better than that! We sighted a couple of Dolphins near Bahia Honda, and headed for the marina channel @ Ohio Key.
We are both totally exhausted from our Lower Keys sailing adventure and looking forward to a decent shower and a good shave (Im looking pretty gnarly right about now).
(Photo # 7 Dan and Bonnie relaxing in the New Adventure Mac26x.)
Day 14 Thurs. 5/23/02:
Temperature in mid to upper 80s, w/ sunny skies.
After saying goodbyes to some folks at the marina we loaded New Adventure on her trailer and headed for home 970 miles to Greensboro N.C.
This trip has been an excellent adventure!!!
Well thats it except for all the goofy things that happened (like having one too many and falling off the deck into the cabin one night, etc. etc. etc.) and many other funny mishaps that I dont really care to talk about.
Cheers!
Dan Cowett and Bonnie Chase from New Adventure Mac 26x.
Heres some info:
Sunshine Key Marina and RV resort 305-872-2217 - is an excellent spot for a trailer sailor to put in. slip is $1.50 per and (somewhat) secure truck and trailer storage is $8.00 per day. These are the best prices I could find in the Lower Keys. We had no problems there. They have a great campground, full service marina, pool, lunch counter, and scuba diving. For information on sailing the local waters talk to Harbor Master - John George. He sails a re furbished 68 Hawaiian Rigged Cal 22 and is a wealth of information.
Bahia Honda park 305-872-3210 has a great little marina w/ power, water, ice, lunch counter and showers. Slip fee is $1.50 per foot. The park itself is gorgeous and offers a lot. A great place to stop for a day or more.
Geiger Key 305-296-3553 is a fascinating backwater marina RV resort that is a little bit of a challenge to get to from Hawk Channel but if you can find your way in (call by cell phone their radio was defunct when we were there) youll have a good time. The marina offers fuel, power, water, showers, cable, restaurant beer bar. Slip fee is $20.00 for a 26 boat cheap for the Keys.
Conch Harbor Marina in Key West Bight 305-294-2933 is a little pricey. It cost us $60.00 per night but it puts you right next to the action and in walking distance of all the attractions Key West has to offer. We had the smallest boat there and all the boaters we met were very pleasant. Boat people are just good folks. All amenities and provisions can be found here.
Trip Log for New Adventure 5/10/02 5/25/02
Florida Lower Keys
Days 1&2 Fri. 5/10/02, Sat. 5/11/02:
Bonnie and I headed out from Greensboro N.C. fully provisioned for a 2 week trip to the lower Keys of Florida. We stopped for the night in Palm Beach and arrived at Sunshine Key Marina on Ohio Key, Saturday at 2:00pm. The weather was looking bad so we decided to have lunch at the Seven Mile Bridge Grill back in Marathon (great Mahi burgers!) before we rigged the boat.
We secured the boat in our slip at about 4:30 and had a great evening, relaxing, grilling steaks and socializing with local folks fishing at the campground.
Day 3 Sun. 5/12/02:
We headed out of the marina with a warning buzzer on the outboard telling me the motor was overheating (DAMN!!). After making several phone calls and finally getting some good advice from the Harbor Master (John George a wealth of information), we called Dock Side repair and got on his list for first thing Monday morning. Meanwhile John George helped me plot a course for a back country rout we were considering for the last part of our trip north of the lower keys. There are no Marinas or provisions in that part of the world very secluded well talk about that later.
Day 4 Mon. 5/13/02:
Dockside Repair man Chris showed up promptly at 8:30 as promised and after 4 hrs of labor and running for parts, a failed test run and more parts, the problem was fixed. The water pump impellor was fried as well as some associated parts due to the heat generated. A hint to owners of Honda 50s change the impellor every 100 hrs of use. Impellor is the weak link. O.K. Enough of that stuff.
Bonnie and I had a great stay at Sunshine Key but were ready to leave on our adventure. We set out and anchored on the north side of Bahia Honda Key. We swam, snorkeled, and were paid a visit by a sailor and his dog from the only other boat in the anchorage. We had an excellent sunset, grilled steaks, great wine, a truly wonderful evening.
(Photo #1 sunset@ Ohio Key)
Day 5 Tues. 5/14/02:
Temperatures in the upper 80s, no wind and flat seas The Ocean looked like a turquoise lake. We set our course for Bahia Honda State Park Marina only accessible from the Atlantic side by sailboat. We motored the whole way east to Moser Channel, crossed under the Seven Mile Bridge, and west back to Bahia Honda. The beauty of this place cannot be understated. We tied up at the Marina, snorkeled off the beach, walked up to the bridge and saw several large Sharks, Barracudas, Rays, and Tarpon, and met a lot of interesting people cruisers who have been on the water for months, a couple getting married on the beach, crispy sun fried locals just doin their thing. You gotta love it. The view off the bridge is considered one of the best in the Keys. Great sunset.
(Photo #2 Bahia Honda lagoon)
(Photo #3 Sunset over Big Pine Isl.)
Day 6 Wed. 5/15/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, clear skies, wind 5 to10 knots, 2 seas. We stocked up on ice and set our course for an anchorage in Newfound Harbor. We had a wonderful day sailing downwind most of the way. We drooped the hook in the lee of a small un-named mangrove 24.38.9N/081.23.1W that we nicknamed Flappy Duck Isl. due to an enormous amount of Cormorants, Egrets and Cranes living on this small patch of vegetation. The sounds coming from shore were like the sound track from Jurassic Park. We snorkeled, and swam, surprised to see lots of new choral heads blooming in shallow water. Cool looking stuff. We grilled some delicious cheeseburgers and had a great sunset. Getting dialed in on the Florida Keys.
(Photo # 4 Flappy Duck Isl. Newfound Harbor)
Day 7 Thurs. 5/16/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, clear skies, wind 5 to10 knots, 2 to 3 seas.
We stopped at Dolphin Marina on Little Torch Key for fuel and ice before heading out to the main channel. Our next stop was to be about 16 miles southwest at Geiger Key. Sailing conditions were near perfect. Geiger is advertised as the Back Side of Paradise. The marina channel is not well marked and their radio didnt work, I called them by cell phone to get some directions and they sent a guy who was sitting at the bar out in a dingy to guide us in. It would have been nearly impossible for someone to get across the shoals and through the mangroves otherwise 3 maximum depth at low tide. We saw 2 large brown Sting Rays swim directly under the boat (crystal clear water) as we headed toward the channel. What a Cool Spot!!!! Slip cost was $20.00 per night cheap for the Keys. This place was maintained by the Navy in the 40s and 50s and is now a campground/marina with a restaurant, bar, clean showers, power, water, fuel, ice. We had a nice stay there tied up against the old, padded concrete sea wall w/ a free air show (BIG FAST FIGHTER PLANES COOL!!!) from the nearby Air Base that starts promptly at 8:00 am every day. We met some interesting characters here folks that just decided to step off the mainstream of life and just kind of Hang Out living on their boats in the harbor, fish, snorkel and live the good life. We met the owners of this place and they told us they were planning to mark the channel in the near future.
(Photo # 5 New Adventure docked @ Geiger Key Marina)
Days 8,9,10 Fri. 5/17/02, Sat. 5/18/02, Sun. 5/19/02:
Temperature in upper 80s, partly cloudy skies, wind 10 to15 knots, 2 to 4 seas.
Destination Key West We arrived at Conch Harbor Marina in Key West Bight at about 3:00pm, tied the boat up, Bonnie and I had the quintessential cocktail and went for a walk that took us to Mallory Square for the Sunset Festival, sight seeing, bar hopping, shopping and people watching for the next 2 days. Key West has everything, no details necessary just go there and have a good time. We only planned on spending Friday and Saturday night there but the weather turned bad and we had to stay an extra day if you have to be stuck somewhere Key West isnt a bad place. The slip cost was $60.00 per night (off season rate). The Conch Harbor Marina is very nice - However - it does not offer good protection from the main channel or the weather for small boats. During the nightly storms that occurred we were constantly being bashed up against the sea wall slip we were tied to, and the wakes from large vessels entering the harbor caused continuous rocking that made it hard to get a good nights sleep. Garrison Bight is another choice that is cheaper and appears to be well protected from the weather and wakes. I chose Conch Harbor due to the close proximity to town.
We had a great time in Key West but Bonnie and I were ready to get back out on the hook and explore the Back Country of the lower keys.
Day 11 Mon. 5/20/02:
Temperature in mid 80s, partly cloudy skies, wind 10 to15 knots, near shore waters - light chop.
Light chop my ass. NOAH radio is not always accurate in all places as we found out. We headed northwest out of Key West into the main shipping channel and then northeast from 20.40N/81.50W on a 22 mile journey to the Tarpon Belly Keys northwest of Kemp Channel. Fickle easterly winds and 2 to 3 foot seas kept the wind on the bow almost the whole way made for a wet, bumpy ride. We rounded Sawyer Key, headed southeast @ .126, nearly ran aground a couple of times before we found enough water to get to the lee side (SW) of Crane Key. We dropped the hook and started to seriously relax for the first time in days. The water was as flat as a N.C. fishing pond. I decided to do a little fishing while Bonnie laughed at my impatience because the fish were not cooperating. The only thing I caught was a good buzz. After dinner we sat and looked at the stars in the clear sky and listened to Tarpon rolling in the channel. This Back Country Rout as they call it - is absolutely gorgeous but there are no marinas, provisions, channel markers, shoal markers, (except for what the locals have installed). If you decide to take this rout you need to bring everything you need for a couple of days.
(Photo # 6 Sunburst Sunset Crane Key)
Day 12 Tues. 5/21/02:
Temperature in upper 70s, cloudy skies, scattered showers, east wind 10 to 15 knots, near shore waters 3 to 4 w/ 2 swells.
While having our morning coffee Bonnie noticed that we were stopped swinging on the anchor and were moving backwards. The increased wind caused us to come unhooked and drag anchor. I let out another 40of rode and tried to re set it no good. As it turned out we hooked a clump of sea grass and it fouled the anchor. Most of the bottom in this area is soft mud/sand and sea grass. Our primary ground tackle (generally never lets us down) 10 lb Super Hooker w/ 20of chain wasnt up for the job.
We got resituated and headed northwest into the main channel and northeast @ .069 for a bumpy, wet ride with wind and waves on the nose to FL G 4s 16ft 4M 57 24.50.4/81.25.8 marking the entrance to Big Spanish Channel. We then headed south following the channel markers passing through a couple of showers, shallow water (some 3 in the channel) until we reached the lee side of Crawl Key. Here the Super Hooker failed to set after 2 attempts time to bring out the big gun 14lb Delta. Perfect for this type of bottom. It set on the 1st attempt and stayed set. We snorkeled for a while seeing lots of new choral blooms, Sea Anemone, and some other cool looking creatures living in the sea grass. After a relaxing dinner with some delicious cold beverages (block ice holds up really well), we watched the sun set, listened to the local radio station plays mostly 70 music. An approaching storm motivated me to set our other 2 anchors. We went to bed, watched a video movie (weve been watching pre taped movies every night) and got a good night sleep.
Day 13 Wed. 5/22/02:
Temperature in upper 70s to mid 80s, partly sunny skies, scattered showers, east wind 15 to 20 knots, moderate chop in bay area.
My Mac 26x New Adventure does not like 20 knot winds, neither do I, so we sailed off under a reefed main and 110 jib furled to about 50% to our final destination back to Sunshine Key Marina on Ohio Key where we started. This was by far our best sailing day yet. The boat was totally in control, wind on the beam most of the way. I could walk away from the wheel for long moments to adjust sail trim, use the bathroom, fix a cold one, take photos, and remain on course. It doesnt get much better than that! We sighted a couple of Dolphins near Bahia Honda, and headed for the marina channel @ Ohio Key.
We are both totally exhausted from our Lower Keys sailing adventure and looking forward to a decent shower and a good shave (Im looking pretty gnarly right about now).
(Photo # 7 Dan and Bonnie relaxing in the New Adventure Mac26x.)
Day 14 Thurs. 5/23/02:
Temperature in mid to upper 80s, w/ sunny skies.
After saying goodbyes to some folks at the marina we loaded New Adventure on her trailer and headed for home 970 miles to Greensboro N.C.
This trip has been an excellent adventure!!!
Well thats it except for all the goofy things that happened (like having one too many and falling off the deck into the cabin one night, etc. etc. etc.) and many other funny mishaps that I dont really care to talk about.
Cheers!
Dan Cowett and Bonnie Chase from New Adventure Mac 26x.
Heres some info:
Sunshine Key Marina and RV resort 305-872-2217 - is an excellent spot for a trailer sailor to put in. slip is $1.50 per and (somewhat) secure truck and trailer storage is $8.00 per day. These are the best prices I could find in the Lower Keys. We had no problems there. They have a great campground, full service marina, pool, lunch counter, and scuba diving. For information on sailing the local waters talk to Harbor Master - John George. He sails a re furbished 68 Hawaiian Rigged Cal 22 and is a wealth of information.
Bahia Honda park 305-872-3210 has a great little marina w/ power, water, ice, lunch counter and showers. Slip fee is $1.50 per foot. The park itself is gorgeous and offers a lot. A great place to stop for a day or more.
Geiger Key 305-296-3553 is a fascinating backwater marina RV resort that is a little bit of a challenge to get to from Hawk Channel but if you can find your way in (call by cell phone their radio was defunct when we were there) youll have a good time. The marina offers fuel, power, water, showers, cable, restaurant beer bar. Slip fee is $20.00 for a 26 boat cheap for the Keys.
Conch Harbor Marina in Key West Bight 305-294-2933 is a little pricey. It cost us $60.00 per night but it puts you right next to the action and in walking distance of all the attractions Key West has to offer. We had the smallest boat there and all the boaters we met were very pleasant. Boat people are just good folks. All amenities and provisions can be found here.