Key West Bight Marinas
On 12/4/08, as part of a “Florida Keys Wish List,” I posed the following question:
46. There are many, good marina facilities in Key West Bight. Can someone please comment on as many of these marinas as possible: Galleon Marina, A&B Marina, Key West City Marina, Conch House Marina!
Responses follow:
Claiborne,
Your request was very timely as I arrived in Key West just yesterday on my boat Dancing Bear and am staying at the Key West Bight Marina for a week. Over the years I have stayed at all 4 marina here in the harbor; Conch Harbor Marina, Key West Bight Marina, A&B Marina, and the Galleon Marina. All are great, all are different, and it depends on your personal taste for nearby locations, your vessel type, and the general atmosphere you enjoy.
Conch Harbor Marina and Key West Bight Marina both have fixed docks, so the freeboard on your vessel might be one the the determining factors in choosing to stay at one of these marinas. Key West has a average tidal swing of about 2 feet, so getting on and off your boat might be an issue at a fixed dock. The slips at Key West Bight Marina all have full length finger peers one side, where as, the majority of slips at Conch Harbor only have finger peers that come out about 25% of the overall length of the slip. This makes backing into the slip almost a must, unless you like climbing over the bow pulpit. For those single screw vessels, sans bow thruster, the dock staff are great in assisting with a push from a RIB they have standing by if you wish however. Just call and arrange with the dock master. A nice amenity that Conch Harbor has over all but the Galleon Marina is use of pool that is on the property. Neither the Key West Bight Marina or A&B have this amenity.
A&B and Galleon marina’s both have floating docks so vessel freeboard should never be an issue, unless yours is very high and you left the boarding ladder at home. A&B does not have any finger peers so backing in is a must and you tie off from 2 outer pilings and from the one main dock. (There is a t-head at the end of the main dock, and if available, 2 – 3 slip spaces would have a floating dock along side.) In December of 2007 we stayed at A&B and found it fabulous. The dock hands are great with assisting you. Just know that you really need good boat handling skills, because you’ll be maneuvering in pretty tight spaces. Keep those side fenders out when entering or leaving because the vessels are berthed, rail to rail. The Galleon Marina is the largest and all slips have a floating finger peer along side. Because the marina stretches along the full length of the break wall from the harbor entrance, and then up to the Galleon Resort, your walk to and from your slip can be pretty long.
As I said earlier, only the Galleon and Conch Harbor have a swimming pool for slip renters and both of these marinas have the “pay for the day” wireless internet service. However, I have found the coverage area for these two internet services, reaches both the Key West Bight and A&B.
This is just a “top of mind” dump of what I will write this week for you. I will gather more information on current rates and other amenities I have forgotten about right now as I write this on Sunday morning. I was also at the Dry Tortugas in September (chased out be TS Fay, and will provide an update on it.
All the best,
Capt. Rich
M/V Dancing Bear
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Galleon Marina
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For A&B Marina
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Conch Harbor Marina
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