Captain David’s message below is a wonderful testament to what has gone RIGHT in Marathon and Boot Key Harbor for the cruising community.

I moored at Marathon for two weeks a month or so ago. Marathon’s mooring field is a tribute to what can be done with dedicated people and supportive politicians (well except for the bath house!!!).
I anchored there ten years ago and it was a much, much different story. The anchorage was filled with derilect boats and liveaboards who didn’t know what a pump out was.
Now the derilects are gone (well mostly- if you pay your mooring fees, you can keep any kind of boat there) and the harbor water quality almost sparkles. The City Marina sponsors weekly get togethers and the morning vhf net is helpful and full of activities.
Interestingly, perhaps 1/3 of the boats there are full time long term Marathon liveaboards and many have jobs that they dinghy and bicycle to. Another third or so are cruisers there for the winter as a destination. They take their boats back home (or put them on the hard) at the end of the season and head back north. And another third (maybe much less) were like me- just passing through.
Marathon is a very cruiser friendly place. The only other place that comes close is Vero Beach.
David

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Boot Key Harbor Mooring Field and Anchroage