Skipper Perez is looking for a lost stove. Can you help? Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. For more details and nice photos from Boca Chita Key, see /?p=136873
I love BOCA chita, my husband left the campchef stove , if someone found it and wants to return it please e mail 305-740-9522 ext 158 Carmen Perez
The Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina.
An affordable alternative to a marina in Key West or Stock Island are the mooring balls at Garrison Bight Marina in Key West. The overnight rate is in the neighborhood of $20, I’ve ball parked that because I always go for the monthly rate $323. and change. You need a dinghy for a 10 to 15 minute ride in to the dinghy docks. Included in the fee is a: bathhouse with laundry facilities, showers and restrooms, parking space for car and dinghy. There are bicycle racks, bikes not included in fact it is a dangerous place to leave a bike cabled and locked. Best to sleep next to bike I have had four stolen. It is a mile walk into town and the bus station and stop is two buildings to the north. James T. Holtzinger
This expansion of pumpout services in the Marathon area is certainly good news for cruisers. Our thanks to Chuck Baier and Susan Landry for forwarding this article by William Axford in KeyInfoNet.com.
The city of Marathon is looking to expand wastewater services for boats by providing Monroe County with a location to receive vessel waste for the Middle Keys. Should a location be provided, the city will most likely be working with Key Colony-based company Pumpout USA, which is contracted with the county to remove vessel waste. Chuck and Susan The Great Book Of Anchorages Navigation Notices Our Blogs Trawler Beach House Voyages of Sea Trek
Marathon to expand wastewater services for vessels Boaters are not charged for pumpouts BY WILLIAM AXFORD waxford@keynoter.comSeptember 24, 2014 The city of Marathon is looking to expand wastewater services for boats by providing Monroe County with a location to receive vessel waste for the Middle Keys. Should a location be provided, the city will most likely be working with Key Colony-based company Pumpout USA, which is contracted with the county to remove vessel waste. At Tuesday’s city council meeting at the Marathon Government Center, council members were expected to approve a resolution amending the city’s wastewater utility fees and rates, implementing a $112 a month fee to dispose of waste at a city facility. There is also a 14-cent-per-gallon surcharge.
`The city is trying to make sure we have a way for vessels to remove their untreated sewage within the areas of the Keys,’ said Zully Hemeyer, head of the city’s utility department. `We do not want to discharge waste near shore waters because of the potential health risks. This is just another way we can ensure the water is kept clean.’
Our thanks to Chuck and Susan for sending this notice of the re-opening of Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club. Open the link below for more on this beautiful resort.
For those of you familiar with Marathon in the Florida Keys, you know that Faro Blanco Resort has been closed for a very long time. It has been announced that the all new Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club is scheduled to open in December. The Great Book Of Anchorages <http://www.tgboa.com/> Navigation Notices <http://www.marinalife.com/navigationUpdates/index.cfm> Our Blogs Trawler Beach House <http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/> Voyages of Sea Trek <http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/>">http://www.faroblancoresort.com/marina Chuck Baier and Susan Landry
As detailed in this article by Adam Linhardt in KeysNews.com, this is a real No-Brainer, and surely no SSECN reader would ever be guilty of abusing the use of emergency flares. However, it is a good topic of conversation to have in public places where some of the less-informed might overhear!
False flare cases plague Coast Guard BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff alinhardt@keysnews.com
Misuse of emergency marine flares is giving the Coast Guard headaches and costing taxpayers a ton of money, the agency said last week. Since June, the Coast Guard Seventh District headquartered in Miami, of which Sector Key West is included, reported more than 60 flare sightings. Watchstanders then launched air and boat crews in every instance at a total cost of more than $5 million, according to the Coast Guard. Each search typically costs between $60,000 and $90,000 when fuel and manpower needs are totaled, according to data released by the Coast Guard. “Shooting a flare in a nondistress situation is no different than dialing 911 and hanging up,” said Capt. Todd Coggeshall, chief of response management for the Coast Guard Seventh District.
One of our readers is looking for recommendations for an insurer for a 40ft trimaran while in Florida. While SSECN is happy to pass along this request for advice, we cannot serve as a broker or even a kiosk for various insurers. Please offer Skipper Laletin your suggestions via a personal phone call to the number listed below or by email at chrislaletin@mac.com. Thanks!
I recently relocated my 40 foot trimaran from the Chesapeake to Florida for this winter. Enough freezing snow last year and I don’t want my baby freezing again. Progressive Insurance will not renew my policy in Florida since i’m over 35 feet. Boat US wants 10% of my policy value as a premium. Any suggestions on an insurance company that will insure a 40 foot trimaran. I have never made a claim and never used my Boat US towing. JAZ is presently stored on the hard in Saint Augustine. I can be contacted directly by text or voice call at 808 seven seven two 2133. Chris Laletin
Marathon Marina and Boat Yard lines the northern banks of the western Boot Key Harbor approach channel, west of the now permanently open bascule bridge.
Great Marina! We have pulled our trailerable Macgregor Sailboat from Atlanta to the Marathon Marina for the past 3 years. Each visit is a great one. The staff takes such good care of us, even though we are not a mega sailboat. Wifi works well throughout the marina. There is a great restaurant with wonderful food right on the premises. They have updated their pool to a lovely saltwater pool (no more blood shot eyes from chlorine). There are grocery stores, a West Marine, and plenty more restaurants, well within driving distance or a $5 taxi drive. On our last visit we needed a haul out due to engine trouble. The crew operating the machinery were very professional. They took such great care of our boat and the rate was reasonable. On our first visit to the Marina, my wife was getting ready to toss me a stern line when she fell into the cockpit of our boat and broke her foot. Judy from the office was such a help. She instructed us where we could get medical attention and offered to help in any way we needed. For those who wish to attend a worship service on Sundays, there is a great church just down the road called Marathon Baptist Church. The Pastor is very caring and the congregation of locals are welcoming and warm hearted. We continue to return knowing we will enjoy every day of our visit to this wonderful marina.
Sunset Cove is one of the most popular anchorages in the northern Florid Keys. This haven is located on the waters of southeastern Buttonwood Sound, in charted Sunset Cove, near statute Mile 1143 off the Florida Keys Inside Route. Opposition to the mooring field in Sunset Cove has been voiced since the mooring field was first proposed in 2012. See /?p=95529
Mooring field for Buttonwood Sound in Key Largo now looks to be off the table By KEVIN WADLOW kwadlow@keynoter.comAugust 6, 2014 Concerns from on-shore residents seem to have scuttled Monroe County’s preferred site for a new Upper Keys mooring field. “There is no Plan B,” County Mayor Sylvia Murphy said Tuesday. In March, county commissioners named Key Largo’s Buttonwood Sound, off the bayside at mile marker 99, as the anchorage most suitable to accommodate a new mooring field for liveaboard residents and cruising visitors. But two nearby businesses that had expressed interest in serving as a land base for the Buttonwood Sound mooring field have now decided against it.
This article/opinion by Katie Tripp of KeysInfoNet.com highlights how this ruling to reduce their protected status might affect manatees on the East Coast and the Florida Keys.
Odds already stacked against manatees in federal study for possible downlisting By KATIE TRIPP
In response to a lawsuit by the Pacific Legal Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided downlisting manatees from endangered to threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act may be warranted, and the agency is embarking on a five-year status review as part of the process. Let me be very clear about the seriousness of the situation. From 2010 to 2013, 2,441 manatees died in Florida waters, which is 48 percent of the highest minimum population ever recorded (5,077 in 2010), but we’d have to wait until after 2015 to be able to include this data. However, ignoring this information would also constitute a substantial and unacceptable bias.
Following the deadly crash off Dinner Key, see /?p=143395, several groups are seeking regulations to curb speeding after dark in these popular and congested waters. Our thanks to Chuck Baier for bringing this article to SSECN.
Safe boating efforts build after tragic crash on July 4th There’s momentum building to how recreational boating can be made safer after the tragic Fourth of July crash on Biscayne Bay. BY SUE COCKING SCOCKING@MIAMIHERALD.COM Since the Fourth of July boating crash on Biscayne Bay ‘” the worst in Miami-Dade County in recent memory ‘” members of the recreational boating community have launched an informal but passionate campaign to try to prevent similar tragedies. Four people died and several others were seriously hurt when a 32-foot Contender broadsided a 36-foot Carrera, then struck a Boston Whaler following holiday fireworks. The skipper of the Contender, 23-year-old Andrew Garcia and two of his passengers, Kelsie Karpiak, 24, and Victoria Dempsey, 20, were killed, along with Carrera passenger Jason Soleimani, 23. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is in charge of the investigation, said evidence of alcohol was found aboard the Contender. No charges have been filed. The accident happened about 10:30 p.m. off Coconut Grove’s Dinner Key, despite a heavy on-water law enforcement presence. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, as hundreds of boats zig-zagged across the bay in a race to reach local boat ramps and marinas after the fireworks.
Hawk’s Cay Resort Marina entrance canal system lies off the southerly banks of Duck Key, at the southern end of Long Key Viaduct, some 2.7 nautical miles north-northeast of Hawk Channel’s marker #45.
This has been my 4th time, first time without children, need tq be see [sic], the only bad things the showers are not really clean, but the place have every thing, pools, lake, this is a quiet place not to party, a little expensive but that the price to pay. Rene
Tarpon Basin is crossed by the FL Keys Inside Route, just south of Blackwater Sound and Dusenberry Creek. There are at least 3 good spots to drop the hook here, and creative skippers will find more. Our thanks to Skipper Reeves for this report and photos.
On our cruise North to Jekyll Island from Marathon we used several anchorages and found some interesting free city docks. Tarpon Basin is a good stop over anchorage with a free dingy dock. Going North exit the creek and head for marker R48. Turn in to basin before R48A stay near north side of basin. Close to shore we found 5-7 ft. On in towards anchored boats we found 7-9 ft and stayed to the north of city docks. Sonny Reeves
Sister Creek is an alternate entrance to Boot Key Harbor, which runs, more or less, north from Hawk Channel. In the “sagging utility lines posting (/?p=84316)” both Claiborne and our very special Florida Keys correspondent, Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, cautioned that boats drawing more than 4 feet should not attempt to use Sister Creek to access BKH.
At normal high tide I have entered with 6’2 draft and no bumping, several times seeing depths once inside in the teens. Cory
The Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina.
The mooring field is a nice security versus anchoring. The second plus plus is the showers at the dinghy dock. But no security, gate does not lock at the dinghy dock. This is the second year that I witnessed this problem. Second there is no fuel. Bram Clement
Crandon Park Marina at 4000 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL, is a Miami-Dade County facility asociated with Crandon Park Beach. They do take transients on a space-available, no advance reservations basis. Located on the eastern shore of Biscayne Bay, the location looks very inviting.
Crandon Park Marina I’m surprised that no one mentioned this marina which is about due east of Dinner Key on the other side of Biscayne Bay, on the northern end of Key Biscayne. I have kept my Sabre 28 in the mooring field there for over 10 years with no complaints. I know they accept transients, if they have available moorings. You can hail them on VHF or call them at 305-361-1281. The only downside is, it is not convenient to restaurants or food markets, although there is a store at the dockmaster’s which sells soft drinks and sandwiches, as well as a fuel station. Walt Grifel
Conch Harbor Marina flanks the southeastern banks of Key West Bight, northeast of of Key West Bight City Marina.
Terrific marina, good staff. You can borrow a bike for free and washers/dryers are free as well. There is a little area with barbecue and chairs separate from Dante’s for marina guests only. AliOoops
I stayed there earlier this month when windy weather kept us in port longer than planned. It is a good marina and a first rate staff. My only comment is it caters to the party crowd and that is not me. Nice pool at the foot of the docks, but don’t expect a quiet swim. They have a DJ playing loud music that was intrusive even inside our closed-up air conditioned boat halfway down the dock.and the pool area is packed with a singles bar atmosphere. If you like that this is the place to stay in Key West. However, if your style is more Jimmy Buffet than hip hop there are other places, even in busy Key West Bight that are a better fit for you. Brad Hines
Caribee Boat Sales and Marina at 81500 Overseas Highway in Islamorado, FL, does not currently offer transient slips, but according to Skipper Dixon, they know how to treat visiting cruisers!. Their phone is 305-664-3431 and their website is http://www.caribeeboats.com/
We’ve anchored off Lorelei Restaurant in Barley basin several times but didn’t know about Caribee Marina until today. We needed gas for our dinghy. Someone told us to dinghy down creek to Carabee which is SW of Lorelei. The service was great. We bought 3 gallons @ the guy couldn’t have been nicer if we bought 300 gallons. Mary Dixon
By now, just about everyone who has visited the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net within the last 24 hours knows that an effort was mounted in the Florida State Senate yesterday by Senator Margolis from Miami, that would have allowed Broward and Dade counties to pretty much institute any local anchorage regulations they wished. That amendment was withdrawn, BUT there is a new effort TODAY (4/23/14) to attach the same amendment to a Florida House bill. For more on this, please see /?p=139367.
Courtesy of the Seven Seas Cruising Association’s “Concerned Cruisers Committee” we can present to you a video of the debate which took place in the Florida State Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. THIS IS VERY REVEALING, particularly when Senator Margolis states that “we certainly don’t want to hear from the public,” or words to that effect.
To make this work, without having to watch the entire 8 hours worth of video, you must follow this procedure.
When the page opens, there will be a video window on the left side of the page. Click the play arrow. Let the video begin, and then hover your pointer near the bottom of the video window. A slide will appear. You will need to keep sliding this slider button to the right, until you reach the 462.30 minute mark. The debate concerning the “Margolis Amendment” is shown between time reference 462.30 and 469.5.
It’s not often that members of the cruising community can actually see their “enemy” in regards to Florida anchoring rights, but this is an exception. We urge all cruisers to take advantage of this opportunity. And, oh yes, PLEASE let us know what you think, by using the “Comment” function below!
Claiborne, I believe it is also important to recognize Davis Childs (NMMA rep.) and Bonnie Basham (Boat US rep.) both were there and both had cards in to speak if necessary. R, Phil
I agree totally with Captain Phil’s comment above. Both NMMA and Boat/US have been invaluable and responded at light speed to this “out of the blue” situation! So, THANKS Bonnie Basham and Davis Childs!
I’ve not heard of an instance of a complaint from the boating community when a waterfront private property owner builds a pier or dock out over navigable water that belongs to the boating public. So why should a waterfront private property owner complain when those public boaters are enjoying the navigable waters that were not obstructed by his pier or dock?
At the April 16 meeting of the Monroe County Commission in Key West, Commissioner George Neugent intends to outline proposals targeting the derelict vessel problem in the Florida Keys. Because of the expense involved with their removal, the issue of abandoned vessels, not only in the Keys but in all coastal harbors, has become a major problem for municipalities. The below linked article by Kevin Wadlow of KeysInfoNet.com reports on plans by Key West officials to deal with derelicts. The referenced Tug Tilly sank in March, see /?p=136965
This is an important story for those to know who will be visiting Key West. What it boils down to, is that if you anchor, or pick up a mooring in Key West, this proposal would make it mandatory for cruisers to show proof of a recent waste pump-out before coming ashore by dinghy. Now, let me stress, such a regulation is made far LESS onerous courtesy of the fact that the city of Key West provides regular, FREE pump-outs to boats at anchor and on a mooring. Nevertheless, this new requirement is one of which NEW cruisers, and cruisers visiting Key West for the first time, need to be made aware. The issue of proof of pumpout has been a topic of discussion for cruisers for sometime now, see /?p=131066. The article linked below by Sean Kinney of KeysInfoNet.com outlines the proposed pumpout regulation for Key West cruisers.
So what do those of us who don’t pumpout do (composting toilet)? The Keys seem to be doing everything in their power to drive away transient cruising boats. John Kettlewell
Sooner or later, communities are going to get the message that all it takes to keep their waters clean of recreation boat waste, is a free pump out boat. Use some of those free flowing federal dollars for something that doesn’t benefit anyone but the taxpayers. Not many people will pump waste overboard if there is a feasible and reasonable alternative. But, everybody has to, sooner or later, if there isn’t. R. Holiman
Be the first to comment!