The Fleming Key mooring field is administered by the Key West city marina in Garrison Bight. It is HUGE, and seemingly very well run. This is a GREAT spot so park your craft while visiting fascinating Key West! Follow the link below to the Net’s “Florida Keys Anchorage Directory” to check out this field’s location in Key West.

We have been tied to a mooring ball for 5 days at the Garrison Bight Field. Its been great. The fee is $16.59 per night and monthly breakeven is 17 nights. Fee includes showers, laundry facilities and dinghy dock parking at the Garrison Bight. A mile walk to Winn Dixie, mile to the Beach. We take the dingy around to the Key West Bight to see that side of island and the famous attractions.
Protection is reasonable with the most exposure from the north, but we did just fine with N15-20.
You need to put your own line on the mooring. This is difficult for our trawler with a high bow. Usually someone sees a new boat coming in and goes out to help with a dinghy. We had a buddy boat when we arrived and used one of the dinks to get both.
Skooch
42 Hatteras LRC

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For The Garrison Bight – Fleming Key Mooring Field

Below, all crusiers will find some really good advice on how to have some fun, and, in particular, how to take a cooling dip while in Key West, courtesy of Captains Jason and Shelley. Sounds like a good plan to me. Anybody want to buy me lunch at Sunset Island??????

Key West Tips. A great low cost tip on enjoying yourself in Key West’¦ if you are anchored off or staying in a marina where there is no pool (e.g. City Marina), you can use the one at the Conch [Harbor]Marina [on Key West Bight] simply by eating or drinking lunch at one of the two poolside restaurants there. (Diablos is the name of one) The food is quite good and the pool is fantastic. The only downside is that it closes at sunset. Don’t miss the Schooner Bar- a great world class cruiser friendly facility. We have docked at The Conch twice and it is really friendly, central and wonderful but like most things Key West’¦expensive. Mallory Square is overrated and increasingly more like a freak show than a sunset celebration.
Another fun thing to do is take the launch out to the restaurant on Sunset Island for lunch. Dinner there can be very pricey but the food and experience is fun and nearly affordable at lunch.
Jason and Shelley

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Conch Harbor Marina

Garrison Bight is one of two city owned facilities in Key West, the other being Key West Bight City Marina. Garrison Bight is a good facility, particularly now that the showers were rebuilt after the 2005 hurricane season, but sailors need to be aware of some fairly low power lines in this harbor.

Garrison Bight City Marina Mooring Field located between Fleming Key and Sigbee Park has expanded to 100+ mooring balls at a monthly rate of $296 or daily at $16.75 w free weekly pump out that comes to your boat. Will accept up to and including 50 foot boat. Dink ride to Old Town is 10 minutes where one must pay $6 day to tie up OR use the free 2 hour dingy dock. The other dingy dock at Garrison Bight for those using mooring ball is free, but about a 15 minute ride and a long walk to Old Town. Call Dockmaster @ 305-809-3981 for details. We are quite happy here, planning to stay for two months’¦.but where is everyone else? Not crowded at all.
Sharon Larrison Stepniewski

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Garrison Bight City Marina

GREAT report below from Captain Gary Riss, who is normally our correspondent for Western Florida. Obviously, Gary is off cruising the Keys, and we thank him most sincerely for this marina review.
Note Gary also mention “Schooner Wharf Bar. That is also one of this writer’s favorite Key West haunts. This bar’s motto is “Where you can hang with the Big Dogs.” GREAT place, particularly for cruisers!

Having spent the last 12 days weather bound by wind at the Galleon Marina in Key West, I think we qualify as fresh water conchs. If you have to be weather bound, there aren’t many better places!
The dock hands at the Galleon are excellent at shoehorning large boats into small slips. Sometimes there is even room for fenders. Dock hands John, Fred, Susie, Heather and Mike have never met a stranger. They have unbelievable patience with even the inexperienced boater. They make the boat captain look like an old pro. The docks are all floating which makes for an easy exit from your boat. One should absolutely call for assistance when docking because they know all of the tricks for an easy docking experience. Don’t forget to ask for assistance when leaving because the wind and current can also present a challenge.
One of our favorite places to spend the afternoon is the Schooner Wharf Bar. Michael McCloud performs most days and has a show not to be missed. His music is not exactly G rated, but gives you a good insight into the Key West lifestyle. An island cheeseburger is always welcome when accompanied by an adult beverage.
Gary Riss
M/V Far From Normal

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Galleon Marina

I certainly hope the info in Captain Ned’s note below does not preclude anchoring adjacent to Christmas Tree Island. This is indeed one of the few good places to anchor in Key West. Of course, I’m sure the large, city sponsored mooring field east of Fleming Key is still in full operation.

Subject: No Anchoring Flemming Key , Key West
Cruising News: The Navy is not allowing anchoring within 400 yards of Fleming Key. This was one of the few spots to anchor at Key West.
Ned Young
SV Dreamweaver

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Fleming Key/Man of War Harbor Anchorage

Our thanks to Captain Rich for this very detailed look at the marina choices in Key West Bight. Looks right on the proverbial money to me!

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 Key West Bight City Marina

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Conch Harbor Marina

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 Key West Bight City Marina

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Conch Harbor Marina

I copied the comment below from the AGLCA mailing list. As far as I can remember, this is the first comment from a fellow cruiser about Key West’s Garrison Bight Marina that has appeared here on the Net.

There are two municipal marinas operated by the city. One is out front by Galleons and the other is around the bight behind the mooring field. We stayed in the second one [Key West City Marina on Garrison Bight]. We stayed the last two winters in this marina. We really enjoyed it but you must be able to get under an 18′ bridge. There are no amenities but its a third the cost of the other marinas. Its well located if you have a bike. Everything is about 4 to 5 blocks away. You must get a spot now if you hope to get in.
SecondStar97

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Garrison Bight City Marina

I’ve always liked A&B Marina in Key West Bight as well. As you enteri the Bight, A&B is the second marina occupying the southwestern side of the harbor!

I would highly recommend A&B Marina in the Key West bight. It is minutes by foot from Duvall Street & Mallory Square. We stayed 2 weeks there and hated to leave. Get your reservations in early. Most of the docks are transient but they fill up. Others will advise you on Marathon
Jim & Judy Howenstine
The Silver Foxes
Mainship 400

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For A&B Marina

I borrowed the thread of messages below from the Net’s “Ask Your Neighbor” page, and some of these postings were, in turn, borrowed from the AGLCA list. Anyway, I thought there was sooooo much good info contained herein, on both Key West Marinas and restaurants, I would repost here

Can anyone suggest a marina in Key West? We will be there for about 10 days over Christmas/New Years. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

There are a number of marinas in Key West Bright (Old Town area) and if my memory is correct they are on a first come first served. The marina’s are required to have 80-90% of there slip available for visitors. There is no time limit on your stay, so they may be filled. The harbor master has moorings available by Fleming Key.
Good luck its a great place to be.
Bob Haigh

This past winter, we spent 5 weeks at A&B Marina in Key West Bight. It was wonderful, the staff, the location, and the price (for Key West in season). Staying at the Fleming mooring field only gives you good weather, not Key West and all its treasures. Most marinas are not first come first served but reservations well in advance.
Tom Conrad

The only marina in Key West that I know of that is first come first serve is Conch Harbor marina and even they will take a reservation 3 months in advance. All the rest are reservation based and fill up fast in season. The end of October is Fantasy Fest and trying to find a marina right in KeyWest during that time will be a challenge.
Duane Jenkins

Absolutely Reservations Required..and don’t forget to eat at the AB Lobster House the food is to die for. And on a side note the VFW is a block away the cheapest drinking in Key West 2.00 mixed drinks and 1.00 beers. But beware
the pool table is rigged.

The Commodore right next to A&B Lobster House is another excellent place to eat. They also have a cigar & wine room that overlooks the harbor. Also, “Damn Good Food” is close by and they deliver right to your boat. They have some of the best food on Key West and reasonably priced to boot. And note, the VFW has moved. They are no longer walking distance from Old Town Key West. They are located on Roosevelt over by the Key West Yacht Club.
Duane Jenkins

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For A&B Marina

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Conch Harbor Marina