Available. MONDAY-THURSDAY ONLY!! EXCLUDES ALL HOLIDAYS!! On gasoline and diesel- 200-500 gallons 20 cents off, 500 gallons and more 30 cents off
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Reviews from Cruisers (1)
Bob Witzler- January 24, 2023 - 8:19 pm
We stayed in Matheson Hammock Marina on 24 JAN 2023 for one night before crossing to the Bahamas. Our primary pull there was a better fuel price than the marinas further north in Biscayne Bay but we lucked out and they had a transient slip for us also. Diesel was 20% cheaper here ($4.75 vs, 6 bucks at Crandon) and the slip cost us less than $60 for the night including electricity and water. 20 minutes via Uber to West Marine and groceries. They are busy and understaffed so its tough to get them on the phone, but an in person visit worked wonders and 3 miles across the bay might be worth it for fuel cost alone.
Rat guards are simple barriers that prevent an animal from using your mooring lines/water hoses as a means to board your boat. The Clorox bottle method is effective for small animals. To construct one, simply cut a hole slightly larger than the diameter of your mooring line in the bottom of the bottle and pass the bitter end of the line through the bottle. When the animal tries to 'walk up' your line/hose/cable, the bottle will spin and the animal will fall into the water/back onto the dock. With a shore power cable, you'll need to 'gut' the bottle (a single cut from mouth to the hole you made on the bottom) to all let you 'clamp' the bottle around the cable.
Hi we are heading to Boca Chita in the next few days. Can you explain what you did with the Clorox bottles to prevent the rats from entering your dock lines? Thanks Cheryl
We stayed here two nights in January 2014 on our travel south. Beautiful and safe . Tied up to the wooden wall around the man made basin. Walked the grounds. Winds high enough for no bugs, nice! Two boats tied up during our stay. We were there during the week and not on weekend. Saw 7 ft at HT coming in. Suggest you hug the island on entering. Last green marker is missing. Sorry to say we picked up a stowaway that we finally caught two days later. A large rat. The rat apparently climbed the dock lines and was topsides. A good old Victor trap fixed the problem. We will tie up next time with Clorox bottles on the dock lines as we did in the Bahamas to prevent the little pests from boarding. Pictures of Boca Chita here http://ontheofficewautoteacher.blogspot.com/2014/02/boot-key-harbor-marathon.html
Senior pass buys you $ 10.00 dockage, but be careful of the weekend unless you want all-night salsa. The ranger were there four times a day. The sound went down, and went up right after the rangers left. Elliott Key is closed because of Sandy damage which will not be fixed for a bit so Bocca is taking up the slack.
Beautiful spot. Carried 5’6″ at high tide with no concerns. HOWEVER don’t bother going if winds are out of west, if it rained in the last few days or if it’s summer—mosquitos thick enough to block the ports!! Could not go outsude even with full suit of long clothes and every repelent know to man.!!! These vampires are after a meal and you are the invited main course! JiM Lady Lady
As you move up the east coast, Boca Chita in the Key Biscane National Park is a neat place to stop. Go midweek if you want it quieter as the Miami metro area seems to weekend there. It’s fun on the weekends but you will probably have to raft off. Mike & Tammy Valhalla II
One of our favorite places in the keys and our first stop south of Miami. Stopped there again March 7-9, 2010. We tried to get in on Saturday March 6 but the basin was crowded with boats rafted two and three deep. So after a night anchored out near Adams Key, we returned to Boca Chita Sunday afternoon when the crowd begins to leave. Heard that the Rangers had payed an early morning visit and everyone without a receipt for payment got a ticket (and one boat docked in the “no docking” zone got a fine of $750 for that and other violations). The regs don’t seem to be enforced often but when they are there’s no fooling around! Note that the senior age pass rate is only &10.00. The toilets are salt water flush and have been recently refurbished. There is a resident volunteer who works on keeping everything looking good. While the weekends are crowded, we have enjoyed joining in with Cuban families who gather to party there- a cross-cultural experience and interesting to hear their stories and viewpoints.
Boca Chita is another great stop. Its $20 per night, self-service pay to the National Park Service. Its a wonderful place to spend a day or two but DON”Tgo on the weekend. Regards, Randy Pickelmann MORNING STAR
One note about Boca Chita — no pets allowed … AT ALL. No Name Bay [Harbor] is another option for Key Biscayne — also pretty crowded on weekends. I prefer to pass up Key Biscayne and anchor off of Elliot Key. Wear plenty of repellent if you go ashore as the mosquitos are KILLER. Adam
Vist there often. Last night. Channel clearly market from ICW. Small marks but right where they are marked. Channel holds almost 6 feet at low tide. Less tide here than Miami, 14 miles to the north. Harbor nearly round, with board covered wall, lots of cleats. Only services are picnic tables and solar powered his and hers. State Park, fee on the honor system, Harbor holds 7 feet or better a MLW. As scenic as you get with a restored lighthouse. Plenty of room during the week. Very busy on weekend. Small island with trees and grass. Great place, very secure in a blow. “No TacT” David
I visited the National Park Harbor at Boca Chita Key one time in the fall. The entrance channel had about 5 to 6 feet. There were no services there, only a Florida Ranger there. The no seeums were terrible. We had to run to our boat after walking the island. Ron Hollander
Boca Chita Key. We visited there in spring of 2008. The entrance was well marked and held 5ft at mid tide. There is lots of room for side ties along the wall. The deeper in, the quieter. Facilities are sparce. No water, carry out your own trash. Chemical toilets are available. Itʼs an interesting place to stop along the way. One full day is plenty. Bob and Toni Dorman
The channel is well marked, 6′ MLW most of the way with a 5 1/2 hump just east of the final buoys, near the harbor entrance. No services… no power, no water, no garbage collections. Pets are NOT allowed, even on boats. if the rangers see a pet on your boat, they will have you leave immediately, and possibly fine you. it’s a great place to spend a couple of days, there are a couple of trails, and a small beach on the N side. Beware of mosquitoes in summer. Avoid holliday week ends, it’s a zoo with small boats and campers, loud music, etc… it’s busy on regular week ends, often filled to capactity by sat. noon. Pascal
Subject: Boca chita, FL Keys/ Biscayne Bay Cruising News: I see the note about no dogs (and no cats… actually the signs say no pets) at Boca Chita… the rangers have always enforced this. If they see a pet on a boat, they will have you leave, right away. I’ve heard that people who argued or delayed leaving have been fined. You can safely take in 5′ draft at MLW, just stay bewteen the 3 sets of buoys. The shallowest part, just over 5′ MLW, is just east of the final pair (between the last pair and the harbor entrance). Mosquitoes make the place unbearable in summer though… Pascal
June 2009: Took 52 foot cruiser in with five-foot draft but waited for a +1.0 foot tide which gave me a foot or more under the keel. Good wall with cleats for tie up. No power or water. $20 charge per night. Mosquitoes found us quickly even in middle of day. Kind of funny to watch boat loads of weekenders arrive in bathing suits, haul coolers and grills from open boats to picnic tables, and then start swating with vigor. Some left quickly. Reminds me of the Everglades in Summer. We hid inside in the air conditioning for two days and then escaped with most of our blood left. Much nicer, I am sure, in cooler, dryer weather.
This facility’s long, partially breakwater-protected approach channel cuts in from Biscayne Bay’s westerly banks some 3.2 nautical miles south and west of marker #6
Take taxi or bus to Publix and Winn Dixie supermarkets 1 1/2 miles away, or take Bussbefree (386-424-5655) electric car (free except for tips) to Publix supermarket on the beach
Waste pump-out:
Available. free
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Not Available
Fuel Availability:
Gas & Diesel Available
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Fuel Prices (All Taxes Included)
Reporting Date:
March 24, 2025
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Gasoline Price:
$4.99 (All Taxes Included)
Diesel Price:
$3.79 (All Taxes Included)
ValvTect Dealer:
Yes
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Reviews from Cruisers (2)
Rich and Helen- September 23, 2013 - 3:07 pm
We phoned ahead enroute and received a slip number but when we arrived – no slip. Found the guard on patrol who gave us an empty slip. Short for our 37′ but we made do. Next problem was the gate at the pier entrance. We arrived on a Saturday evening so the office was closed. Gate is key card operated so we were trapped on the boat. Not awful but with a restaurant 200′ away it was frustrating. This is a big, busy marina. You better like Latin music… Rich and Helen
Hi Rich and Helen – Thank you for your review, however it appears that you stayed at Black Point Park & Marina, a county-owned and operated wet slip marina located adjacent to Suntex Marina South Miami, which is a separate dry storage-only facility.
approach canal bisects the mainland (western) shores of Biscayne Bay, north of the hard-to-miss power plant at Turkey Point, some 4.8 nautical miles west-southwest of the FL Keys Inside Route channel
We trailered, launched and stayed here April 12. Nice layed back facility, great ramps. Office is open 0830-1630. Night security. Plan to shower on your boat as out side showers are far from marina area, located at beach area. Rest rooms are closer, but still a hike. This a marina attached to a county park. We departed on a Friday, I would suspect it gets busy on weekends. We did not find any wi fi service, but 30/50 amp power and water. POUT, gas, ice down by convience store, near office. Very friendly personnel. Each pier leading to individual slips has a locked gate and keys were in short supply so we beeped the security (Jerome) to get back in. We did not see below 5′ going out and route is well marked. Gas was reasonable but forget exact price. M & M Rhett “Lady Soul II” PS: Restaurant is due to open 2012? Not open yet. M & M Rhett “Lady Soul II”
Entering Biscayne Bay in strong northwest winds we opted for the Herbert Hoover Marina (named after the vacuum icon not the U.S. President) in Homestead, arriving just before sunset. At the northern fringes of Everglades Park, we were greeted by flocks of birds and seagulls. This calm, protected harbor was a welcome relief after rocking and rolling in Plantation Key for the past month. So calm that I couldn’t sleep. Jan & Steve
We enjoyed our stay at Gilberts Resort Marina at mile 1134. Despite the fancy name its a laid-back kind of place, the dockmaster never answered the radio. They have a pool, bar/restaurant and a little beach. A condo salesman gave us the pitch. I would like to know if it has gone condo now? I think that would destroy the old keys atmosphere. Gilberts is 23 miles from Islamorada then 45 miles to Miami. Alan Lloyd
The docks are being rebuilt. The marina is very basic, but a safe place to get fuel and recharge the batteries, etc. We stopped hereon Super Bowl Sunday and joined the crowd to watch the game. It was very quiet last night The bar patrons are not a problem and restrooms/showers clean enough. I have seen worse in marinas that do not share with a bar. The new bridge has cut down on the bar business a lot. Doug
I docked at Gilberts about six weeks ago. $2/ft./night. Docks are rundown and restrooms are shared with bar patrons (enough said). Still a fun atmosphere. Dick Bodner
fixed concrete and floating aluminum/concrete slips and face docks
Total number of slips/berths:
15
Dockside Power Connections:
30/50 amp power hookups available
Dock. Fresh Water Connections:
Available.
Showers:
Available.
Laundromat:
Available.
Swimming Pool:
Available. Heated
Restaurant:
several within walking distance
Restaurant Recommendations:
Walk to Pontoon’s Marina & Grill (305) 451-0864, Gilbert’s (by dingy, 305) 451-1133
Provisioning Possibilities:
Take taxi to Winn Dixie supermarket 2 miles away
LPG (Propane) Availability:
Available. Take taxi to Circle K for LPG tank exchange 1 mile away
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Free WiFi Available
Fuel Availability:
No Fuel Available
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Reviews from Cruisers (10)
Capt. E- October 30, 2013 - 9:05 pm
I’ve been coming here for two years with sailing students and have been moderatly satisfied with ‘what you get’. But the last two times we’ve come, they’ve charged me for my dinghy, even though we put it on deck after arrival. The showers and restrooms are routinely ‘out of order’ even after asking if they are open, happened last time, and being told that everyting was operational. On departing the next morning, the water was turned off, so we couldn’t top off our water tanks and didnt’ come back on until 11am. Guess that was in the fine print. Unfortunately I’ll not give them another of my dollars. Not a user friendly place.
Sounds like a similar situation during our visit. She didn’t take our word for length but chose to step off the length and said her measurement was more accurate.
Also, don’t expect the Boat US discount if it happens to be a holiday even if their marina doesn’t come close to filling up. By far, the worst marina treatment I’ve experienced.
We stayed at the Anchorage to wait out a cold front moving through. Way too many rules and not particularly boater friendly. When we went inside to pay for the slip, the young lady told us to wait so SHE could look at our boat verify the length (guess they think all boaters are liars). Not pet friendly either. Info they handed out said “…no pets allowed on property”. So you have to keep them on the boat and if they have to go out, take them off the property. The rate seemed high ($2.50) but on the plus side they did give a 25% Boat US discount.
I have to add my thumbs up for the service and facilities at Anchorage Resort. Been going there for a number of years and it never gets old. Doug Horsfall
I’ll try to be positive [about Anchorage Resort Marina]. The restrooms and showers were clean. The non affiliated restaurant next door was excellent. Their practice of measuring your boats anchor and any possible protrusion aft then adding that to your boat length is deplorable. What a cheap way to add a few bucks to the bill. Expect passing boats to wake the marina….confusing at first but after the gigging…may know why. Dan
We are at Anchorage Resort and Marina, right across from Gilbert’s. We dinghied to Gilberts for lunch and had very good, casual fare and friendly, energetic waitress Georgiana. The docks have not been rebuilt – all they did was put new stringers and planks right on top go the old decrepit docks. That way the new ones will cave in with the old ones! Docks are now higher off the water for dinghy arrivals. Anchorage Resort Marina has better dockage (same price) and 50 amp for those who need that. Pontunes is right there for food – also very good, casual fare and good wait staff. P.S. 1. Restrooms and showers at Anchorage Resort are super clean, 2. Tiki bar and restaurant at Gilberts win the prize for great ambience, 3. Good evening music at Gilberts – but can hear it in the boat at Anchorage late hours. John and Joan on Destiny
Subject: Anchorage Resort and Yacht Club, Jewfish Creek, Key Largo Cruising News: We came south in the ICW from Miami in out 5.5 ft draft sailboat for our first cruise to the Keys. We found this marina in the guide book and noted a BOAT US discount for $1.50/ft for transient dockage. This is a wonderful marina in all respects. The docks are easy to approach. There is no extra charge for water or electric. There is a pool, hot tub, shower and restroom, grill for cooking out on their patio, and a great sunset view. The folks are friendly and do not bother you with unnecessary rules or regulations. I highly recommend this as a lay over for anyone. No fuel at their docks, but just across the creek is fuel. The new fixed high rise bridge over Jewfish Creek makes easy waterway travel. Paul Dunn
Hi, I docked my 29 ft. Prairie at Anchorage Resort last month. There was plenty of space and the rate was $2.50/ft. Amenities are a swimming pool and a hot tub. One restroom for the entire marina but since there were few boats there it was not a problem. I found it clean. The restaurant next door, Marley’s Seafood Grill is great! Order the CalaMarley appetizer (calamari). It’s just like you get on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Also their “Jalea” dinner is excellent and huge (one is enough for two hungry people) It has an assortment of fried (in a special batter) seafood, including calamari and dolphin and shrimp etc. and some fried yucca strips…… mouthwatering! The draw bridge over Jewfish Creek has been removed so it’s a bit of a walk over the new elevated roadway to walk to Gilbert’s. Gilberts has a band on Sunday and Karaoke on Tuesday. A real, laid-back Keys atmosphere. Dick Bodner Prairie 29 Trawler, Private Island
Stayed at Anchorage last year around Early March. Were on their cement face dock by pool. Quiet. No complaints – nice people, seems like marina was a sideline – the guy helping us with lines was the hotel maintenance guy I believe. However, the restaurant right next store is fantastic – we had dinner there one night and lunch when passing by car. Marley’s is the name. Capt. John Wild
Subject: Anchorage Resort & Marina Cruising News: On our way south to Key West,we stopped overnight at the Anchorage. While somewhat isolated, we highly recommend it for a stopover. Clean, friendly with all the hook-ups (cable, free WIFI) and an excellent restaurant (Marley’s). Try the ceviche which apparently comes out a little different every time and was delicious. Eric Norlin
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