The Good and Bad of Anchoring (or Mooring) in No Name Harbor (Key Biscayne, St. M. 1096)
No Name Harbor is located on the southern portion of Key Biscayne. Shelter from foul weather is superb, but you must now pay a fee here to anchor (or moor) overnight. Below, Captain Ron gives you some of the other good news and bad news for this overnight haven.
By the way, if anyone knows whether moorings have indeed been installed in No-Name (or not), PLEASE click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.
Claiborne,
The Hurricane Hole you mention can be one of two places both of which are located in the Cape Florida channel. The one most frequently used is No Name Harbor further to the East. In the past you could anchor there, but recently I have heard they have installed moorings. In any case, it is a small, hot, muggy, airless harbor that most would not want to spend too long. The boats meander with the changing currents and the only positive is that there was an excellent Cuban restaurant at the harbor wall. Many first time cruisers who feel insecure about anchoring in a semi-open anchorage find this harbor appealing. When you want to depart, especially at night, you have to weave through the tightly packed boats to enter the Cape Florida Channel.
Ron
And, thanks to Captain Jules, here is the answer to the question of whether moorings have been installed in No-Name Harbor:
Hello,
I just called the park and no moorings have been installed. It’s a very nice park to visit with an award winning beach, two great restaurants, bike, kayak and catamaran rentals, hiking trails and a restored historic light house open to the public with amazing views from the top. For the overnight boaters, showers, laundry and free pumpout so it’s well worth the very nominal anchoring fee.
Yes of course in summer it will be hot and buggy in a small landside anchorage and like all anchorages there is a capacity limit, this one being very very small fills up fast. I have stayed in fall and winter and found it to be very enjoyable and all chain rode keeps the meandering to a minimum and I never have had problems with neighbors swinging to close. Also a good deal of the boats that anchor during the day are locals don’t spend the night. Outside of summer if there is space I will go in. When it is full I anchor in the channel and dingy in to take advantage of all the park has to offer. There is little or no traffic in the channel at night so you can still get a good night sleep there, just be sure your anchor is well set as a strong current runs but I have never dragged.
I know that anchoring in a channel seems like the wrong thing to do but the channel is wide and it is common for boats heading to the Bahamas to anchor in the channel to one side when the harbor is full.
Cap. Jules
As of July 29, 2010 there is a fee to anchor in No Name Harbor. Two dollars for a day use and $20.00 per night. This is on the honor system.
Captain Cheryl Martin aboard Fair Winds
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For No-Name Harbor
Comments from Cruisers (1)
Please be prepared to deal with riff rafs who do not respect others take up the seawall and play loud crazy music even take space at the pump out.
The restaurant boaters grill is awful we almost died from eating there.