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Alterboy 65 · 12-09-2010, 16:23

Hi Everyone , Just bought a Manta 42 and I am going to be spending the Winter in the Keys getting to know her then off to the Bahamas and Beyond. Can anyone suggest some good cruising guides and Charts for Florida and the Keys.
And some DONT MISS places in the Keys ......Dry Tortugas???
THANKS FOR ANY HELP
ALTERBOY

Dave852 · 12-09-2010, 16:56

Tom,
I had a Manta 42 for 7 years. You are welcome to anchor off my house in Tavernier. You can pick my brain over a beer.

Dave

**capngeo** · 12-09-2010, 16:57

A Manta huh? What hull # you have??? I did a lot of work on #126 for a buddy and know the boat well. I also have spent the last 30 years cruising the West coast to the Keys.

I'm in Osprey/Nokomis.. If you are nearby, I'll let you look at my old charts with all the notes about anything bigger than a basketball in the water. The land? Crap, it has changed so much in the last 5 years I don't recognize half of it anymore!

defever · 12-09-2010, 17:10

congrats on the boat...it was the only boat my monohull brother ever liked... one sure place to see is little shark river...deep water about 10-12 miles in (marked too) but i don't know about the overhead clearances (trees)...in the summer it's bug city but in the winter it's fun to explore (take your dink all the way to flamingo)... have fun...

missnmountains · 13-09-2010, 18:12

For paper charts I use the Maptech chart book region 7 and 8 for the East & West coast of Florida and explorer charts for Bahamas.

Ken

Alterboy 65 · 14-09-2010, 09:46

Thanks guys for the response ...
How do I find you for those beers !!!!!!!!!!
Fair Winds
TOM

shipofools · 14-09-2010, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Farley

Hi Everyone , Just bought a Manta 42 and I am going to be spending the Winter in the Keys getting to know her then off to the Bahamas and Beyond. Can anyone suggest some good cruising guides and Charts for Florida and the Keys.
And some DONT MISS places in the Keys ......Dry Tortugas???
THANKS FOR ANY HELP
ALTERBOY

Great place to winter in the Keys is Marathon.

Did you buy one of those Manta 42s that were are Regatta Pointe?

Dave852 · 14-09-2010, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Farley

Thanks guys for the response ...
How do I find you for those beers !!!!!!!!!!
Fair Winds
TOM

Tom, I just sent you a pm with that info.

CapnRumslinger · 15-09-2010, 05:22

My fiance and I are going to be down there for the winter, too. Probably arriving sometime in December, along with my parents in their trawler. We're starting our grand adventures!
Part of the plan is definitely to check out the Dry Tortugas. I've heard wonderful things.
Have a great trip, Tom!

svHyLyte · 15-09-2010, 08:25

It would be wise to obtain a copy of BAIL's Anchorage Guide to Southwest Florida (see BAIL's guide to Anchorages in South West Florida ), commonly available at West Marine and/or Blue Water Books. An on-linne version appears at index 1 . A further valuable reference is the Salty Saoutheast Cruisers Net at Cruiser's Net. Click on the tab for West Florida.

FWIW...

nassaw · 15-09-2010, 13:14

Congratulations on your purchase. My husband and I looked at buying a Manta many years ago. We ended up taking on the project of all projects. We decided to build ours own Cat. We chose a Kelsall Sun Cat. What a beauty she has become. We are due to launch in the next 3 weeks. Hopefully we will set sail for Fl. the end of October. Our plan has been for a few years now Christmas and New Year in Key West. It looks as though it may finally happen. Look for us on the Heatr of the Sunrise when heading south. Can't wait to start living our dream. See you all there.

CoolBreezeTx · 16-09-2010, 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

It would be wise to obtain a copy of BAIL's Anchorage Guide to Southwest Florida (see BAIL's guide to Anchorages in South West Florida ), commonly available at West Marine and/or Blue Water Books. An on-linne version appears at index 1 . A further valuable reference is the Salty Saoutheast Cruisers Net at Cruiser's Net. Click on the tab for West Florida.

FWIW...

great links!
thank you sir

svHyLyte · 16-09-2010, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolBreezeTx

great links!
thank you sir

You're welcome. There are actually quite a fe threads on this site with information on cruising the west coast of Florida and, with your yacht, you should be able to visit many areas and coves denied to those with deeper keels. Pelican Bay, just south of Boca Grand, is especially nice. The only part of west Florida I do not like is the stretch from Cape Romano to Smith Shoal Light. The squalls off the Everglades in the late evening are a PITA!

FWIW...