Marathon Florida Depths

[Laurief]

Hi All,

We're very serious about relocating to the Keys and have been Zillowing homes like mad.

I've been trying to find information about depths in some of the canals in Marathon, as we're looking for a home where we can keep our 24' beam and apx. 4.5' draft Catamaran and be able to get in and out safely.

Does anyone have information or know where I can find information about depths overall, in canals and cut outs, etc. for the area?

[Montanan]

Marathon is a city spread over Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle of the Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, United States.

The impediment of a wide beam of 24 feet would seemingly preclude access to many if not most of the very narrow channels that were constructed in the 50's because often there is really room for only one narrow boat to be moored and to continue to allow passage. Reference Goggle Earth image below.

Some of the canals are wider than others, may be a size restriction that is specific to each canal.

Reference: Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan (CMMP)

http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/Docum...9-20-13?bidId=

City Ordinances - Waterways

https://library.municode.com/fl/mara...TIICOOR_CH36WA

Just call the city to ask for the maritime policing officers regarding regulations. Your draft is likely to be a lesser issue.

[Laurief]

Thanks for the help getting started.

[apirate]

The draft won’t be an issue in most of the canals. The beam, however, will be in many places.

[MicHughV]

This same question was asked not so long ago.....I happened to have a house rental on the very end of a canal (North Angler Drive) on Marathon so was able to measure the depths ...at my particular location....close to Boot Key Harbor......which were about 9' at low tide...could not say if this was the same throughout the canal...but a 4.5' draft should be easily manageable. I did see 3 trimarans there, smallish one's, but they were all tied up on properties that had unrestricted water approaches.

The beam is another issue....these canals typically have boats lined on either side on various model forklifts....I'm guessing here, but I would say the canal width is about 60' wide...but probably half of that is taken up by boats in lifts...leaving you with 30', give or take. You could get a 24' beam in there, but you'd have to back it out, and if you are at the far end, that would be tough. Your only viable choice is to find a house at the very end of an open canal. These are invariable prime spots, so bring a fat checkbook, very fat.

There are spots along Boot Key Harbor and some other areas which may allow a cat to be berthed there, but you'd have to find it....and it would have to be for sale..

I think your odds are slim, doable, but slim. There are also some area marina's that could likely accommodate a cat.

Marathon has canals both on the Ocean side and the Bay side.

Besides Marathon, there are other Keys in the vicinity which may provide a spot. I'm a regular visitor to the Keys.....sailboats in canals are a rare sight.

Most boats are on lifts....your cat would be in the water and therefore susceptible to hurricane tidal ranges, meaning your cat will end up in your backyard.

Sorry to be such a bummer, but telling you like it is.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

The beam is another issue....these canals typically have boats lined on either side on various model forklifts....I'm guessing here, but I would say the canal width is about 60' wide...but probably half of that is taken up by boats in lifts...leaving you with 30', give or take. You could get a 24' beam in there, but you'd have to back it out, and if you are at the far end, that would be tough. .

I started a thread on this issue not long ago. I was told the beam of your boat cannot exceed 25% of the width of the canal. So 24' beam cat needs a 96' wide canal to be legal.

Many other issues nixed buying a property in the Keys for me.

[Laurief]

Saleen, did you end up somewhere else in Florida?

[Laurief]

MicHugh, thanks for the info.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by Laurief

Saleen, did you end up somewhere else in Florida?

No not yet....still searching. Ten more months to retirement and want out of Kalifornia.

[Montanan]

It is not the depth that I would be worried most about. It would be the storm surge when the hurricane arrives.

Images of Marathon after Irma in 2017 when 17 people died in the Keys and the destruction was massive.

https://abcnews.go.com/International...orida-49824063


https://www.google.com/search?q=mara...po3p7btKVsSj7M

[acem]

You could just anchor out and dinghy to it if your on the bay side. The last time I was down there I anchored near alot of boats that appeared to have been anchored for a long time.
Thx-Ace

[Dave852]

Check out Venetian Shores in Islamorada at MM85. Canals are 100’ which is rare with good access to the ocean under a draw bridge. You will meet the 25% rule which as others have mentioned is your going to be the main factor. If your budget allows consider open water bay front property’s. On those you will be limited by draft down to just a handful on the market at any given time.

[MicHughV]

Your best bet is to drive down to Keys for a week or two and see for yourself. Hook up with some real estate agencies, visit area marina's, etc...talk to the people down there that will give you the skinny on the situation, etc, but I think you will find limited options.

I don't know your budget, but real estate prices in the Keys are pretty high, especially on a canal. A prime spot will easily be a 7 figure number.

[carlosproa]

In COco plum beach there used to be a n A-frame masted sailing catamaran about 60 ft?
You may want to look at that area, there are a couple of small hotels to stay. A 4 day trip will get you good info on the surrounding area and options where to dock the boat.


That is an Aerial view to get your bearings.

Do a Zillow overlook in the area, here is a snap

[Montanan]

It appears that in order to improve the biological health of the canals that they are desiring to backfill some of them to reduce their depth so as to provide for better flushing action with tidal flow and wind forces.

From the county master plan.

5.2.3 Canal Backfilling

Technology Description
Canal backfilling would be performed in order to decrease
the depth of a canal to promote flushing and
reduce/eliminate stratification. Prior studies have indicated
that approximately only the upper 6 feet of the canals will
naturally flush in the shallow Keys near shore environment
(Kruczynski 1999). Filling in of abrupt changes in depth or
sink areas to six or eight feet would assist in eliminating
stagnation and increasing circulation. Flushing is typically
hindered by the fact that both the canal sill and the waters
surrounding the Keys are typically shallower than the canal
bottom. This difference in depth hinders mixing in the lower
depths of the canals. This option would work best in canals
where there was sufficient energy, either from tidal
fluctuations or wind force, to promote flushing at the canal
mouth once the deep stagnant zone has been eliminated.

Application
A canal was considered to be the best candidate for backfilling if it was observed in the bathymetric survey to exhibit an average canal bottom depth greater than 10 feet. Due to the high unit cost of backfill, further hydrodynamic evaluation is suggested to determine the quantity and
placement of fill that is required to provide adequate flushing for a canal prior to initiating the backfilling activities.