danimommy

(this is part 3, message was too long) Now that I live here everything is Mile Markers, Lorelei is MM82. 82 miles from Key West. Key West is MM zero. Dont anchor or use mooring field in Key West. Stock Island/ Boca Chica channel is full of wrecks and illegal moorings. Stay at a marina. Lower keys for land and beaches. Upper keys for baydide and snorkeling. I hope this helps. I would like to know more. How many days? Do you plan on fishing? Do you have to anchor for budget? How many sailors abord, expierence offshore? I dont want to know your dates or plan on meeting, just passing along good knowledge so I dont have to go save y'all, just kidding. Plan ahead, and have the best time of your life, argh. (oops message too long, Im new here)

Your vacation will greatly depend on your dinghy. Can it get up on plane with 4 people. Then you can explore and go places. If not, putt putt to the nearest land to get off. I would plan on staying at docks, with a stay at marathon mooring field, anchor at bahia honda. The only person happy cruising the sailboat everyday is the captain. Crew wants to do things and explore. Sailing is when you have nowhere to go and no schedule. The wind is never going the way you want. The engine should be running most times, thats how I get to where Im going. Avoid pennycamp unless the weather is snotty. Holiday Isle is now postcard inn, visit dont stay. stay at smugglers cove if oceanside.

Hi there, I've noticed some dated/old advice and dont want to get in a pissin match. Ive worked at SeaTow Key Largo and SeaTow Key West, Ive worked eco-tours and snorkel/dive tours in the keys. I liveaboard my boat. Im a licensed master sail and tow captain and maybe my only fault is I'm very safety conscience. With that said dockage should be your goal with 2 women aboard. Budget could be a concern. Weather will dictate your entire vacation. Plan A is safe/windy plan. Plan B is calm/snorkel plan. Your Pearson 36 has/had a swing keel, board up 4'2" empty. Add cruising comforts and an inch for safety and I'd call the draft 4' 6" to be safe. My advice is go inside Key Largo to Marathon, outside Marathon to Key West. The bayside lower keys can get shallow and there are no stops. All sandy beaches in the Keys are manufactured, the sand is delivered to the Keys. You come here for the water. 95% of all fish in restuarants is not from USA. Weather is the big unknown.