Fort Myers/Marco Island/Key West Cruise July 2022

Someday*

Someday*

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2021
Messages
212
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 CB
Hull Identification Number
2909
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Yellowfin 24
Vessel Name
Scotian
Contemplating a cruise in our R29.
Have the week of July 4th off work.
Rough plan is from Fort Myers to Marco Island Marina on day one. Day two from Marco Island to Key West.
Spend a few days in KWest and then reverse the plan for the way back.

Has anyone done this one before and have advice? Obviously weather/mechanical issues always in play. I also haven't checked yet on slip availability yet.

thanks!
 
Just did this trip in late Feb, early March in our R-29S. Marco direct to Key West was 6 1/2 hours at 15 kts., light-moderate chop. We went with a buddy boat. Lots of crab pots. Stayed for a week at Galleon Resort Marina. Return trip via same route, heavy fog but calm (radar is your friend). Would not take the direct route without a buddy boat, but would instead follow the 3-mile contour and visit the Upper and Middle Keys along the way.

Gordon
 
gwishon":397uw5ui said:
Just did this trip in late Feb, early March in our R-29S. Marco direct to Key West was 6 1/2 hours at 15 kts., light-moderate chop. We went with a buddy boat. Lots of crab pots. Stayed for a week at Galleon Resort Marina. Return trip via same route, heavy fog but calm (radar is your friend). Would not take the direct route without a buddy boat, but would instead follow the 3-mile contour and visit the Upper and Middle Keys along the way.

Gordon
Click to expand...


Thanks Gordon...I wondered about the Marco to Key West portion as pretty far. We just have the week this time so the upper keys maybe another time.
 
Just completed a similar trip the second week of May.
We went from our Tampa Bay area marina to Venice, (the Crow's Nest Marina and Restaurant), to Safe Harbor in Punta Gorda, next to Naples, then to Marathon, for fuel, and finally to Bahia Honda State Park Marina.
There was a lot of seagrass, which gets in the intake and causes engine overheating, had to stop to clean sea strainer three times and , as mentioned earlier, lots of crab pots.
We went for 5 weeks and got trapped in Bahia Honda for 6 days with 20 to 30 mph winds and 6 to 8 foot seas.
Next went back to Marathon Marina and fished out of there for the next 2 weeks.
Looked for a weather window and then crossed back to Naples for a couple of days and back to Venice.
We almost got trapped in Venice for a week as a blow out of the West was coming and the intercoastal was closed for any boats over 12 foot air draft due to the Blackburn Pointe Bridge being stuck closed and maintenance. We took off just before dawn into the Gulf and made the run to Longboat Key pass. We just made it as the waves started to build. Crossing the Bay back to our Marina was the worst as the west wind was piling up waves against an out coming tide. It was up one and through the next! Definitely no fun!
I say all this to let you know 1 week may not be enough time to find the right weather windows for a Crossing from Marco to Key West and back. Hugging the coast, with a stop at Shark River, may be a better option. Closer in tends to protect you from any North, East or even South winds, (when you get past the cape), and Shark River is a great stop over. Screens and lots of bug repellent are required!! Hope this helps.
Terry
 
Terry, where did you stay in Naples? And were you on the hook at Bahia Honda, or did you stay on their dock?

Gordon
 
Naples City Dock is a pretty good spot. Bahia Honda docks are nice as well. Anchoring out can be nice depending on the winds.
 
Gordon,
We stayed at both Naples Boat Club, which is very nice, ( lots of big, beautiful boats), and Naples City Dock, which has a great restaurant and is within walking distance of the shopping area.
It is a bit easier to get a reservation at the boat club and you can call Pat or Frank directly. The City Dock is a bit tougher to get into, calling a few weeks in advance helps.
Bahia Honda Marina is a "tie alongside " Marina with very limited facilities, think campground showers, small sandwich/tourist shop, etc. Water, and electric are available at each slip and a self pump out station is available. They do have some of the most beautiful beaches! You can take Uber to Pine Key for supplies or catch the bus out in front of the park and go to Marathon or even as far as Key West or Miami!
We have also anchored outside of the marina at Bahia Honda, between the bridges, but there is a strong tidal flow. It's fairly well protected from the winds if you get in close to the key. The park does allow dinghies to use the marina as well as boats needing a pump out or while shopping in the store/sandwich shop.
Hope this helps.
Terry
 
Thanks! Have been to Bahia Honda before, but not by boat. I didn’t know if they’d allow you to tie up at the marina overnight.
 
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