Lower Keys cruising early 2022

O

Our Idea

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Our Idea
Looking for a tug or two that would like to cruise Key West and up to Marathon for two weeks this winter. I’m near Ft Myers and would cross the Gulf from here. Casual cruise, no expectations, primarily looking for safety in numbers and if we get along well, all the better!
 
That’s something we’d love to do…we live in Fort Myers but our R29 won’t be delivered until mid-late December so we won’t be ready for that trip quite yet.

(Do you have the sedan or CB 29?)
 
If you plan your trip around the time of the Ranger /Cutwater rendezvous you may be able to cruise with a few folks from that. Last year we did the Key's trip in our Cutwater. At no time are you cruising in waters that if planned properly will you be in need of a buddy boat. There is no part of the trip that you will be completely out of site of land. Cruising with Buddy boats is fun. But not needed for safety doing that trip. Even if you don't plan to have a buddy boat you will end up cruising with one at some point. Last year we left the rendezvous anchored at Pelican bay with a Ranger and a Cutwater. Left there and stayed a night at Sanibel Marina where we were supposed to meet friends that own a Ranger but were not able to because of "Timing". From Sanibel we cruised to Naples and met a couple with a 29 Ranger Tug they were heading north so we didn't Buddy with them. We left Naples and cruised the inside route to Goodland south of Marco. We met a couple with a Ranger 27. We had docktails with them and we cruised to Marathon together spending the evening at Shark River in the Everglades because of a weather change.( the wind picked up and the sea's got uncomfortable). This was the perfect conditions to stay in Shark River. It was windy, no see um's and mosquitoes stayed away. We then cruised to Marathon with them. When we arrived in Marathon we stayed at Blackfin Resort and marina next to us was a couple in a 27 ranger Tug from New York. I could continue but I hope you get my point. You will without planning or trying to get a group together still find folks to cruise with and share Ranger and Cutwater stories. We will be in Ft Myers for a few months this winter but without the boat. We sold the Cutwater and now have a different boat that I will not have ready for full time cruising until next summer. The winter of 2022/2023 we will be actively cruising the Florida waters and beyond . In the meantime if you are cruising in Florida waters this winter PM me and lets have Docktails! We can share stories of our cruising adventures in our Rangers and Cutwaters!
 
We will be based out of Marathon Marina and RV Resort (now Safe Harbor Marathon) from 15 Nov-15 Mar. On way down from Southport, NC now. We timed our trip 2 years ago to attend the rendezvous in Punta Gorda. Fine times.
 
Someday, Jan-feb would be when we are targeting! We recently sold our RT 29 that was eleven years old. You are going to love cruising in yours! We’ve been just about everywhere in our 29. It’s the perfect cruise boat. We recently received a new 23 ft RT. It’s smaller but has all the comforts of a larger boat with the advantage that the air conditioning runs off the batteries so we can cruise cool and comfortable with no generator running! Perfect for Florida. She cruises at 35 mph, so we’ll be able to keep up!
 
My wife and I are towing our C24 to Punta Gorda mid November and are planning on going to the rendezvous at Burnt Store Marina. We are looking forward to meeting people and learning about boating in that area. We are also looking for a good boat and Yamaha service facility in the Punta Gorda area that could help us if needed ? Thanks for any information.
KKRCRACE
kenkeir@gmail.com
 
Hey Folks,

We plan to be in the Keys after Christmas and for the first few weeks of January. We planned to put in at Key Largo, but maybe will change plans and get further into the lower Keys.

Last year we spent some time in the Keys, mostly Islamorada and Key Largo. We made a run from Key Largo, down to Key West and back, including stopping in Marathon. Because of timing, we ran down on the outside (Ocean side). Coming back we wanted to be on the Gulf side, but the wind started picking up out of the West, so the better cruising was going to be on the ocean side. At Marathon we switched back over to the Gulf side.

We did a good bit of researching and really wanted to get in on some cruising/anchoring on the Gulf, from Bahia Honda to KW. One place that was on our list was Marvin Key, a spot we visited about 15 years ago on a friends boat. Very beautiful area.

KW is a funny place for boating. We really couldn't find any dock and dine spots, something we really enjoy. The primary anchorage/morring field in Key West proper is a little depressing, with lots of derelict boats. Any slip is EXTREMElY expensive. We ended up staying a Garrison Bite, which is a marina owned by the city, about 1.5 miles from center of town. It was priced right, but no frills. You can rent bikes across the street to get into KW/Duvall st, which is fun.

Keep me posted about the plans. We'd be interested in catching up with whoever is down there.

Best,
Bobby
 
Our Idea":339whell said:
Someday, Jan-feb would be when we are targeting! We recently sold our RT 29 that was eleven years old. You are going to love cruising in yours! We’ve been just about everywhere in our 29. It’s the perfect cruise boat. We recently received a new 23 ft RT. It’s smaller but has all the comforts of a larger boat with the advantage that the air conditioning runs off the batteries so we can cruise cool and comfortable with no generator running! Perfect for Florida. She cruises at 35 mph, so we’ll be able to keep up!
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Thanks…we are nervously excited as this our 1st endeavor into this type of boating but we just fell in love with the tug when we 1st saw one. We so look forward to the day when we can actually cruise on her.
 
We just sold our sailing catamaran which we based in Ft Myers Beach for the last two years, and are awaiting our new R31 in Feb. ‘22. I’d suggest that you consider the yacht channel route with stops at Factory Bay Marco Island, Russell Pass in the Everglades, Little Shark River, Marathon, then down the Keys. The Everglades in February are a wonderful experience.
 
Joseph":2i11utp4 said:
We just sold our sailing catamaran which we based in Ft Myers Beach for the last two years, and are awaiting our new R31 in Feb. ‘22. I’d suggest that you consider the yacht channel route with stops at Factory Bay Marco Island, Russell Pass in the Everglades, Little Shark River, Marathon, then down the Keys. The Everglades in February are a wonderful experience.
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Will you keep the 31 at FM Beach as well?
 
Hi fellow Ranger Cruisers. We just booked a month stay at Stock Island Marina for the month of March,2022 on our 2021 R-29CB. We will be coming from the St Pete Beach area, entering the Gulf and last leg from either Naples or Marco Island marina. We plan to stop in Marathon either going down or coming back. If you want to caravan please contact us. Thank you.
 
We will be cruising the lower Keys from the last week of December till 2nd week of January (Maybe we can get down a little earlier. We will be towing from Baltimore and dropping in somewhere around Big Pine or Sugarloaf).

We'd like to focus some time around Marvin Key and Mud Key. We like anchoring in the outback and this looks like a beautiful place. It's also in striking distance of Key West, Bahia Honda, Marathon, etc...

Hope to entice others....

Best,
Bobby and May
 
Hello Ranger/Cutwater cruisers, we are at this moment at Safe Harbor Marina, good place, and wonderfull service.
Will be here until Jan/2022. If you are around, my wife and I will be happy to see you at the dock or on the sea.
 
jrnunezmd1":2b29asxt said:
…… we are at this moment at Safe Harbor Marina, good place, and wonderfull service…….
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There are many “Safe Harbor” branded marinas. In which are you located?
 
The name is Marathon Marina, Marathon, Fl. They change the name to: Safe Harbor Marina. Is located at 1121 11th St. Ocean Marathon, Fl. 33050. Ph. 305-743-6575.

Jose and Celia Nunez
CELIA II
 
We are booked from 15 Nov thru 15 Mar at Safe Harbor Marathon (Marathon marina and RV Resort). Currently anchored in Melbourne working our way down.
 
jrnunezmd1":2lznohp6 said:
The name is Marathon Marina, Marathon, Fl. They change the name to: Safe Harbor Marina. Is located at 1121 11th St. Ocean Marathon, Fl. 33050. Ph. 305-743-6575.

Jose and Celia Nunez
CELIA II
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Great! Hope you get to see lots of Tug/Cut vessels.

Are you aware of the rendezvous at Burnt Store Marina on Charlotte Harbor about 10 miles south of Punta Gorda? It’s in early February and a great place to meet and greet other Tug/Cut owners.
 
fishheadbarandgrill":5c6qqehn said:
We are booked from 15 Nov thru 15 Mar at Safe Harbor Marathon (Marathon marina and RV Resort). Currently anchored in Melbourne working our way down.
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Where were you during that blow last week? The water in one video I saw looked as if it was churned by a washing machine!
 
We hunkered down in Daytona, Halifax Harbor Marina. Arrived Thursday and left Monday. When we left, most of the fixed docks on the ICW had water at or over the deck boards.
 
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