Marco island to Key West …real world advise needed

[Bob B.]

Wife and I are investigating traveling from Marco to Key West around mid May. We have a 2014 R25SC with a Volvo D3. Usually we travel around 6-6 1/2 knots but if we were to make this trip would travel around 10 - 11 knots to get there … still, likely a 10 - 11 hour trip.

I think that might be a pretty big ask out of our little boat. We want to explore the Marquases as well Key West. I realize it can be all about weather windows there and back, but also want opinions from others if the distance traveled, time of year and size of boat are reasonable to consider this trip or not.

Thinking of going off shore 3 -5 miles to avoid the Cape Romano shoals … but will have a jillion crab pots to contend with.

Also travel with our dog, not transom mat trained, so Everglades City and Shark river to Marathon does not seem to be viable for us.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Bob.

 

[bradf]

Hi Bob. My wife and I just recently completed the "mini loop" from Sarasota to Key West and back to Sarasota via the Okeechobee Waterway. We did the hop from Everglades City to Key West in our R-31, a straight line distance of 74 NM between channel entrances (about the same distance as your planned trip from Marco Island).

We booked it at 15 KTS and made the crossing in about 5 hours. 2' seas were forecast, we had 3-4' seas for the last half of the trip. We generally don't go out if seas are forecast to be anything over 3'. The boat handled it just fine, but it made the crew a bit uncomfortable. Other than that the crossing was uneventful.

Our planned three night stay in Key West ended up being over a week as we waited out weather. I have to say that if you're going to be stuck somewhere, Key West is a great place to be stuck! Unfortunately the slips at Galleon Marina are expensive and this really added to the cost of our trip. That said I do highly recommend Galleon Marina!

We left Key West as soon as the SCA lifted and had a rough ride from Key West to Marathon. The Hawk Channel side of the Keys can get pretty rough. After Marathon we cut inside and found it to be more comfortable.

So that was our experience in an R-31, not sure how that would compare to an R-25. Be sure to plan for layovers, wait for a good weather window and file a float plan with friends or family (you will be out of cell phone range a good part of the trip).

 

[gulfcoast john]

Hi Bob,

Unless you’re doing the Great Loop, I assume you will be trailering from WI to launch at Marco Is. There are no reasonable ramp/transient slip/rig storage options there, use Calusa Island Marina in Goodland instead.

Agree your dog issue means no landings in the Everglades, though the gators would like to meet him. Be aware of the requirement to complete the Boater Ed requirement and print your certificate, there is no cell service except a lonely AT&T pole at Flamingo, which is not worth going to since the channel silted in and slips got expensive.

https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcaf ... ing+course

That is a long, exposed leg where weather could delay you for many days in an offshore cruise without cell or even VHF help nearby. A EPIRB is a must have there.

Consider instead cruising the Keys and Biscayne Bay anchorages and marinas. You could dart in and out of the Hawk and ICW routes depending on the weather and winds. You could spend several weeks doing just the Keys and Biscayne Bay. There is a WWG for the Keys.

https://www.amazon.com/2021-Waterway-Gu ... 7409&psc=1

We have posted on the C-Brats.com our favorite marinas that we have personally launched from which also have an adequate ramp for a 28 foot boat, transient slips, as well as reasonable rig storage. Look for my Dec 4, 2021 post by me (gulfcoast john), not my Ariil 12 version here:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=29550

Hope this is helpful.

John

 

[Bob B.]

Thank you for the replies.

We trailer to Punta Gorda, then boat to Marco. From Marco, we are thinking Key West … and if we get there and weather does not allow for a timely return we have a way for our trailer to be brought to the Keys where we pull the boat and drive home from there.

Thinking about PLB for each life jacket, may consider an EPIRP as well.

May give some thought to exploring the Keys … would prefer to not trailer all the way there but may be necessary.

Bob.

 

[Specialk]

I have made the trip from Marco Island to Marathon several times. The weather is more settled that time of the year.
You can cut inside the light at Cape Romano, but keep plenty of water under the keel. Sands shift there and the charts are not correct in all places. Cape Romano and Mosser channel will maybe the roughest because of the current. I would recommend a EPIRB anytime you are offshore, even though there are other boats around. You wouldn’t want to stop in the Shark River that time of the year anyway because the no-see-ums will eat you alive. To avoid some of the crab pots, after Cape Romano head inside the Everglades park boundary markers and go until you get to the cape. The park boundary is marked on the charts and they are also marked with a I beam with a sign on top. They don’t allow any crab pots to be set inside the park boundary. If you have a East wind, it is also smoother water.

 

[Someday*]

Isn't the Boater Ed course a requirement only for those born after 1988 I think?

 

[gulfcoast john]

Someday,

Sorry that was an incorrect paste. The NPS site is for the Everglades Boating Certificate is here:

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/ ... rogram.htm

ALL operators of a powerboat anywhere in the Everglades must have their own Certificate starting Aug 1, 2019. The info and quiz are easy, under 45 minutes. We’ve been surprised in our cruising how few powerboaters know about the requirement. Per the FAQs,

“Sometime in 2020, once the program is widely known and the public is well aware of the boater education requirement, park rangers will shift their emphasis from “education” to “enforcement” to ensure program compliance.”

The penalty is $50,000 and confiscation of your boat…just kidding!

Safe Travels,

John

 

[knotflying]

From Goodland to Marathon is about 75 miles. I have done that run in my R-27 in one shot. You could shorten it a bit and stop at Cape Sable. There is an inlet there that takes you into Ingrham Lake. Before getting into the inlet there is a nice beach and with a dingy ride you can hit shore for the dog. There is little chart info in the lake, but I have gone in there at high tide and you can get in a way and be protected. Your other alternative is to anchor outside, but make sure winds will be mild and calm otherwise you could have an extremely miserable night. You will be missing a nice stay in shark river though. It is a nice anchorage, but no real spot for the dog to go. May will be favorable for winds and there should be plenty of weather windows, but it will be hot! Maybe work on training the dog to go on a mat and you will have many options now and in the future.

 

[Bob B.]

Definitely thinking on mat training my dog ... he is 8 1/2 so this could be tough to master by End of April.

Thanks for the replies - and am looking at routes from Goodland to Marathon - sounds like potential wind/waves and my slower speed may make an open crossing a little too iffy. I hate dodging crab pots ... looks like if I make this trip I will be surrounded with them ... need to be vigilant.

Anyone take a boat my size from Key west to the Marquesas for a few days?

 

[Someday*]

We mat trained our dog (11 lb Havanese)

Some advice I learned the hard way: We would put the mat on the swim platform for the dog to use(supervised of course)...be sure to establish who on board is responsible for securing the mat before you start moving again... when we arrived at our next destination the mat was gone.

The "1st mate" then informed me that was my job.

 

[knotflying]

Goodland to Marathon is a fairly straight run. Little shark river is about mid point. South of Little shark river has few places to anchor, unless it is dead calm your choice is the gulf. Once you get south of Everglades City and you stay closer to the coast, you will be in the national park and there are no crab pots allowed in the park. Quite frankly, the pot dodging isn't that bad. If you ever cruise Maine the pots in FL are nothing compared to up there.