Florida Keys marinas.

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Heading south from FLL Wednesday morning for the Keys. Any suggestions/recommendations for marinas with pool/beach and restaurant(s)? Any "Stay away froms"? Thanks.

 

[Dennis C]

Going to Key West? Stock Island Village Marina. Marathon? Faro Blanco. Be prepared to pay the price.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. D. Here at Faro Blanco (FB). Wonderful. Thanks for the tip. Yep, pricey BUT a first class set-up.

Ran from FLL to Gilbert’s @ Jewfish Creek in 4 hrs on ICW. Seas were 5’ outside with 7’ swells. Biscayne Bay was much more civilized (3’ with a few larger). Ran @ 4200RPM and 28MPH 1.6 MPG. Pretty damned smooth. LOVE a catamaran.

Gilbert’s to FB basically flat. 2’ or less. 3 hour run @ 25MPH. Slowed down a bit due to numerous crab pots and do NOT have the luxury of a fly bridge any more. EVERY boat is a compromise.

Since this is our shakedown cruise, a few things forgotten. Wash down hose (brought one but only 25’. Probably replace with 50’). Sharp kitchen knife. Operating manuals for GPS and autopilot (don’t seem to talk to each other).

Changes/additions: Better deck chairs. Some way to cook other than microwave (perhaps electric grill of some sort). Gotta be compact since we’re only 27’ LOA and not much storage. Any suggestions for a grill? IF we do find a suitable cooking device, next time fishing gear, for sure.

GREAT adventure, thus far.

 

[janice142]

I loved the restaurant at Faro Blanco... and the swimming pool too. Way back when there were loads of cottages available for out-of-town visitors between the marina and the Overseas Highway. Enjoy your time there.

 

[slowgoesit]

Depending on when you head back North, if we're in Florida by then, and you want to cross Florida on the Caloosahatchee Canal, Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie Canal, you're welcome to stop off at our new (to us) house! We'd love to meet you! Of course that depends on our getting out the San Blas Islands, up to the Cayman Islands, then around Cuba and to the house in a reasonable amount of time, but we're hoping to leave here on the 18th, and hopefully to the house by the end of April, first part of May! Keep in touch
We've got dock space for you and as the saying goes . . . . "We'll leave the light on!"

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Back home. Thanks so much for all your comments.

Well! That's about the BEST shakedown cruise we've ever done, Perfect weather albeit windy. LOTS of notes about additions/alterations/to be purchased etc. Exactly the reason for the adventure.

LOVE everything about the new boat EXCEPT her dismally poor performance in a beam sea (2'-3'). Beam sea directly from the east and we were heading due north. I suppose I could have tacked, somewhat but opted not to. Able to maintain 30mph but rocked up to 45 degrees (or so it seemed). NOT terribly pleasant. As a result we had to take the ICW from the head of Biscayne Bay to FLL. Tedious at best (Insert curse words of choice) at worst.

Found out the cruise ship channel is NOT open to general navigation. Only got politely but firmly hailed and not boarded. Oops, sorry.

Regards....

Edit: Mr. s. Thanks for the kind offer. That was our end of year cruise so heading back north in 2 or 3 weeks. I'll keep the offer in mind if we ever run over that way although, be forewarned you may regret doing so....