Rates in Keys and Islands

[Shipscarver]

Any current info on the mooring/slip rates at Marathon or near by, and on over to the islands? The web sites no longer seem to give anything on rates.

[CharlieJ]

Don't recall mooring ball fees, but dinghy dock fee if anchored out was$45 week last winter. That covered shower usage, dinghy dock use and one pump out a week.

Be prepared to be able to pump out. Porta-potti's don't cut it in Boot Key Harbor.

There were 450+ boats in Boot Key Harbor when we were there- 2-3 week wait for a ball. We just anchored-plenty of space even as crowded as it was. Due to weather we stayed a month.

Have no idea about moorings in the Bahamas.'we didn't use but two and they were both free. One in the Exumas and one inEleuthera.

We entered at Bimini. Stayed at Weeches for 30 a night plus 6 a day for water. Stayed at Nassau Harbor Club so Laura could get a flight out, then anchored out.

[CaptMac]

Here is Boot Key's web site with rates http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/index.aspx?NID=42
They also have a habor cam for dreaming

[s/v Faith]

I was just in Marathon last week on a delivery.  The mooring field at Boot Key was a first class operation.  I spoke with the marina manager, he was walking the dingy dock and talking to folks.  Great facility, and the moorings are $275 a month, but you can still anchor and use the dingy dock for a fee also.

It is significant that you can still anchor.  Under Florida's law, when a municipality has a public mooring field they can legally limit anchoring.... but marathon does not.  There is an anchorage south of the channel on the west end of the anchorage, and many boats anchor near the marina.

Just as a 'trivial pursuit' issue, anchor lights are required in boot Key Harbor.... even when on a mooring ball.

This is not normally the case, and would not be a legal requirement

EXCEPT.  Colregs require an anchor light whenever anchored, it is US law that sets aside designated anchorages as exempt from this requirement.....

... Boot Key Harbor, and the keys are apparently outside the Colregs line of demarcation and therefore they are under international colregs  for purposes of anchorage.... (still red on right though, just like the Bahamas).

[JWalker]

$275 wow, I thought it was up to $350.....

they include pumpout with that.....


anyone know if a compost toilet is ok for the moorings?

Seems like a great price to stay in the keys.

[CharlieJ]

Also- Boot Key and most harbors in Florida, require at least a white light oon the dinghy.

[s/v Faith]

$275 wow, I thought it was up to $350.....

they include pumpout with that.....


anyone know if a compost toilet is ok for the moorings?

Seems like a great price to stay in the keys.

They come to your boat and will pump out your tank once a week.  The pump out boat is not
set up for porta-potties, and I am sure they would not be interested in your compost.

I doubt you would have any issue, just let them know that you compost when you check in....
... most of the temp folks in the marina are live aboards so you are mostly among friends.

[w00dy]

We're in Key West for the week, anchored just west of Fleming Key. The only available dinghy dock in Key West bight charges $6 a day/$25 a week for dockage. Showers are extra: $4 day/$20 week.

Open slips are hard to come by and more expensive than usual for the next 10 days. The reason: Race week. There are some very fancy boats here at the moment and the streets are crawling with Rolex-sporting-racers.

We're hoping to head up to Marathon soon where things are less expensive and touristy. We're also looking for a slip/mooring ball/boatyard where we can keep the boat while we go back and work for a month in Texas. When we return, we'll make the crossing to the Bahamas and spend the spring over there.

[s/v Faith]

Jim,

  If you take a look at the channel west of Boca Chica, you will see an area that appears to have good protection and is still near enough Key West.

  Marathon (Boot Key) should be a good place to leave the boat.  The Marathon airport is for private aircraft, but they do rent cars there.  Otherwise, you can ride the bus back down to Key West to the airport or the greyhound terminal (at the airport).

[JWalker]

I called the harbormaster to ask about compost toilets...

I spoke with Jen, she said as long as it is a newer more efficient compost toilet "like the airhead" there is no problem.


where do you think that leaves my homebrew compost toilet?  :-\

[bladedancer]

Just paid for $112 for a week on mooring ball. Looks pretty much full up right now but boats are leaving all the time for the Bahamas. There's room to anchor but it's tight. Just had my porta potti pumped out no problem. There's a place to dump them on the dock. No free internet in harbor and at marina it's on and off.

[Ssullivan]

you can get a slip at one of the marinas in the harbor, burden's, ponchos, cant remeber the others. i have a buddy who lives on his 53' Hatteras and pays like $900-$1000 a month and i think it includes water, power and cable (maybe internet also) hopes this helps   

[w00dy]

Although the mooring bouys in Boot Key harbor are cheap and convenient, wet storage is not allowed. The regulations state that they are for live-aboards only.

After an exhausting session of calling boat yards up the east coast of Florida, I came to a pleasant conclusion. I found the cheapest boatyard by far is right here in Marathon! It's called Driftwood Marina and Boatyard and as of this winter, prices for dry storage are $7.50/ft/month and a haul out is $6.00/ft, both ways. Unfortunately, they won't let you paint your own bottom there, so I'm going to have to put that off, rather than pay someone else $500 for two hours work. Still, for dry storage, I challenge anyone to find a less expensive boatyard in Florida.

[CharlieJ]

Looks like we have two SailFar people in Boot Key right now. Bladedancer and you. Look around for the boat Louise Michel James.

[w00dy]

We're anchored on the far east side of the harbor, near the north shore, in very shallow water (sitting on our keels this morning). We're the closest boat to the mangroves and not too far from the marina docks.

I'll keep my eyes peeled .