Keys Trip 2026

[wolverine]

Heading down to the keys this Saturday trailering the Compac 19. I'll be meeting a freind with his Compac Suncat in Key Largo and we'll be sailing until February 9th. Finished the hardest part readying for a 5 week trip. The grocery shopping.👎The truck is loaded and the boat attached. The boat itself is almost empty, just the main and fenders. I try to keep it as light as possible. I'll be posting our progress and hopefully if this old phone holds up, some pics.

[Jim_ME]

I was [just] talking to the seller of a ComPac 19 at auction on Ebay, but meanwhile another buyer got a bid in and it sold--if the sale holds, which many have not. May get another shot at it... Seems like a lot of room for a 19-foot 2,000-lb boat, that can be so easily trailered. I definitely like the dark marine green hull on your's.

Looks like you have a great small boat adventure ahead. Look forward to your posts, progress, and photos.

Fair winds!

[wolverine]

1st leg of the trip was uneventful if you count apple maps messing up and a wiper blade disintegrating in a down pour. However day 2 had me on the 95 shoulder with a trailer fender coming off. The same fenders I paid to have installed by a trailer company last summer. Apparently they dont use lock washers. Day 3 I made side trip to Lowes to purchase bolts, nuts, washers, and lock washers. I barrived in Key Largo about 10am and stopped at the resort to find their ramp not adequate for launching sailboats with keels so I spent the next 2 hours calling and visiting ramps. I finally decided on John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park. The dockmaster said he would waive the 15 minute dock restriction since it was slow and we had to store our vehicles 6 miles south. This afternoon we launched with the intention of anchoring overnight in the sound, but discovered it's not allowed. With 5-8mph NE winds we set our course for Rodriguez Key. It took 5 trys and and almost an hour to find a grassless anchor spot. Im surprised how roll-e it is here as the winds have now died down to maybe 3mph. Tomorrow is calling for more light NE winds so somewhere south will be our destination. Maybe Indian Key.

[wolverine]

Nothing to report really. Spent half the day waiting for my friend to get his boat in order. No wind to sail anyway. I did some snorkeling and about 2pm we sailed south to Tavenier. Chris took the west passage around the tiny island and I went east. Chris found good anchorage while I was still sailing. Most of the area is very shallow and is "no motors allowed", but that didn't deter the family in the pantoon boat. I anchored, but a bit close to a channel leading out of Tavenier. A decision I'm sure will haunt me in the mmorning when all the fishing charters go out.

[Frank]

Awesome you are down there!
I always wanted to explore the bay side more....
Enjoy yourselves!
And...
And....
Pictures! 😄

[Frank]

While in that area, is the Lorilie bar still going on Islamorada Key?
Great memories of live music at sunset there.....
Worth a stop for sunset happy hour for the tunes and view!

[wolverine]

Things did not go well. My friend sailing his Sunday had an issue with his shrouds. Every morning he had to tighten them until the turnbuckles ran out of thread. An inspection showed rot under the interior mast step. (Think compression post) A proper repair would mean cutting out the ratted wood and replacing it, fiberglass it over. So we have been sitting at a marina in Boot Key Harbor for 3 days waiting for a weather window to leave. Today we took the bus back to Key Largo and brought our vehicles down. Before sun up we will park our rigs at the public boat ramp, then walk back to the boats and head south to cross under the 7 mile bridge and head north on the bayside to the public ramp.