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Boot
Key
Harbor An On-Line
Cruising Guide for the Florida Keys & Cuba |
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CRUISING WAYPOINTS, SELECTED ANCHORAGES & MARINAS These waypoints MUST be used only in conjunction with current charts of the area, and cross checked against other navigational methods such as soundings, navigational aids and bearings. Do not rely solely upon these waypoints, and don't use them at all unless you are able to fully navigate yourself. You are responsible for your own navigation. Remember, it's even possible that there are typographical errors on these pages - double check your navigation! These pages are split into sections so they'll load faster on your computer.
Make sure you review the rules for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary before you dive / cruise. Review the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service restrictions for the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, & National Key Deer Refuge (essentially ALL of the Keys) Whale Harbor Restaurant: 24 56.246N 080 36.738W - This has an All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffet that is well know through the Keys. Also there is the Dockside Restaurant upstairs on the same property. A charter marina is there adjoining the Channel, but call ahead to see if there is anyplace to tie up to come in to dinner. http://www.keysdirectory.com/whaleharbor/ ISLAMORADA: To view recommendations by the near shore waters committee
of Islamorada - such as buoyage of certain areas, closing of flats, anchorage
restrictions, etc.
CLICK HERE. (goes to their webiste)
Whale Harbor Sandbar on a weekend. Photo Courtesy Tom Henschel, author of "The Florida Keys Ports of Call & Anchorages". This illustrated guide is available for sale at www.cruisingbook.com The Sandbar just off the marked channel coming in to Whale Harbor is the big
party spot. - A really nice sandbar. This is a controversial spot
since the Holiday Isle attracts so many revelers, and locals and South
Floridians alike come just to party on the Sandbar, that it gets pretty
rowdy. Local officials have even called for making if off limits to boaters,
but this would be entirely unfair and violates the basic premises of rights
of navigation. If people don't want to be out there and watch the craziness,
the answer is simple - don't go - stay away. Holiday Isle doesn't seem to
like it because loads of people and cars come from S. Miami just to go out
on the Sandbar, and they take up (illicitly) the parking spaces that Holiday
Isle has for their own customers. - easy solution too - enforce the Holiday
Isle parking with inside window stickers, then police it and tow violators.
Photo Courtesy Tom Henschel, author of "The Florida Keys Ports of Call & Anchorages". This illustrated guide is available for sale at www.cruisingbook.com
Theater of the Sea (attraction): 24 56.558N 080 36.362W (street side). MM 84.5 Islamorada. Marine Park & Tropical Gardens. Swim with Dolphins. Rays, turtles & lots more on display. Family oriented place. Can access through Holiday Isle Resorts docks if they'll allow it. Pelican Cove Resort: 24 56.628N 080 36.294W (street side).
Upscale Resort with small boat dock, ramp, restaurant.
www.pcove.com Smuggler's Cove Motel & Marina: 24 57.149N 080 35.326. Restaurant &
Marina at Snake Creek, Bayside. MM 85.5 Islamorada.
Plantation Yacht Harbor:
Mangrove Marina: 25.00.7N 080 31.17W (This is area of docks - not for navigation). Bayside in Tavernier, in Community Harbor. Anchorage here as well. Fuel, Haulout, ship's store, bath house & laundry, boat ramp. Leave ICW from Marker 64 south. Narrow entrance with shoals. Harbor is only about 4' in depth. Close to a shopping center.
Snappers Waterfront Restaurant
Dusenbury Creek - North Side - ICW 25 08.642N 080 25.430W
Anchorage Resort & Marina - other (East) side of Jewfish Creek bridge
from Gilbert's. Slips, pool, hot tub, showers, laundry, gas grills, cable
TV. No fuel. $1.50/ft for slips in 2001.
Flamingo Lodge & Marina -
Everglades National Park. This is a very nice marina and lodge
right in the middle of the everglades. A Park Ranger station is located at the
lodge. They have a screened in swimming pool and a restaurant. Friends can drive
there from Florida City. Click on the name for more complete information on
navigating from the middle keys, pictures, waypoints and things to do. R2 just South of Cape Sable & West of 1st Natl Bank Shoal 25.05.00N 080.04.98W G9 Entrance to Flamingo Lodge Channel (Everglades National Park) 25.07.419N 080.55.789W KEYS OCEANSIDE: Upper Keys (Also look up the Dive Sites for places in the upper Keys) Boat Ramps in the Upper Keys:
Mandalay Marina - Restaurant/Bar - 25 04.405N 08027.569W, MM 97.5 on US1 . 80 E Second St in Key Largo, Oceanside. 305-852-5450. www.themandalay.com . This is a very small marina - could not accommodate cruisers, but many boats anchor just out of the restaurant and dinghy in to the rock jetty dinghy landing or docks. When approaching docks don't confuse it for the condo's marina right next door to the West. "Old Keys" place. Full menu & bar. Sunday church services each Sunday morning at 9am. Have a kids fishing tournament (free) the 2nd Sunday of each month - all kids catch something - they provide everything including the boats. Entertainment most nights. Check their monthly calendar on their web site. Also have associated charter fishing, back country, eco tours, scuba certification, dive & snorkel trips, boat rentals - for these call 305-853-0296.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park -
www.pennekamppark.com - based at
MM 102.5 in Key Largo, this is America's first undersea park, extending about 3
miles out to sea to the reef, and 25 miles long. The visitor information center
and marina in Key Largo offers glass bottom boat rides, snorkel and scuba trips,
on-site camping, a boat ramp, kayak and canoe trails and rentals and a couple
small beaches in the sound. Mooring buoys are placed in Key Largo Sound and
managed by the park. Fees are about $15/night in 2002. Limited dockage is
available as well with 2002 rates at $25 and $50/night. The park headquarters,
marina basin and moorings in Largo Sound are entered via South Sound Creek. At
Green Daymark G19 in the creek, it splits left and right. The left branch goes
up into the marina basin and park office. The right branch goes out into Largo
Sound to the mooring buoys.
Rodriguez Key - Key Largo The North side (right shown here) is good for anchoring when
it's in the Lee. There are a couple submerged wrecks (seen in this photo) so
watch the charts. Photo Courtesy Tom Henschel, author of "The Florida Keys Ports of Call & Anchorages". This illustrated guide is available for sale at www.cruisingbook.com
Dry Rocks Reef (Christ of the Abyss) - Pennekamp Park 25 07.361N 080 17.843W R6, Elbow Reef - Pennekamp Park 25 08.700N 080 1.500W Carysfort Light & Reef 25 13.300N 080 12.700W Turtle Reef - Pennekamp Park 25 16.54N 080 12.493W Ocean Reef Club:
http://www.oceanreef.com/Default.asp?p=Home&A=1 ,
35 Ocean Reef Drive, Key
Largo, FL 33037. Tel (305) 367-2611. Private, members only Club in North Key
Largo.
Caesar Creek - looking East toward the Ocean. About ICW 1116 Photo Courtesy Tom Henschel, author of "The Florida Keys Ports of Call & Anchorages". This illustrated guide is available for sale at www.cruisingbook.com
South Florida - West Coast - heading South Cape Romano - 9 miles West of Cape, to avoid near shore shoals San Carlos Light 26 25.100N 081 57.500W Cape Sable - 2 miles West of R4 25 12.780N 081 13.820W Shark River Approach - ¾ mi West of River (little shark river) 25 19.110N 081 10.200W
Shark River G1 (little shark river) & Tarpon Bay 25 19.327N 081 09.222W
ANCHORAGES IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK Good overnight anchorage just inside the channel (see cruising guides) - Great anchorage about 10 miles up the river in Tarpon Bay & Harney River. Make sure you have the charts all the way up the river into Tarpon Bay - otherwise there's a good chance you'll get lost trying to come back out. You can carry 6' at high tide up the river. Watch out for mosquitoes and alligators! CLICK HERE for an info sheet about this destination, regarding, distances, waypoints. Includes pages of charts for the area, and satellite photos. South Florida - East Coast Miami - MOA, approach from offshore to inlet 25 46.157N 080 05.051W THE WORLD NORTH OF MIAMI - Now why in the world would anyone want to go
that far North anyway?? |
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Boot Key Harbor website created and maintained by Capt. Gregory
T. Absten, Marathon. - A Boater's Guide to the Florida Keys & Cuba |
Holiday Isle Beach Resorts & Marina: 24 56.510N 080 36.379W
(street side)
- MM 84.5 This is a major party place. Includes several hotels. Big time
tourist & college kid spot. Party area. Theater of the Sea next door.
