Marinas in the Upper Keys

[roundIII]

Heading down in mid November. Any suggestions?

RR

 

[captainwjm]

My personal choices are Plantation Harbor in Islamaroda and Pilot House in Key Largo.

 

[bobk]

Check Active Captain. They will all be listed and have comments from past users. Plantation is nice. So is Bonefish in Marathon.

Bobk

 

[Bill Allen]

Sorta partial to Bonefish myself. Although we winter farther down in Marathon At Marathon boat yard I like a working boat yard. But Bonefish is a very nice Marina. Bill

 

[Pascal]

I don't care for key largo, it's just a bunch of strip malls and cheap tourist traps.

Plantation yacht harbor is probably the best Marina in the upper keys. Nice park, little beach, good protection.

An alternative to PYH is Tavernier, I can't remember he name of the marina... It s on th bay side but has a narrow entrance with about 5' MLW. It s been a while since I ve been there but it was fine

Marathon has been going downhill ever since faro blanco closed down. The Marinas are fine but marathon has become one large trailer park... Litterally .

 

[roundIII]

Thanks for all the info. It has been many years since I have been to the Keys, at least 12 and I am wondering if time and money better spent is to go to the Bahamas or just spend the time enjoying S. Florida, Miami & vicinity. Traveling down from Vero Beach and have a few weeks to do so.

RR

 

[Pascal]

I don't think y can even compare the keys to the bahamas. Personally I find the keys are nice with a small boat (or something drawing less than 5') but make little sense if you can't go on the bay side. And even then, there are basically no beaches in the keys so unless you re into diving or fishing it s limited.

Not that many anchorages or marinas either, at least nice scenic anchorages. There are some nice spots on the bay side, both or tavernier/islamorada, but all the little keys are closed to protect birds so you can't even step on them

Key Waste is best visited by car in my opinion.

From WPB or FTL, KW is almost just as far as the exumas. It's a no brainer.

The only reason to go to the keys vs the Bahamas is if you have limited time and can't get a good window for crossing.

 

[capttonyf]

We like to fish so for us, "Holiday Isle, The Post Card Inn" in Islamorada is a great spot. It's older and can be a little crazy on holiday weekends but they made some changes for the better recently. They started to update the Hotel, although I didn't mind it before, "we're not a very fancy kind of family". They've roped off the marina and beach area from people just walking through, and limited availability to just Hotel and Marina Guests now which has relaxed the atmosohere a bit. They also added Gas Powered Fire Pits behind the Boat Slips so it gives you a nice place to put some chairs out and relax in the evening. I'd say the thing I like the most though is when your backed into the harbor slips you have a geat view of the ocean only feet away. To be honest it's alot more relaxed than it used to be. The last few times we were there, it wasn't busy at all and the only people around were other boat owners and guests. It was nice.

Hawks Cay is another great choice, a little more expensive but a little higher end as far as the accomadations.

Tony

 

[Pascal]

Last time I went to Hawks it was $5 a foot, That's about twice the price of marinas in the exumas and you don't even get a real beach

5' draft is about the maximum you can bring in the main marina . There is a little more in the first basin, just before the hump by the lagoon.

 

[GJH]

I don't consider Marathon the Upper Keys; mid-Keys maybe. I think of Biscayne and Largo in that regard. We liked Marathon, spending a little time off and on at Marathon Marina and a few weeks at a time on a mooring. I think Pascal's opinion is quite ill informed about Marathon, but spot on about the Bahamas. We chose the Keys during times when I had business both in South Florida or needed readier access to MIA, but didn't want to hang out any longer in S.FL. Plus we really enjoy cruising far SW FL (10,000 Islands) and it's a jumping off point for that.

Back to the Keys, Marathon Marina was the only one we ever stayed in, otherwise anchored out everywhere. The newer marina at Banana Bay in Marathon looked very nice and quiet, over on the Bay side. I note they are rebuilding Faro Blanco, but on a new site over on the bay side as well.

 

[Pascal]

Indeed marathon isn't quite the upper keys. The last two or three times I went there (Over the last couple of years) I was disapointed and so were the people we were with. As soon as you walk out the mArina, you have to walk thru trailer parks to us1. I just don't see the attraction I mich prefer PlantationYacht Harbor.

 

[GJH]

Indeed marathon isn't quite the upper keys. The last two or three times I went there (Over the last couple of years) I was disapointed and so were the people we were with. As soon as you walk out the mArina, you have to walk thru trailer parks to us1. I just don't see the attraction I mich prefer PlantationYacht Harbor.

So you went to the wrong marina (for your sensibilities), and you didn't see all of the town. OK.