Question for those familiar with the Key's

[madhatter1]

We have been there once in our old 46 Bertram, twice in our 34C, and once in the 46. We have our "go to" spot in Marathon (Banana Bay) but look to mix it up a bit on the way there. Last year we did the Galleon for a couple days and then trolled for Mahi over to Marathon.

Next summer we are going to Oceans Edge on Stock Island and then plan to again troll over to Marathon. Looking for a cool midpoint to stop for one day I found Little Palm Island resort. Clearly out of our price range. But beautiful.

So my question is are there any hidden gems of a place to stop that offer the natural beauty of the crystal clear water that would make a good stop. I'll do the high price thing to a point but $1,600 a night, well that's not going to happen. Willing to travel east from Marathon and run a different rout back north in search of paradise. Also no tricky water depth deals. Yes, I know I am in search of a unicorn!

Forgot to add we are going in the 46 so draft is 4'6"

 

[motoryacht lover]

Don’t know if anchoring out is an option but there is a little island with a beach in the “bay” by little palm island. We had a great time for a day and a night. If you have a dog he can go to the island and run around. I draw 5’ and am conservative and went in at close to high tide and had no issues. If you are going as far as islamorada we had a great time at Postcard inn and resort. Very nice place. the ladies loved it. I went in at high tide there as well and had no issues. Also if you have a fast dinghy you can go to that island (Boca Chica??) between key west and the marquesas. Very nice beach and water. Have fun

 

[Pascal]

I ve been trying to find that unicorn for 30 years. It ain’t there. The keys are great for small boats, diving and fishing and that’s it. It sucks for cruising. No real natural beach... no bahia Honda doesn’t qualify as a natural beach. Bayside is a pain if you draw 5’ and the few nice natural beaches on back country keys are no landing zones to protect birds.

Hawks Cay is beautiful but good luck bringing 5+ draft in. Marathon is great if you like trailer parks.

All these years I keep going back to the best Florida Keys anchorage: Eliot key. North end of key largo, just 15nm from downtown Miami.

It’s roughly 160nm from FTL to KW. Just 30 more and you can be in the Exumas. No brainer

 

[madhatter1]

Pascal, we planned on going to the Bahamas soon but with all this covid BS and uncertainty no way for us. I'd rather pony up and pay $1,600 for as sure thing even though a cloudy day could ruin the experience.

May be looking at Postcard/Bud & Mary's as recommended. They are on oceanfront so maybe nice clear water. If I can't find the unicorn I'll just spend more time on mooring balls at some nice reefs. It's all about the nice clear water to me. I love that.

 

[Pascal]

We ve been to the Bahamas about 6 times since the red flu started. It’s pretty painless. Get a test before traveling, get your online health visa (easy) and 5 days after arriving get another test. If you re not close to a testing site no problem. We ve had guests test 9 days after arriving. Well worth it considering you get REAL beaches and sandbars.

 

[tomrealest]

I agree with Pascal. I don't have anywhere near his experience but I think he is on point. I have not been to the Bahamas since Covid but it would not stop me. I can't wait to get back to the Exumas.

 

[BOATER BOB]

Why not go down to the Dry Tortugas for a few days the water is clear there?

 

[Boatsb]

Maybe I'm wrong but bear with me for a minute.

A 46 convertible is not a big motor yacht.

A 46 convertible may not have the ability to stay on the hook comfortably for extended times.

A 46 convertible is a great boat for 1 or 2 couples for a couple of days but gets tight fast.

I personally like to use a dock not a mooring when possible. I don't cary enough water for more than about 2 days. I don't cary water toys and floats and stuff. Just maybe 2 kayaks.

It's a different type of boating.

 

[Pascal]

It s about 180/190 NM from Miami to the tortugas...same distance to the Exumas where you have 200 anchorages instead of 2

 

[mike.s]

We make a couple of trips to the keys every year. Our normal stops are Marina Del Mar in Key Largo.
Post Card Inn or Plantation yacht Harbor in Islamorada. Hawks Cay, Faro Blanco, or Marlin Bay in Marathon. Then either Galleon or Opel in Key West. Our boat is 61 foot and draws 5.5 feet. The Post Card Inn and Hawks Cay are usually favorites for my family.

We planned on spending more time in the Bahamas but then Covid happened and my family doesn't care about it. We won't get vaccinated, wear masks, or take tests for it. So that rules out the Bahamas for a while

 

[Pascal]

I love plantation yacht harbor, I used to Keep my boat there around 2003/2004. But 5 1/2 is right coming in.

We ve been to the Exumas 6 or more times since they re opened last year. Yeah you have to get a test but you can get an oral RT PCR so it s not bad. It s worth it.

 

[madhatter1]

May try Postcard before heading back. Is there deep enough water to go under Upper Matecumbe bridge channel up to bay channel and then follow to back behind Marathon before heading north or is only option ocean to 7 mile bridge?

 

[mike.s]

I love plantation yacht harbor, I used to Keep my boat there around 2003/2004. But 5 1/2 is right coming in.

We ve been to the Exumas 6 or more times since they re opened last year. Yeah you have to get a test but you can get an oral RT PCR so it s not bad. It s worth it.

When I've gone in to Plantation I've just made sure I was 2 hours or more off low tide. Its only shallow right at the entrance to snake creek from Hawks Chanel.

When you go to the Bahamas do you have to find a doctor for the Covid tests or do they do them at customs or some other government building. I did take two home tests in August because I had Covid and wanted to confirm it with out it being on the record.

 

[mike.s]

May try Postcard before heading back. Is there deep enough water to go under Upper Matecumbe bridge channel up to bay channel and then follow to back behind Marathon before heading north or is only option ocean to 7 mile bridge?

I've always run the atlantic side to Moser channel because I know theres plenty of water. My guess is you could make it, I've talked to other people that have done it in boats that draw close to 5 foot. When we make trips to the Keys I usually do an overnight chug from St Lucie to Key West. Then when we move from one marina to the next I run at cruise and we'll stop at the reefs to snorkel. I don't think I could bring myself to run at cruise speed on the inside.

 

[Pascal]

You can run 5’ draft on the bay side all the way to marathon unless it s been blowing hard and water has been pushed out of the bay. You have to slow down in some to prevent squating


Every trip we did the tests either at a clinic like MDNow or a test center. I ll have to look up the name of the test center we used. It was an oral swab which is rare for an rt-PCR. Got the result in 36 hours. Will try to look up the name.

Edit. Got it. Curative.com

 

[motoryacht lover]

I don’t have a good understanding of what if anything is being proposed. But if I am understanding things correctly the new Bahamian Prime Minister is contemplating making entry easier for those wanting to visit. Can that be done by executive order or does it have to go through a prolonged debate in their parliament? In other words, might it get easier to visit soon or is it 6 months away?

 

[Pascal]

I don’t have a good understanding of what if anything is being proposed. But if I am understanding things correctly the new Bahamian Prime Minister is contemplating making entry easier for those wanting to visit. Can that be done by executive order or does it have to go through a prolonged debate in their parliament? In other words, might it get easier to visit soon or is it 6 months away?

No idea what the new government is going to do.... as mentioned it s pretty easy already. They need the tourism, badly, and can’t afford to blow another season

I m no expert but all the various changes and rules were done by executive order as allowed by the emergency orders and authorities given to the PM. So in theory they can amend the rules pretty easily

 

[madhatter1]

Rethinking this trip to be Marathon and Post card inn. Great info. And this thread is morphing into a Bahamas thread. Keep er going.