Key Largo Boating?

[moneysavr]

Get a (Top Spot ) water proof chart,I loved it for wreck no#s in the Keys gives you all the GPS no#s
I am sure you will have fun just a few more weeks till we make it down for some fun in the sun!

 

[The Chad]

Thanks for the replies. All very useful information from my standpoint. We are very excited about the option of having our own boat down in the keys. Although I am an experienced boater on our local lakes and rivers and even in our intercoastal waterways here I know that boating in the Keys is totally different. That being the main reason for my concern. Although, I figure if I do some research and learn the do and don'ts/rules and regs of boating in the Keys as moneysaver mentioned and take my time and be careful when I do get there I feel like I will be okay. I have a Garmin chartplotter with the most up to date Bluechart G2 Vision card for the area so that will be an invaluable tool I am sure. I think we're definitely gonna try it and see what happens. We have decided however that we are only going to attempt to dive from our own boat if the weather cooperates and is really nice. Otherwise, we will probably dive with Horizon and save the boat for simply cruising around and enjoying being on the water in the keys. How awesome is that? We can't wait. Thanks again for the replies and feel free to offer up any other tips you may have.

I think you will have an awesome time...and I say go for it! My wife am I did that trip in our boat about 2 years ago. We dropped in at Ft Lauderdale and took the intercoastal down to Cudjoe key about 21 miles shy of key west. One big problem is parking your truck and trailer, in Miami its about 12 bucks a day and not very secure. The marina we dropped at was Habour town in ft Laud. they have security and are reasonable. The is a hotel in key largo you will pass it on the intercostal, but you can slip your boat right outside the room and they have decent rates. Glad to hear you have thegarmin, it really was a life saver for us.

Most the diving is about 7 miles offshore east side of key largo. If you need gps cords let me know, we dove molasses and elbow but I have more if you want them. just make sure you monitor the WB for NOAA and get the forecasts daily, anything over 3' and your gonna have a rough ride. Another pointer is to know your gas consuption and where all the gas stations are....we almost ran out once and it was freaky.

Use a trail line from your boat and don't stray too far from it when diving as we also dove with an unattended boat. take a ditch bag and all the safty equipment. The incoastal side isen't too bad but byscane bay can get rough. Lemme know if you need anything, but have a ball

 

[Matteo]

DIVING FROM AN UNATTENDED BOAT IS A VERY BAD IDEA! Which is why you need to take me along! More than happy to watch your bubbles and your boat. Just so long as I'm allowed to "inspect the hull" during your SI.
No, seriously. I've done this same trip many times myself from Atlanta, both for fishing and diving and it sounds to me like you've got a good prudent plan that has a lot of flexibility in it.
A couple things to consider that haven't been mentioned: towing your boat down the FL Turnpike is going to be expensive, especially if you've got a dual-axle trailer. But I feel it's still the best way to go in terms of time and road conditions.
Bring a spare tire and appropriate jack for your trailer. April shouldn't be too bad, but that hot florida sun can cook some pavement and your tires. I've seen and had more blowouts than I care to talk about. Which is why you also want to stay around 70 MPH or less.
And when you near the tail end of the pike, aka Dade County, clinch your cheeks, cross your fingers, say a couple of hail marys, click your heels, and pray for Florida City to come quick. Then roll your windows down, pop in your favorite CD, inhale the intoxicating aroma of the mangroves along US1, and begin to feel life's stresses fade away.
Have Fun! There's nothing like having the freedom to explore in your own boat. Use your common sense and you'll be just fine.

 

[Georgia bubble blower]

I can't thank you all enough. Everyone has been so great with their suggestions and with sharing their experiences that I feel much better about things than I did a few days ago. Heck, I'm ready to load up and go right now! I am feeling pretty good about things now that i have heard from all of you. Thanks very much for taking the time to post. Everyone's comments have been most helpful.

 

[fldiver1]

And when you near the tail end of the pike, aka Dade County, clinch your cheeks, cross your fingers, say a couple of hail marys, click your heels, and pray for Florida City to come quick. Then roll your windows down, pop in your favorite CD, inhale the intoxicating aroma of the mangroves along US1, and begin to feel life's stresses fade away.
Have Fun! There's nothing like having the freedom to explore in your own boat. Use your common sense and you'll be just fine.

That is TOO FUNNY!!!
Actually, I have made this same trip myslef several times and he is right. My butt puckered up a time or two, thought it was gonna chew a hole in the seat there for a while!! I LOVE diving from my own boat in Key Largo. Only way to go in my opinion. We are going down again in March and bringing two boats this time. 4 couples diving from 2 of our own boats and then sunset cocktail cruises later. Man, it just doesnt get any better!

 

[littlejohn]

Take at least one spare tire, two would be better.
Take a spare set of barrings, or better yet get a full hub for the trailer.
Find a place to stay that has boat docks for you to tie up.

Keeping a boat in the water in the keys can be $$$$ outrageous.
Most ramps charge you not only to put the boat in the water but to pull it out also.
And I have seen ramps that charge $25 each way even if you are storing your boat in their marina at $40 a day

 

[Georgia bubble blower]

We found a couple of places that have their own marina so to speak that would be perfect for us with a boat. The two we have looked at and considered is the Hampton (on site boat ramp and dockage) on Islamorada and Ocean Pointe (ramp, marina and ample parking) on Tavernier. Ocean Pointe is located around mile marker 92 which would put us about half way between Aligator Reef (around mile marker 80) and Molassas (around mile marker 100) if my calculations are even remotely close. PLEASE correct me if I am way off base here. That seems to be just about as good as I could ask for. The problem, as far as Ocean Pointe is concerned anyway, is that our boat is a 2006 23' Yamaha AR230 HO with twin Jet drives. The boat looks, and for the most part, performs just like any other bowrider boat that you would find with the exception that it is a twin inboard/jet driven boat. No other difference at all. For whatever reason, Ocean Pointe apparantley has a "no jet ski no jet boat" policy. I have no idea why. Does anyone know why? Is it something to do with the jet drives? I would think they would be less of an issue than the outboards. They are low emission 4 strokes and they are pretty quiet too. I can't imagine. I have posted a link below for anyone who may be unfamiliar with this boat. I do have an email in to them to find out but I have my doubts whether or not I will ever get an answer from them to that question. If anyone knows why they have this policy then PLEASE tell me why this is. I am totally at a loss on this one.



This link is actually to the 2008 model but with a few minor exceptions it is exactly the same.

2008 Yamaha AR230 High Output Gallery, photos, pictures

 

[Going The Distance]

As every one has pretty well mentioned its pretty simple and more fun on your oun boat. We tow our 35ftr about 5 times a year.. As far as docking we use Rock Harbour Marina, the ramps getting some work done but if we ca do it any one can. Its safe and pretty quiet to dock there also water and electric for us was 50 bucks nite. 10 bucks to store the trailer per day in their lot and we park on their guest area... Straight out of there about a 15 min drive=out and your on mollasses reef.. As far as navigating Top Spots is one of the better charts, get one even if you have a chartplotter, it will give you locations as to were reefs are and were your not suppose to be also. We use a morring ball when avail. a drop line and a 40ft of line out the back of the boat if were all under,in case of any current, and I take the keys to the ignition and batt swithches that have locks whenever the boat is un attended.. If you got anymore questions pm me for info, I down that way quite a bit.

 

[dk2943]

Ocean Pointe is a really nice place. It has its own ramp and marina and you can make arrangements to leave your boat in the water the entire time you are there. All of the rooms are either one or two bedroom apartments and the rates are reasonable. It is well located for diving sites and is near Tavernier Creek so it is easy to get to the bayside.

 

[Georgia bubble blower]

Thanks for the replies. Now if I can just get Ocean Pointe to allow my boat then i will be good to go. I did confirm that they have rooms available for the dates we are thinking of going and all I need is to come to an agreement with them regarding my boat and we can make a reservation. Hopefully it will work out. That "no jet ski's no jet boat" policy is still baffling me though. Gonna try and give them a call today and see if that helps.