|
CRUISING INFORMATION
 Here we'll list tips from other cruisers: waypoints for cruising and
approaches, some selected marinas, recommended anchorages, use of mooring buoys, suggestions for
weathering nasty storms. Please keep checking back
as we continue to add information to this page.
CRUISING GUIDE WAYPOINTS & Selected Anchorages
& Marinas - Check out all this LOCAL KNOWLEDGE! For those cruising from Miami out past
Key West to the Tortugas, plus the SW Florida Coast, this list provides some useful waypoints
and pictures along the
way. Two of the best anchorages between Key Largo and Key West (Oceanside
anyway) are Boot Key Harbor in Marathon and Newfound Harbor in the lower keys.
Pictures are included throughout, as well as fact sheets for some destinations,
with sketch charts. These waypoints were taken with an ML250 GPS - no differential - or a Sitex
Loran. It includes waypoints for restaurants you can reach by boat or car. You are responsible for your own navigation so don't rely totally on
these waypoints - cross check against the charts, soundings, dead reckoning and
your own navigation.
Marinas - Here we list Marinas in Boot Key
Harbor in Marathon, other Marathon area marinas, and Upper and Lower Keys
Marinas.
CHECKING WEATHER: Keys weather is mostly calm in
the summer from May to November (but remember Hurricane Season!!). The National
Hurricane Center has a tropical weather section at www.nhc.noaa.gov/
that shows a strike probability graphic within a 72 hour period. Wintertime is
certainly much more pleasant than up north, but the water tends to get choppy
because of the higher winds. When planning on jumping to the Bahamas or Cuba,
remember to wait for the wind to clock around to the SE before heading out
across the Gulf Stream. That way the wind will continue to clock and be going
the same direction as the stream as you make your crossing, allowing the waves
to lay down. Crossing when the wind is opposed to the Gulf Stream may give you a
ride you'll never forget! CLICK HERE for a chart to
determine maximum seas by wind speed. Aside from the local VHF weather channels
in the Keys, - Go to the "Boating Links"
page to link to various weather sources for cruisers and offshore sailing - you
can pull up the readings on the Sea Buoy at Sombrero and other locations, tides,
current marine forecasts, satellite imagery and more.
HURRICANES: Thorough
Article - This is of major concern to all of us who live right in
the middle of the "strike zone" of Hurricane Alley. Thanks to global
weather changes, Hurricanes are becoming more common and more intense in these
subtropical latitudes. Though we can't give you any cookbook recipe for
guaranteeing protection from this severe weather, we can offer boaters some tips, and
guide your thinking in Hurricane preparation.
CRUISING GUIDES: We recommend the latest edition of Frank Papy's
"Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys".
Available from Frank M. Papy,
Fox Island, Box 263, Rt 1
Ridgeland, SC 29936
Tel: 803-726-3962
US Customs
Annual User Fee Decal Request: Whether it's the Bahamas, Canada,
Mexico or Cuba, you need a Customs decal to re-enter the U.S. efficiently. Boats
over 30' must have them. Cost is $25 as of Jan 2002, and this application is current as of that date.
Inquiries can be directed to Customs for Decals at 317-298-1200 ext 1245 M-F 8-5
EST, or email to Decals@customs.treas.gov
. Directions are included on this 2 page form. Clicking on the title above will
give you the Adobe . PDF form to read or print. Click on the Adobe Icon below if
you don't have it. You can download Adobe for free, then return to this site to
open the form. We had such a hassle getting it ourselves from Customs in the
Key West that we decided to post it here as a service to other boaters. Other
customs offices will issue it on the spot.
GREAT CIRCLE CRUISE - (aka Great Loop) -
Ever wanted to circumnavigate the entire Island of the East Coast of the United
States? Join Capn Greg and Admiral Lisa on their 2001 Great Circle cruise.
They left the Florida Keys in May of 2001, cruised up the U.S. East Coast, into
New York Harbor & past the twin towers, up the Hudson river to the New York
Barge Canal System, through the Great Lakes of Ontario, Erie, St Clair, Huron
and Michigan, into the Chicago River & Sanitary (an oxymoron) Canal, Illinois
River, Mississippi, Ohio & Cumberland Rivers, Lake Barclay, Kentucky Lake, the
Tennessee-TomBigbee River System, out to the Gulf of Mexico through Mobile AL,
and down the Panhandle & West coasts of Florida back down to the Florida Keys.
This is not a cruising guide for the Great Circle, but has extensive pictures and
anecdotes along the way. This will leave this website, so don't forget to return
to www.BootKeyHarbor.com .
USE YOUR BROWSER BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE
|
