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CRUISING WAYPOINTS, SELECTED ANCHORAGES & MARINAS - MIDDLE
KEYS
Middle Keys:
7 Mile Bridge & Marathon to Whale Harbor in Islamorada
There are MANY PICTURES on these LONG PAGES - They will take a while
to load - but worth it.
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)
UPPER KEYS MARINAS
KEYS OCEANSIDE: Middle Keys - going from 7 mi bridge (Marathon) East to Upper Keys
 Money Keys - 24 41.00N 081 12.9W - Oceanside off 7 mile
bridge. Nice day spot to explore and wade. Shoal all around, must proceed in
toward the 7 mile bridge, then parallel it by the electric poles (look at your
chart), then head back south to the island.
1M Satellite Photo. North is up.
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Photo Courtesy Capt Frank Danisi |
Molasses Keys - 24 41.00N 081 11.45W -
Oceanside off 7 mile
bridge. Nice day spot to swim, explore & wade. The rock just to the SW of the
main island has an old bomb hole on its NW side. This goes from about 5 foot
depths at the rim to 15 or 16 feet in the hole. Good swimming. The middle island
is the main one & you can beach your dinghy & explore. The water in the flats
between this Island and the mangrove one to the east is very shallow and VERY
HOT in the summer - it must be 105-110 degrees. We
sometimes anchor in the channel just to the NW of the island and stay the
weekend there. Fast currents. There is a ledge about 100 yards off the island.
You dinghy or small boat in to the ledge (go to the East end of the island),
then walk the rest of the way in. Watch the tide because if you're boat is
up on the ledge it can go high and dry very quickly on an outgoing tide!
2M Satellite Photo below (North up), shows the middle Island
where you dingy in and explore. |
Molasses Keys, 2 Meter
S. Approach to Money Key Channel - Molasses / Money Keys (S Side of 7 mi
Bridge).
24 40.580N 081 11.880W
Moser Channel Approach from South (7 mi bridge), R2
24 41.140N 081.10.000W LORAN: 14014.9 43459.5
Pigeon Key (7 mile Bridge) - Between Moser Channel and West channel to
Boot Key Harbor / Marathon
CLICK HERE for a picture & info,
24 42.24N 081 09.31
ANCHORAGE in Boot Key Harbor -
*Note: (2004) The mooring field continues to grow, and this has
both its good and bad points. We're told there will soon be over 225 moorings
and only a small designated area (actually undesirable for anchoring) will
remain for anchored boats . This makes Boot Key Harbor a regulated harbor and
registration is required. (City Marina manages the moorings - click below on the
Marinas in Boot Key Harbor for their contact information). Since the
Harbor usually has about 300+ anchored during the height of the season this
means that fewer boats will be able to stay in the harbor. You'll have to sign
the most extensive agreement I've ever seen for docking or mooring - 24 pages of
agreement, rules and regulations, in addition to 15 pages of the underlying city
ordinance! There is also some concern if your boat is over 40'. When they put in
the initial moorings it was determined that they were "safe" (swinging room &
load) for boats only up to 40'. Now that additional moorings have been added to
the field the rule has been changed so that boats greater than 40' may stay on
them, but no change was made to the spacing or anchoring of these mooring balls.
This does raise some question of safety and potential liability for the City in
making such arbitrary determinations that have the potential to damage ones boat
when they swing in to each other or break loose from the anchor.
Go to the Harbor Plans page on this website for
more detailed information.
Anchor Lights are required in Boot Key Harbor. The USCG can't
make it a designated anchorage where lights are not required, because it is in
international (not inland) waters.
MARATHON FLORIDA, on Vaca Key (There is no Marathon Key)
Home of Boot Key Harbor and the Heart of the Florida Keys.
You're looking from West to East (The Keys run east and west
once you're this far down - not North and South). Knights Key is in the
foreground, Boot Key Harbor and Oceanside off to your right, and Gulfside off to
your left. The Marathon Airport is at the top (back) of the photo. This
commercial airport really is underused. You can book flights up into mainland
Florida. Check it out. It's much more convenient than flying into Miami, and a
lot less busy than Key West. Click the links in the table below for TONS
of information, photos, menus, marinas and area business.
Marathon
Chamber of Commerce (tourist info)
City of Marathon website
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Boot Key Harbor is the best protected anchorage in all of
the Keys, plus plenty of Marina's, Restaurants and Business to reprovision. This
is the best place to wait out the weather for crossing to Cuba.
Click on MARATHON SERVICES for
a listing of business' of interest to cruisers, such as restaurants, bars,
repairs, supplies, car rentals, etc..
CLICK
HERE FOR A LISTING OF MARINAS IN BOOT KEY HARBOR & HARBOR INFORMATION
A "Ghost Ship" from Hurricane
Georges in 1998 swept up into the mangroves of Boot Key Harbor. |
Boot Key Harbor
Looking SE at the Harbor, from Gulfside looking Oceanside.
CLICK HERE FOR
LABELED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HARBOR
CLICK HERE to see the
Satellite overview map of the Harbor with labels
CLICK HERE for photos of the
harbor, boats and people |
Boat Ramps in/around Marathon:
| Cannon Marine, about MM 48.8 Oceanside - just
N (E) of Home Depot. Launches into the Harbor. Pvt (Fee) |
Marathon Marina, about MM 47 Oceanside - down
11th St. Launches into the Harbor. Pvt (Fee - and watch your wallets!) |
Sombrero Resort - Oceanside -Sombrero Blvd -
behind the Publix Grocery at about MM 49, at the Kayak rental signs & tennis
courts. Launches into Harbor. Pvt (fee) |
| Dodge Lake, - Gulfside - about MM 50.9 behind
(North) of the airport. Take Aviation Blvd at West end of airport around to
Dodge Lake on NW side of airport. Look for signs. Public |
33rd St Public Ramp, Gulfside. About MM 48.3
at traffic light. All the way to end by Yacht Club. Don't park in Yacht
club's marked parking area. Public. |
Marie's Yacht Harbor. Pvt (fee)
Coco Plum
MM 54 Coco Plum Drive |
| Little Duck Key, MM 40 |
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Boot Key Harbor Channel West, between G1&R2:
24 41.942N 081 07.226W
LORAN 14021.4 43445.8
Approach to Sister Creek - (1/2 way between channel and E Washerwoman) ( To Boot
Key Harbor)
24 40.826N 081 04.615W
Sister Creek, R2 24 41.206 081 05.220 LORAN:
14023.6 43436.7
House on East Sister Rock - you'll pass it as you head toward Sister's
creek entrance from the East. It sits just off the point of land East of Sister
Creek.
(I'm told you can rent this house for $15,000 per week!)
.jpg)
West Sister Rock - a.k.a. "GULLAH GULLAH
ISLAND" - Boat Raftup
This is on your port side as you enter Sister's Creek and is across from
Sombrero Beach. It's a big party spot on weekends for boats to anchor (6' and
down), swim, drink beer, float, and explore Gullah Gullah Island on foot (the
rocks are VERY sharp so wear your water shoes) Anchor approximately 24
41.172N, 081 05.477W . You can approach this anchorage directly from
the #2 Daymark into Sister Creek. Watch for the flats to the North (your
starboard as you head to the island from the daymark). Do not approach this
Island from the West. You could approach it from the South (Oceanside) but there
are no sand bars out on that side, the rocks are sharp and you are exposed to
the waves.
Key Colony Beach / CoCo Plum Beach - CLICK
HERE for a labeled aerial photo of the entrance channel
http://www.keycolonybeach.net/ (city website). shown below
Bonefish Yacht Basin
R2a Daymark entrance to Channel to Key Colony Beach & Bonefish Yacht
Basin
24 43.352N 081 00.649W |
Marie's Yacht Basin - CoCo Plum
G1 Daymark entrance to channel going back into CoCo
Plum and Marie's Yacht Basin: Approx: 24 43.473N 080 59.393W |
R48 off Key Colony Beach: (on N. Side of Daymark)
24 41.570 081 01.500
LORAN: 14030.6 43419.11
CURRY HAMMOCK STATE PARK: 24 44.444N 080 58.882W . Just east of
Marathon. Has picnic shelters & tables, barbeque pits, playground for kids,
small boat access & ramp, small sandy beach. Approach channel is marked. Please
note that the waypoint listed here is for the park itself ON SHORE, not that of
the approach channel. Good day-trip for a picnic.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district5/curryhammock/index.asp
R45 E Turtle Shoal:
24 43.739 080 56.000
Duck Key Approach from Hawks Channel - 1 1/3 mi SW of Duck Key Channel
24 44.643 080 55.317
Duck Key Channel, R2:
24 45.801 080 54.661
LORAN: 14049.5 43385.7
Marina - Hawk's Cay Resort & Marina, on DUCK KEY- Follow the Duck
Key channel in from R2 around to the right and all the way to the back - Marina
is nestled up close to highway in a basin. One of the nicest Marina's in the
Keys because of the friendly marina employees.
Great views from Marina. Good ship & convenience store. Access to all the
resorts facilities including multiple pools, jacuzzi's, exercise facilities, 4
restaurants, 2 bars. They monitor VHF 16 and work on 10. Tell them Greg Absten
sent you. 03/00 Tel: 305-743-7000. The Marina and people there are very nice. The main resort however
has become very overdeveloped, restricting scenic views and bringing restaurants
and facilities there to overcapacity.
www.HawksCay.com
 Hawk's Cay Resort on Duck Key
- looking NWW, resort is on lower right of island
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 Marina Basin at Hawk's Cay - the
webmaster's boat
is on the far left. |
Looking SWW directly into their lagoon and the resort |
 Salt Water Lagoon at Hawk's Cay Resort.
Plus they have 2-3 pools and Jacuzzi's, Dolphin pool, and more. |
Long Key Bridge - note the arches from the old bridge.
Tennessee Reef Light
24 44.700 080 46.900
R44 Channel 5, Oceanside (buoy no longer there May 99, but waypoint still good)
Long Key
24 47.400 080 46.942 (S. Entrance to Channel)
Channel 5 - Directly under bridge in channel
24 50.245N 080 46.269WCaloosa Cove is at the East
end of the bridge, shown here on the right and below. (The bridge runs over
Channels 2 & 5). Channel 5 is below
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Photo Courtesy Tom Henschel, author of "The Florida Keys Ports
of Call & Anchorages". This illustrated guide is available for sale at
www.cruisingbook.com
| Marina - Caloosa Cove Resort & Marina: 24 50.965N 080
44.268W. MM 73.8 At east end of Ch 5 bridge. . Follow the small marked channel into this
waypoint & marina. Full service marina with fuel, Captain's Table Restaurant, and the
separate Safari Lounge (known as the dead animal bar to locals - it has stuffed & mounted
heads of African wild animals taken during Safari's). Nice ship's store, bait
and tackle & hardware next door. Not a large marina so call ahead.
Boat Rentals. Tel: 305-664-4455
www.caloosacove.com
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Indian Key Channel - South, from Oceanside approach
24 52.584 080 40.215 (see photo below)
Anchorage at Indian Key AND Lignum Vitae - 24 52.681N 080 40.807W. This is
just to the west of Indian Key in about 5' of water off lower Matecumbe Key
about mile marker 78.2 on US1. Provides access to historical Indian Key on
oceanside, and Lignum Vitae on gulfside. Very exposed for oceanside wind/waves
from SE through SW. Mooring buoys have been placed here by the park service. (Also see Lignum Vitae anchorage under Gulfside upper Keys -
it's just across the bridge from here)
Indian Key:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district5/indiankey/index.asp ,
Lignum Vitae:
http://thefloridakeys.com/parks/lignum.htm
CLICK HERE for
an info sheet about this destination, regarding bridge clearances, distances,
nearby restaurants-bars, things do, etc.. Includes Pictures of Lignum Vitae.
CLICK HERE for a chart view of the
anchorage on the Indian Key side, and a labeled aerial photo. |
Indian Key (foreground), Lignum Vitae (top right) Looking North from
Oceanside to Bayside |
Robbies Marina & Tarpon Feeding, & The Hungry Tarpon Restaurant (photo
below)
24 52.970N 080 41.442W
(At the West end of the bridge between Lignum Vitae and Indian Key.
CLICK HERE for a chart view showing its
location)
www.robbies.com
Alligator Light
24 51.100 080 37.100
Outback Restaurant at Hampton Inn - 24 53.979N 080 39.325 W
(street side) - 305-664-0073. Small boat dock. Restaurant, Tiki Bar. Also
"It's-a-Dive" dive shop on site.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa: 24 54.998N 080 38.019W (street side) .
Upscale Resort & Restaurant.
www.cheeca.com 305-664-4651. MM 82 Islamorada
Cheeca Lodge Webcam:
http://www.fla-keys.com/webcams/cheeca/index.htm
GULFSIDE: Middle Keys
(also see the "Backcountry" pages listed above
for more locations Gulfside)
Cudjoe Channel approach - out in approx. 20’ water
24 46.483N 081 33.598W
Between R30/G29, N of Bahia Honda Bridge (gulfside) ICW
24 41.953N 081 16.469W
Bahia Honda Channel (gulfside) - First (Southernmost) approach into channel ( 1st waypoint from
ICW)
24 44.140N 081 14.630W
Final approach into channel ( 2nd waypoint from ICW)
24 45.980N 081 16.040W
Moser Channel Approach from North (7 mi bridge), 1/4 mi North of bridge
24 42.305N 081 10.064W
LORAN:14016.5 43460.2
R22 - ICW, N of 7 mi Bridge
24 43.066N 081 09.189W
Between R22/G21 - ICW, N of 7 mi Bridge
24 43.064N 081 09.187
R24 - ICW, N of 7 mi Bridge
24 42.635N 081 11.167W
R26 - ICW, N of 7 mi Bridge
24 42.189N 081 13.310W
Knight’s Key Channel, South Side- between pillars 7-8 on 7 mi bridge (outside
of fishing from bridge sign)
24 42.409N 081 07.630W
Knight’s Key Channel, North Side - between pillars 7-8 on 7 mi bridge
24 42.476N 081 07.585W
Knight’s Key Channel - just E of Shoal Mark, used when heading N/S
24 42.978N 081 07.427W
Knight’s Key Shoal - 1/8 mi N of Shoal Mark, used when heading E/W
24 42.998N 081 07.603W
Faro Blanco Oceanside, approach from West
24 42.881N 081 06.386W
R12, ¾ mi West of Red Bay Bank
24 45.299N 081 10.464W
Between R18-G17, Bethel Bank
24 44.339N 081 06.325W
G17, Bullard Bank
24 48.960N 081 09.245W
Rachel Key - ¼ mi North of Key
24 43.867N 081 04.750W
Bowlegs Cut @ Peterson Key Bank (Lower Matecumbe), middle set of daymarks
LORAN: N 24:54:31 W 80:44:14
Gulfside: Middle Keys - to Upper Keys
Anchorage at Lignum Vitae: 24 52.681N 080 40.807W just off
lower Matecumbe Key at mile marker 78.2 on US1. Directly across bridge from
Indian Key on oceanside. Anchor on NW of island. Mooring buoys have been placed
here by the park service. The State conducts guided tours
twice daily at 10am and 2pm. The March 2000 cost is only $1 if you come to the
dock on the E side by your own boat. You can only dock there at the time of
these tours. Nice hardwood hammock and historical island. Lots of mosquitoes
reported! - take repellant. CLICK HERE for an
info sheet about this destination, regarding bridge clearances, distances,
nearby restaurants-bars, things do, etc..
R90 - ICW - West End of Steamboat Channel
24 56.388N 080 40.042W
R86 - ICW - East End of Steamboat Channel
24 56.648N 080 39.547W
Anchorage at Shell Key: 24 55.480N 080 40.215W gulfside,
between Lignum Vitae (above) and the Lorelei Restaurant (below). This is a state
owned Bird Sanctuary. You are not allowed on the island, but can bird watch from
you boat or dinghy. Several mooring buoys have been placed here by the park
service. Very exposed from the North. CLICK HERE for
an info sheet about this destination, regarding bridge clearances, distances,
nearby restaurants-bars, things do, etc..
Papa Joe's Lounge, Restaurant & Marina
24 53.897N 080 39.569W (Taken from the street, NOT the water)
Right at Tea Table relief Bayside.
Their Marina Website
The Restaurant/Lounge Website
Islamorada Fish Company, Bayside. (beside the World Wide Sportsman, below)
24 54.904N 080 38.388W (This is a waypoint taken from the Highway -
NOT the water)
This is a very shallow bay. You can get in by small boat but
not cruisers. You can anchor off the Lorelei (below) and dinghy over.
Islamorada
Fish Company Website
World Wide Sportsman - probably the biggest fish &
tackle shop in the Keys. Zane Grey Lounge on the second floor. In the middle of
the display room is a full size replica of "PILAR" - Hemingways wooden boat
(above). This sits right beside the Islamorada Fish company (above) and the same
caveat applies to the shallow bay.
Worldwide
Sportsman Website
Anchorage at Islamorada - Lorelei Restaurant & Bar:
Islamorada Yacht Basin. 24
55.363N 080 38.169W gulfside, about mile marker 82 off US1. 5'
of water here, 6-7' a little further from shore. Exposed from NE to NW
winds. This is access to the Lorelei
restaurant and Tiki Bar. Live entertainment. Good Seafood. They do have a boat
basin there where you can dock in one section (down by
the sailboats if open) for no charge. The Lorelei is about 100 yards North of the tower. Tel: 305-664-4656.
Don't dinghy straight in from the anchorage to the docks because of
shoals. Look for the small private green daymark & pipe with red
stripes about halfway between the tower and the Lorelei. Go through there,
then turn to port toward the Lorelei docks. Dogs on a leash are OK at the
bar, but there are lots of cats around. You can also dinghy over to the
WorldWide Sportsman (Gigantic Fish & Tackle Shop with Hemingway's boat
inside) and the Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant which are both inside
the shallow bay just to the SW of the Lorelei anchorage.
http://www.loreleifloridakeys.com/ |
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Marina basin at the Lorelei |
CLICK HERE For Pictures
and more info on the Lorelei, including an aerial view of the Marina
basin. CLICK
HERE for a Chart View of the anchorage and boating directions.
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R78a - ICW around Plantation Yacht Harbor (PYH)
24 58.863N 080 35.969W
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)
Islamorada -
Village of Islands - City Website - more Islamorada boating sites
listed under the next UPPER KEYS section.
Plantation Yacht Harbor Approach (start of turn off ICW between R78a and R78)
24 59.461N 080 34.374W
Plantation Yacht Harbor Entrance - right off breakwall
24 58.107N 080 34.086W
This is a very comfortable Marina. The city of Islamorada recently purchased it
though for use as their new "City Hall" and have shut down the nice
restaurant bar (March 2000), and the sleeping rooms ashore. You can still get
dockage here though. Small adjacent beach with swimming area. Not much around the Marina within walking distance. City
park now on site. http://www.pyh.com .
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