Tavernier, FL

[jimlong]

Hi all, will be traveling North in several weeks out of Stock Island with stops at Vaca Island and Tavernier, any hot tips of inexpensive anchorages or marinas in the Tavernier area? Thanks, Jim

[Alibi35]

It's important to know if you will be coming on bayside or oceanside and your draft. On the bayside, we have anchored at Cowpens Anchorage in Islamorada (just north of Snake Creek).

[jimlong]

Lil'un, thanks for the reply and we will be oceanside with a 3' draft. Jim

[ActiveCaptain]

With a 3' draft, you might want to consider staying along the ICW and not going on the ocean through Hawk Channel. There are just more options on the ICW side.

If you really are meaning to stay in Hawk Channel, there are a few OK anchorages - nothing more than a place to spend the night and go in the morning:

Tavernier Key, Rodriguez Key, and Pennekamp is a standout apart from the anchorages on that side. They have moorings you can get to too.

Pennekamp is probably the nicest thing to do from that side with your draft. Check out all of the things on the bay side though. Depending where you are, there are multiple places to cut over.

[jimlong]

Jeffrey, thanks for the pointers and will look at Pennycamp as that's pretty much what we need to do is over nite and then move on. Jim

[CaptainBW]

If you anchor on the Bay side near Islamorda make sure you dinghy over to the Loralei for happy hour...best deal around...good cheap beer, music and great fish sandwich!

[ActiveCaptain]

I second Lorelei's - they have the BEST entertainment. It makes for a really fine evening. Heck, we stayed for 9 days just to keep going back!

[AnchorageGuy]

Jim, There aren't really any inexpensive marinas in the Keys. We were based out of Marathon for over 10 years. Which side you transit will really depend on wind direction. Anything out of the North and or West blowing pretty good will make bayside very uncomfortable. If it is blowing from the South and or East oceanside is going to be uncomfortable. With your draft you can get behind Tavernier and get some protection and we have anchored there several times over the years. Oceanside gives you plenty of deeper water and less to worry about staying in the channel etc. There are some narrow and thin channels on the bayside and keep in mind that running aground in the Keys in the wrong spot can cost you several thousand dollars.

[jimlong]

ok Lorelei's is sounding like a lot of fun, from oceanside headed north do i duck under the matecumbe bridge and hook a right or do i go a little bit further north through the whale harbor channel and then come back south? Thanks guys, Jim

[AnchorageGuy]

Jim, Is your PDQ a sail or power cat? With sail you will only have a few bridges you can get under.

[jimlong]

Chuck, the PDQ is sail and upon further consideration am taking a hard look at parking behind Rodriguez Key and then on to Key Biscayne, thanks everyone for your help. Jim