Graden, I've never actually sailed in the keys but it is probably a nice place to spend the
winter. There are
mooring fields all around FL now, best I can tell they are around $300 a month, maybe $250 and includes
pump out,
dinghy docks, showers. Dinner Plate Key is one IIRC
Fernandina has one such
mooring field, and is close to Cumberland Island, somewhere I like to spend time. I would grab the
cruising guides and
charts and start heading south if you've the freedom to do so. Forget the trailer and go across the Okeechobee waterway (after checking
water levels, which I presume are fine now) and
cruise the
west coast of FL. I bought my boat there and sailed her home to NC, but thought it would be a nice place in the
winter. MAybe by the end of the winter you'll be feeling confident and you can have a little
gulf stream run N.
I think municipalities are starting to tax more now, so watch out for
taxes if you stay put somewhere for a while.
You might get some really nice
weather this year, never know. It has been in the 60's here in the mountains of NC so it must have been nice in coastal SC. Get ready for a winter camping experience and head south. I don't know what that nimble draws, but I'd sure
anchor back in Cape Romain and harvest some oysters when you start your journey.
Unless you're feeling pretty rugged, or have a good heat source on the boat, you're going to want to tie up and
plug in a little
heater. I have a "heater buddy" on my boat, and don't tie up or
plug in, it just costs too much.
even the
heater buddy is expensive to run, with the gas canisters. Shouldn't have to worry too much about all that several degrees south in latitude.
Chase