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11-01-2013, 20:33
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
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Marco Island to......
Cant decide which way to do this......
Marco Island to Dry Tortugas or
Marco Island to Key West or
Marco Island to Marathon along the coast road, then make KW and Dry Tortugas. Its about the same mileage from here to DT or KW on the straight shot from Marco Island, and about the same mileage running the coast road to Marathon. Running the coast road to marathon would give me stopping spots to catch some zzzzz's and make it a easy sail in about 3 days if I dilly daddle, but DT and KW would be a 24 hour straight hop, no sleep.
Decision Decision..either way I'm ready to make a hop somewhere south, and I have already arranged for a TowBoatUS boat to follow me.
I will be leaving here either tomorrow or Monday, wont leave on the 13th, dont need the extra badluck
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11-01-2013, 21:16
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Marco Island to......
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOak
Cant decide which way to do this......
Marco Island to Dry Tortugas or
Marco Island to Key West or
Marco Island to Marathon along the coast road, then make KW and Dry Tortugas. Its about the same mileage from here to DT or KW on the straight shot from Marco Island, and about the same mileage running the coast road to Marathon. Running the coast road to marathon would give me stopping spots to catch some zzzzz's and make it a easy sail in about 3 days if I dilly daddle, but DT and KW would be a 24 hour straight hop, no sleep.
Decision Decision..either way I'm ready to make a hop somewhere south, and I have already arranged for a TowBoatUS boat to follow me.
I will be leaving here either tomorrow or Monday, wont leave on the 13th, dont need the extra badluck
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KW = ~90nm
DT = ~105nm
Marathon = ~88nm
But, as you say, spend a night in Little Shark on the way to Marathon and get some sleep.
Marathon to KW = ~48nm - easy in one day
KW to DT = ~70nm - a long day
So, MI to Marathon to KW to DT is good. DT back to Marco will be a long one as it has a chance of being into the wind the whole way.
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12-01-2013, 05:20
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Memphis, Tn.
Boat: Just Photographs & Memories Now
Posts: 366
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Re: Marco Island to......
Ty for that. Yeah, prolly right to take the coast road, a little easier and better to be rested than going into a unknown area without properly rested. Bad choices can be made when sleep deprived.
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12-01-2013, 05:37
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Rockport, Texas
Boat: Tartan 41 #68
Posts: 304
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Re: Marco Island to......
I also would do Little Shark, Marathon, Hawk Channel to KW, DT.
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12-01-2013, 05:40
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Marco Island to......
Enjoy!
Little Shark to Marathon across Florida Bay will be a minefield of crab pots, obviously need daylight.
Set a course for green 17 on Bullard Bank, then follow Moser channel under 7 Mile bridge. Mooring ball or anchor out, whatever your preference. Marathon is cruiser friendly.
KW is always a hoot. DT is the other end of the spectrum compared to KW.
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12-01-2013, 05:50
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
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Re: Marco Island to......
Quote:
Originally Posted by DotDun
KW = ~90nm
DT = ~105nm
Marathon = ~88nm
But, as you say, spend a night in Little Shark on the way to Marathon and get some sleep.
Marathon to KW = ~48nm - easy in one day
KW to DT = ~70nm - a long day
So, MI to Marathon to KW to DT is good. DT back to Marco will be a long one as it has a chance of being into the wind the whole way.
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I think many make an overnight from marathon to kw, getting around kw to the good anchorages and getting anchored takes some tiime. Running out of daylight, easily done this time of year, and having to anchor on a lee shore with the forcast for easterly wind of 20 or more would be an unrestfull and ungracefull first night in key west.
Good anchoring along the way, Newfound Harbor being a great choice.
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12-01-2013, 06:17
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hurricane Highway
Boat: O'Day 28
Posts: 3,922
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Re: Marco Island to......
[QUOTE=DotDun;1128085]Enjoy! Little Shark to Marathon across Florida Bay will be a minefield of crab pots, obviously need daylight.QUOTE]
That's if you survive Little Shark. Only the sharks are little. The sheeters and the snakes are huge.
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12-01-2013, 07:16
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Key West & Sarasota
Boat: Cal 28 "Happy Days"
Posts: 4,210
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Re: Marco Island to......
I'd head straight to DT; the water is shallow enough the entire route that you can drop anchor and get some rest. Explore DT a few days, then head back to KW with a stop in the Marquessas to break the 70+nm into two days.
__________________
Any fool with a big enough checkbook can BUY a boat; it takes a SPECIAL type of fool to build his own! -Capngeo
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12-01-2013, 07:18
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Yuma Island
Posts: 1,579
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Re: Marco Island to......
I've just been the other direction (Marathon northward). Second the crab trap minefield - wouldn't do at night, and the traps are surprisingly far offshore.
Was in Little Shark for NY eve. Few bugs, lots of porpoises. Very kewl.
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12-01-2013, 08:06
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Boat: Seapiper 35
Posts: 93
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Re: Marco Island to......
Get a Grib file and look at the direction of the wind and then take the course which gives you the most desireable passage.
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12-01-2013, 08:29
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#11
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: Marco Island to......
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOak
And I have already arranged for a TowBoatUS boat to follow me.
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And why would you need TowBoatUS to follow you?
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14-01-2013, 07:24
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,032
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Re: Marco Island to......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotemar
And why would you need TowBoatUS to follow you?
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Exactly what I was wondering. Never heard of someone arranging for a tow boat to follow them! How much is that costing?
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14-01-2013, 08:22
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Montana
Boat: Building a Seaclipper 24
Posts: 223
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Re: Marco Island to......
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...uda-91566.html
It's a long story but it made me laugh out loud, and that's not easy to do in Afghanistan...
Hang in there Black Oak...I admire your fortitude
__________________
Tilting at windmills...sigh, always tilting at windmills
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14-01-2013, 10:40
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,499
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Re: Marco Island to......
I thought you were calling it quits?
Pro's and con's as posted to each route, but I definitely recommend including the DT's one way or the other. A very unique place.
But, be sure you have your navigation down (not difficult to get into trouble there), and don't even consider arriving there at night. Night time approaches into the DT's can be little anxiety producing even when you know the routes.
Also, often lots of commercial fishing traffic at night on the shallow banks between FL mainland and DT's.
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14-01-2013, 22:28
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#15
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Marco Island to......
I think the tow boat thing was a little tongue in cheek humor.
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