Florida Keys trip Dec.29th

[DaveB]

WCTSS (West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron) is planning a Florida 4 day cruise beginning Dec.29th. Launch is at South Dade Marina. $5 a day for launch and boat/truck storage. Anyone being down there are welcome to join us.
Dave
http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/dates.htm

[bahama bound]

thanks so much for posting !!!!

[KayakDan]

We'll be going Southbound on the ICW to Key Largo,before going to Angelfish Creek. Might see you on the water,depending on the weather.

[DaveB]

If you are going I just learned South Dade Marina has increaced launching to $10 a day. We all monotor Channel 71 on the VHF.
Dave

thanks so much for posting !!!!

[bahama bound]

We'll be going Southbound on the ICW to Key Largo,before going to Angelfish Creek. Might see you on the water,depending on the weather.

where are you leaving from ?

[DaveB]

Most Launch at Bayside Marina at Homestead, Cost $18 a day very nice with boat washdown (bring Your hose) another is Black Point 6 miles north.
South Dade Marina is about 12 miles South of Homestead.
South Dade Marina is up for sale why they may have jumped the launch fee from $5 to $10 a day to show proffits.
South Dade Marina is for Sailboats only.

Dave

quote]
where are you leaving from ?[/quote]

[MAC-A-TAC]

Hello Dave,

Please give us an after action debrief so I can live vicariously through you. The wife and I want to sail from NC to the Keys, but MAC-A-TAC requires a few more modes to bring her up to snuff in the admirals eyes things like hot water, AC you know the drill.
Anyway, have a safe and fun journey Dave.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

[Ixneigh]

I might tag along in the 22 depending on your destination. I can suggest some points of interest if umm. interested.
ix

[DaveB]

Hot Water is easy, get a 2gal.sprayer and install a plastic sink sprayer (fits under head sink on the MacX), heat up a pint of water and mix it with holding tank water in sprayer,pump for shower.
I just installed 2-40 watt solar panels on bimini for the refig. That will keep me happy and the non soggy food for my girlfriend.
We carry 2-group 29 house batteries, without solar or running outboard we get 3 days (50% depletion) running frig. and all elect. needs. adding the panels will run the frig. during sunlight hrs plus put in about 2-3 amps back in battery.This could keep us at anchor for 7 days or more without starting outboard but we never anchor that long.My new 50 Merc. also puts out 18-19 amps compared to my other Honda 50hp 10 amps.

Dave

Hello Dave,

Please give us an after action debrief so I can live vicariously through you. The wife and I want to sail from NC to the Keys, but MAC-A-TAC requires a few more modes to bring her up to snuff in the admirals eyes things like hot water, AC you know the drill.
Anyway, have a safe and fun journey Dave.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

[KayakDan]

We'll be going Southbound on the ICW to Key Largo,before going to Angelfish Creek. Might see you on the water,depending on the weather.

where are you leaving from ?

We will launch from Indiantown Marina on the Okeechobee waterway,and travel south on the ICW. We'll be hanging ot with friends in Key Largo until a weather window opens,then we'll head over to Angelfish Creek to meet up with others crossing hopefully. We'll clear in at North Bimini.

[DaveB]

Launching at Indian Town will require you to go thru 3 locks to reach E. coast.
I have done the The cross over a few times and tho you will motor all the way to east coast (exception to the lake) .
Why are you leaving in the middle of State?
It is a nice motor passage with nice views, just be carful crossing the lake in high winds and ck. depth of lake leaving.
Dave

We'll be going Southbound on the ICW to Key Largo,before going to Angelfish Creek. Might see you on the water,depending on the weather.

where are you leaving from ?

We will launch from Indiantown Marina on the Okeechobee waterway,and travel south on the ICW. We'll be hanging ot with friends in Key Largo until a weather window opens,then we'll head over to Angelfish Creek to meet up with others crossing hopefully. We'll clear in at North Bimini.

[Sumner]

Launching at Indian Town will require you to go thru 3 locks to reach E. coast.
I have done the The cross over a few times and tho you will motor all the way to east coast (exception to the lake) .
Why are you leaving in the middle of State?
It is a nice motor passage with nice views, just be careful crossing the lake in high winds and ck. depth of lake leaving.
Dave ..

Dave Indian Town in on the east side of the lake and I think he only has one lock to go thru at St. Lucie. When we took the Mac down we had thought about going up the east side and back across that way to Port Charlotte, but ran out of time and didn't like the idea of all of the traffic on the ICW from Miami north.

I see where you posted that South Dade now has higher rates. Are they $10 a day regardless of the length of stay or do they still have a monthly rate. I think we paid about $75 or $100 for a month, but I might be wrong on that. If they had a monthly rate I'd put in there vs. Indian Town myself. I see on the site the rates are listed at $200 a month for less than 4 months and $80 a month for more than 4 months. I think if we were going out for a couple months I would just pay $320 for 4 months and come back early I think I would prefer to put in and take out back there vs. further north even if I ended up somewhat further north on the return.

The rates are a little confusing....

http://southdademarina.com/?page_id=11

...as to what is long term for vehicle and trailer? I liked the place and the owner,

Sum

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[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Yea, I liked using South Dade's facilities last year (and also the guy who runs it, Bob), but to double prices from last year to this year is a bit much for the facilities there IMO. But I guess if Homestead charges 18 a night, he can get away with it. Also, last year I don't think he charged me a launch fee since I parked there for 4 or 5 nights. But compared to some place like the Pensacola Marina and Shipyard Complex which I visited last month, those rates are pretty high. At PMSC, I did have to pay 5 to launch (they said it went to the State) and 8 bucks a night, but that included some top notch facilities. Nice ramp, docks, and parking lot.. not one but TWO washdown hoses (yes, you didn't even have to bring your own hose), and not one but two clean and modern restrooms, one of them with a shower in it even. Not to mention a fully stocked ship store and some very nice landscaping. I think South Dade just upgraded to a little mosquito infested head from the porta potti they used to have, and you couldn't even leave your trailer hitched up due to the very limited parking. Although in fairness, they did have a washdown hose iirc. But I guess it is like real estate...location, location, location. and the Keys is undoubtedly a more popular destination than Pensacola.

Dimitri

P.S. I do have a trip report from last year's Keys cruise (as well as my Pensacola cruise this year) if anyone is interested. I'm still hoping to make it this year, but my chances are not good at this point.

[Obelix]

Dimitri,

Would love to read your Pensacola trip report

Obelix

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Dimitri,

Would love to read your Pensacola trip report

Obelix

Obelix, is your handle from the Asterix line of books by chance? I used to love those...

You can find my 3 trip reports in my MacSailing Yahoo group, it will probably make you join before you can view them.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MacSailing/files/

Or, you can also find them on the WCTSS Yahoo group:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/8Gy7UOXOp4 ... 6_2012.pdf

Dimitri