Homestead FL marina recommendations

[pha]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to keep my 26x in trailer dry storage in one of the southern Miami Dade marinas, and there are two with current availability: Black Point and Homestead Bayfront. They are so close together that driving distance isn't really a factor. I'll be driving down from Ft. Lauderdale on the weekends to use the boat. I have launched once from Black Point and it went well, although the channel is really long and it takes a long time to motor out and back in. I have not yet visited the Bayfront marina, but from the online sites it appears to have about the same amenities, but a somewhat shorter channel.

My major concern is the shallowness of the ramps, particularly at low tide. I have read in a few places that the algae can make these ramps dangerously slick, and in fact trucks are sometimes pulled into the water and ruined, if they get their rear tires into the water. When I launched and retrieved at Black Point the one time, it was somewhere between low and high tide and I didn't have any issue. Also I use a 4WD SUV to pull the boat and I think the front-wheel drive makes it safer than a pickup in this particular situation, with the slick ramps. The other factor is how busy the ramps get on the weekends. I know it takes longer to get a sailboat in and out of the water, and I'd rather not have power boaters breathing down my neck to hurry things up, although I know this is unavoidable at times. I tend to get an early start, before most power boaters even have their coffee, so the main bottleneck would be pulling out at the end of the day.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with these two marinas, and if so, could recommend one over the over?

Thanks

[DaveB]

Launched many times at BayFront at Homestead and easy to launch a boat at any tide with 4 ramps and launching 8 boats same time. Cost $18 a day last time I heard.
Most launch at South Dade Marina at $10 a day.Never Launched at Black Point but new many who have with no problems launching at any tide.
You also can launch at pennikamp State park and get a camp site or a slip that cost me $30 a day with AC, probably higher during winter Mo.
$30 a day was for launching and keeping truck and Trailer at their storage, including a slip, not includeing camp site.( call them for current rates)
Pennikamp is a great place to go to if you want to explore the reefs. Go with a Calm Winds so you can snorkle in cristal clear waters and bring a wet suite .
Dave

Hi everyone,

I am planning to keep my 26x in trailer dry storage in one of the southern Miami Dade marinas, and there are two with current availability: Black Point and Homestead Bayfront. They are so close together that driving distance isn't really a factor. I'll be driving down from Ft. Lauderdale on the weekends to use the boat. I have launched once from Black Point and it went well, although the channel is really long and it takes a long time to motor out and back in. I have not yet visited the Bayfront marina, but from the online sites it appears to have about the same amenities, but a somewhat shorter channel.

My major concern is the shallowness of the ramps, particularly at low tide. I have read in a few places that the algae can make these ramps dangerously slick, and in fact trucks are sometimes pulled into the water and ruined, if they get their rear tires into the water. When I launched and retrieved at Black Point the one time, it was somewhere between low and high tide and I didn't have any issue. Also I use a 4WD SUV to pull the boat and I think the front-wheel drive makes it safer than a pickup in this particular situation, with the slick ramps. The other factor is how busy the ramps get on the weekends. I know it takes longer to get a sailboat in and out of the water, and I'd rather not have power boaters breathing down my neck to hurry things up, although I know this is unavoidable at times. I tend to get an early start, before most power boaters even have their coffee, so the main bottleneck would be pulling out at the end of the day.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with these two marinas, and if so, could recommend one over the over?

Thanks

[pha]

Hi DaveB,

Thanks for the reply, this is very good info and much appreciated!

Forgot to mention that I have launched at South Dade once. I really like the laid-back vibe of the place, and the owner and his helper are very friendly and helpful. The ramp was a little problematic for us, however, since my tandem trailer got hung up on the outer edge of the apron. The handyman there modified my trailer while we were out sailing, for only $100.00, and did a great job. It's just a little too remote for me, at least for now. I like the Black Point and Bayfront marinas for their proximity to Elliot Key. Ideally I'd be based at Matheson Hammock, but they have a 3 year waiting list, last time I checked.

Good to know the slippery ramps at low tide haven't been a problem for other Macgregor sailors - I was very worried about having my car pulled into the water by the boat, which apparently has happened with some frequency. I have no idea how I'd react if that happened. But I should be OK with the front wheel drive and new tires, especially if I manage to drain most of the water out of the ballast before I try to pull it out. I've tried following the Mac's owner's manual and opening the valve while motoring around 6 knots, and it seems to drain quite a lot of the ballast that way, before we get to the ramp.

Thanks also for the advice about Pennekamp . . one of my goals is to sail out there and pick up a mooring, then spend the day snorkeling. I can't imagine anything better!

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Hi Pha,

I launched my Mac off of a tandem trailer at South Dade a year or so ago, what kind of modification did you need done?

[pha]

Hi Dmitri,

In my case it is a Continental trailer which has a crossbeam near the front, and as manufactured it had a downward bend in it, so the lowest point of the trailer was only about 12 inches from the road. When backing the trailer into the water, we found that the concrete apron of the ramp is kind of short, and when the wheels went off the end of the apron, the back of the boat became low enough so that the front crossbeam started scraping on the apron. We partially worked around this by jacking up the trailer's nose wheel enough to give some clearance, but also let Rafael modify the trailer by simply rotating the crossbeam 180 degrees so the bend is now facing upward. Didn't seem to compromise anything structurally, and now I have a lot more clearance than before. I just had to adjust the two front beds downward, since they are attached to this crossbeam.

I'd send a picture if I had a web site to link to, but you probably get the idea.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Ok, I get it. On mine, that is a straight box beam across but the vertical shafts which hold up the front of the bunks had overhang off the bottom of the beam where it scraped concrete the first time I launched it over in Placida, so I got the trailer company to cut those off (since it is still under warranty) and then it was ok after that when I went to South Dade. You would think the trailer manufacturers would know better in either of our situations.

[DaveB]

Sorry I missed your previous post.
I have the Continenal Tandam Trailer and it does have a forward cross bar that is bent and that what hits the Ramp at S.Dade at low tide.
You mentioned front wheel drive, Whats your Tow Car?
500 lbs on the hitch with front wheel drive is not good for launching in ramps of this type. Best is a semi slip duel wheel pickup truck.
You also can reverse the tow ball to raise the tow ball higher to clear,just get a higher rise tow attachment.
Having a 2 inch ball with the high rise tow slip toung would be good in these fast drop off ramps.

Dave

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I flipped my ball upsidedown just so it would not scrape my driveway with the jack wheel (as much) when I drive through the "gutter" at the bottom of the driveway. I hadn't even considered that this might be making my life easier on the ramp too!

Dave, you should join us at Indian River Lagoon next weekend, camp fires are legal!

[DaveB]

Dimitri,
Going to Picnic Island this weekend and Camp and with legal fire.
We have done this trip with WCTSS and had a Great time.
Will send you Pictures of the Trip.
I would Love to do the Indian Lagoon trip but is to far for time off with Teresa little vacation off.
Maybe in future.
Also want to do Johns Camp.
Dave
PS, thanks for your effort in trying to get Cayo Costa Park to consider Anchors on Beach and Camp fire on the Sand Bar.
Punta Blanca is part of the Cayo Costa Park and is restricted by there rules, No campfires on the Island.
Note: Park closes at Sunset.

I flipped my ball upsidedown just so it would not scrape my driveway with the jack wheel (as much) when I drive through the "gutter" at the bottom of the driveway. I hadn't even considered that this might be making my life easier on the ramp too!

Dave, you should join us at Indian River Lagoon next weekend, camp fires are legal!

[Sea Wind]

Talking about Cayo Costa, I see that the WCTSS is havign the Cayo Costa trip on March 15-17, we are thinking in join you guys.

[pha]

Hi DaveB,

I tow the boat with an Acura MDX, which supposedly has a 4500 lb limit for boats. I have a feeling I'm really pushing the limit, however. It feels very stable on the highway but the mileage is terrible - one reason I'm going to keep it in the trailer lot at the marina instead of hauling it back and forth each time. I wish I had a bigger truck or SUV but I can't justify buying a third vehicle just now, even if there were room in the driveway for it. I did already flip the trailer hitch over to give it maximum height, and that seems to help a lot, both in the driveway and on the ramp. From what I've read and seen so far, I should be OK as long as I keep the wheels completely out of the water. At some point in the future I may get an extendable hitch on the trailer.

Sorry I missed your previous post.
I have the Continenal Tandam Trailer and it does have a forward cross bar that is bent and that what hits the Ramp at S.Dade at low tide.
You mentioned front wheel drive, Whats your Tow Car?
500 lbs on the hitch with front wheel drive is not good for launching in ramps of this type. Best is a semi slip duel wheel pickup truck.
You also can reverse the tow ball to raise the tow ball higher to clear,just get a higher rise tow attachment.
Having a 2 inch ball with the high rise tow slip toung would be good in these fast drop off ramps.

Dave

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Unfortunately, I'll probably miss Cayo Costa this Spring even though I've made it to the last 5 or 6 of them. Hopefully next weekend is not going to be too cold for camping at Indian River Lagoon, and then there is a Shell Key event at Bunces pass in April. I'd like to go to Caledesi this spring as well.

[DaveB]

I tow with a 1999 extended cab F150 with standard Trans anda 4.2 liter 6 cylinder rated Tow is 2000 lbs. , I have been towing my 4500 lbs MacX total for past 5 years and made many 400 mile round trips to the keys with no problems. I wasn't aware of the 2000 lb limit as bumper says 5000 lbs.
I guess its because of the standard trans as the automatic can tow 5000 lbs.
Dave

[quote="pha"]Hi DaveB,

I tow the boat with an Acura MDX, which supposedly has a 4500 lb limit for boats. I have a feeling I'm really pushing the limit, however. It feels very stable on the highway but the mileage is terrible - one reason I'm going to keep it in the trailer lot at the marina instead of hauling it back and forth each time. I wish I had a bigger truck or SUV but I can't justify buying a third vehicle just now, even if there were room in the driveway for it. I did already flip the trailer hitch over to give it maximum height, and that seems to help a lot, both in the driveway and on the ramp. From what I've read and seen so far, I should be OK as long as I keep the wheels completely out of the water. At some point in the future I may get an extendable hitch on the trailer.

[DaveB]

Were going to miss you and your children. With no fire and no anchoring on the beach it won't be as much fun as in the past.
Dave

Unfortunately, I'll probably miss Cayo Costa this Spring even though I've made it to the last 5 or 6 of them. Hopefully next weekend is not going to be too cold for camping at Indian River Lagoon, and then there is a Shell Key event at Bunces pass in April. I'd like to go to Caledesi this spring as well.

[DaveB]

If you do make it look for us at the Northern sand spit in Pelican Bay or N. Pointa Blanca Island. Club stays on channel 71 VHF.
Dave

Talking about Cayo Costa, I see that the WCTSS is havign the Cayo Costa trip on March 15-17, we are thinking in join you guys.