Blog - Boat Trip to the Keys – Island Time
June 2009 – the first of many voyages south.

STOP # 1 – Harbortown Marina south to Hutchinson Island Marriott in Stuart, Fl. We ran the ICW for this leg of the trip. Time was exactly 4.5 hours. Once we got out of Brevard, the channel and river got very narrow and very scenic – quite different from what we’re used to between 528 and 192 causeways. There were a few no wake zones, but the view made them well worth it. The water color changed very dramatically in the Fort Pierce area. Where the inlets met the river, the water was a beautiful turquoise, but the rest of the areas in the ICW, the water color was close to what we see in Brevard – still beautiful. We found out this was due to something going on in Okeechobee – not sure what? Hutchinson was a lot of fun. We played in the pool mostly – it was hot. We also tried to catch the snook from the docks, but they were finicky. Great fresh fish, clean facilities, gorgeous landscapes, tons to do (beach, pool, etc.), very attentive marina staff, well maintained docks, gas was .50 more per gallon. We left our slip at 8AM the next morning for West Palm and the Sailfish Marina.

STOP # 2 – south to Bahia Mar Marina & Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. – we decided to pass West Palm. Again, we took the ICW- there were few no wake zones- and we made West Palm in 2 hours, so we decided to press on and see how far south we could get in the ICW. We stopped at Lake Boca for a 1.5 hour hiatus and anchored out and swam in the turquoise water. It was beautiful. We arrived at the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale at 4PM. This was a very slow leg of the trip. It was almost all no-wake zones and we had been warned about this by many of our friends. It was well worth the experience – the mansions, yachts, and boat traffic were sensory overload. We only had to stop to wait for one bridge that we couldn’t make the height on (we have a 28.5 cabin cruiser with a radar arch). Anyone with a sedan bridge, offshore outrigger-style, or sailboat will have to wait for most bridges to get through – keep this in mind. This was our first trip this far south in the ICW and although it was slow, our philosophy was journey over the destination. Bahia Mar and Fort Lauderdale were both a total and pleasant surprise. We drove past Lauderdale many times on vacations in Miami and the Keys, but never stopped. We got the best of both worlds. The beach was across the street from the marina. The water was crystal clear and the beaches were expansive, clean, and beautiful. Our son had a blast catching minnows in the ocean and fishing from the docks. We caught jacks, snapper, and look-down. The tarpon chased our jacks to the docks – pretty intense. The downtown area was within walking distance of the marina.

We spent 2 nights here and hit the town both nights. Lulu’s, a rustic waterfront Louisiana-style place was our favorite. It was 3 stories above the main drag and looked out over the ocean. The mahi tacos with black beans and rice were to die for. The marina was huge. The yachts made us feel not quite worthy in our modest 28 foot boat. Our previous boat was a 21 Sundancer and I recalled our salesman (this past November ’08) pointing to the yacht certification on our capacity plate on the boat when we purchased it. My wife and I toasted our first night on our boat and we laughed about how we owned a yacht. Now I had to laugh and think - YEAH RIGHT! The beam on most of the boats we saw was more than the length of ours. Bahia Mar Marina was quite nice. It was a long walk to the head and they could use some updating, but when you consider how little time you spend in there, it would not deter me from returning in the future. Gas was still 3.50+ per gallon, which was to be expected. There was so much to do: pool, beach, city, bars with live music, water taxis, etc. The atmosphere was something Brevard does not have – which made the experience unique. Next time I would run on the outside to get south sooner.

STOP #3 – south to Marina Del Mar in Key Largo, Fl.
We left at 7AM out of the Port Everglades Inlet for Key Largo. We decided to run on the outside for the remainder of the trip. The inlet traffic was heavy and there was a ton of chop. We took the outside channel toward Government Cut, Miami, which took about an hour at 30mph. The seas were calm and beautiful. We were running against the current, but there was not even a trace of swell in the water. We found some random weed lines close to Miami and I could not resist throwing a line in the water to see if anything was holding under the weeds. I had a mahi follow my spoon to the boat, but ultimately, he I didn’t bite. We saw a few other dolphin, but they were equally disinterested. At Government Cut, we had a bit of trouble finding Hawk’s Channel to Key Largo. Be sure to have up to date charts (paper) because my GPS did not get me to the channel. I ended up scrolling on the GPS to Marina Del Mar, a waypoint I set prior to departing, and had to back-track and mark each buoy for Hawk’s channel until I found our boat on the GPS, which was not even close to the channel. We were closer to the stilts-ville area in Biscayne Bay, where the houses are literally in the water. This was neat to see, but if we left the outside for the ICW to Key Largo, we would be back to running at a slower pace. A note to anyone taking this outside route to the Keys - mark it on your GPS prior to leaving so there is no guessing game. It is helpful to note that the channel runs almost on top of a submarine cable line denoted as a purple squiggly line on the paper charts. If a storm came up while I was futzing around, it would have gotten quite stressful. Also, there are portions of the channel where we ran at 30mph for 45 minutes until we hit the next red or green marker. The depth in the channel was consistently 16-20 feet and it was quite deceiving. It almost made me dizzy to look down into the water at 30mph and see the bottom as if it were 2 inches under your boat. This area was without a doubt the most beautiful water we ran in. We stopped several times to take in the sights. We ran this outside course until we hit green #35 at Mosquito Bank and took the entrance channel in to Marina Del Mar. The very narrow canal entrance next to a few homes and a rock pile, which marks the beginning of the canal system leading to the marina, can be a bit deceiving at first glance as it blends into the scenery. Just look for the red and white lighthouse and you are close. The canals here are really narrow and there is a lot of boat traffic, mainly dive boats. Also, we were told to monitor on Channel 16 because at the end of the canal, there is a blind left turn called “crash corner” and the canal here is very narrow. We hailed the canal master and requested a passage and it was granted – no problems getting through. Marina Del Mar was a small dive village located at the end of the canal in a small lake-like setting. The water was crystal clear and the boat action was non-stop during the day. Tour boats, dive boats, and glass bottom boats were always coming and going. We saw reef fish, parrot fish, and sharks all from our boat. The marina itself was small, but very quaint - there are limited slips. There are four pools in the facility and three restaurants. We enjoyed the pool at the resort across the water, which was very kid-oriented. During dinner, we took in a sunset at Sparky’s Landing, a locals bar. The atmosphere was just what we missed about the Keys – it was literally a dive, the locals were very friendly and everyone there seemed to know each other. The music (acoustic) was great, the beer was ice cold, the fish tacos were awesome, and the sunset settled your soul. This place made you want to simplify your life, move south, and do whatever you had to do to get by, so you could have this every day. We would have stayed here longer if we weren’t intent on getting to Hawk’s Cay, which we were told was a kid’s paradise. This place would be perfect for people who love to dive and fish. John Pennekamp State Park is literally minutes away.

STOP #4 – south to Hawk’s Cay Marina in Duck Key, Fl.
This was our ultimate and southernmost destination on this trip. We left the next morning at 9AM for a 40 mile trip outside to Duck Key. We picked up where we left off in Hawk’s Channel and ran all the way in glassy seas and blue-green water. The water on the outside was not as pretty was it was further north toward Largo, but it was breathtaking nonetheless. From marina to marina was a total of two hours travel time. Duck Key is an island unto itself. It is a massive resort with a saltwater lagoon and beach. Adult pools, kids pools, a spa, a kid’s club, restaurants, fishing charters, etc. Although it was the priciest marina, the amenities were unparalleled. The entrance to the canal and the harbor/setting of the marina was amazing.

We had originally booked two nights and ended up staying for three. We ate at the restaurant adjacent to the marina all three nights. It was situated right off of the docks and the mahi and grouper were incredible. Our son didn’t know what to do with himself - between watching the schools of tarpon and reef fish, playing in the lagoon, and playing at the pirate pool – he was in heaven to say the least. This place spares no expense when it comes to beauty and luxury. One of the most amazing experiences of the trip was when our son passed out from exhaustion early one night and my wife and I relaxed on the bow of our boat, listening to music, watching the stars, and drinking our beer. We actually fell asleep on the bow – it was incredible. The other thing I completely forgot to mention is the fact that there were no bugs in any of the locations from Hutchinson all the way to the Keys. I’m not sure why, it was hot as hell, the winds were almost non-existent, but there were no bugs! Dominic made a few friends and we met a lot of nice families. Perhaps the neatest part of meeting all of the people was the fact that almost all of them were traveling by car. People were excited to hear about our adventure and it was fun to tell the tale. After three days of early morning coffee, followed by pool and lagoon time until lunch – which for Joanna and I consisted of beer or rum and cokes, and then more water time, happy hour, and then dinner and the sunset, it was time to begin the voyage north. We decided to run the outside past Key Largo and head to South Beach for a night.

STOP # 5 – north to Miami Beach Marina - South Beach, Fl.
We ran the outside for this leg of the trip. We took Hawk’s channel right to Government Cut and our marina was just inside the inlet. It was exactly a four hour run from marina to marina. The winds were light and there was a small trace of swell in the water. We also had the current working in our favor. Gas in Miami was 4.50 a gallon! We spent the day going to South Beach and playing in the ocean. Miami Beach Marina is situated about four blocks from the beach – it was hot. That afternoon we returned to the boat and the marina restaurant had happy hour in full swing. Our slip was right across from the bar so we took in happy hour from our boat – always a fun option. I enjoyed watching all the people roller blading and jogging along the riverwalk – they did this while I sat and drank cold beer. To our surprise, there was a Texas de Brazil steakhouse right in the marina complex so we went there for dinner. It was two stories up and looked out over the harbor. This was the most beautiful dinner setting for the trip. The food was amazing: lobster bisque, gourmet salads and sides, bacon wrapped filet – this was the first night of the trip I did not have the local catch. In the morning we went back to South Beach to play at a park situated right along the beach and have one last soak in the ocean. We were heading back to Fort Lauderdale to meet up with some friends.

STOP # 6 – north to Bahia Mar – Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
We made Bahia Mar in just one and a half hours. The run was quick and easy – we left Government Cut Inlet and stayed in about 50 feet of water on the outside all the way to Port Everglades Inlet. We decided to go back to the Bahia Mar because the location was perfect. We met up with some boating friends and had a blast. We enjoyed more of the same as on our first stop on our way south. We spent two days at Bahia Mar and then decided to head to West Palm for a night.

STOP # 7 – north to Sailfish Marina - West Palm Beach, Fl.
The weather was starting to turn on us and we wanted to be conservative, so we left at 7AM for West Palm. We went out Port Everglades Inlet and followed a Hatteras up the coast. He ended up on the same course as us, so I followed him the entire trip. He was probably ½ a mile or more ahead of us and I respected his lead in case he slowed up to fish – he did not. The winds were the strongest we had encountered – west south-west at 15 mph. The seas were also starting to kick up and the swells had a fun bounce to them. By the time we reached Lake Worth Inlet there were small white caps on the water. It was interesting because they were actually blowing offshore to the east, the ocean seemed to be working in reverse. The current was north, the winds southwest, and the chop was side shore. It was a good experience running with all of these factors at work. I literally had my left trim tab half way down the entire ride to keep us trimmed out. We made West Palm in three hours. We were going to pull up to Peanut Island, which is right in the channel inside Port Everglades, but the skies were gray-black and looking more ominous by the minute and the current was insane. When we approached Sailfish Marina, the tide was high and was beginning to start sucking out. There is a sand shoal between the marina itself and Peanut Island, which is right across from it. The marina is literally a 2 minute ride from the inlet and there are no bulk heads or seawalls to slow the current. This is a place where you need to pay attention. Since the tide was still relatively high, I didn’t realize the shoal was so close until my depth went from 10 to 3. There were markers, but they were small and I was taking in all the sights. We made the gas dock with no trouble and then we saw the slip we had for the night. We were on the north side of the marina and the current was sucking out to the south which made for hellish docking conditions, not to mention the 15 mph cross winds. If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed on the bulk head or putted around the area until a slack tide came up. Since I was new to this whole scene, I did not and played a wild game of plinko getting the boat into the slip. I’ll never make that mistake again. The tide here was as amazing as the current. In Brevard, we may have 1 foot of tide change, here we had about 6-7 feet. My family met us for a night and we spent the afternoon in the pool with a cooler of beer. The pool is small, but it was clean and we were the only ones there. The fish action at the marina was truly incredible. The jacks were the largest ones I had ever seen. The gift shop was also pretty amazing. We ate at the marina restaurant that night and it was one of the best meals of the trip. The fresh fish was awesome! The next morning we left around 10 AM for Hutchinson Island.

STOP # 8– north to Hutchinson Island Marriott in Stuart, Fl
We ran the ICW for this leg of the trip due to a gloomy forecast, ominous skies and wind. The trip was beautiful and fortunately uneventful – we missed the storms. We made the trip in 2.5 hours. At Hutchinson we felt sad that the trip was almost over, but we also felt accomplished. To not wallow in our sorrows we drank beer and had one last good dinner.

STOP # 9 – north to Harbortown Marina – back home to Brevard.
It was an uneventful trip home, blue skies, and the ICW was calm. We made this leg in 4.5 hours. We were tempted to stop at Captain Hiram’s for lunch, but did not because at this point we had our minds set on home. I can honestly say that I did not want to get off the boat quite yet, but an empty wallet is a good motivator.


We lived the life for 13 days and had a great time. I learned a lot about navigation and how important it is to be prepared. I also learned a lot about tides and current. I think the greatest part of the trip was seeing my wife and son smile a little bigger than they normally do at home. My son caught some fish that gave his 5 year old frame quite a time. My wife and I enjoyed the adventure aspect of the trip and the spontaneous nature of how we did it. I researched multiple marinas in each port and due to it not being prime boating season, we were able to come and go as we pleased and not worry about making and sticking to reservations. My advice to anyone taking such a trip: bring a lot of water, sunscreen, and beer. Be as open to new ideas and flexible in your planning as possible. Take what the weather gives you and make the most of it. Drink from your own cooler and then spend what you saved on good food. Be prepared to spend a lot of money – mostly on gas. Take lots of pictures. I always liked Jimmy Buffet and romantic nature of how he portrays a lifestyle. It was fun stepping in to that persona and dreaming a little. I’ll always have that “one particular harbor” on my mind.

Peace,


Jason
Island Time

I originally saved this file on word and had pics included within the text but they did not copy over. Feel free to check them out on my page.