Recommendations for Marinas to stay at in the Florida Keys

RodnRhonda

New Member
Sep 22, 2015
59
Southest Georgia, United States
Boat Info
2000 Sea Ray 240DA Sundancer, Garmin 741xs
Engines
5.7L MercCruiser
We are looking to trailer our boat down to the Keys (preferably near the beautiful turquoise water) and launch the boat and then stay at a marina. We will need parking for the truck and trailer combo and then for the Marina we'll be wanting electric and water. This is our first big trip with the boat and trailer but I think we are set and the boat is in great operating condition as is the truck and trailer. We are looking at a Tuesday through Friday trip. From what I'm finding there are plenty of places to launch the boat but I'm not finding places were you can park your truck and trailer also that is at a marina or close. I'm looking for suggestions from those of you with experience in this maybe from a past stay at the marina or from a friends recommendation. We are looking a couple of weeks out right now for this trip before school starts up again. Any constructive help is appreciated. :smt001
 
Any idea what part of the keys you are traveling to? Whether you are in the north, middle, or southern part of the keys will determine your options.

My wife and I boat a lot in the northern part of the keys, mainly between Key Largo and Islamorada (if you are looking for the turquoise water check out Alligator Reef). Additionally Key Largo has great snorkeling! When we travel to Key Largo we always ramp at Pennekamp. You have to pay for a slip to be able to leave you truck and trailer overnight, but the low cost (like $25 a night) is well worth it even if you slip somewhere else for the night.

The boat ramps throughout the keys are really hit or miss. The vast majority of ramps are not paved, which I'm very nervous about since I don't have a 4x4. Pennekamp is a great ramp that is well maintained, with plenty of parking.
 
Hawks cay on duck key - just spent a week there - they have a great ramp and plenty of trailer parking - marina del Mar in key largo is nice too....
 
Hawks cay on duck key - just spent a week there - they have a great ramp and plenty of trailer parking - marina del Mar in key largo is nice too....

We've stayed at Marina del Mar a few times, that just a few miles from Pennekamp.

Just thought of another one. If you are around Marathon, Faro Blanco is a beautiful marina that was recently completely rebuilt.
 
Hawks Cay is a great place, they do have parking for trailers down by the ramp area, north end of Marina.

Faro Blanco, very nice, our favorite Marina in the Key's. Note, Faro is a hotel with a Marina. Not sure about their policy on trailer parking. I do not think they have a ramp on property. They may know of other alternatives.
 
Thank you all so very much for your recommendations. I called them all and some had availability but we decided on Faro Blanco as it appears to be turquoise blue water nearby and they do have a place to park the truck and trailer as long as we are staying at the marine. $97 per night (minimum is a 35' boat, ours is 24' so we pay for 35') + a 7% tax. This gives us access to all resort amenities. I need to call back and see if there are showers and bathrooms included. Last night we watched lots of YouTube videos on Alligator Reef and boating and snorkeling in the area. We are going during mini lobster season so we even watched some of those videos on how to catch them. Not sure we will do that but we will snorkel and do some GoPro videos to post back here. We will launch the boat at the 33rd Street public boat launch which is right near the hotel/marina. The marina itself has 110 / 30 amp electric and water they say.
 
Great choice, you're going to love it! Showers and bathroom are definitely included. Make sure to walk a couple blocks north on US1 to the shaved ice place
 
Thank you all so very much for your recommendations. I called them all and some had availability but we decided on Faro Blanco as it appears to be turquoise blue water nearby and they do have a place to park the truck and trailer as long as we are staying at the marine. $97 per night (minimum is a 35' boat, ours is 24' so we pay for 35') + a 7% tax. This gives us access to all resort amenities. I need to call back and see if there are showers and bathrooms included. Last night we watched lots of YouTube videos on Alligator Reef and boating and snorkeling in the area. We are going during mini lobster season so we even watched some of those videos on how to catch them. Not sure we will do that but we will snorkel and do some GoPro videos to post back here. We will launch the boat at the 33rd Street public boat launch which is right near the hotel/marina. The marina itself has 110 / 30 amp electric and water they say.

Faro does have restrooms, showers, and laundry available for the Marina guests. Very nice & clean, just a single shower though. Doesn't seem to back up, might have to wait a few minutes. This is low season, so would not expect it to be too crowded.

If you like burgers, take your boat over to Burdines for lunch. A 15-20 minute boat ride. Fuel has been over the top expensive in the past at Faro. Go west a couple of miles then back under the bridge. Turn back into the channel for Boot Key, Marathon Marina fuel dock will be on your left. I always fueled there. Continue up that channel a few hundred yards will be Burdines. Turn into the channel north, you can tie up along the wall.

Ask the dock staff about restaurants nearby, there are several that are very good. Marathon is our favorite place in the Keys.

Mark
 
Great choice, you're going to love it! Showers and bathroom are definitely included. Make sure to walk a couple blocks north on US1 to the shaved ice place

Agreed. Never kept a boat there, but spend copious amounts of time in the keys and that is one nice spot for sure. Great on-site amenities, and awesome boating, snorkeling, etc. nearby.
 
Where were you guys when I needed you all last year!! LOL we rented a house for a week in Marathon and we totally missed Burdines. We drove up and down US1, even went to the turtle hospital and the kids got to swim with the dolphins. It is truly a magical place and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.... Key West is a great place. Herbie's in Marathon on US1 is a great place for seafood one of the best meals we had down there. Sunset Grill has the location, food was OK. We took my daughter there as we were in the Keys on her birthday....

Take Care and enjoy the trip!!
 
It is truly a magical place and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.... Key West is a great place.

Agreed! That is way I keep going back. Love it down there... so much to do, and so many different places to try.

How was your trip this past week... saw you on my dock at Herrington South on your first stop but never saw anyone on the boat.
 
Agreed! That is way I keep going back. Love it down there... so much to do, and so many different places to try.

How was your trip this past week... saw you on my dock at Herrington South on your first stop but never saw anyone on the boat.

Oh MAN! I am sorry to have missed you. Are you on J pier? I usually am looking around at boats and trying to link them to CSR.

I only went to Herrington I had to get back to work on Tuesday. That part of the cruise was awesome. My wife and I spent all our time sitting up at the beach and my son spent the day on all the paddle boards, kayaks, and swimming in the pool.

We had such a great experience down there we want to go back, then cruise over to the Hyatt in Cambridge. That to me would be the ultimate resort marina cruise on the bay...
 
Oh MAN! I am sorry to have missed you. Are you on J pier? I usually am looking around at boats and trying to link them to CSR.

I only went to Herrington I had to get back to work on Tuesday. That part of the cruise was awesome. My wife and I spent all our time sitting up at the beach and my son spent the day on all the paddle boards, kayaks, and swimming in the pool.

We had such a great experience down there we want to go back, then cruise over to the Hyatt in Cambridge. That to me would be the ultimate resort marina cruise on the bay...


Not sure if you have stayed at the Hyatt in Cambridge before. If you haven't been there before, then avoid visiting with a N-NE wind blowing. It may have changed, but when we were there last a couple of years ago there was not a breakwater in front of the docks. It was in September and the waves were building across and up the river. Pounded the boat all night long.

Other than that - Hyatt Cambridge is a great place to visit.

Mark
 
Oh MAN! I am sorry to have missed you. Are you on J pier? I usually am looking around at boats and trying to link them to CSR.

I only went to Herrington I had to get back to work on Tuesday. That part of the cruise was awesome. My wife and I spent all our time sitting up at the beach and my son spent the day on all the paddle boards, kayaks, and swimming in the pool.

We had such a great experience down there we want to go back, then cruise over to the Hyatt in Cambridge. That to me would be the ultimate resort marina cruise on the bay...

Yea me too. I'm on J (same side you were on) last powerboat toward the T. Went by your 330 a few times going back and forth... never seen anyone though. I'm actually headed to the Cambridge Hyatt in a couple of hours with a few other boats... headed over for the Sea Ray Reunion with Clark's Landing. Its a great time and the Hyatt is a great place tons to do over there. Shoot me a line next time you're at HHS.

Sorry to de-rail the Key's thread... now back to your regularly scheduled "America Caribbean" thread.
 
Had the bearings and races and seals all changed on the trailer to prepare fo this trip from southeast Georgia down to Marathon Key next week and found out that the surge brakes on the trailer have never worked since we bought the boat last year. Better to find out now than later when I need to stop faster. Ordering that new component today. BOAT, Break Out Another Thousand.:smt009
 
Had the bearings and races and seals all changed on the trailer to prepare fo this trip from southeast Georgia down to Marathon Key next week and found out that the surge brakes on the trailer have never worked since we bought the boat last year. Better to find out now than later when I need to stop faster. Ordering that new component today. BOAT, Break Out Another Thousand.:smt009

Whoa, scary. But yes, better to find out now!

Good luck on your trip... I'm a bit jealous. Although I've got my Keys trip planned for Thanksgiving week so I've got that to look forward to.
 
So nothing like finally getting the parts needed to replace the surge brake actuator and backing plates for the trailer at the last minute. The original actuator was rated at 10,000# but that one is not made any longer and the only one they had in stock was rated at 20,000# so I ended up ordering that one. Supposed to be here tomorrow with the braking replacements for both of the braking wheels. We leave Monday night for the Keys and should be there early Tuesday morning. Last night had the hatch air conditioning going on the boat to test how cool it will get us while sleeping on the boat. Got it down to 68 degrees inside and very comfortable humidity wise.
 
Heading out to Faro Blanco next week. First visit there...usually stay further up on marathon in a condo as we always brought fishing boats down.... now that my condo floats, no need for the one on dry land and trying out the whole marina thing..... other than where to get fuel and gotta for to burdines.... any other suggestions/input?
 
We really enjoyed our stay at this first class marina, Faro Blanco Resort & Marina. From the moment we arrived they treated us special. The General Manager was there to help us tie up in our slip and then he even drove me back over to my truck and trailer where I launched the boat on 33rd street and had me follow him back. The food, the drinks and everything were excellent. If you are seated at the Lighthouse Grill before 6:30pm each night they discount your food there to $19.95 per plate vs. the $35-$40. You have use of two swimming pools, the gym, wifi (we never used that or the gym) and breakfast each morning in the hotel. The dock guys will bring you ice for your cooler each day and if you need gas they have that there also. We motored around the Gulf side but really enjoyed the Sombrero Reef waters and the snorkeling there. The most beautiful water we have ever seen. Get there early and you tie up to a mooring ball (no anchors as it damages the coral). You will be in for a treat with this. 20160726_113125.jpg20160726_122715.jpg20160726_122914_001.jpg20160726_200803.jpg20160727_141329.jpg20160729_100436.jpgIMG_20160726_121420.jpgIMG_20160728_121708.jpg
 
You realize how jealous you're making me, right? :grin:
 

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