Homestead To The Keys Trip In A 220 SD

surfinjoe

surfinjoe

New Member
Feb 23, 2007
946
Michigan
Boat Info
220 Sundeck 2007
Engines
350 MAG w/Bravo III
I will be trailering my boat to FL again this year and am thinking about spending a extra weekend boating in the Keys. Has anyone done this? Any ideas? I found this article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_5_6/ai_78542919/pg_1
on this very subject and am considering doing something like this:

Day 1:
Trailer to Homestead, launch, camp at the John Pennekamp State Park

Day 2:
Tool over to the Bahia Honda State Park & camp

Day 3:
Find a nice resort/hotel and clean up and enjoy 'civilization'

Day 4:
Back to Homestead

Questions:

1) What do I need to know about this area (navigation, saftey, weather)
2) Is this trip feasible in a 220 SD (no jokes about bimini trips in a bow rider PLEASE :)
3) Is this a worth-while trip for snorkeling?
4) Would I be better-off staying in Palm Beach Shores and camping on Peanut Island (innercostal party island)?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
 
Joe,
Are you thinking of doing the inside or outside route?
 
The state park you are talking about is not in Homestead. That is in Key Largo, about 45 minutes south of Homestead. You can take the inside route. There are several marinas where you can get fuel, islamorada, Marathon.

As for the other two questions, I do not know anything about snorkeling in the keys but I have heard that there are some good places.
 
surfinjoe said:
I will be trailering my boat to FL again this year and am thinking about spending a extra weekend boating in the Keys. Has anyone done this? Any ideas? I found this article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_5_6/ai_78542919/pg_1
on this very subject and am considering doing something like this:

Day 1:
Trailer to Homestead, launch, camp at the John Pennekamp State Park

Day 2:
Tool over to the Bahia Honda State Park & camp

Day 3:
Find a nice resort/hotel and clean up and enjoy 'civilization'

Day 4:
Back to Homestead

Questions:

1) What do I need to know about this area (navigation, saftey, weather)
2) Is this trip feasible in a 220 SD (no jokes about bimini trips in a bow rider PLEASE :)
3) Is this a worth-while trip for snorkeling?
4) Would I be better-off staying in Palm Beach Shores and camping on Peanut Island (innercostal party island)?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Surfinjoe,

I live in West Palm but lived and boated in the Biscayne Bay/Florida Keys area for 20 + years.

Here is my idea. Make prior reservations in a waterfront hotel or condo that has docking for guests. Trailer to Key Largo, check in, put your boat in the water, use their dock and get settled. Navigate your way through Tavenier Creek to the outside and snorkle the reefs at John Pennecamp State Park (some of the best diving in the United States). You could spend a week going to the different reefs in the park.

If you decide you want to go on down to Bahia Honda, you have options: 1. Keep your base of operation and room in Key Largo and trailer down to Bahia Honda State Park for a day and use their ramp, snorkle and other wise enjoy that area and at the end of the day, trailer back to Key Largo.
2. Check out at Key Largo and find another place near Big Pine Key(same dock/room scenario) and work the boat out of the lower Keys.

I suggest that you don't spend your time on the boat between Key Largo and Bahia Honda....it takes too long and you will be more comfortable and the end of each day riding in your SUV or Pick up with A/C.:thumbsup:

The Keys are one of the most beautiful boating destinations in this country. The water is gin clear and in the Spring, Summer and Fall seas are usually 2~4 feet or less on the outside and smooth to a light chop on the Florida Bay and Gulf side. August and September are riskier for hurricanes but you will always have ample warning prior to evacuations.

Having a shallow draft trailerable boat gives you an advantage over larger boats in the Keys because there are many places where low tide is 3~5 feet. Pick up a chart of Miami to Key West and start dreaming.
 
Marathon has good places to snorkel, just ask at any marina. Just becareful where you anchor, and watch out for the sea grass. I would use one of the commercial guys first, then you know where the best places are. The one we used was down by seven mile bridge on the bay side, they took us out by this old light tower, that was on the ocean side. I would not take a open bow out there and tie off, unless it was flat calm. The day we went was 3 to 4 footers.
 
surfing joe, you have to make time to hit Holliday Isle for a night. It's a good time and the typical tiki bar. Woodys is accross the street and a fun place to.
 
I like your idea. It may be best to base in Key Largo for a couple of days and enjoy the area. How deep are the reefs at John Pennecamp? I like to 'get down in em' and don't like reefs that are too deep. Too much effort getting down deep in salt water unless you have a dive belt.

Have you ever been to peanut island? Quite the party destination. My dad has a place on Singer Island, and that's where we will spend Thanksgiving week. Great area! Have they built the new mall yet?

sprink56 said:
Surfinjoe,

I live in West Palm but lived and boated in the Biscayne Bay/Florida Keys area for 20 + years.

Here is my idea. Make prior reservations in a waterfront hotel or condo that has docking for guests. Trailer to Key Largo, check in, put your boat in the water, use their dock and get settled. Navigate your way through Tavenier Creek to the outside and snorkle the reefs at John Pennecamp State Park (some of the best diving in the United States). You could spend a week going to the different reefs in the park.

If you decide you want to go on down to Bahia Honda, you have options: 1. Keep your base of operation and room in Key Largo and trailer down to Bahia Honda State Park for a day and use their ramp, snorkle and other wise enjoy that area and at the end of the day, trailer back to Key Largo.
2. Check out at Key Largo and find another place near Big Pine Key(same dock/room scenario) and work the boat out of the lower Keys.

I suggest that you don't spend your time on the boat between Key Largo and Bahia Honda....it takes too long and you will be more comfortable and the end of each day riding in your SUV or Pick up with A/C.:thumbsup:

The Keys are one of the most beautiful boating destinations in this country. The water is gin clear and in the Spring, Summer and Fall seas are usually 2~4 feet or less on the outside and smooth to a light chop on the Florida Bay and Gulf side. August and September are riskier for hurricanes but you will always have ample warning prior to evacuations.

Having a shallow draft trailerable boat gives you an advantage over larger boats in the Keys because there are many places where low tide is 3~5 feet. Pick up a chart of Miami to Key West and start dreaming.
Click to expand...
 
surfinjoe said:
I like your idea. It may be best to base in Key Largo for a couple of days and enjoy the area. How deep are the reefs at John Pennecamp? I like to 'get down in em' and don't like reefs that are too deep. Too much effort getting down deep in salt water unless you have a dive belt.

Have you ever been to peanut island? Quite the party destination. My dad has a place on Singer Island, and that's where we will spend Thanksgiving week. Great area! Have they built the new mall yet?
Click to expand...

I think the mall is still under construction. Peanut Island is a great place to go and hang out. Put in at Phil Foster Park on the Singer Island end of the Blue Herron bridge, go south about a thousand yards and you are there.

The reefs in the park range fron 5~30 feet at low tide and most have mooring bouys to tie up to. Try to avoid anchoring due to the potential of damaging the coral.
 
Use the mooring reef balls. If you don't and the park service catches you tearing up the reef they'll charge you an arm and a leg in damages.

I can't remember the name of the hotel, but there is one right there. I'll see if I can look it up. There is a ramp and marina there to.
 
I found the name of the resort. Holiday Isle beach resort and marina. It's located south of Key Largo in Tavernier. The resort has pools, beach and every water sport you can imagine. I even bunjy jumped there years ago. You can look it up on the internet. There is a sand bar just off the beach, and it gets crazy in the summer. Enjoy. Mike
 
Last edited:
untitled.jpg

Hopefully this pic works. It is a pic of the marina at Holiday Isle.
 
Joe,
What type of GPS do you have? I've got some routes laid out for Garmin if you are interested.
 
Mike,
Sweet picture. Is that you in the middle(Grin) The closeness of the Keys are one of the few things I miss about Miami.
 
chuck1 said:
Mike,
Sweet picture. Is that you in the middle(Grin) The closeness of the Keys are one of the few things I miss about Miami.
Click to expand...

I wish it was, but no. :-( I miss living in Key Largo. I stole the pic off the resort web page!
I have been there by boat though!
 
Looks like a good time :) Wish I was there now....it's COLD here in Michigan today! I will check it out fur sur! I am getting so excited over this trip. We just got back from Oahu last month and LOVED it, but I kept thinking "wish I had my boat". You know your priorities are F*#ked-up when you are in the most beautiful 'tropical' type place in the world and all you can think about is your boat. The admarial was not happy with me:-(

islandhopper00 said:
untitled.jpg

Hopefully this pic works. It is a pic of the marina at Holiday Isle.
Click to expand...
 
No GPS yet....sold it with my old boat and have not had the chance to get a new one (don't need it much here in Michigan as I know my lake like the back of my hand). I like Garmin and am leaning towards them anyhow. If I pick one up, I'll PM you for the routes that you have if you don't mind.

chuck1 said:
Joe,
What type of GPS do you have? I've got some routes laid out for Garmin if you are interested.
Click to expand...
 
I will do that! Don't need to get a big ol ticket! Besides, it is our responsibility as captains to be mindful of our enviroment and not ruin it for others by being stupid. I wish people understood that more! It's one thing to take a leak over the side of your 14' aluminum however it's just plain STUPID to drag an anchor across a reef!

islandhopper00 said:
Use the mooring reef balls. If you don't and the park service catches you tearing up the reef they'll charge you an arm and a leg in damages.

I can't remember the name of the hotel, but there is one right there. I'll see if I can look it up. There is a ramp and marina there to.
Click to expand...
 
Didn't they just re-do Phil Foster Park? I also rember something about them adding a reef at Peanut Island....or was it a lagoon? Either way, it's a cool place to chill & grill! Gotta love that party atmosphere!

Is there a marina that you know of that has rack storage for 1 wk? Sailfish wanted some crazy price for a slip for 1 wk. Last time, I kept my boat at storage unit, but I don't want to do that with my new boat!

sprink56 said:
I think the mall is still under construction. Peanut Island is a great place to go and hang out. Put in at Phil Foster Park on the Singer Island end of the Blue Herron bridge, go south about a thousand yards and you are there.

The reefs in the park range fron 5~30 feet at low tide and most have mooring bouys to tie up to. Try to avoid anchoring due to the potential of damaging the coral.
Click to expand...
 
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