Random pics of Yachts in Key West

jitts3

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2008
1,374
Freedom, WI
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray 268 Sundancer
Engines
454 Bravo 2
Well like in the other thread I have here about the Lighthouse, We rented a boat and rode around Key West while on a Christmas Break vacation with our Motorhome. The night before we took these pics, we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and walked around the docks with there ships. It was close to where we parked the car and we had time to kill. We wanted to see them by water, so we cruised thru and took some cool pics as we went. It was nice to dream and to also motivate my sons aged 10 and 15.

Enjoy the pics.









This one below is named "The Jolly Rover"



The one below is the "Western Union" The white one in the center. A 1939 built cable layer that started life laying communications cable from Florida to Cuba. Acording to a crew member the ship will spend the next year being refurbished before sailing again.









Below a Cruise Ship Departing Key West. I took this at the Southernmost Point Marker on Key West



Below was taken on a Kayak. My Girlfriend and oldest son are on the other Kayak. This was taken on Sugarloaf Key. We used Kayaks from the KOA Campground and tooled around some in the canals admiring the boats and homes we saw. this is one of the few pics we took as my Zip Lock Bag didnt hold and ruined my phone and got tha camera wet. after that I didn`t take it out anymore.



On a side note and wish I had gotten i picture of such a pretty ship. In one of the canals we saw a large sailboat from Marblehead Mass. As we were heading out the owner had come out and I asked him a few things. He said it takes him 9 days to go to Mass from FL. but 38 to do the reverse, but the southern trip he stops alot. I asked him how many people it takes to operate that make of rope and sail? He said he can do it himself, but his fiancee` helps too and that makes life easier.

In the end I use these things to tell my sons to aim high. They too can have the things the want. just work hard and keep on doing so.
Either way, Enjoy The Pictures
Steve and Charlene:grin:
 
Great Shots, thanks for sharing! We were down there in October and stayed at the Casa Marina. Went to the Dry Tortugas on the high speed Cat, had a great time!! Interesting story on the trip, we boarded the Boat in Key West Harbor around 0730. At 0800 they did "Colors" at the Key West CG Station across the harbor, we were out on the open back deck. I and my wife stood up and faced the flag and we got some strange looks from our civilian "brethren". But by the time the last note was played everyone on the Fantail had stood up!!
 
Did you see a good marina to stay a month in? Nice shots...
Honestly, the one we took the pictures was quite nice. However it is right there in town and probably quite expensive. I have no clue what other amenities they have there as well. The Place was Called A&B Marina http://www.aandbmarina.com/

Now on the road back to Miami I saw many other Marinas also setup with RV Campgrounds. they looked a bit nicer and less stuffy. But then again I am no Johnny Blue Blood. Just a blue collar guy type.
 
Great Shots, thanks for sharing! We were down there in October and stayed at the Casa Marina. Went to the Dry Tortugas on the high speed Cat, had a great time!! Interesting story on the trip, we boarded the Boat in Key West Harbor around 0730. At 0800 they did "Colors" at the Key West CG Station across the harbor, we were out on the open back deck. I and my wife stood up and faced the flag and we got some strange looks from our civilian "brethren". But by the time the last note was played everyone on the Fantail had stood up!!

Cool Story. Most people don`t get it or don`t want to take the time and recognize why we can do what we do. We were down there for only 6 days including the day we packed up and rolled out. There is just so much to do and see you couldn`t do a fraction of it in the time we had. A month would be better.
But for us it was an RV trip and I have my 10 and 15 year old sons with us too. They love to swim, so water stuff in the winter was a novelty to them as was for us. Renting the Kayaks may have seemed lame, but for us all was fun. Exploring the canals was cool, and to them never seen before. I mean who parks their boat behind there house... in water? But with the kids sightseeing can get boaring and ruin the trip. So add some water and instant fun.
 
Honestly, the one we took the pictures was quite nice. However it is right there in town and probably quite expensive. I have no clue what other amenities they have there as well. The Place was Called A&B Marina http://www.aandbmarina.com/

Now on the road back to Miami I saw many other Marinas also setup with RV Campgrounds. they looked a bit nicer and less stuffy. But then again I am no Johnny Blue Blood. Just a blue collar guy type.

And if you don't have a boat to put there the food is great at The Lobster House.

MM
 
And if you don't have a boat to put there the food is great at The Lobster House.

MM

If I had known it was there we would have eaten there. I assume you are refering to the dockside restaurant next to the marina.
We parked the car on Front street a block from the docks and walked down Duval st to the Southernmost Point. Then back up stopping at the little shops along the way. We wanted to get to Mallory Square by sunset, but didn't make it. We caught a few street performers. The one we thought was best was a guy that called himself Casey. He does a Houdini type trick wit a staright jacket and chains. Also eats fire. Also a couple of girls, attractive too playing a guitar and singing. They say music tames the savage beast. But not when he is a little ill, and hungry. I was getting a cold and was hungry. Wanted a big meal. Preferably meat. We found the Hard Rock and figured I would be OK there as I wasnt dressed for a fancy place. I may have had a few grand in my pocket, but was wearing jeans and a wife beater. Looking like a drug dealer or white trash with money. Either way a bit underdressed for a fancy place. After we ate we walked the peirs and saw the seafood place on the water. If the kids weren't there Charlene and I would have at least went to the bar. But they were. So back to the campground we went to drink our wine and so I could have a cigar.
 
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NorCal......???? really?

Maybe where he is from you need a 100 foot boat to be rich. In my circles anything that can't be trailered without permits qualifys. Hell even some that can.
But as I always say, Hate the game, not the playa. Also jealousy gets you nowhere.

Ill tell you this story. Sorry, but a long one.

In the end of 2009, when I moved to Wisconsin and my boat project on the 73 was put on hold. October ish my little sister talked to me about going together someplace on Vacation together. Her family and mine. This was after I sent the ex girlfriend packing and before Charlene came onboard. My sister talked about going to Hilton Head SC. She was going to get a condo thru some timeshare she had. I opted to go along with my 30 foot travel trailer and my old 75 Ford truck. The only place she could find available was Ft. Lauderdale in July. I was at first worried that such a trip was impossible. Then I ran the numbers. Mileage, known gas consumption of my truck. And low and behold, why is it impossible? I can afford that. And I have 6 months to plan. I was just so used to telling myself NO it just came naturally. So end of June came and I departed my shop in Wisconsin for New Jersey with the old Ford and got my sons and camper that was still at Mom's and started rolling down I-95.
We got there and stayed at a campground/marina right on Marina Mile. The canal was just behind our camper. At night we would walk and admire the boats. Some huge yachts. Two very memorable moments were to happen there. I was walking with my then 6 year old son Mathew. He was telling me how he liked the boats and wanted to buy me a big one when he gets big. I told him to buy one for himself and I'll let him take me for a ride. But this was the.longest conversation we had where he wasn't completly coming at me like a child. He was older and smarter. You dad's know what I mean. The other was with my oldest Sean, then 12. He asked.me.why I torture myself looking at boats I can never afford to buy. I told him "Don't ever sell the old man short. And for that matter never sell yourself short. Do you know why I don't have a boat like that? Because I haven't earned it yet. They said I couldn't ever take you camping in Florida. They said my old truck was too old to make it. I couldn't afford the gasioline. And where are we? Standing on a dock in Ft Lauderdale like everybody said I couldn't. So if you want a.boat like that, do good in school, get educated. Get out there and get that money. Then get your boat. Or Yacht. I'm still young 34. I still have time to make it there. We make our own future and our own luck. Karma is too slow. You can do.anything. you limit yourself, or go all out. Its your choice."
It stuck. Now he wants an exotic car and a yacht. And I think he can get there too.
And now a few years later they went to The Keys. A truck driver did that, with old equipment. And we had a blast. They see what I mean. And that is what those pictures mean for me.
 
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Awesome pics and story. I love walking the docks. Ever go to the Marina at Atlantis? (Nassau, Bahamas) Wow!

I think Norcal is just being sarcastic.

Atlantis Marina:

0406101550-00.jpg
 
Never been there before in my life. The same went for Key West too. I'll bet the boats there are huge. Maybe one day I'll get down there.
As for Norcal, problably was. But who knows, either way it inspired me to tell the story.
 
Thanks. I always took pride in bucking the trend. And always finding a way to get done the things I love.
 
"The one below is the "Western Union" The white one in the center. A 1939 built cable layer that started life laying communications cable from Florida to Cuba. Acording to a crew member the ship will spend the next year being refurbished before sailing again."

We sailed on that boat a few years ago when we were in Key West. Great time. I forget the cost but it came with all the drinks you wanted. I had numerous because when we got back we just had to walk to our bed & breakfast. I talked the captain into letting me drive and he did. I steered it for about 30 minutes and through two turns. That thing was a b!tch to turn and to hold the wheel steady. The captain was about 6'6" or so and around 400 pounds. He needed all of that to run that boat.


Thanks for sharing the pics and the narrative. Sounds like you had a good time. Hard not to in Key West.
 
"The one below is the "Western Union" The white one in the center. A 1939 built cable layer that started life laying communications cable from Florida to Cuba. Acording to a crew member the ship will spend the next year being refurbished before sailing again."

We sailed on that boat a few years ago when we were in Key West. Great time. I forget the cost but it came with all the drinks you wanted. I had numerous because when we got back we just had to walk to our bed & breakfast. I talked the captain into letting me drive and he did. I steered it for about 30 minutes and through two turns. That thing was a b!tch to turn and to hold the wheel steady. The captain was about 6'6" or so and around 400 pounds. He needed all of that to run that boat.


Thanks for sharing the pics and the narrative. Sounds like you had a good time. Hard not to in Key West.

Awe man, That just made our day. I just had Charlene look over your post. I just love the fact that old ships like that aren`t being wrecked, but restored and ran as they were designed to. preserving the history of how things were done. This goes for many other things as well such as steam locomotives. But to see the ship. talk to the crew member, take pictures of it after admiring the construction of it. How so many things changed thru the years. then to top it off and hear from somebody who sailed on her. Now thats cool!
 
Of course I was being sarcastic. I live in California....we love everybody. Actually I have no desire for any boat that needs a crew. Where's the fun in that? But I love looking at other, larger, newer boats all the time because I get ideas that I might use on Makai.

There are people that own boats and there are "Boaters". I'm a Boater and proud of it. I don't need to be out cruising I just need to be on or around boats and the water. Some of my best boating days are when I go down to the boat alone and just tinker. I know there are other "boaters" out there from the posts. You know who you are. Say it proud....

My name is Shawn and I'm a Boater!
 
Agreed. I just love to be around boats. My wife suggested we go to the boat show this year to upgrade. I told her I was happy with our current boat and wanted to put our money elsewhere- like into a fishing boat :).

My name is Darren and I'm a boater.
 
Im a dreamer. I come from a family that did things. We had a travel trailer, then a weekend spot for that in Pennsylvania. Next came the boat. Thats how a kid from New Jersey came to know Lake Waullenpaupack as Heaven on Earth. The best times of my childhood were on that boat and lake.
My adult life was always cash strapped. So, I had to do with older cheaper, make repairs, and hope for the day I can take the toys out.
Things are finally getting easier for us. We do have many other toys. Sadly the boats got pushed behind. But since we tookbthe rental boat out, Charlene and both boys want mine up and running. Since we had a blast on that rental and it broke down over the dumbest thing and left us stranded for a bit of time.
So now this year time to get started projects done. Focus on them and get the family on the water. I dream of that. But there are dreams I have made come true recently. More to come.
 

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