Siesta Key to Keys

Gregory57

New Member
May 27, 2011
14
Osprey, FL
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 52 DB
QSM-11'S
Engines
QSM-11 Cummins
Just brought our 440 DA over from Boca Raton thru Lake O to our home on Siesta Key for the first time and want to schedule a 4 day-ish trip to the Keys (I think Marathon and work our way back up to the upper Keys). Probably going over the weekend of Aug 22-25. Have lots of boating experience up north but never to the Keys and want to see as much as we can in a short time to decide where we want to take a longer trip over the holidays. Any help would be appreciated!
 
I just talked about a run to Key West with another member from Apollo Beach.
http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/apollo-beach-to-key-west.94353/#post-1077063
Congrats on your rig. You are drawing 3-4'? I was 4'6". I'm 2.5' now. Marathon is a good destination run. Running back up to the upper Keys from there is just that, through 7 mile, and then running until you get to your destination dejour. Not too many overnight dockage spots until you get to Islamorada. Holiday Isle (Now Postcard Inn) is a good tiki bar stop for the night. Key Largo is a little more involved in getting in, but nice bustling area around Snappers. Unless you are staying on the hook at Soldier, the next stop would be Miami either at Coconut Grove or Key Biscayne if you are a Yacht Club member. Then, the Lauderdale scene, and on up to Stewart. You didn't mention whether you would run up the keys and then leave the boat, and come back to it a few times, or try to make the circle trip in one run. Either way, the keys are well marked (caveat is Irma in 2017 which may have knocked out some stuff, but likely in the lower keys). Up to date charts are essential. Been on Siesta long? I am native Sarasota. The house I grew up in is now Echelon on Gulfstream Ave.
 
Not sure if you are asking about routing or marinas.

Routing wise, as you are going south stay well off of Cape Romano Shoals which extend down several miles from Cape Romano. After you south of the shoals, find Bullard Bank on your chart, due north of Marathon, set a course there. Take Bullard Bank marker on your starboard and follow the channel down to the marked ICW channel.

From that point you can go under the bridge, back to the east is Marathon Marina (good fuel stop).

If you stay inside (north of the highway), Faro Blanco is 4-5 miles to the east. This has been a favorite marina of ours since it reopened a few years ago. Look for the lighthouse.

A mile or two further east is a fairly new marina Marlin Bay I think. We have not stayed there but a friend has and had very positive things to say. I have only looked at the website.

If you stay in that area and you like hamburgers search out Burdines.

If you are on the inside, I don't think you can get back outside till you get to the Channel 5 bridge. There are cut throughs that we have done in the tender but not in the larger boat, not sure about depth through some of those.

If you are on the outside (south of highway) Hawks channel is easy to run in all the way to Miami.

Guessing with your draft you could easily run all the way to Miami on the inside (might have to watch tide in a couple of spots). Probably something to keep in mind is you need to watch where you cross inside to outside (unless you have good local knowledge).

If you wind up in the upper keys and are returning back north, you might want to consider the yacht channel, runs north from Channel Five bridge. Tight channel you have to stay in, but last time I was through there the water was fine.

Hope that helps. We love the Keys.
 
I just talked about a run to Key West with another member from Apollo Beach.
http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/apollo-beach-to-key-west.94353/#post-1077063
Congrats on your rig. You are drawing 3-4'? I was 4'6". I'm 2.5' now. Marathon is a good destination run. Running back up to the upper Keys from there is just that, through 7 mile, and then running until you get to your destination dejour. Not too many overnight dockage spots until you get to Islamorada. Holiday Isle (Now Postcard Inn) is a good tiki bar stop for the night. Key Largo is a little more involved in getting in, but nice bustling area around Snappers. Unless you are staying on the hook at Soldier, the next stop would be Miami either at Coconut Grove or Key Biscayne if you are a Yacht Club member. Then, the Lauderdale scene, and on up to Stewart. You didn't mention whether you would run up the keys and then leave the boat, and come back to it a few times, or try to make the circle trip in one run. Either way, the keys are well marked (caveat is Irma in 2017 which may have knocked out some stuff, but likely in the lower keys). Up to date charts are essential. Been on Siesta long? I am native Sarasota. The house I grew up in is now Echelon on Gulfstream Ave.
 
Thanks so much for the reply. Been on Siesta Key for 5 years now and had a 22 ft Robalo CC for several years to run the Intra and fish but we like taking longer-ish trips and see all the great state has to offer. We keep our 44 at a Bayfront Yachtworks on Siesta so it's super convenient to our house.

We draw 3' 6" wet and have good updated charts. I'm thinking of heading to Marco and stopping to topple off fuel but we should have plenty even if we didnt top off. Then head to Marathon. Have a couple stopping points in mind but dont want to anchor so are making margins reservations this week.
 
Not sure if you are asking about routing or marinas.

Routing wise, as you are going south stay well off of Cape Romano Shoals which extend down several miles from Cape Romano. After you south of the shoals, find Bullard Bank on your chart, due north of Marathon, set a course there. Take Bullard Bank marker on your starboard and follow the channel down to the marked ICW channel.

From that point you can go under the bridge, back to the east is Marathon Marina (good fuel stop).

If you stay inside (north of the highway), Faro Blanco is 4-5 miles to the east. This has been a favorite marina of ours since it reopened a few years ago. Look for the lighthouse.

A mile or two further east is a fairly new marina Marlin Bay I think. We have not stayed there but a friend has and had very positive things to say. I have only looked at the website.

If you stay in that area and you like hamburgers search out Burdines.

If you are on the inside, I don't think you can get back outside till you get to the Channel 5 bridge. There are cut throughs that we have done in the tender but not in the larger boat, not sure about depth through some of those.

If you are on the outside (south of highway) Hawks channel is easy to run in all the way to Miami.

Guessing with your draft you could easily run all the way to Miami on the inside (might have to watch tide in a couple of spots). Probably something to keep in mind is you need to watch where you cross inside to outside (unless you have good local knowledge).

If you wind up in the upper keys and are returning back north, you might want to consider the yacht channel, runs north from Channel Five bridge. Tight channel you have to stay in, but last time I was through there the water was fine.

Hope that helps. We love the Keys.
 
Wow great info! We like adventure so will head up and do the Yacht Channel on the way back. You all are the best and we'll post some pics from the trip!
 

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