Naples Florida

[Z50]

I'm looking for recomendations again on where to leave my truck and trailer for 7 days in Naples. We are heading to the Keys and weather permitting to the Dry Tortugas. Thanks again.

[gulfcoast john]

Naples to Marathon (skipping all the upper keys) then to Key West then to Dry Tortugas in 3.5 days may be too ambitious, my friend!

That route should include some weather days. There is no protected ICW at Naples, or from Marco Island to Marathon. You’d be miles out into the unprotected shallow Gulf of Mexico with no cell service (there is a single AT&T pole at Flamingo per James on Molly Brown). VHF range is under 10-20 miles on a lucky day. Same for the 75 miles and 50 million pot floats between Key West and Ft Jeff. Check the battery expiration date on your EPIRB.

This week’s Tortugas MARINE forecast is here, note that true 3 foot seas mean every 100th wave will be 6 feet, ‘5 foot seas’ means every few minutes crashing into a 10 footer, etc.

Good luck with that. You’re going to need it.

https://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=gmz055&syn=gmz005

Take the seaplane instead...you’ll see more at 500 feet and have the island to yourself before the ferry arrives. Reserve far in advance.

https://keywestseaplanecharters.com/rates/

If you have only 7 days including weather days, consider launching and rig storage at Founder’s Park, Islamorada, and just exploring the Keys.

https://www.islamorada.fl.us/departments/plantation_yacht_harbor_marina/index.php

Another option is launching and rig storage at Garrison Bight City Marina, Key West, and exploring from there.

https://www.citymarinakeywest.com/

Cudjoe Gardens marina has a good ramp, but call re offsite rig storage and if they’d let you dock the boat there while you go arrange for that. In the Keys, rig storage varies with the varying ownership of typical mom and pop type businesses. If the lot behind a seafood shack was available last season, it may have changed hands by this season.

http://cudjoemarina.com/

Marathon has a good ramp at 33rd St beside the Yacht Club and a trailer sales place that stores rigs up the road, but there is no day dock to tie up to at the ramp, and only 8 parking spots that fill early. We use it when renting a Marathon canal house with dock.

Herbert Hoover Marina on Biscayne Bay has six good ramps and rig parking by cell phone app at kiosks, but we have never gotten a consistent answer on how long you can park your rig there.

https://www.miamidade.gov/parks/herbert-hoover-marina.asp

Calusa Island Marina has an adequate ramp and on-site rig storage WHILE YOU ARE IN A TRANSIENT SLIP THERE. You could call re a 7-day exception. No waterfront business can afford to store rigs on site on the cheap.

https://shmarinas.com/locations/safe-harbor-calusa-island/

In our rather extensive Florida travels, we have not found a suitable ramp/free day dock/rig storage option near Naples except for Burnt Store Marina ramp to the north (off site rig storage, call dockmaster for current into)

https://shmarinas.com/locations/safe-harbor-burnt-store/

And Port of the Islands marina to the south, just north of the Everglades:

https://portoftheislandsmarina.com/

If you find an alternative, please post about it.

We are really asking for a LOT:

Not just a ramp, but one that can float a CD 26 or TC255 (53 inches deep before the aft starts to float)...

That ramp also has a large free ‘day use’ extension that is safe enough to leave the boat while we spend hours arranging for off site rig storage, (the good ramp at Laishley Marina, Punta Gorda does have a long, free day use dock...Thanks James/Molly Brown for that find)...

or a co-operative Dockmaster who allows us to dock in an unused slip for free for a few hours.

That’s a lot to ask for!

PS: Note you must have an Everglades Boating Certificate to enter the Everglades:

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/boater-education-program.htm

Best of luck on your most excellent adventure!

Safe travels, and hope this is helpful.

John

[Z50]

Thanks for the reply. I think we will launch at Goodland. We are launching July 3rd and coming back the 11th. where we go certainty depend on the weather. i would never go out in 5-6 not even 3-4.

[Yakmandu]

The level of help fellow CBrats offer is astounding. Gulf coast Jon, thanks for all the detail.

Goodland is on my shortlist for a launch point to spend time in the Everglades. Let us know how safe and secure it is if you use it. I would be a little wary of Everglades City for long term parking. I’ve launched kayaks at the Ranger Station there and it was OK.

Another option is Flamingo. Florida Bay is very shallow, but you can head to the Keys from there if you keep to the west edge of the bay. I know there is good parking there. Less open water starting in Flamingo, rather than Goodland. One ramp takes you to Whitewater Bay, he other leads to Florida Bay. Beautiful area!

Lastly, if you decide to spend time farther north, Fort Desoto Park has a great ramp with long term parking options. I’ve used it on multiple Watertribe events. It is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Another beautiful area. North are some nice destinations like Cedar Key, Stienhatchee, and Crystal River. But, no ICW protection going north…

We are going to need a full report! Safe travels!

[Molly Brown]

John's response is why I didn't immediately respond...the guy is a wealth of information! I do confirm only ATT cell service worked for us in the Everglades but not everywhere, and yes, the tower is at the Flamingo Marina. We found that out years ago because we have Verizon service that does not work there. Water coming and going out of the marina is very shallow, best done on plane like the locals do.

Port of the Isles south of Naples has always been my launch place for trips to the Keys. But, it is now run by the county by a private concessionaire and they only will do a 3 day parking permit. I asked about paying for multiple 3 day permits but they refused, said I would have to come back in every 3 days. You can do the Dry Tortugas, Key West and back but watch your fuel load. If your going to do the Fort, Key West to the Fort and back to Key West for fuel is the safer bet. For us it was easier to go the the Bahamas than Fort Jefferson since at the Fort there are NO facilites, i.e. water, fuel, ice.

If you decide on Goodland I am very much interested is how that works out for you.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip,
James

[Z50]

Everything depends on the sea state. Our plan is to go directly to key west from Marco Island, fill up and head to Tortugas. If the seas are to big we will run the coast and explore the upper and lower keys. No matter what we end up doing I'm on the boat and not at work. LOL.

[gulfcoast john]

I should have prefaced my remarks that they apply ONLY to CD 25, CD26 and TC255’s, and that, as always, smaller C-Dory’s can often and do launch and retrieve in any deep mud puddle they find at the end of a typical dead-end road (which makes them so adorable). There are many FL ‘county’ shallow ramps and dinghy landings that allow that.

Thanks all for the positive comments, I try to be helpful so other Brats can enjoy their cruises as much as we always do!

I must emphasize again that the captain MUST call and confirm whatever prior posters said about current marina/boat ramp rules. They change with ownership, and frequently.

James, thanks for the update on Top of the Port no longer taking rig parking over 3 days. They are now off my list.

I am curious Patrick and Z50, where are you referring to in launching in ‘Goodland’? If it’s Calusa Island Safe Harbor Marina, again you should call them re their current rules. What are they now? If it’s another marina, which one? I’m always wanting to learn more!

We noticed on our last trip in Dec 2020 that the docks just north of 92 as it joins Marco Island was fenced off. It appeared to be a city marina. Now it is labeled as ‘Go Cats on the Water’ on Google Maps satellite view. There are a lot of boats docked there on that view, but NONE in Dec 2020. It’s not clear if the power pedestals work, or were ruined by the last hurricane. It has a ramp. Overall, it’s not something I would count on, but if anyone has an update on that, it would be helpful to us all!

Z50, I know you have limited time, but dropping down to Marathon Faro Blanco (two heated pools, get the world famous Lobster Rueben) and then meandering down whichever channel gives you the most wind protection seems most fun to us. All we want is for you to have the most fun for you!

Safe Travels!

John and Eileen

[Z50]

Yes it is Calusa Island Safe Harbor Marina in Goodland. They charge $15 a day for boat and trailer parking. I told them I'd be there 7 nights and they said that was not a problem.

[Z50]

well never made it to the keys. Damn Hurricane. Planning on going again Thanksgiving. On a side note, we may be selling the 26 for a larger boat.