macjazzy

I am interested to hear anyone who may have actual experience towing a wide boat out of Key West, I know there is a permit required. The issues I am curious about is they specify anything over 10' can only be towed between 9pm and 5am Monday-Friday. And must be accompanied by a escort vehicle with flashing lights and flags.

I will be towing a 10'6" wide MTI, the permit doesn't look like a problem to get. And I have no issues leaving KW at Midnight Sunday night/Monday Morning but finding someone to be an escort vehicle may be a problem.

I have towed this boat over a large part of the east coast, and always was permitted but have never been stopped, and have never run the flags and flashers I was supposed to. Also towed it on Sunday which is a no no for most over width permits. I also towed a wider cat without a permit about 1k miles and didn't get a second look from the cops who passed me.

So I understand the rules, what I am looking for is people who have actually done this coming out of Key West and whether they got stopped or harassed.

Trying to decide if the cops will be more intolerant of bunches and bunches of race/poker run boats being towed through the keys or less tolerant and have Rt.1 on lock down.

CIG3

I've been in and out of Key West many times and have never had any issues with any of the local authorities. I've always made the run in the evening after 9pm. doing it this way one makes it easier to travel as the traffic is much lower so you are not constantly worried about moving to the berm to avoid gawkers. Last time I was heading out of Stock Island a local cruiser ran blocker for me to get us to the highway.

BigSilverCat

Hauled in and out of there with 12' wide boats for 15 years, one ticket right after pulled onto mainland.

flight club

I do it every year with no issues

bulletbob

KW 2011 and 2012, 10.5 beam 36 skater no problem whatsoever.

macjazzy

Do you guys head out in the middle of the night and do the escort car thing? Flags, flashers etc?

Hopefully it goes without saying, but just in case I will be using a flat trailer, not a tilt trailer.

TAStevens

I hauled 10ft wide from Michigan to Marathon, FL last year, had Permits for EVERY State, No Flags or Flashers required? Permit read "during daylight hours only). Never got pulled over, took FOREVER though!

Pete B

I have hauled the race boats that require wide loads, and have had police escort at 10pm on a saturday night, thier first question was how fast do you want to run. everyone agreed 75 mph would be great. and thats what we did. they had 2 cars, stopped traffic and we hauled ass!

flight club

I never had a permit and left in the middle of the day on sunday . No tilt, 12ft, beam, no flags or flashers. A 12ft 50 ft boat will draw enough attention without flags and flashers, LOL

bulletbob

DITTO!!!!! No permits or flags.