Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

With everyone in Minnesota winterizing their boats for the year I have decided to bring my boat down to my parents house in Fort myers for the winter. I am leaving with a few friends next thursday and will be down by friday night. We are planning a trip to Key West on Saturday. I have done a little boating in the Gulf but have never been to Key west. I was wondering if their is anything I have to worry about when coming into the Key's. Also what is the best marina to pull up for the night. If you have the GPS cordinates that would help. Anything else that you have learned while doing this run would be great. Thanks in advance.

Don

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Lucky Bastage!! But if you need someone to check on your boat (take it for a run, check the oils,hell I'll even wash it) the week of the 16th to the 22nd of November. I'm the man!!! :D You can fly into Key West and your boat will be there waiting for you (to fill up the tanks) :rolleyes: :D

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

It's not a sailboat is it? :eek: :D :D

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

PM Dennis ExpressCat 39 I believe he has a place there and has his boat in route to FL from OH, he might be able to help. He seems to know a lot of stuff.

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

R addiction-

Very funny! It is not a sail boat! I am very lucky, My parents are selling thier boat, so while they look for a new boat they have an open slip behind thier house with a lift and a full cover.

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

The offer still stands!! :cool:

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I know that you are only looking out for my best interest and nothing more! :D

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

We'll be down to FMB (Fish-Tale) starting 10/9 ... How about an OSO get together later that week ???

JM :drink:

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Hey Don, get yourself a good set of charts and look them over before you go. The trip from Ft Myers to Key West is not a problem, well marked. If you decide to go anywhere else though, be very careful. You can be out in the gulf headed to the keys with no land in sight and all of a sudden it will be 2-3 feet deep! It's a great time if you watch yourself. Have fun.

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Leopajm-
I will be down in Fort Myers from 10/15-10/20 if you want to get together for a drink let me know. I'll be back from key west on sunday night as long as everything goes well.

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Don,
I have made this run a few times from Tarpon Springs. I go to Marco to top off with fuel, then I run from Big Marco Pass marker "2" direct to the Northwest Chanel N24-38.88 W081-53.99. Depending on how much range you have you may be able to go San Carlos (south of Ft Meyers) to KW direct. In either case you will have deep water all the way. Another chanel is the Calda Chanel but it can be tricky if you have not been through before. I recomend the NW Chanel. Be sure to get a good set of charts before you go. Have fun. Chuck

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

dgduck13,
I have made the trip several times from Ft. Myers to Key West but I've always done it with a programmed GPS already on the boat. My last trip to Key West I rode on the "Fast Cat Ferry" (no it's not a gay guy, it's a boat) (http://www.keywestshuttle.com) and I carried my hand held Garmin GPS and tracked their route. I live in Cape Coral, you can borrow my GPS if that helps. It has the entire tracked saved from Ft. Myers Beach to the ferry terminal in Key West. And this is a big 130' Cat, so dept of the water shouldn't be a problem. The route is almost due south out of Ft. Myers Beach. My email is: [email protected] or web: www.BenHedrick.com

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Ben-

Thanks for your help! I also have a garmin GPS I wonder if there is a way to down load it on to my GPS. Has anyone tried this before? Otherwise if I get a few key cordinates maybe fort myers, marco island, and keywest it may be close enough to get me there?

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Not all of us in MN are winterizing our boats already...it'll be at least two more weeks before I winterize mine... :D :D

Sounds like a cool trip. The Mrs. and I where in Ft. Myers a few years ago on vacation and loved it.

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Brian-

I know not everyone in Minnesota is winterizing there boat yet, I know I will be on the St. Croix is weekend but most of my gutless neighbors are in the process of getting theirs ready for winter. One already has his in storage! :(


Don

Re: Fort Myers to Key West Help
 

Don,
I "don't think" that it is downloadable from my GPS to yours. Mine is a GPS Emap unit, that I use in my truck a lot. It does have a memory chip but I'm not sure if it is compatible. If it is great, if not your more than welcome to take it with you on your trip to use and then you'll have the track on yours. When are you planing to go to Key West? My cell is: 352-516-1026 if I can help.

Ben