Island Sailing in the Florida Keys - Questions

Plan on doing some TI sailing in the Florida Keys.

A few questions for my fellow Island sailors who have experience in the Florida Keys.

Know the key words can include shallow waters and currents... so....

Is it better to sail on the "Ocean" side of the keys or more on the "Bay" side.?

Know making it out of the cuts can be a challenge with strong currents....

Background: Looking to rent a home near Key Largo or Plantation Key..... My TI is set up for coastal conditions and is equipped with an outboard.

Would it be better to rent a home with direct access to the ocean side or the bay side?

Mostly interested in sailing and exploring with a bit of snorkeling.

How easy is it to cross between the Ocean and Bay sides through the cuts (under the bridges)? Assume you have to drop the mast in most cases.

Any thoughts / feedback / recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

_________________
Jim
Hobie TI 2022 - Offshore rig - Outboard - having fun!
Hobie TI 2021 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie TI 2016 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie Kona 2014
Hobie AI 2015 - sold
Hobie Rev 13 2014 - sold
Hobie Outback - 2008 - sold

You really need to contact @fusioneng. He was once a major poster to this forum, but I haven't seen him around much since he sold his TI.

He's an expert at sailing the Florida Keys with a TI, he can tell you everything you need to know.

If he doesn't reply to this forum then try sending him a PM. I'm sure he'd really like to help you. I'll try PMing him for you and hopefully he'll answer.

Yes, agree.

I have already sent a PM to fusioneng.

Do miss his posts!

Hope a few other Island sailors can chip in.

_________________
Jim
Hobie TI 2022 - Offshore rig - Outboard - having fun!
Hobie TI 2021 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie TI 2016 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie Kona 2014
Hobie AI 2015 - sold
Hobie Rev 13 2014 - sold
Hobie Outback - 2008 - sold

Hi powersjr2

Summer of 2019 we stayed in house next door to this one: https://www.vrbo.com/1188622?noDates=tr ... Id=1739380

Explored the Upper and Lower Sugerloaf sounds both north and south of the highway. I do not have a outboard and wanted to go out to ocean side, but when I saw that current through the channels I decided not to risk it getting stuck on wrong side when tides changed.

Yes - have to drop the mast to get under highway/bridges but that's not to much of a problem. The bays are shallow in spots even for a TI but easy to spot/avoid or break out the paddle to explore and watch the rays swim. Had a blast sailing, fishing, exploring, and even caught mullet in a cast net from the TI to great amusement of my wife trying to cast from a kayak for the first time.

Absolutely wish I had an outboard for that trip and will have one if we ever do it again. I could have easily explored further north or south to the ocean from the sound were we stayed. Even kept the TI on a boat lift.

Love the pictures and the boat lift (definately needed if the TI is staying in the water for more than a week.

Thanks for the tips.

Agree the outboard should be a big plus on long runs into the ocean.

I will be kicking around Plantation Key, "Toilet Seat Cut" and the Tavernier Creek Cut. Hope to hit both the Bay and Ocean sides during this trip in 2023. May throw in the EC 2023 challenge if I can work out the logistics .... or maybe crew for another TI skipper.

Florida Keys by Jim Powers, on Flickr

_________________
Jim
Hobie TI 2022 - Offshore rig - Outboard - having fun!
Hobie TI 2021 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie TI 2016 - Offshore rig - Outboard - sold
Hobie Kona 2014
Hobie AI 2015 - sold
Hobie Rev 13 2014 - sold
Hobie Outback - 2008 - sold