271 CANYON TO KEYS

[RAYK]

Ray, Like the others have said, You really have to pick your weather this time of year to make that run from Marco to Key west. I live in Naples and have made the trip multiple times in a 25ft boat. My experience is you only get good sea conditions about 25% of the time. And that usually doesn't align with your schedule. The middle keys route is a little more protected and you can stay closer to land as you run along the edge of the Everglades national park and 10,000 islands area. Summer is a different story. We can have multiple days of calm weather in a row and going either direction is probably fine. I use sites like Sailflow.com and windfinder.com to see what the expected wind is going to be. They both give you future forecasts that are reasonably accurate. If I see winds in the 10 to 15 MPH zone between Marco and the Keys, I don't go. It almost certainly means its really 15 with occasional 20 and the Gulf's short choppy wave periods will bang your teeth out no matter what you are driving. That trip is one of the reasons I upgraded to a 336..More days on the water and less trip cancellations because of weather. By the way, you have a really good Grady dealer in FMB with Fishtale. I know the owner well and he takes great care of his customers. Let me know if you need any more specific Keys info. I spend a fair amount of time down there.

thank you Dhirsh, I concur with your thoughts not going now for sure just gathering info. Yes I know Ray J and Tim for probably 15 years both my Robalos came from there
the 271 Canyon is on my radar as an upgrade from my 240 Robalo. what would you reccomend as a beginner run to Keys? I have probably logged 5000 hours on near shore thips like FMB-Venice, FMB-MARCO, GASPARILLA, CABBAGE KEY ETC. . been offshore 60-70 miles with various captains from FTM

 

[RAYK]

Could be. I have only had my Grady 336 since July 2019. Prior to this boat, I kept a Shamrock at FTM. I bought my lightly used 336 on consignment from Fish Tale Boats in Ft Myers last year. I looked at many twin engine new boats in the 27-30 foot range when I stumbled on to the deal on my older (2008) 336. While my budget kept me in an older Grady, the quality of GW is definitely what brought me to the brand. Let us know what you decide. If you don't already have a salesman that you are working with at Fish Tale Boats, I had a great experience with my purchase from David Russo.

Doug

I know Ray Jahn and Timmy since 2005 and have 2 Robalo's from there. which are great , but want to move up and think the 271 is a good fit

 

[Dhirsh]

thank you Dhirsh, I concur with your thoughts not going now for sure just gathering info. Yes I know Ray J and Tim for probably 15 years both my Robalos came from there
the 271 Canyon is on my radar as an upgrade from my 240 Robalo. what would you reccomend as a beginner run to Keys? I have probably logged 5000 hours on near shore thips like FMB-Venice, FMB-MARCO, GASPARILLA, CABBAGE KEY ETC. . been offshore 60-70 miles with various captains from FTM

The boating part will be the same and you seem to have plenty of experience. The easy trip would probably be to the Marathon area. You basically leave Marco and follow the Everglades National boundary down to Marathon. There are several resorts in the area where you can stay and keep the boat like Faro Blanco Marina in Marathon. They have recently put a lot of money and work into the resort and its quite nice. Marathon has plenty of restaurants, bars, and a pretty big population. So if you need something at West Marine or Home depo they are close. It’s also close to 7 mile bridge for fishing and good reefs just offshore in the Atlantic. Hawks Kay a little farther up the chain is good too. It’s more of a Hotel/Resort situation where you get issued a guest card for all your charges in the resort. It has pools, Bars, and a protected basin for the boat. Good fishing right offshore there too. I’m sure there are other places in Marathon to check in to. It’s a pretty quick trip and not as weather sensitive as going directly to KW. And for passengers you aren’t out of sight of land for more than about an hour.

 

[magicalbill]

Good advice from Dhirsh:

I mentioned both Faro Blanco and Hawks Cay in one of my earlier replies. Faro Blanco is a straight-in approach and Hawks has a marked channel and a perimeter canal you transit to get to the marina. (Check out the dolphins in their caged pen to your port just before you enter the marina basin.)

Not sure where the Everglades National Boundary is? To get to Marathon from Marco, there are two routes:

1.) Out Capri (Big Marco) Pass, around Cape Romano and either set a direct course to Vaca Cut or 7 Mile Bridge. If the sea state is less than ideal, you can cut back in on the South side of the Cape Romano Shoals and hug the Everglades down to Cape Sable. Then, cross Fla Bay and you're there.

2.) Run under the Jolley Bridge on the Big Marco River and follow the marked channel through the Ten Thousand Islands and come out at Coon Key Light in Gullivan Bay. The water is shallow as you exit the river mouth past Coon Key Light into open water. I recall depths of 3 ft, maybe 4 if you play the tides.

RAYK is asking about the ideal boat..I have done that trip for years in my 232 Gulfstream from points North of Ft Myers and was fine. A 271 Canyon would be fine as well. it's more about conditions, weather and judgment than the ideal boat. As I mentioned previously, and as Dhirst has covered, summer gives you more days to choose from.

If you want any level of comfort in ANY boat under 30 ft, make the run in E, NE, or SE winds 10kts or below. Any seas over 2 ft will make you wish you hadn't gone once you've travelled 100 miles in them.

I'm making this same trip this coming Wed. I do it every year to visit family down there. if you'd like, I'll log hrs, fuel burn, time & conditions for you.

Ray Jahn and that whole crew at Fish Tale have plenty of experience doing that run. Their Fish Tale Grady Club used to do it yearly, as I recall. Pick their brains as well...they are knowledgeable boaters.

 

[RAYK]

Good advice from Dhirsh:

I mentioned both Faro Blanco and Hawks Cay in one of my earlier replies. Faro Blanco is a straight-in approach and Hawks has a marked channel and a perimeter canal you transit to get to the marina. (Check out the dolphins in their caged pen to your port just before you enter the marina basin.)

Not sure where the Everglades National Boundary is? To get to Marathon from Marco, there are two routes:

1.) Out Capri (Big Marco) Pass, around Cape Romano and either set a direct course to Vaca Cut or 7 Mile Bridge. If the sea state is less than ideal, you can cut back in on the South side of the Cape Romano Shoals and hug the Everglades down to Cape Sable. Then, cross Fla Bay and you're there.

2.) Run under the Jolley Bridge on the Big Marco River and follow the marked channel through the Ten Thousand Islands and come out at Coon Key Light in Gullivan Bay. The water is shallow as you exit the river mouth past Coon Key Light into open water. I recall depths of 3 ft, maybe 4 if you play the tides.

RAYK is asking about the ideal boat..I have done that trip for years in my 232 Gulfstream from points North of Ft Myers and was fine. A 271 Canyon would be fine as well. it's more about conditions, weather and judgment than the ideal boat. As I mentioned previously, and as Dhirst has covered, summer gives you more days to choose from.

If you want any level of comfort in ANY boat under 30 ft, make the run in E, NE, or SE winds 10kts or below. Any seas over 2 ft will make you wish you hadn't gone once you've travelled 100 miles in them.

I'm making this same trip this coming Wed. I do it every year to visit family down there. if you'd like, I'll log hrs, fuel burn, time & conditions for you.

Ray Jahn and that whole crew at Fish Tale have plenty of experience doing that run. Their Fish Tale Grady Club used to do it yearly, as I recall. Pick their brains as well...they are knowledgeable boaters.

awesome thank you! I did that trip on the the Fishtale (82 Viking) August 2019 I was 2nd mate and not behind the wheel.
Id be interested in fuel burn , from Marco as I would probably stay overnight there and run from there early am my current boat is 240 Robalo with 160 gal tank

 

[RAYK]

The boating part will be the same and you seem to have plenty of experience. The easy trip would probably be to the Marathon area. You basically leave Marco and follow the Everglades National boundary down to Marathon. There are several resorts in the area where you can stay and keep the boat like Faro Blanco Marina in Marathon. They have recently put a lot of money and work into the resort and its quite nice. Marathon has plenty of restaurants, bars, and a pretty big population. So if you need something at West Marine or Home depo they are close. It’s also close to 7 mile bridge for fishing and good reefs just offshore in the Atlantic. Hawks Kay a little farther up the chain is good too. It’s more of a Hotel/Resort situation where you get issued a guest card for all your charges in the resort. It has pools, Bars, and a protected basin for the boat. Good fishing right offshore there too. I’m sure there are other places in Marathon to check in to. It’s a pretty quick trip and not as weather sensitive as going directly to KW. And for passengers you aren’t out of sight of land for more than about an hour.

thank you Dhrish , sounds like a good place to start- all good info

 

[magicalbill]

RAYK:

I'll be out of touch for a while, but when I return, I'll post all the info I can for you.

 

[magicalbill]

RAYK:

I just returned from my Keys Run. I put up a separate thread with the fuel burn, conditions and run time.

I noticed you haven't seen it yet. I entitled it simply "RAYK."

 

[RAYK]

RAYK:

I just returned from my Keys Run. I put up a separate thread with the fuel burn, conditions and run time.

I noticed you haven't seen it yet. I entitled it simply "RAYK."

thank you I will look for it

 

[RAYK]

thank you I will look for it

THANKS BILL BUT I CANT FIND IT...?????

 

[magicalbill]

Hmm...I can't either. I'll see if I can dig it back up.

 

[Ky Grady]

Magic,,,,,, January 7th General Discussion

 

[magicalbill]

Need help? 1-800- KY Grady...

Thanks Captain; much appreciated.