|
- somewhere to park or store a car
- maybe a self-storage facility
QUESTION:I'm planning to move to Florida, buy a sailboat and live on the boat
anchored out in the Keys area. What area should I pick as my home base ?
I need to have a "base" in the sense of that is where my PO Box is and my
car is parked. And I know where to land the dinghy and how to get to the
supermarket and so on. And where the good anchorages are nearby. But as I
get more and more comfortable with the boat and cruising, I will be ranging
farther away from the base.
I need to be reasonably close to:
- sheltered anchorages
- post office or mail-handling service
- boatyards and marine stores
- somewhere to park or store a car
- maybe a self-storage facility
- reasonably interesting sailing/snorkeling territory
and there should be places to land a dinghy to get to these facilities.
Am I missing any factors ?
The areas that spring to mind are:
- Biscayne Bay (don't know much about this area)
- Key Largo
- Islamorada (facilities seem a little limited)
- Marathon
Farther north seems more congested and live-aboard-unfriendly, and farther
south seems a little too isolated for starting out (just my impressions).
Although I've been to the Keys several times as a tourist, that was a while
ago and I wasn't considering living there.
So I'd appreciate advice from anyone on the list who is living in the Keys
or familiar with the area. What area should I pick as my home base ?
ANSWER: -Try anchoring just off the Mandalay on Key Largo Key in the
area of Rock Harbor. There are several boats anchored there
and many of the ammenities of which you speak. Plus there is
a great bar with good folks.
-Don't do it, Bill, that is probably where Nealie lives. Just what you
need is having that old coot hanging around, mooching beers and
cigarettes from you.
Try St. Thomas...much nicer harbor, with real 6-pack "captains". All of
your other requirements are met and you're still in the USA.
It is also one of the best cruising grounds in the world.
|
|
|
|
