W. Palm Beach to Key West Advice please

I have only stayed at the Galleon but found it to be terrific - convenient and clean with excellent docks. It books up very far in advance over the next few months so definitely get on it sooner rather than later. I would personally ask for a slip anywhere other than A Dock if they have the space so you are not backed up to the resort (more privacy) and have more sun (their website has the slip layout).

For a real treat on the way back consider two nights at Little Palm Island, an easy run from Key West. Water's on the skinny side at their docks but manageable - I had no problem with a bit more draft than yours. Very expensive but a very special experience in my opinion, particularly if it's just you and your wife. I'm gun shy about mentioning any services by name here but there is a particular boating concierge service with a good discount there which would more than pay for the service's membership.

Wherever you go or stay it's a terrific trip all around - enjoy!

The inside (west) of the keys is a nice/beautiful run and I too would pop over to the east side in Marathon. It's a fairly easy run, just keep an eye on your markers. It's a lot more scenic and naturistic than Hawk's Channel. Gilbert's is a good stop in Key Largo if you go that direction. If you're a member of a yacht club and take the east side (Hawk's Channel) of Key Largo, Ocean Reef is a beautiful stop, well protected, good restaurants, very nice ammenities. Further South, Hawk's Cay resort is another very nice stop and has a very protected marina with nice ammenities, it is on Duck Cay just south of Marathon. The Galleon is very nice and one of the quieter marina's, I prefer A+B for some reason, but you have resort ammenities at the Galleon (pool) and it's a short walk to Duval street.

Given your distance requirements, I'd do Gilberts in Key Largo (or another marina right there), then Hawk's Cay Resort, then Galleon. Taking Biscayne bay to the west side of the keys, pop over to Hawks Channel at the 7 mile bridge on the south side of Marathon, and Hawk's Channel to the keys. Another Beautiful stop if you want to extend your trip is Naples and it's a 100nm run from either Marathon Key or Key West.

Jekyll creek is very shallow at low tide. I do Jekyll creek at mid tide and above and never have an issue with it, keep in mind they have over 8' of tide up there. You just have to run the tides (Mid-high tide) up in GA.

Keep me posted on your ETA to Key West. We get there for a visit most Winters. If timing works, I'll treat for dinner at Louie's Backyard.

Harborview dock slips are $600 per day and the Sunset dock is $1200 per day. A 39' boat reported being quoted $600. Little Palm is a great place to go if you fully intent to take advantage of all their amenities. Otherwise you might want to anchor nearby and observe from across the way or just bypass. It's more a destination resort than a marina. Oh and you do get one gallon of free water per foot of boat per day allowance.

Ocean Reef if $7-8ft also, but at least they give you all the water you want!

As a former resident of Duck Key, you might be interested to know that the Marina restaurant burned down about a year and half ago, and shortly after, the entire Resort was sold to new owners, who had plans to deepen the Marina's draft. You might want to call Hawks Cay prior to planning a stop there. The safest way to approach Hawks Cay is from the West side. You'll see a channel marked plainly, when you reach the breakwater, don't panic, but you'll see what appears to be a very small island dead ahead. Turn to Starboard between the "island" and the breakwater, and follow the Canal all the way down heading West, you'll see off to your left the entrance to the Marina. Anyway have a great trip...and keep your eyes on your depth finder..it's real easy to run aground in the Keys if you don't know where your going.

Capt J is usually spot on...but Duck Key is roughly 15 miles Northeast of Marathon....not South. Duck Key is at Mile marker 60, Marathon starts at Mile marker 54 on U.S.1

Hi Riverdance, Here's a photo of Duck Key, this is taken from the north looking south. On the left side of the photo (Ocean side) you can see the channel, and the break water. The blue roofed buildings are part of Hawks Cay Resort, the pond you see is a salt water pool, and next to that is the Dolphin swimming area. Closest to the bridge (U.S.1) is the Marina, where the break water bulges out. In the foreground you can see just how shallow the approach to the Marina from that side. There is a channel, but not recommended for first timers. This is an older photo as several canals have been dug through the interior of the island.

To add to what NEO is saying, I always go in the cut all of the way on the left side of the picture (ocean side), that is pretty straightfoward with depth. There is a spot in front of the dolphin pens that is 5' at low tide which would be just above where the round thing juts out with the blue roofs all of the way to the right of the photo, the marina is just above that 300 yards in that basin all of the way right and just below the road that goes to the bridge. It's a nice stop, whether it be overnight or for a few days.
There are also a few good marina's with good restaurants on the South Side of Marathon, so you just go through the 7 mile bridge, do a U turn around a shallower area on the east side of the bridge and enter the channel for those.

BTW, you have a beautiful English Lab.

I know, if it weren't for them not being able to dredge, it would be an excellent stop for deeper draft vessels. I like the location, marina, and ammenities. But last time I went there, I brought a 75' Hatteras MY and was on pins and needles and then was stuck there because we couldn't leave for another 4 hours after we would have liked to leave the next day because of tide.