On anchoring. Have done mostly small outboard and canoe stuff in the Keys,
much of that in high school (60s) but bottom is almost always sand. Only the
most despotic anchor with a grapnel (spelling?) on the coral reefs and it is
illegal and can earn a high fine. When you are at the major reefs mooring
are often provided by the government to reduce damage, else you look, with
mask, to the bottom to be sure you are off the reel and on sand and use your
anchor. Typical depths unless you dive the deep reefs are 20 to 40 feet.
For overnighting full harbors are relatively rare but anchoring seems to be
traditional in the lee of any key including many uninhabited ones. These are
privately owned so beaching is questionable. Water would be very shallow,
that is why I am shopping keeless boats. Often the approach could not even
use the outboard - also heavy fines for disrupting grass beds. Sponges, baby
sharks, octupus, and marine tropical fish are common in these waters -- often
hiding from predators.
Diving is great and only requires snorkle, mask, and fins. The shallow water
is interesting even if you don't want to attempt the offshore reefs and
commercial trips abound if you want to take one of their half day trips to
scout before doing your own. If you are serious about diving, the commercial
trips have been all but ruined for me as liability has driven then to require
wearing or dragging a PFD. The scuba trips don't. Apparent assumption is that
snorkle people are amateurs. It is true that the scuba users have passed
certification.
For any of the sand I like the Danfort, small sizes and light weight hold
anything. They provide boat size estimates. The high tensile could be
considered at extra cost (sharper, precision yields higher holding for the
weight) or you could just get a larger standard. Copies abound but I can't
evaluate them. In case of storm or for safety since you are on the lee of the
keys you can run a line to the mangroves for extra holding.
Key West has a harbor that I think is still open to all. Don't know about
security there when leaving the boat. I would check with those already there
for information as it is quite an interesting and varied community!
Many Keys sites are on the web. Try any browser!
I am posting this to all as it is a unique cruising ground with fairly
predictable weather and risks, however; return an note directly to me if you
want to correspond further or discuss possible linkups down there. A phone
number would also be ideal since I have free weekend service.
Cliff in Marysville, PA gunwales@aol.com