Tampa to Key West

Twelve Volt Cop · Post by **Twelve Volt Cop** » May 14, 2006 10:02 pm

Does anyone know of a day cruise from Tampa to Key West? I was talking to somebody a few weeks ago who mentioned that he took a short, three or four hour cruise out of Tampa to get to Key West. I've done a Google search and haven't come up with anything. I'm just looking for a boat ride to Key West from the West coast of Florida, so that I can spend a few days there. Thanks.

PHAW Webmistress · Post by **PHAW Webmistress** » May 14, 2006 10:16 pm

Twelve Volt Cop wrote:Does anyone know of a day cruise from Tampa to Key West? I was talking to somebody a few weeks ago who mentioned that he took a short, three or four hour cruise out of Tampa to get to Key West. I've done a Google search and haven't come up with anything. I'm just looking for a boat ride to Key West from the West coast of Florida, so that I can spend a few days there. Thanks.

TVC - don't know of one from Tampa but there is a Fast Cat out of Ft. Myers.

flipflopgirl · Post by **flipflopgirl** » May 15, 2006 5:07 am

I took the Fast-Cat from Key West to Ft.Myers after MOTM to visit some friends! They take it all the time and do the day trip to Key West. There are also package deals to stay overnight in Key West that are a pretty good deal! It was a pretty good ride. Once you got out of the harbor in Key West and the sun went down you could see a million stars!!!!!! Just like on a cruise ship!

cdudley · Post by **cdudley** » May 16, 2006 8:10 am

If you don't have one, you can rent a boat in Tampa and do it yourself. It is a very manageable trip and you can get there (depending on the speed) in about 6 hours. I go all the time. There are some great dive spots in between, bring a hawaiian sling, a mask, and some fins, and you are good to go.

UpstateNYPH · Post by **UpstateNYPH** » May 16, 2006 8:35 pm

Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone know of a ferry that runs from Palm Beach to Key West? I would assume this is very unlikely given the geography, but just thought I would ask anyways...

cdudley · Post by **cdudley** » May 17, 2006 9:40 am

There is not a ferry that I am aware of. Palm beach to KW is a fairly long run also. I will say it again though. I recomend renting a boat (from where ever you are) and going that way. Lots of fun stuff to explore just outside of the keys that are only accessable by boat. Rent a boat, and enjoy the adventure.

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » May 17, 2006 4:49 pm

cdudley wrote:There is not a ferry that I am aware of. Palm beach to KW is a fairly long run also. I will say it again though. I recomend renting a boat (from where ever you are) and going that way. Lots of fun stuff to explore just outside of the keys that are only accessable by boat. Rent a boat, and enjoy the adventure.

How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » May 17, 2006 4:56 pm

tjtryon wrote:
How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

I have sailed from Clearwater to KW in a 22 ft Catalina sailboat.... no worries if you have 2 days.

However...we found a charter airline... pretty inexpensive considering.... might use it for MOTM this fall.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » May 17, 2006 4:59 pm

ToplessRideFL wrote:
tjtryon wrote:
How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

I have sailed from Clearwater to KW in a 22 ft Catalina sailboat.... no worries if you have 2 days.

However...we found a charter airline... pretty inexpensive considering.... might use it for MOTM this fall.

really... how much?

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » May 17, 2006 5:02 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:
tjtryon wrote:
How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

I have sailed from Clearwater to KW in a 22 ft Catalina sailboat.... no worries if you have 2 days.

However...we found a charter airline... pretty inexpensive considering.... might use it for MOTM this fall.
really... how much?

About $100 a head.....if we can fill the plane RT. 9 seats... But Tampa Bay parrot head club is huge... and the pilot is a PH... so I think I will call him..... shoot thats a savings of 15 hours in the car!

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » May 17, 2006 5:10 pm

ToplessRideFL wrote:
tjtryon wrote:
How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

I have sailed from Clearwater to KW in a 22 ft Catalina sailboat.... no worries if you have 2 days. :)

However...we found a charter airline... pretty inexpensive considering.... might use it for MOTM this fall.

22" sailboat doing maybe 10 knots is a bit different from a powerboat doing twice/three times that through the waves. I have been in the 27'+ powerboats, no worries, but I'm still debating on my 20'. Anyone else out there with a simmilar experience?

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » May 17, 2006 5:11 pm

ToplessRideFL wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:
tjtryon wrote:
How big of a boat would one need? I've always wanted to put my 20-ish' speedboat in at Ft. Myers and run it down to the Keys, but is it too small of a boat for that? I'm used to playing with it on the ponds in Indiana, not on the big ocean (I do have ocean experience though on my old 36' ketch)...

I have sailed from Clearwater to KW in a 22 ft Catalina sailboat.... no worries if you have 2 days.

However...we found a charter airline... pretty inexpensive considering.... might use it for MOTM this fall.
really... how much?
About $100 a head.....if we can fill the plane RT. 9 seats... But Tampa Bay parrot head club is huge... and the pilot is a PH... so I think I will call him..... shoot thats a savings of 15 hours in the car!

depending on the days for the trips back/forth.. Dibs on right-seat upfront.. ;D

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » May 17, 2006 5:12 pm

tjtryon wrote: but I'm still debating on my 20'. Anyone else out there with a simmilar experience?

I also went from Ft Lauderdale to KW in a 16 ft powerboat.... no trouble. But certainly you must consider the weather condidtions.

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » May 17, 2006 5:35 pm

ToplessRideFL wrote:
tjtryon wrote: but I'm still debating on my 20'. Anyone else out there with a simmilar experience?
I also went from Ft Lauderdale to KW in a 16 ft powerboat.... no trouble. But certainly you must consider the weather condidtions.

Thanks! Did you take the ICW and then Hawk's Channel? Were you able to run at a comfortable speed that is quick enough to get you along, but plenty slow to let you sight see and relax? How long of a ride?

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » May 17, 2006 10:36 pm

PHAW Webmistress wrote:TVC - don't know of one from Tampa but there is a Fast Cat out of Ft. Myers.

I actually passed by the "Key West Express" today.

cdudley · Post by **cdudley** » May 18, 2006 8:30 am

20 feet is more than enough if the weather is nice. I have a 17 foot mako and can make it from Ft. myers in 5 hours if its calm. There is a lot of nice water in between to explore. Especially now with the tarpon run.

MacPhin · Post by **MacPhin** » May 18, 2006 9:20 am

cdudley wrote:20 feet is more than enough if the weather is nice. I have a 17 foot mako and can make it from Ft. myers in 5 hours if its calm. There is a lot of nice water in between to explore. Especially now with the tarpon run.

the key here is "calm". we have a 19' foot grady white and i run down from upper charlotte harbor to sanibel a lot. granted the harbor gets extremely choppy, the gulf can get much worse. to have ideal conditions on the gulf doesn't happen all that often. and to have it be that way on the way there and back... doubtful. the wind either picks up in the afternoon and you have 4 footers or there is a storm rolling in at this time of the year. in the winter months it's even more windy. of course it's an easier time if you have a sail boat or a larger boat. to go down there in a 17 footer,not advisable.

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » May 18, 2006 12:35 pm

cdudley wrote:20 feet is more than enough if the weather is nice. I have a 17 foot mako and can make it from Ft. myers in 5 hours if its calm. There is a lot of nice water in between to explore. Especially now with the tarpon run.

Do you shoot straight across (south) from Ft. Myers, or do you hug Florida, and head down the ICW and Hawk's Channel?

cdudley · Post by **cdudley** » May 18, 2006 2:01 pm

Depends on the weather. This time of year (the best time for such a trip) the gulf is like a lake. I head straight south, this is the quickest and most direct way.
If there is some serious weather, I will hug the coast and even stop in some cool places on the way down. 10,000 islands is a wonderful area, as well as everglade city.
Ft. Meyers to key west is not like crossing the atlantic ocean. April-July is the ideal time to take such a trip as there is NEVER a swell. Only accasional surface chop, if so, the intercoastal will get you to florida bay, and after that, it is so shallow, a little surface chop doesn't make much difference. Hundreads of boats make this trip every day.
My advice is to go for it, get off the beaten path, and enjoy the trip.
You might just enjoy what you find.

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