SAFE HARBOR MARATHON FLORIDA KEYS 🇺🇸 SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

SAFE HARBOR MARATHON FLORIDA KEYS 🇺🇸 SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE
24°42.25′ N 081°06.7116′ W

safe harbor marathon marina

We are pleased to support the Ocean Posse participants with a 20 % discount at our marina between May 1 – Nov 1

CONTACT
Alyssa Varney

+1 305 743 6575
email marathon@shmarinas.com
VHF 16

shmarinas.com

AMENITIES

Length 25′ – 122′
Max Height Unrestricted
Fuel Dock 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Max Beam 24′
Max Draft 7′
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Shore Power Hookups
Fresh Water Hookups
Pump-out
Slip-Side Parking
Haul out max width 18.5’, max depth 6.5
Lodging
Waterside Restaurant
Ships Store
Parking
Fire Pit
Fitness Center
Gated Vessel Access

safe harbor marathon

LOCAL SERVICES

Marathon, Florida, offers a variety of amenities and provisioning services to cater to both residents and visitors. Here’s an overview of what you can find in the town:

Grocery Stores and Markets:

Major Supermarkets: Marathon hosts several supermarkets, providing a wide selection of products for your provisioning needs.
Local Markets: For fresh produce and local specialties, consider visiting the local markets in Marathon.

Marine Supply Stores:

For boating essentials and equipment, Marathon offers several marine supply stores catering to the needs of mariners.

Dining and Entertainment:

Restaurants and Cafés: Marathon boasts a diverse culinary scene, ranging from casual seafood shacks to fine dining establishments.
Bars and Nightlife: For evening entertainment, there are various bars and lounges offering live music and local brews.

Healthcare Facilities:

Fishermen’s Community Hospital: Located in Marathon, this hospital provides emergency services and general healthcare.

Recreational Facilities:

Parks and Nature Centers:
- Crane Point Museum and Nature Center: A 63-acre tropical oasis offering nature trails, a museum, and the historic George Adderley House.
- Curry Hammock State Park: Ideal for kayaking, fishing, and beachgoing, this state park showcases the natural beauty of the Florida Keys.
Beaches: Marathon offers several public beaches perfect for relaxation and water activities.

Transportation:

Highways: Marathon is accessible via the Overseas Highway (U.S. 1), connecting it to Key West and mainland Florida.
Airport: The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport serves the area, accommodating general aviation and charter flights.
Public Transit: Services like Greyhound Lines and local transit systems connect Marathon to other parts of the Keys and Florida.

Save HArbor Marathon

SAFE HARBOR MARATHON SAVE APPROACH

OFFICIAL WEBSITE SAFE HARBOR MARATHON >>

LOCATION SAVE HARBOR MARATHON MARINA

NEARBY

Marathon, Florida, and its surrounding areas offer several noteworthy and historic sites. Here are five you might consider visiting:

Crane Point Museum and Nature Center: This 63-acre preserve is home to a natural history museum, nature trails, and the historic George Adderley House, built in 1903 by a Bahamian immigrant. Visitors can explore the diverse ecosystems of the Keys and learn about the region’s cultural heritage.
Pigeon Key Historic District: Accessible via the Old Seven Mile Bridge, Pigeon Key once served as a base camp for workers constructing the Overseas Railroad in the early 1900s. Today, it features several historic buildings and offers insights into the Keys’ development during that era.
Seven Mile Bridge: An iconic engineering marvel connecting Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key, the bridge offers stunning views of the surrounding waters. The original bridge, now referred to as the Old Seven Mile Bridge, is open to pedestrians and cyclists, leading to Pigeon Key.
Sombrero Beach: While not a historic site, this beautiful beach is a notable destination in Marathon. It’s known for its pristine sands, clear waters, and family-friendly environment, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Marathon Wild Bird Center: Located within the Crane Point Hammock, this center is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured native birds. Visitors can learn about local bird species and the center’s conservation efforts.

by admin

FLORIDA TO BAHAMAS ♒︎ Gulf Stream Crossings

Here is a quick overview of why the rule “go 25 miles or so south of your intended Bahamas destination” in order to cross the Gulf Stream.
Northerly winds will make the crossing very uncomfortable; as the wind against current create short steep nasty waves – wait for no winds or light easterlies for a more comfortable ride
If you plan on Sailing look for S or SW winds

Tides and Currents

WINDS

Gulf Stream Crossings to The Bahamas

Because of the Gulf Stream’s north-setting current, most cruisers prioritize making as much southing as possible along the U.S. East Coast before crossing. From South Florida, it’s just a day hop across the Gulf Stream to reach the first islands of The Bahamas. This route follows the typical snowbird cruising path, as outlined by Van Sandt in A Gentleman’s Guide to Passages South. It allows for travel within the ICW or limits to manageable day hops offshore.

The Strategy for a Smooth Crossing
The general advice is to get as far south as possible before making the crossing. The farther south you start, the easier the crossing and the more route options you’ll have. Slower vessels benefit most from this approach. For instance, leaving from Key Largo with a moderate southeasterly breeze — a common forecast — allows you to take advantage of a more favorable heading and the Gulf Stream’s flow instead of fighting against it.

Chris Parker of the Marine Weather Center identifies two primary crossing zones: the North and South Crossing Areas. These terms are widely used in marine forecasts, even if you don’t use his services (though they’re highly recommended).

North Crossing Area

The North Crossing Area spans the track from West Palm Beach (Lake Worth Inlet) to West End, Grand Bahama — a route roughly 56 nautical miles east.

Common departure points include:

Farther north: St. Lucie Inlet or Fort Pierce Inlet, often with crossings targeting the Abacos.
Farther south: Departures from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, with direct routes to Grand Bahama or the Abacos.

Once on Grand Bahama’s southwest corner, it’s an easy passage through the Northwest Providence Channel toward the Berry Islands or Nassau.

South Crossing Area

The South Crossing Area typically covers the route from Fort Lauderdale or Miami directly to Bimini, about 46 nautical miles east of Key Biscayne. This is the shortest crossing from Florida to The Bahamas.

Other options include:

Departing Key Largo or the Florida Keys: These routes lead to Bimini or South Riding Rock, opening paths toward Andros, the Berry Islands, Nassau, and the Exumas.
Continuing to North Crossing zones: A route to Grand Bahama or the Abacos is also possible from this area.

SHORT WINDOW SCENARIO

For those of you considering crossing Monday night to Bimini, note that the forecast at 11 am Sunday shows the wind shifting into the north at about 5 am. Wave heights are forecast to go from 1 foot/4 seconds to 2 feet/3 seconds – not very comfortable at all. Winds go from 1 k SE to 11 k NW, gusting 15, but since it’s very early in the shift, it shouldn’t be too bad FOR EXPERIENCED MARINERS.
If you’re going to jump on this very short window, leave before midnight, you want to arrive in Bimini at sunrise or very shortly after, before things get lively.

Palm Beach to West End is showing essentially the same conditions, starting at 2 feet/5 seconds and moving to 2 feet NW on 3 seconds. Winds move into the NW instead of the north.
Same advice, with one proviso – that wave action will make entering the marina at West End a bit challenging. Be sure to consider its effects on your boat as you approach,and compensate for them.
N0TE – conditions are changing rapidly, so check again before you leave for any updated wind and wave forecasts.

by admin

FLORIDA