Florida – East Coast Pilot Notes
dinghy landing is southwest of Light 2, in Fuel: Available in Key West Bight, Garrison
Key West Bight. Public moorings are avail- Bight, and Stock Island.
able E of Fleming for boats 40ft or less. If Supplies: Good. Walking distance to most
heavy weather threatens, you are better off in shops.
a marina or some other harbor. Services: Good. Haulout facilities.
Name Harbor Phone VHF
Marathon Marina & Boatyard Boot Key Harbor 305-743-6575 10
A & B Marina Key West Bight 305-294-2535 . 10
Key West Bight Marina at Historic Seaport Key West Bight 305-296-3838 9
Conch Harbor Marina Key West Bight 305-294-2933 9
Key West to the Dry Tortugas
Marquesas Rock Buoy MR
24 27.4N, 82 12.5W Red/Green
Tides p. 468, Differences p. 531
Currents p. 654, Differences p. 710
bands. Nun
Twenty-eight Foot Shoal Light
Pilotage: The Dry Tortugas is about 60nm
W of Key West. Boats bound from Key West
24 25.85N 82 25.3W Fl W 4s 9M
can take the Southwest Channel to Western
Hexagonal skeleton tower on piles. 53ft. RACON T ( – )
Dry Rock. From there, the passage is on
Halfmoon Shoal WR2
open water. It is possible to follow a more
northern passage and stop at the Marquesas
24 33.5N, 82 28.4W Fl R 6s 4M
or leave Key West via the Northwest Channel
TR on dolphin. 19ft.
and pass the N of the Marquesas and other
Rebecca Shoal Light
shoal areas.
W of Rebecca Shoal seas can be particu-
24 34.7N, 82 35.1W Fl WR 6s W 9M, R 6M
larly hazardous as currents from the Gulf of
Square skeleton tower on brown piles. 66ft.
Mexico join the Atlantic. Frontal systems in
Dry Tortugas Light (Loggerhead Key)
this region, particularly in the winter, can
create persistent heavy weather. There are no
24 38N, 82 55.2W Fl 20s 20M
facilities in the Dry Tortugas, but due to the
Conical tower, lower half white, upper half black.
potential for serious weather, boats bound
RACON K ( – • – )
there should be prepared for extended stays
if the weather closes in.
Dry Tortugas: 24 38N, 82 52W
Shrimp boats are extremely common in the
Pilotage: The Dry Tortugas are a remote
areas surrounding the Dry Tortugas. Most
set of islands and reefs owned and managed
will anchor during the day and fish at night.
as a National Park. Strict regulations apply.
Extensive reefs and shoals surround the
Despite its remoteness, the park is extremely
Dry Tortugas; approach during the daylight.
popular, with daily seaplane flights and fast
Waypoints ferries shuttling visitors from Key West.
Southwest Channel Lighted Buoy SW
Make approaches in daylight when sur-
rounding shoals are visible. Avoid large areas
24 26.6N, 81 58.8W Mo (A) W 5M Red/White
of coral reef. The SE & SW channels are main
stripes w/ red spherical topmark.
approaches.
Coalbin Rock Buoy CB on S side of shoal
From the E, approach through SE Channel.
When leaving Iowa Rock to port, proceed W
24 27.1N, 82 05.3W Red/Green and S around markers to anchorage SW of
bands, nun
Garden Key (Fort Jefferson).
Commercial shrimp boats are common
Cosgrove Shoal Light
along the outer edges of the National Park
24 27.4N, 82 11.2W Fl 6s 9M
boundaries.
Hexagonal skeleton tower on piles. 54ft.
168