Marina Review: Key West Harbor Yacht Club

The Key West Harbor Yacht Club on Stock Island is approximately 3 years old and very, very nice.  We were able to get the same monthly fee as the other marina, but it's 10 times nicer.

It has a small convenience store and dockmasters office--but that's not what makes it nice.

It has a club house with restaurant and lounge--but that's not the best part.

It has it's own pool and little private beach--but still not the best part.

It has a Tiki bar for members to use--still not the best part.

It has these open air showers on the point that are absolutely divine.  After several hours wrestling with batteries, inflatable dinghies, no shore power and assorted nonsense. Taking a shower with a hot water rain head, large stall and a view of the water with the sea breezes blowing over you--well, it's just about as close to a religious experience that you can have.

The shower/bath out on the outer basin is also a tiki hut, my one complaint is that the actual bathroom part is poorly lit and has no ventilation, so the feeling of suffocation happens quickly. It looks like it's set up to have a/c added, so maybe they'll do that one day.  Absolutely no complaints about those showers though, but I'm sure they could be a bit nippy on a cold day.

The staff there was really nice, including the cast of thousands that came jetting out to us when we were having shore power problems.  Even our boat neighbors were nice and friendly, maybe too friendly for Tim since there were two ladies chatting it up about 20 feet from where he was taking a shower with only the bamboo screen as privacy.

If Southwest makes my dream come true and takes over AirTran's route into Key West, this will be a definite option for us, it's about 10 min from the airport.

It's also in the direct path of the Key West NAS, so it's rather alarming to hear the jets go screaming by, because you don't hear them coming. However, I like the fighter jets so I don't mind.

Entrance from channel showing club house and small beach area

The entrance into the Harbor, and the one time that ignorance is bliss.
Evidently, the channel is dredged to around 7 feet, however, the
charts are not updated to reflect this and we had more than one
sphincter moment on approach.

Marina Review: Galleon Marina

The Galleon Marina is in the Historic Key West Bight.  So to start, here's what that means.

1. Deep enough water for boats.  
2. Right in the center of the action.
3. Plenty of fuel and pump out options.

However, you gotta pay to play, and for us, that means, just a few nights stay.  Since it was Conch Republic Independence Celebration, they jacked up the price to $4.50/ft/night and I think 40 ft minimum.

However, the marina and its staff were wonderful. I mentioned earlier my bonding with Eric at Tim's expense.  

But, some of the other plus sides.

• Floating docks with fingers on each side, plenty of cleats and/or pilings.
• Electricity/water included, internet (land line) for $3.00/day.

Access to all of the Galleon resort facilities which includes a nice pool, private (albeit small) beach, sunset deck and sauna.

Restrooms are shared with the pool area, but there's a code only entry to the showers. All redone and very nice.

I would prefer to have restrooms/showers in the same area, personally. Not a big thing, but more of a convenience thing.

And although the showers were nice, there was a lack of places to put your crap, a bench per shower would be nice.  There was a nice sink area for primping, no hair dryers, not a big deal. (Only was a big deal when the Florida Keys were 48 degrees!)

However, when you got Blondie Big Tits not being particularly shy about her body, it's really hard to brush out your hair and put on makeup with her standing next to you stark ass naked. And when I say stark ass naked, I mean, Stark. Ass. Naked.

I'm not necessarily a prude, but it kinda put me off, so I return to finish up on the boat. Luckily we have a great sink area for that.

Overall, though, we most likely will stay there again. The access is much simpler than the other marinas. However, over winter it's best to make reservations way in advance.  True off season our boat neighbor told us, starts Memorial Day.