Ft. Lauderdale / Key West

twitter · 10-13-2009, 02:50 PM

Hello my friends! New rider here.. Just got my first PWC saturday, a 06 seadoo GTX limited.

I have a couple of questions and I was hoping that you could offer me some guidance.

I purchased the towing kit or my suv today, I got a continental trailer for $200 today ( via craigslist ) and my wife, my son ( 3yr) and I are heading to Key West on Friday!!

Any recommendations on where to ride in key west? any nice islands / beaches around the area that we could go and just chill for a bit?
Are there any PWC restrictions in Key West that we should be aware of? Any experiences riding there?

Also, I took the ski to the John U. Lloyd park this past sunday, we had a blast, are there any other cool places like that in Broward county that you know of?
Basically we like a place where you can just beach the ski and hang out with the kids..

Thank you very much! I really appreciate any comments / suggestions from your experiences.

Dave

Slowstang305 · 10-13-2009, 03:00 PM

The best places are all in Miami dade county. Google beercan island, monument island, and pelican island

Slowstang305 · 10-13-2009, 03:07 PM

Beercan island is 2 min south of haulover ramp. It is right next to the sandbar. The sandbar is the best place to relax in 3-6 feet of water. Beercan island is right there but usually tough to find a spot to stop. Pelican island is a bit more south and is a great island that even has BBQ grills setup. It's a tad north of 79th street. Monument island is on the right headed southbound if you launch off on the free Miami beach marina.

chantra · 10-13-2009, 03:11 PM

Welcome to the site, Dave!

twitter · 10-13-2009, 10:04 PM

Thanks!!

fwijetski · 10-14-2009, 11:09 PM

I go to Key West a lot for the last 15 years. Water is beautiful and sometimes you will find huge waves in the harbor area!
They are not exactly jetski friendly, but they are not against them either. There are only two places to launch in KW proper, one is just before you get to KW, on the south side of US1, just before Key West Golf Club, it's a very small ramp.
The other is in town at the city marina, at the intersection of North Roosevelt and Palm ave (you can't miss it) it is basically in the center of KW on the north perimeter road which is Roosevelt, then it becomes Truman ave.
You can also launch at Stock Island at the marina located at the south end of Maloney ave.
The problem with launching your own ski in KW is the lack of information as all the rental operations do not want you to bring your own ski, they want you to rent from them, so none of them will be helpful in telling you where you can launch.
Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info, have fun and watch out for sandbars!
Oh yea, you can go around the whole island. it's only 8 square miles. The southside has all the beaches, the north side has military bases and more industrial, but the channels are clearly marked so if you just follow the boats (not the fishing boats) you will be fine.

twitter · 10-14-2009, 11:16 PM

Thank you !!! That is really a GREAT tip!!

Do you know any nice places where we can just beach the ski and chill / relax? ( I'm goinng with my wife and Young son ) maybe a small island or something like that?

Thanks!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwijetski

I go to Key West a lot for the last 15 years. Water is beautiful and sometimes you will find huge waves in the harbor area!
They are not exactly jetski friendly, but they are not against them either. There are only two places to launch in KW proper, one is just before you get to KW, on the south side of US1, just before Key West Golf Club, it's a very small ramp.
The other is in town at the city marina, at the intersection of North Roosevelt and Palm ave (you can't miss it) it is basically in the center of KW on the north perimeter road which is Roosevelt, then it becomes Truman ave.
You can also launch at Stock Island at the marina located at the south end of Maloney ave.
The problem with launching your own ski in KW is the lack of information as all the rental operations do not want you to bring your own ski, they want you to rent from them, so none of them will be helpful in telling you where you can launch.
Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info, have fun and watch out for sandbars!

bumble bee · 10-15-2009, 01:54 AM

here is a map and i will try to attach a pdf of list of Keys ramps

twitter · 10-15-2009, 11:34 AM

Thanks for those maps!

Any ideas where can you take the ski and beach around key west?

What do you think the best places are to go on the jetski around the keys in general? ( With family )

Thanks guys!!

Spim · 10-16-2009, 11:24 AM

love that post bumble, no plans for the keys but I saved both of those files !