Key West - Getting ready

 

The spring breakers have all gone home, not so crowded anymore

The weather looks good for a Friday departure heading north so we’re doing the last of the boat chores. Today it was washing the boat to get rid of all the tracking in of footprints over the last two months. It also involved a pumpout and filling the water tanks. The only thing left to do is attaching the anchor to the chain. We also need to do a laundry on Thursday. 

The end of a great day!

Making reservations in advance nowadays involves paying for everything in advance through DOCKWA. It’s not my favorite thing to do since your credit card is charged the minute they accept your request for a dock. In order to cancel a reservations so made, you have to do it 72 hours in advance - or else they won’t refund your money. It’s quite a change form years past where all you needed to do was to call the marina and make a reservation. In some cases you had to give a credit card but it was never charged until you arrived - and you could cancel at any time due to a change of plans. 

Times have changed now with the buyouts of marinas along the ICW by conglomerates like Safe Harbor. They insist on the full protection from weather, putting the onus on the boaters to absorb changes due to weather or a change of plans. Three days advanced notice for a cancellation is too much for a boater but it’s great for the marina. I’m sure they’ll make a lot of money that way for the bean counters. Regardless, I’m now reserved for Friday and Saturday nights at around $4/ft for each night but at least Sunday night and onward is free with anchoring out. 

Tomorrow I have to attached my Spade 140 66lb anchor the 90 ft of 3/8 BBB chain and I’ll be done. We will be ready to travel!