Renting a boat in Key West

[Irie girl]

My husband and I are thinking about renting a boat while in port at Key West. Are there any safety issues, places we should not go, like shallow or rough waters? Also, are there any good suggestions about where we should go? Some good beaches or snorkel spots, etc.?

[keywesst]

Please don't. Here's why:

The channels, whether charted or not, change after each hurricane.

Local knowledge is absolutely needed to navigate our local waters. You can very easily get into very expensive trouble fast by miscalculating. Even I get into trouble occasionally (20 yr resident and USCG licensed 500 Ton Captain) but have learned to read the colors and angles of sunshine to save my props.

 

A guided ride or hiring a captain to steer your rented boat is a better idea. They know where the nice sandbars are where you can get off the boat and prance around in chest high water (nekkid if you want, the captains don't care) while skates glide by (harmless). Ask to go out to Snipes, it's a local escape and VERY isolated and beautiful.

[Irie girl]

Thank you for the great info., that is exactly why I asked and what I was afraid of, the waters around there look very shallow in places. We will definitely look into other options and a change of plans. Thanks again!