rondebmar

Tell whomever to send the million dollars or so in rescue costs to "NOELM". He'd love to pay it! Found alive and well...rescued by a French fishing vessel...details here: http://news.yahoo.co...st_sailor_found

...begins at 0930 today: http://www.sinkthevandenberg.com/

FYI: http://keysnews.com/node/13529

Latest info here: http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/103029.html I'll endeavor to continue posting the latest info as it's published...

Hi Gus...(and Wiley)! You might remember when Marti (RIP) was down here a couple or three years ago. He was staying with Ray C...Ray blew a motor on his boat...so Debbie & I took him out a couple times on our small 20 footer...and "guided" him to his first ever dolphin!! (And a nice cobia!) Of course we have many local friends/acquaintances here...perhaps can help you out in some ways. I'll email/IM you our phone number...you're welcome to give me a call upon your return...see what we might be able to do for you!! (Sorry for picture size...still workin' on posting pics...)

Debbie & I each completed the USCGA "Boating Skills & Seamanship" course (the long one) about five years ago...then their "GPS For Mariners" course more recently...I do the on-line FL FWC course about every five years or so...got their "Lifetime" certificate!! Personally...I feel the appropriate educational courses should be a state requirement...and licensing mandatory...because of what I observe (and encounter!) while fishing/boating in the FL Keys. That said, the knowledge level at our local USCGA is poor! Once argued with the Commandant at one of their public PR displays re DSC...gave up upon his stubborn insistence the DSC system was "satellite" oriented...he "knew" it all...I "knew" nothing...gave it up. I find it handy to annually review all the test booklets/pamphlets/etc I keep around.

Hi Barry...LOL!!...three years!! I PM'ed Island Girl...might "pin" the info... Ron

Here's a current (updated 05/05/09) summary of usable boat ramps in Marathon...locations listed by distance from east to west...ALL THREE CITY OWNED PUBLIC (NO COST) RAMPS ARE NOW OPEN! Mile Marker 54.6 Ramp (The Old Quay Ramp)...Bayside US Rte. 1...recently renovated...neighbor reports excellent ramp, OK for up to 34' boat, six wheeled trailer...limited parking...closest public ramp to KCB Hours: 24/7/365 Cost: Free - Public Ramp Key Colony Beach Marina...589 62nd St (AKA Sadowski Causeway) Key Colony Beach...Rampmaster's Cell (305) 395-1639 or 866-370-6363 Hours: 24/7/365 Honor system when ramp personnel not present Cost: $10.00/in $10.00/out...see Hours above Not tide restricted for boats 21' or less...somewhat tide restricted for larger boats...no trailer parking at ramp...see notes below* Location/Directions: Left (south/Oceanside) onto Sadowski Causeway from traffic light on US 1...~ MM 53.5...that's the next traffic light after Coco Plum Dr...watch for sign on left just prior to Charter Boat Row...office is in the houseboat just adjacent to the ramp...caution...posted 25 MPH speed limit enforced in KCB! *Rentors may park empty trailers on their rental property...providing at least 25' distant from center of roadway...or, use temporary trailer boat storage at the city lot...$50.00/week, $100.00/month...info/forms available at KCB City Hall (same building as US Post Office and KCB PD)...caution...posted 25 MPH speed limit enforced in KCB...Oh yeah - I repeated that, I know!! Marie's Boat Ramp ...Oceanside...closest, quickest, and easiest route (by land or sea) to KCB, Atlantic Ocean, and Vaca Cut...this is the ramp the area marina's (without ramps of their own) use/recommend... Hours: 0700-1800 seven days/week Cost: $10.00 in/$10.00 out...$10.00/daily for trailer parking if desired Good for at least 31 footers, plenty of water running out Location/Directions: Avenue I ("eye"), Coco Plum Beach Coco Plum Drive...the first stop light entering Marathon...~ MM 54.2...turn left (south/Oceanside)...around the curve (back to the east)...Ave I on the left...signage is for "Coco Plum Yacht Club", or some such...turn left (back to the north)...over several speed bumps to the ramp on the left, gate dead ahead...ramp attendant will appear! If not, walk back to the first boat docked on the left, and hail him...he monitors boat/trailer traffic on closed circuit TV...plenty of parking, easy access to ramp Dodge Lake/Aviation Blvd Ramp ...Gulfside...quick, easy run to Vaca Cut, & KCB...recently renovated...excellent, deeply grooved ramp...will take a 31-32 footer comfortably...open 24/7/365...very limited parking... Cost: Free...this is a City of Marathon owned ramp, for use by the public... Location/Directions: At the northwest corner of the airport, at the intersection of Aviation Blvd & Harbor Dr...turn right (north/Gulfside) off US 1 at west end of airport; ~ MM 51, just before Coconut Cay Motel...follow Aviation Blvd (curves back to the east) for 1/2 mile to Harbor Dr sign on left...ramp is right there on the left side Notes: When running by boat to Vaca Cut, remember...vertical clearance under US 1 bridge at Vaca Cut is published as 13' at mean high water...can be powerful current flow at peak tidal flow...and don't cut the northwest corner at the channel...go around and outside the NW green marker! (Soft bottom, though...LOL!) Thirty Third Street Ramp...Recently completely renovated...re-opening ceremony Thu 05/07/09...new double-wide prestressed ramp; extended sea wall; repaved parking lot; refurbished bathrooms... Hours: 24/7/365 Cost: Free...this is a City of Marathon owned ramp, for use by the public Location/Directions: At the end of 33rd St, left side...Turn right (north/Gulfside)onto 33rd St at the traffic light at ~ MM 48.9...roughly across from Fisherman's Hospital Harbor Point Marine...Phone (305) 289-0505...Oceanside...closest ramp to Boot Key Harbor, Seven Mile Bridge, Sombrero Country Club, & Sister's Creek...on north side of Boot Key Harbor, inside (east) of the drawbridge Hours: M-F 0800-1200 and 1300-1700...Sat 0800-1200...Sun XXX closed Cost: $10.00 In/$10.00 Out Location/Directions: 4681 Overseas Hwy (US 1) Oceanside......just east of Home Depot...entrance betwen the New Life Church and the "Law Offices" Notes: Good ramp for up to 31 footers..."bumpered" at end...plenty of water running out to the Harbor General notes: Forget about the ramp at Holiday Inn...totally inadaquate for launching anything larger than a kayak or canoe...directions above look complex...but are really very simple to follow, and should serve you well...any questions, feel free to IM or Email me (see Bio)...likewise, omissions/corrections/additions...also, least expensive (road) gas has historically been up at Islamorada/Key Largo...tight lines!! I'll keep this thread updated...

Here in the central FL Keys...$30/ft...I pay $600 for a twenty footer.