Marathon

 

Marathon is an island about ½ way between the mainland of Fl and Key West. It has a great harbor that until a few years ago was like the “wild west”. There were no rules and people anchored everywhere, dumped their holding tanks and abandoned their boats when they sunk. In resent years, the city took control of the harbor and removed most of the derelict and sunk boats and installed a large mooring field with a small anchorage by it. There’s now about 250 hurricane proof mooring and a much cleaner harbor due to two active pump out boats that come around every week,,,wether you need it or not.

view from the top of our mast

The shore facilities also include a large multipurpose building for gatherings, equipment repairs and every cruisers need: WI-FI. There is also a large bathroom/shower and laundry facility. They have room for hundreds of bicycles and a large car parking area. During the winter the harbor is full but there is a core group of cruisers that have made Marathon their home and live on the “hook” (mooring) year round in the harbor.

Hundreds of bikes

Main building with workshop area and large multi-use room



One of the locals catching some sun

There’s only one main street thru town and it’s HW1 which runs from southern Miami to Key West. The strip is filled with everything that you might need from boat repairs and part places to grocery stores and tourist traps! They even have a hospital for people and one for turtles! Marathon has many meal deals at several of the local restaurants which draw the frugal boaters like roaches to a cluttered kitchen.

Morning walk

All in all, it makes for a good stop to restock or repair and to find good friends from last year or to make new ones. We plan to stay here until mid February and then head to the Bahamas.

Great sunset