2025 November: Marlin Bay Marina FL

 27 November 2025

Depart: Marathon FL anchorage 9:00

Arrive: Marlin Bay Marina, Marathon, FL 9:30

Distance: minimal

The weather forecast for today and tomorrow sounded pretty ugly. Wondering what plan we should use for getting to Marlin Bay, Clark talked to the marina dockmaster to discuss options. She told him that they have an offer for folks to come in early if they have a reservation and bad weather is imminent. So, we took them up on the offer and targeted to come in this morning ahead of the bad weather. 

Our friend, Steve, who works on the docks saw our boat anchored nearby and texted Clark at 7:30 this morning to tell us we could come in around 9:00 to the same slip we have used for the past few years.

When Clark looked out of the boat this morning, he was greeted by a rainbow!

 

Steve texted Clark just before 9:00 and said the dockhands were ready for us when we were, so we pulled up our anchor at 9:00 and were in the slip at 9:30. The hard part at this marina is figuring out the best way to tie the lines with the fixed docks. We finally had the lines in place at 10:15 with a firm understanding that the first time the wind comes in with any strength, we will be back out making adjustments.

Besides us, four other boats came in today. We know the boaters on three of them from years past. It was like a reunion. Folks were busy settling in and adjusting their lines like us, so conversations were mostly short. I also got to chat with the very friendly staff - some we know from prior years and others who are new since we were here last spring. 

Clark joined me on one of my "rounds" and had a chat with a fellow doing the Great Loop. He is only here short term as he heads to the Bahamas for Christmas with family.

I walked around the marina a few times today and captured some pictures as I strolled along. The sky was threatening but other than a light rain, we did not see any inclement weather today.

I checked the iguana crossing area and found an iguana resting on the rocks nearby.

Sadly, I found sea grass in the slips as I walked around. It is on the far side of the basin today. Hopefully the wind doesn't blow it our way!

It is pretty thick in the inner basin. Glad we are in the outer basin!

I kept checking the sky on my walks and got some great views!

Faro Blanco lighthouse on a cloudy day

Marlin Bay Marina

I asked Clark to stand in front of the observation tower to give the picture some "life". He refused.

Observation Tower

As the sun got lower and lower in the sky, the view got better and better!

We are glad to be in our winter home and look forward to more friends joining us in the coming weeks.