Mike’s Sailing Charters

Rentals from Mike's Sailing Charters include life jackets, waterproof storage, comfortable seating and GPS navigation. Amenities vary by boat and by season, so confirm what comes with the boat you book.

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 to rent a livery vessel other than a human-powered vessel. Florida sets no general minimum age to operate a boat, but a personal watercraft operator must be at least 14.

Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must carry the required boating safety credentials. An exemption applies when accompanied by a credentialed or exempt person age 18 or older who is attendant to the operation and responsible for safe operation and violations. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum subject to state law, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and no one under 18 may rent any vessel other than a human powered one. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, operators accompanied aboard by someone 18 or older who holds the card or is exempt and is responsible for the vessel, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Any non exempt operator may instead pass an FWC approved temporary certificate exam and carry that certificate with photo ID for 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

From Tavernier, you can cruise Hawk Channel, anchor near Tavernier Key, explore Tavernier Creek or head onto Florida Bay. Harry Harris Park provides Atlantic access from a double concrete ramp for small and large boats, and Tavernier Harbor has a marked channel leading into Hawk Channel. Tavernier Key Anchorage offers a charted hard-bottom stopping place, while the surrounding tidal flats are very shallow and designated as a no-motor zone. Tavernier Creek remains open for normal operation and is used by local fishing boats. On the bayside, Community Harbor opens onto the shallower waters around Florida Bay.

Source: Monroe County Parks and Beaches (monroecounty-fl.gov)

From Tavernier, boaters can make day trips to Molasses Reef, Alligator Reef and Lignumvitae Key. Molasses Reef draws divers and snorkelers with clear water, fish, boulder corals and a spur-and-groove reef. Alligator Reef is another snorkeling and diving stop, recognized by its black-and-white lighthouse and varied marine life. Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park offers a boat-only island visit centered on a tropical hardwood hammock and the historic Matheson home. Use current charts and marked channels, especially around the shallow grass flats near Lignumvitae Key.

Source: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (floridakeys.noaa.gov)