A large boatyard has an entrance on the west side of Channel A between Daybeacon 5A and an overhead cable. Transient berths, hull and engine repairs, water, ice diesel fuel, and an open end travel lift which can haul sail and motor vessels to 75 feet and 60 tons are available.
A marina is north of the overhead cable which has an authorized clearance of 25 feet at this point. Water, ice, gasoline, and hull and engine repairs are available.
A marina in the northwest corner by highway U.S. 1 has transient berths, hull and engine repairs, and gasoline. The following conditions were reported in 1986. Boats proceeding to the marina will find deeper water and avoid obstructions, after passing Daybeacons 6B and 7B, nearer the highway to a point near a boat ramp at the highway, then angling southwest to a spit and following the spit to the marina entrance.
Navigation:
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Boca Chica Key, 5 miles eastward of Key West, is the site of the Key West U.S. Naval Air Station. A naval restricted area extends about 150 yards from the shoreline along a portion of the northeast side of the Naval Air Station. Boca Chica Channel, with a reported controlling depth of 9 feet in 2000, from Hawk Channel to the naval air station basin on the west side of the key, is marked by a light at the entrance, thence by lights and daybeacons. An overhead power cable has a clearance of 60 feet across the channel. The basin provides a good hurricane anchorage for small vessels in emergencies only.
A restricted area is off the southwest end of Boca Chica Key.
Two auxiliary channels marked by private daybeacons lead off Boca Chica Channel. Channel A leads northwest just north of Boca Chica Channel Daybeacon 5.
Channel B leads northwest from opposite Boca Chica Channel Light 8 toward the Route U.S. 1 bridge. In 1986, the reported controlling depth was 4 feet.
Small boats heading north of the highway via the Boca Chica Channel usually pass through at the western end of the bridge where the clearance is less and the water is deeper. Boats passing under the high rise center of the bridge will find shallower water immediately north of the bridge.
