FL Keys gear rentals?

dforstmann · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 25

I'm going to be in Islamorada in February. Anyone have a recommendation on where to rent gear?

bimmertrader · Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 6

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dforstmann · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 25

I called there today (prior to to seeing your post) and I have to admit my loser alert went up talking to this guy. I was hoping maybe it was just that whole Jimmy Buffett mentality at work...
Anyway, I'm not sure what to do now since I'm flying & can't bring my stuff. Time to take up Kiteboarding?

bimmertrader · Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 6

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dforstmann · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 25

They claim to have new Ezzy sails but, again, I was unimpressed after my conversation with them. The guy was seemed to have an issue with the fact that I live in Connecticut.
I have been windsurfing since 1984 so I'm not too too concerned if the wind is offshore. I blew out my patellar tendon wakeboarding this summer so I thought I would look into something mellower than where I would usually go since my left leg is probably not going to be 100% by February.
Your commentary on the lack of windsurfing clients dovetails nicely with my parrot-head observation. I've always wondered why someone would move to the hurricane belt to avoid heating bills. Such a decision implies the same ignorance of statistics as one sees in regular lottery ticket "investors".

bimmertrader · Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 6

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sailingjoe · Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 1087

bimmertrader, I enjoyed your writing although the subject was rather depressing. Back in '01 after 9/11 I spent thanksgiving in Key West. I thought Marathon offered the best sailing opportunities, but if you had a launch Key West certainly looked interesting. However, as stated I didn't see anyone out on windsurfing equipment. Back some two decades ago, I knew a guy up in Tallahassee that used to go there to sail. He eventually found a job working for a Mfg.'er. He claimed the winds there were the best in Florida. It's a long drive to pick up equipment, but if you are renting a car, you may want to try a Miami location for rentals. here or there

Windaholic · Joined: 15 Apr 2009 Posts: 28 Location: NJ

I had the same experiance at Keys Windsurfing 2 years ago. Board selection was ok but I needed to dig through a pile of equipment to find a proper size sail,mast, boom etc. In the end I did get a decent Ezzy sail & rigged it myself. The guy working in the boat area was nice, but knew nothing about windsurfing. In the end,I did get a fun 6.5 session.

A far cry from the time I had in '88 in Key Largo and in Samethers Beach in Key West. Today the keys are the one place I see way more kites than sails. Windsurfing equipement is used more for decoration in bars than for sailing. I am amazed how conditions can be so good there and so few are taking advantage of them.