Marathon Considering Instituting Boat Ramp Fees

Lobster mini season this year highlighted an interesting opportunity for city officials volunteering to man the city’s public boat ramps. The mini season draws thousands of tourists and residents alike to boat launches throughout the city, and the rest of the Keys, seeking their limit of delicious spiny lobster. But this year, city officials saw many bringing out their wallets to pay to launch their boats at the city’s free boat ramps.

The city of Marathon owns three boat ramps - at the Quay, one at 33rd Street, and a ramp on Harbor Drive. After seeing the expectation and willingness to pay first-hand, city officials are considering instituting boat ramp fees, not only to alleviate congestion on public ramps but also to raise revenue for the city.

At the August 10, 2021 meeting of the Marathon City Council, Councilman Dan Zieg proposed this change. His plan includes a $50 fee for non-residents of Marathon for round trip launching, as well as a $10 annual permit offered to residents of the city of Marathon only. In order to qualify for resident pricing, Zieg proposes residents to be required to show a valid driver’s license with a Marathon address, as well as documentation of boat and trailer registration at the same Marathon address. This would mean that residents of nearby Florida Keys areas like Lower Matecumbe or Islamorada would be subject to the same fees as tourists wishing to launch.

If Marathon approves the plan, other local municipalities may follow suit. Waterfront homes in the Florida Keys are always a hot commodity. For boaters and anglers seeking to avoid paying to launch their boats, this change might increase the priority of homebuyers looking for homes in the Florida Keys with boat dockage. With buyers moving into the Keys in droves and boat sales at record numbers it is easy to see that boat ramps may become crowded or overloaded. There is no better way for a boat owner to avoid this, than by owning a home in the Florida Keys with ocean access right from your own backyard!