This story combines offshore open water paddling,
snorkeling and lots of photography
with interesting bits of
South Florida nautical history.
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(tap or click pic to read)
Sand Key lighthouse marks a reef tract responsible for many wrecks over the centuries.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!
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Kayaking into lower Keys
nautical history from Key West!
The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but Sand Key is now just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the seasons.
This is the only one of the offshore Keys lighthouses where
I was able to stand underneath it on (mostly) dry ground.
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My timing was fortunate that I had just enough land
to pull my surfski ‘ONEWAY’ onto!
ONEWAY is my resurrected Shearwater surfski.
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Full story at:
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! Bless UP
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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
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DISCLAIMER:
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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With that said..
Blessings friends!
🙂
Kayakfari
kayakfari ( kayak .. far .. i ) 
Hello again, enjoy your trips to the reef lighthouses. By the way Sand Key Lighthouse was sold and the F K R L F lost, however, Tom the new owner is very knowledgeable about metal construction. He plans a total restoration and says it will take about five years. He has not decided what he will do with the lighthouse. We met and discussed all the possibilities. He and his wife have restored a historic building before, so he is not new to this. The last 3 will be auctioned this year, we will bid on them. take care, Eric – President F K R L F (Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation) Eric S. Martin 1067 Drift Creek Cove Orlando, Fl., 32828 Cell 407-341-7374
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That’s great to know. I knew it was sold, so thanks for the details. I’m excited to know how it turns out and paddle to see it again! 🙂
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