About Barefoot Billy
Hey, I’m Billy Mosblech — though around here, most folks just call me Barefoot Billy.
It Started With Suntan Lotion
Back in 1988, I rolled into Key West and became (if I do say so myself) the best darn suntan lotion salesperson on the island. Not exactly the stuff of legend — but it got my feet on the sand and my eyes on the water, and that’s really where the story begins. By 1992, I knew there was something bigger out there. So I launched the Barefoot Billy’s Island Jet Ski Tour — the first around-the-island jet ski experience in Key West. (Now, some folks will tell you it was a bold stroke of entrepreneurial vision. Others swear it started when a rental customer just kept going and going and I had to chase him down. I’ll let you decide which version you like better.)
Either way, it stuck. And over the next three decades, Barefoot Billy’s grew into a Key West staple — sunset cruises, snorkel trips, sandbar charters, parasailing, jet skis, golf carts, concierge services, locations at Casa Marina, The Reach, Marriott Beachside, and Garrison Bight. Turns out there really was more to a great Key West vacation than suntan lotion.
A New Chapter: Barefoot Charters
After all those years building the brand, I decided it was time for something new. I sold my share of the business and the Barefoot Billy’s name — but I wasn’t ready to hang up the captain’s hat. The water’s still where I belong.
So I started Barefoot Charters.
This is me getting back to what I love most: small groups, clear water, and showing people the Keys the way the locals actually see them. No crowds. No cattle-boat tours. Just you, your crew, and a whole lot of backcountry to explore. Whether it’s a lazy afternoon on a secluded sandbar, a dolphin watch with snorkeling off the Seabreeze, a sushi-and-sunset cruise, or a full-on private charter where we go wherever the day takes us — we do it right, and we do it barefoot.
Come Find Us at Garrison Bight
Key West has given me nearly four decades of sunrises, sunsets, and more stories than I can fit on one page. Barefoot Charters is my way of sharing a slice of that life with you — the way the locals live it.
You’ll find the whole fleet tied up at Garrison Bight Marina — one easy spot, right in the heart of Key West. Pack your cooler, grab your crew, and come on down. Just leave the shoes at home.
— Billy