I have managed to find a mention about a ferry on the main fodors site, but i cant find any more information about it, we were thinking of staying in miami and spending a long weekend in key west but the ferry is crucial to our plans.

Unless it's very new there is no such thing. Do you mean a car ferry? There are no car ferries at all serving Key West. There are shuttles form Ft. Myers and Marco Island on the west coast, but they only carry people. And I'm not aware of any boats which take people from Miami to Key West. You can fly, however.

There is a motor coach which is scheduled to start up anytime now...

http://www.betweentheseas.com/

The sea-going ferry goes out of Fort Meyers.

Pjk

There is a boat that goes from Miami to Islamorada but it is a day trip thing.

There is a boat that goes from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas.

The ferry USED to go from Miami to Key West....but it no longer runs. It was called the PurrSeavearance.

ahh PurrSeavearance sounds like the one i found, ok it looks like it would be easier for me to hop up to Palm beach instead.. does anyone know if there is a good public transport link from miami other than the sometimes dodgy greyhound or is a car my only choice?

Tri-Rail has service from Miami up to West Palm Beach...

http://www.tri-rail.com/

I wouldn't count on Tri Rail getting me anywhere. It still has a ways to go with reliability issues.

a passenger ferry runs from Ft Meyers to K west...about 3 1/2 hours...drinking and gambling