BY CHARLES RABIN AND TIM CHAPMAN

Six Cubans who said they left the north coast of Cuba on Saturday night in a small motorboat were taken into custody Tuesday after they came ashore at Key Biscayne's Crandon Park Beach.

Sunbathers called authorities after spotting the six -- three men, two women and a 3-year-old boy -- about 12:30 p.m.

Robert Montemayor, a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman, said they were taken to the agency's Pembroke Pines office for processing.

The six told The Herald that they were from Yaguajay Santi Spiritus, a small town on Cuba's north coast. They said they left Saturday in an 18-foot boat with a motor and encountered calm seas during the entire trip.

They said they came within sight of the lights of Key Biscayne before dawn Tuesday, but they started taking on water and the motor quit. At daylight, they waved down a passing boat, which took them to the beach at Crandon.

Key Biscayne police gave them water and ice, and Miami-Dade police talked with them as they waited at the entrance to Bill Baggs State Park for Border Patrol agents to arrive.

Montemayor said the migrants all appeared to be in good health and would be sent to the Krome detention center.