Sshfs will not use ~/.ssh/config (on Linux Mint 15)

Local:         Linux Mint 15 - Olivia
/proc/version: Linux version 3.8.0-19-generic (buildd@allspice) (gcc version 4.7.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.7.3-1ubuntu1) )
ssh -V:        OpenSSH_6.1p1 Debian-4, OpenSSL 1.0.1c 10 May 2012
sshfs -V:      SSHFS version 2.4
               FUSE library version: 2.9.0
               fusermount version: 2.9.0
               using FUSE kernel interface version 7.18

Remote:        Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS
/proc/version: Linux version 3.10.9-xxxx-std-ipv6-64 (kernel@kernel.ovh.net) (gcc version 4.7.2 (Debian 4.7.2-5) )
ssh -V:        OpenSSH_5.9p1 Debian-5ubuntu1.1, OpenSSL 1.0.1 14 Mar 2012

I'm trying to set up a password-less mount of a remote server using sshfs and fuse. The remote server is running on a non standard port and I will be using a ssh key pair to authenticate.

When successful I will be repeating this for three more remote servers each with different keys so I do need to be able to specify which key maps to which remote server.

I based my modifications off this tutorial

• The public key is in remote:authorized_keys
• I have added my local user to the fuse group.
• I have edited my local ~/.ssh/config to have (per server):

`

Host [server_ip]
  Port = [port]
  IdentityFile  = "~/.ssh/[private_key]"
  User = "[user]"

`

Whenever I try to mount the remote server locally I get prompted for the remote user's password (not my private key's password). The remote user has a long randomly generated password that I'd like to not have to save or remember and so keys is how I want to do this.

I can connect through ssh (combined with the ~/.ssh/config file) using the command ssh [ip] so I know that the config file can be read correctly as I am asked for my key's passphrase not the remote user's.

To even attempt to connect to the remote server I have to manually specify the full connection details in the command: `sshfs [user]@[ip]:[remote_path] [local_path] -p [port]

What I've tried so far:

• ssh-add /path/to/key (successful addition)
• Specifying PreferredAuthentication = publickey in ~/.ssh/config
• sshfs -o IdentityFile=/path/to/key user@ip:/ /my/mnt/dir
• sshfs user@ip:/ /my/mnt/dir -o IdentityFile=/path/to/key
• temp rename of key to default of id_rsa
• sshfs -F ~/.ssh/config

Is there a remote or local configuration file that I'm overlooking? Some switch or option that I need to include in the call to sshfs (tried -F) to force it to read and use my ssh config?

Output of ssh -v -p [port] [user]@[remote_ip]

OpenSSH_6.1p1 Debian-4, OpenSSL 1.0.1c 10 May 2012
debug1: Reading configuration data /home/[me]/.ssh/config
debug1: /home/[me]/.ssh/config line 2: Applying options for [remote_ip]
debug1: /home/[me]/.ssh/config line 24: Applying options for *
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 19: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to [remote_ip] [[remote_ip]] port [port].
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /home/[me]/.ssh/[private_key] type 2
debug1: Checking blacklist file /usr/share/ssh/blacklist.DSA-1024
debug1: Checking blacklist file /etc/ssh/blacklist.DSA-1024
debug1: identity file /home/[me]/.ssh/[private_key]-cert type -1
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_5.9p1 Debian-5ubuntu1.1
debug1: match: OpenSSH_5.9p1 Debian-5ubuntu1.1 pat OpenSSH_5*
debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_6.1p1 Debian-4
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 zlib@openssh.com
debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 zlib@openssh.com
debug1: sending SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_INIT
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY
debug1: Server host key: [key]
debug1: checking without port identifier
debug1: Host '[remote_ip]' is known and matches the ECDSA host key.
debug1: Found key in /home/[me]/.ssh/known_hosts:7
debug1: found matching key w/out port
debug1: ssh_ecdsa_verify: signature correct
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: Roaming not allowed by server
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Offering DSA public key: /home/[me]/.ssh/[private_key]
debug1: Server accepts key: pkalg ssh-dss blen 433
debug1: Enabling compression at level 6.
debug1: Authentication succeeded (publickey).
Authenticated to [remote_ip] ([[remote_ip]]:[port]).
debug1: channel 0: new [client-session]
debug1: Requesting no-more-sessions@openssh.com
debug1: Entering interactive session.
debug1: Sending environment.
debug1: Sending env LANG = en_GB.UTF-8
debug1: Sending env LC_CTYPE = en_GB.UTF-8
Welcome to Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS (GNU/Linux 3.10.9-xxxx-std-ipv6-64 x86_64)

Edit:
I found the problem. I was trying to mount the remote location to /mnt/new_dir using sudo. If I mount to a location within my local home then it works. sshfs -p [port] [user]@[ip]:/ /home/[me]/tmp/mount.

I have now done a sudo chown root:fuse /mnt/new_dir and sudo chmod 774 /mnt/new_dir and I believe that all's working as intended.

Are there any security issues with this set up that I need to be aware of? (My own user and root are the only members of of the fuse group.