03/04 - 03/06 - Hontoon Island, Florida 2025

[colbysmith]

Showers are now fixed and hot!

[Xtraplus18]

I am looking to install a Windless on the C-Handler.

I would love any recommendations on which one works best for a 22’ Cruiser?

Thanks in advance.

[Donald Tyson]

Same here. Watching.

[alainP]

https://www.wholesalemarine.com/lewmar-pro-series-700-horizontal-windlass-kit-w-switch-solenoid/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArKW-BhAzEiwAZhWsICDnD1NYZzvgcTt9nRQYTvx3EGsgrUipk5UGQrSJJtMCC78nXXtrIBoCfOAQAvD_BwE

[alainP]

sorry, posted in wrong topic

[colbysmith]

Well, another fine gathering comes to an end. Once again, Tom and Joyce did a great job of pulling this all together. THANKYOU! I think in all we had around 20 boats. Some old faces and some new faces. Everyone that attends, adds icing to the cake at these gatherings. Safe travels to all heading home, or hanging around to cruise for a few more days/weeks. I have uploaded a number of photos and made daily entries to my blog at FindPenquins, link listed earlier in this thread. Colby

[Molly Brown]

The crew of the Molly Brown seconds those sentiments. Many, many thanks to Tom and Joyce of C-Otter!! Your time, effort and planning are much appreciated. Also kudos to those that took the time to attend. You all are what makes these gatherings a special event.
Best to all!

James

[colbysmith]

Thanks for all that added to my Coloring Book! Also, I uploaded all the photos I took at the gathering (and last night fun with the Manatees at Blue Springs.) to my google drive. You should be able to log on and download any photos you want:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15E5AqRH7b2FAhx3P4W0zXg64Ikg_uIk6?usp=drive_link

[Donald Tyson]

Tom and Joyce, Thank you so much for putting this together. Hopefully next year I'll be there and able to help more.
Colby, I wanted to talk F150 more but unfortunately I had to leave early. It was so nice to have a look at other boats and not how certain problems were overcome... This was a whole new thing for me and I learned a lot.
Mark, nice job on that bulkhead.
James, thanks for sharing about the loop.
John Highsmith thanks for the tour of your Tomcat. I've learned so much.

In time I hope I learn to be as helpful to others as many of you have been to me.

[Molly Brown]

Donald, thank you and there is always more to say so ti’ll the next time.

Colby, obviously we are going to need at least another couple more gatherings to get that page colored in 😁. It trust you’ll be back ( but not for without Rosanne). Safe travels the rest of the year…..

James

[Avidmagnum12]

After action reports for our 12th annual Hontoon C-Brat event. First of all thank you to all that attended this event. 12 years ago I would have never guessed it would still be going strong. 22 boats this year plus a few other C-Brats that attended without their boats. Of course the gathering is more about people than boats. It’s always a joy for Joyce and I to get together with old friends and make new ones. We can be separated for a year or two and pick up right where we left off.

It would be impossible to host this event without volunteers! They are the real stars of the show! Running the silent auction, driving to pick up food, dock helpers, setting up, taking down, cleaning up, touting tubs for me and other miscellaneous chores. I can’t think of anyone at Hontoon that didn’t pitch in….so THANKS 😊

As a group we raised almost $1,000 to help better Hontoon Island SP. I will inform the group about what the money will be spent on after discussion with park personnel. The money was much needed and we will allocate it wisely.

We are presently at DeLeon Spings with 4 other boats and time to cruise to Salt Springs today. Wish you were all with us. More thoughts in a day or so.

[colbysmith]

Well, Rosanne and I headed for the ECON. We made it as far as the Jolly Rancher fish camp by the Hwy 46 bridge. Got under the bridge, but couldn't get any farther due to water levels being too low. We actually made it into the St. John's at the south end of Lake Harney, but propping thru sand at the last pole marking the channel. Entering Lake Harney on the north side, I did ground once and raised the engine to float off. There was a traffic cone, but guess I was on the wrong side of it. Red right returning didn't work. All the fishing boats around here run flat out, getting on plane and decreasing their draft. I don't have the nerve on my own, and would rather end up on a sand bar and very slow speed, rather than full on. Anyway, we stopped near the fish camp here to upload some blog stuff and this. Also wanted to point out the link above to my google drive with the photos, will only be available for a few months, before I clean the drive. I'll post before cleaning it however. Tom, good to hear you got into DeLeon Springs. The pancake place, if it hasn't changed, is great. Not sure yet if we will continue north, or pull out and head over to the Suwannie. If we don't see you all on the river again, we'll see you in the future.
Just watched a small fishing boat ground on that bar behind us that we couldn't get over. He was running on plane, but came off quickly.. He trimmed his motor up and powered thru. He probably draws 6" less than we do. (Small fishing boat). Guess I'm definitely not trying. My hull was hard aground when I tried crossing. In several places.... Oh well. An excuse to try again another time. Colby

[thataway]

Colby when we successfully got up the Econ, we were with Molly Brown, and had to pull her off, when she took a "mis-step". We are used to going thru shoal water with our lower unit raised up and that was also necessary. After over the sand bars, the Econ is plenty deep almost to Orlando. The second and 3rd times we were not able to get on Harney because of weeds. The opening to the Econ is a bit of a ways past the bridge. We had a drone with us on the second and 3rd trips, plus had downloaded a recent arial / satellite photo of the region, to help plan out the "attack". On the other hand we always enjoy "Deep Creek" and there is plenty of water!

[colbysmith]

[thataway]

Colby you cannot count on a previous track in that part of the river. The sandbars shift with every storm. Also the weeds can be a problem in any part of the river.

How about a set of lowable wheels?