FL Keys shakedown Cruise for Delta Belle (C-22)

jimcinfra

We just got back from our shakedown cruise of our new (1999) C-22. We picked the boat up in Apalachicola, FL at Wefings Marine on Mon (6/26). We spent the night in Marc's boat slip by the bridge. The airconditioner worked great! We set out the next morning for Naples with the plan of launching the boat and spending the night. When we got to Naples we found out that it's against the law to leave your vehicle and trailer overnight. We continued on to Homestead and spend the night at a motel. The next day we found a marina (La Siesta in Islamorada) that would allow us to launch and park our trailer ($20 to launch & $10/day for storage). We spent the next 3 nights anchored out.
The boat behaved beautifully in 2-3 foot seas. We averaged 25 mph with the seas and approx 12-16 mph against the seas. The snorkling was beautiful. We snorkled during the day and went to the bay side for night.
We added some foam to our mattresses which really made the berths more comfortable.
On the trip down we had several people at rest stops ask us about the boat. While we were in the Keys we had a fish guide try to buy our boat from us! She visited our anchorage and tracked us down again at a restaurant.
Although we did not have any problems trailering the boat, I am looking into adding a second axle to the single axle trailer.
Our first adventure in our C-22 was excellent and only makes us want to explore more and more. Our next trips will be closer to home....to the barrier islands off the MS Gulf Coast and further out to the oil rigs for fishing.

Not For Hire · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

Delta Belle, I think you are home.

Thanks for your post and good luck on your adventures.

billwoodhouse · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

You can launch and leave your vehicle/trailer at Harris Park oceanside just north of Tavernier/Islamorada for free during the week (weekends are a different matter). As soon as I can get organized, I'll post our experiences in that area June 23-29. Thanx, Bill

Papillon · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject:

Hi Jim,
The next time you plan a road trip that takes you thru Naples, then please contact me. I live with in a half mile of Bayview Park's ramp and would be more then happy to assist you in launching and storing your car and trailer at my house while you are at sea. This offer is also extended to any C-Brat crusing the S.W. Florida waters.

We are sorta like that little motel chain....we will leave the light on.

flagold · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

Glad it checked out. Which AC unit are you using in the 22?

Wefings · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:46 pm Post subject:

Jim , Cynthia , I just saw your post and am glad you had a great "maiden trip" on the former Teal ,now Delta Belle .I saw Fred and he already wants a 16 Cruiser . He cant stand life without a C Dory I suppose . I sounds like everything is ship shape with the boat and the A/C unit [ Duotherm 7100 BTU ] is working fine .Keep us posted of your travels and you are welcome to my slip anytime . We look forward to seeing you at the Gulf Coast Gathering in Oct !
Marc

416rigby · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject:

Welcome! Great to hear you had a successful maiden voyage. Now you need to get a photo album set up so we can see your A/C unit! I think there will be lots of interest in it. If you get over our way, shoot us a PM. Hope to see you at the Gulf Coast shindig in October.

Rick & Donna

jimcinfra · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:15 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the nice responses to my post. A special thanks to the offers from Mike & Judy Taylor and Marc.
I'll have to find out how to set up a photo album & then take a few pictures of the a/c setup.

Rabbits Hutch · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject:

I would sincerely like to learn more about the costs and installation options of A/C in a 22' C-Dory cruiser as well. Temperatures here in the Midwest approach 100F and very humid.

The more info on this particular subject the better...please.

Thanks,

Gary R.

flagold · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject:

Congratulations, Jim,
Jim had called me about my 22 cruiser when it was for sale, and I said if it had not sold, I would bring it by his house in Crystal Springs MS--Jim had the courtesy to call me the day after he purchased his boat and let me know that he had already purchased one.

Let us know about the AC. I am putting a Polar Cub by Coleman on the roof of my Tom Cat 255.

Bess-C · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject:

We've never been to the Keys, and are looking at heading that direction next February for a couple of weeks. We would be flying into the area, not pulling our C-Dory cross country.

I'm looking at a couple of rentals in the lower Keys (Cudjoe in particular). I want to flyfish the area, and we will probably rent a flats boat while we're there.

Any information or advice that you experienced Florida hands can offer would be appreciated.
Lyle

Byrdman · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:17 am Post subject:

Hey Lyle!! I have just bought Sherryl a book on known good GPS points in the AL/FL coastal areas for dives/snorkeling/fishing on reefs and wrecks. Looks pretty good at a quick glance...

Byrdman · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:43 am Post subject:

Jim and Cynthia: Sorry I missed you again. Glad to hear you boat is working great. I had no doubt it would. It looked great and I am glad someone got it off the lot at Wefing's ..... I had many a second and third thought while working on C-Byrd down there as to .....well....why not just sell her.....and get one of these nice used 22s.... but.... just the thought of owning and bringing back to life a true classic CD was interesting to me. And, and to that...the fact that only 14 of the 18 Anglers were made, and I was LUCKY enough to get that 14th hull..... well.... I guess that all just weighed in on me. I loved that movie Sea-Biscuit....which if the producers had been C-Dory owners....would have for sure been C-Biscuit..... I have just an old tired looking great solid hull.....it just needed someone crazy enough to hang in there and bring her back to life. Hope you and others can join us in October for the Gulf Coast Gathering and times in the waters.

Byrdman

jimcinfra · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Byrdman. To the others who are looking for more details on the a/c, I will let you know the $ on what we had done by Wefings Marine. I do not have the invoice with me now, but I will post tomorrow.