Great Website! A Spicy Gumbo of C-Brat Tales and Experiences

cajuncanoe

Hello All C-Brats! I joined this group a few weeks back, after my girlfriend and I traveled from Baton Rouge to Wefing's Marine to view the C-Ranger 25' Tug. I was truly impressed with the C-Dorys that were in stock, as well. After lurking around this site, reading so many of the wonderful postings, viewing the many amazing photos, I wanted to post a message to tell all C-Brats just how much we have enjoyed meeting you by web-proxy. We are considering making the trip back to Eastpoint/Apalachicola for the Gulf Coast Gathering, to meet some of you in person.

My Sweetie, Joan, and I have initiated a two year plan designed to culminate in our purchase of a trailerable cabin cruiser. The two year plan is configured to allow us the time to research boats, equipment, destinations, finances, and the eventual graduations (we desperately hope) of two kids currently enrolled in college. Of course, this plan may be adjusted as needed (or desired---if we ever spend some time aboard a C-Dory!).

Anyway, you ceratainly have a unique group of members. Thanks for sharing these fabulous accounts of just some of the aspects of owning what must surely be one of the finest boats ever manufactured.

Kelvin

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject:

Welcome aboard Kelvin and Joan,

From my perspective, you already have half of the situation going in your favor: a willing first mate (named Joan Wink

). The search can be a big part of the adventure. I think you've made a wise choice with the Wefings folks - they know these boats and will be very helpful in guiding you to the right boat for your needs.

So, what's your boating experience and how do you intend to use the boat?

This forum is an amazing resource - it was reassuring during our decision-making angst and has been a source of information, entertainment, and wonderful new friends every since.

Good luck getting the kids out and some boat decisions made... and then the fun really begins!

Best wishes,
Jim B.

cajuncanoe · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject: Thanks, Jim!

I believe that you are certainly correct about the folks at Wefing's. While there, we met Buzz, Lee, and Charlie.......all were most willing to show and discuss their great boats in stock.

Boating experience? Well, the smallest boat owned or operated was a 14' Cajun Special bateau (jon boat) with a 40 HP Yamaha OB. The largest was a 643', 23,400 Ton submarine tender with a dual boiler/steam turbine propulsion unit. Obviously, the latter was operated, not owned. I was born and raised here in Louisiana, have spent many years operating small craft, and have been fortunate enough to have lived or spent time in some fantastic boating locales. Louisiana, San Diego, Lake Michigan, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia.....I almost always chose activities that kept me near the water, if not on it. Joan grew up near Rochester, NY. While she never became a boat lover, she has enjoyed many visits to the towns along the Erie Canal, the Finger Lakes, and other beautiful waterways.

But, Jim, since it has been a few years since I have regularly operated a boat, I recently attended a Safe Boating course sponsered by the LA Dept. of Wildlife. Joan (yes, you are right. She is a willing partner, thank goodness!) signed up for the class and she really did well. We are planning a vacation on the Erie Canal next year, chartering a small cruising boat. We may look at renting Das Boot from Wefing's for a weekend in the coming moths.

Thanks, again, for the welcome. We hope to meet you soon.

Kelvin

cajuncanoe · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:26 pm Post subject:

P.S.

Our intended boat use will be a lot of cruising, a little fishing. Joan is a RN and we hope to be doing some Traveling Nursing in the next 2-5 years. Then we can trailer our cruiser to the areas where the nursing opportunities exist. Of course, I can sell little naughty-cal trinkets roadside to supplement Joan's income!!!

Papillon · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

Welcome aboard Kevin & Joan. We hope you can join us at the Second Annual Gulf Coast Get Togeather next week. There will be a wide assortment of boats and people there that I know you would enjoying meeting and vice-a-versa.

Be sure to bring your favorite hot sauce for the fresh cola oysters.

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:10 am Post subject:

Kelvin & Joan: Welcome aboard. Thank You for your time in the service.

Come on over to the gathering. I think they are hands down the best way to view/see multiple boats, in the water, ready for use. Things are different when they get all loaded up and off the hard ground.

We also get to see other folks local waters by having gatheringss around America. I have met some of the best folks at these C-Brat gatherings. I have been to them in Washington State, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky. Plan to make a couple up on the NE corner over the next 12 months, and doing one in Nov07 on the Cumberland River up around the Nashville, TN area. See the Events Signups link above and take a look.

Bottom line, great folks, great food and each of them have their own flavor...like gumbo. Feel free to bring a batch with you!!!

One of the great things about a gathering is the multitude of boats, in the water, fixed up as people really use them. Some of us have had several models, all of them have their goods and bads, and greats. Your time in the research mode will pay in the long run. Do not skimp on a good trailer. That for sure is what makes a trailerable boat really worth having...is in a day or three...you can be in some real neat places, with people who love boating and have the local water knowledge.

Test them all...and good luck and hope to meet yall soon.

Byrdman

marvin4239 · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:00 am Post subject:

Kevin & Joan welcome to the C-Dory information center. Anything you want to know about C-Dory's can be found on this site. If you don't find it ask and the answer will magicly appear. You are right about Wefings they are great people to deal with. I recently bought a 22 from them and it was a very pleasant experience. Let me warn you if you go to the Gulf Coast gathering and go aboard a C-Dory in the water or perhaps go for a ride your 2 year plan on buying one will probably change. Thanks for your service for our country. Submariners are a special breed.

El and Bill · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject:

Yes, Kevin and Joan, submariners are a special breed -- we have another who lives on the bottom left of the map and he is a special breed, and a bit of a Sneak at that -- and we have one who patrols the Squalicum Marina in Bellingham, WA and mooches off our pot luck at our Gatherings up there (but who takes especially good care of us C-Dory folk).

Welcome Aboard - we have many pictures of a C-Dory cruise (and Gathering) along the Erie Canal, if you wish to get a preview (review, for Joan) on our website.

cajuncanoe · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

Mike, Patrick, and Marvin,

Thanks for the greetings. I work at a chemical manufacturing facility (my unit produces artificial vanilla---a SWEET job, for a chemical plant!) and am scheduled to work the weekend of the GCG. If I can arrange a swap with a co-worker, Joan and I will certainly be in Apalachicola for the Gathering.

El and Bill,

Very nice to hear from you. Your pictures and posts are just some of the wonderful images and stories that we have been viewing on this site for the last month. I have been wanting to experience cruising the Erie Canal for some time, even before I met Joan. Your accounts of your travels have cemented my desire to drift along Clinton's Ditch.

I want to take a moment to mention that, yes, I did serve a hitch in the U.S. Navy. Thanks to all who support our veterans, past-present-and future. During my 3 years active duty (followed by 2 active reserve years) I served 2 years aboard the USS L.Y. Spear, a submarine tender. This ship's purpose was to support the fast attack submarine fleet stationed in Norfolk. I was a surface swabbie, and do agree that those who served aboard the submarines were indeed "special". But, those stories are better left to the good natured chats that occur after Beer-Thirty.

Joan and I hope to meet you folks soon.

Kelvin

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject:

Kelvin and Joan, welcome aboard!

Kelvin, when were you on the Spear? I was at SUPSHIP Quincy and the New Construction Project Officer when she was built, along with the Dixon. Just a lowley Lt at the time but sure had fun with that big girl! Lots of nuc certifications to handle missiles, etc, etc. Sea trials were a blast too. That was sometime around 1970-71-72 as I recall....

Charlie

cajuncanoe · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Charlie!

I was aboard the Spear from Dec. '81 til Dec. '83. I began my enlistment as an ET trainee, but after nine months in Great Mistakes......er....Great Lakes, Illinois, one of my electronics instructors (a missle tech from the boomers) convinced me to swap to the Torpedoman's Mate Tech field. The MK48 torpedo was fairly new and the Tomahawk cruise missle was in the latter stages of it's development. I switched ratings, attended TMA school in Orlando, and was assigned to the Spear. She was certainly a different ship when I was aboard than when you were. She was the first, or one of the first, vessels to have females assigned to her, and my two years aboard were like attending a fairly rowdy Co-Ed dorm. Good times, bad times, and not much in the way of lengthy cruises.

She was a big gal, lots of room, and a blast to steer during the mid-watch. I am sure some of the sailors who succumbed to my helmsman tricks are still having nightmares of waking on the deck! Not to mention the "Lowly Ensigns" that had to explain to the CO about the non-existent rough seas that caused his personal effects to slide around his cabin. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't make a ship with an 80 foot beam rock and roll!

Charlie, I made life long friends while in Virginia. They live in Richmond and also west of Roanoke, in the mountains. Maybe we can meet during one of my frequent visits to VA. and swap Spear stories. Fair Sailing!

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

Hi Kelvin, great stuff! I only spent 32 years in the USN, didn't want to make a career out of it! Retired in 1991. Spent the first few years as a white hat, made ETN3 in about 1963 or so. Went to OCS in 1964 and thence to active duty.

I'll be in New Orleans on business in early December, do you ever get over there?

Charlie

cajuncanoe · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Only 32 years Charlie? Wow! I hope your family and friends finally gave up on wishing that you would one day find some steady employment!

Nawlins? As a matter of fact, Joan and I spent a weekend there in Sept. We try to make it to the Crescent City a few times a year. I owned/operated a small hot shot trucking company for a while, and after Katrina devastated New Orleans, a lot of my business was transporting equipment to the disaster zones there. Many of these areas have begun to recover, some may never make it back to what they were before the storm.

Charlie, I work a rotating, 12 hour schedule. Swap from days to nights after each set of shifts, off every other weekend. Do you travel to NO often? Ever pass near Baton Rouge? Just let me know what dates that you'll be in NO and perhaps we can meet for beignets and cafe au lait.

Take Care,

Kelvin