Recent content by Gulfcoast John

We've found the best marina bargain for a C-Dory at the Pink Shell Marina 5 star resort in Ft Myers Beach and return every year in Jan until the Hontoon Hoot in March. I run several days behind if you want to 'follow' the Find Penguins link...

Our new interest in a lithium + big inverter option when shore power is not available: We hope to be spending time on the Canadian walls this summer while doing the Triangle Loop backwards; ending up at Kingston on the North side of Lake Ontario and only 70 miles to the entrance of the...

These are the ‘gadget’ adapters shown at the Hontoon Hoot. You will eventually happen on a marina or wall which only has a 50 amp pedestal available. The adapter you need is a 50A 125/250V to 30A 125V (not 50A 125V, which would only be found in very old marinas). Be sure the marina agrees to...

Panels are easy to remove quickly, take a bit longer to install when aligning the zippers on the sides and top with Sai-lrite bungeys at the bottom.

Hi Dave, Give yourselves some trips under your belt before spending too much. If you don’t have a dog, you may not need a dinghy. If you beach on rocks, you may not want an inflatable (we just gave ours to the Boy Scouts, after never feeling a need for it in real life after 13 years). Raise...

Hi Greg, Oddly the written marina slip reservation does NOT include your slip number. You have to call them for that if you misplaced it after your call. If you think that a guvmint Reservations system should include the room number you paid for, then you have a full lifetime of...

Wind-driven rain gets in, so if you want a dry cabin extension one like Bob's is better. Having nine panels of BOTH materials to choose from would be really elegant. Happy Hunting, John

Thanks Bob and also for all we've learned from you over the years! I hope the night photos show we never have a night time privacy concern and don't need 'blocking' material. We'd likely use LED headlamps if reading a paper book and never have, say, two 100w lamps at night in the cockpit. I...

Hi Dave, thanks for your interest. I took these pics last night. The cockpit lights are very bright, in fact they are Perko 'steaming' lights with the required 2 NM USCG visibility. We don't need more than a 3D cell Streamlight lantern in the dark. We use Kindles and tablets mostly. I bet...

The 15K BTU Coleman AC croaked because I never cleaned the coils, which required removing the radar mast, dome, hailer, anchor light and pole plus wiring. We replaced it with a Dometic which is lighter (65 vs 100#) and a Dometic Soft Start module designed specifically for that compressor...

Hi Phil, For a temporary expedient block, I’d rather seal the leak at the outside source rather than inside. Otherwise the water will filter into the core and stay there. I like BoatLife because it’s not permanent and easy to remove. Steve shows where to seal a rubrail, but if you use 3M 5200...

Hi Jim, The best mod EVER for us for 13 trailer boats over 45 years of marriage was our all-Phifertex 9-panel modular camperback that zips and bungees to the existing (King Canvas Seattle) bimini top in under 10 minutes by one person. No one can see in at all, yet we can see out. It...

Welcome to Florida! Florida interstates and Turnpikes have Road Ranger patrols that provide free emergency spare tire changes, jump starts etc and most importantly park a big truck behind you with a giant flashing “<<<< MOVE OVER” electric sign. They carry more red pylons than you ever will...

Hi Scott, Cat O' Mine rode the slings on a Travel Lift just fine. I wonder about wind knocking it into your pilings or wearing rub rails or bimimi based on your pic. I bet your local contractors have seen it all. The owner told me the slings cost $3,000 each (but they haul huge boats)...