03/03 - 03/05 - Hontoon Island CBGT Deland, Florida

Avidmagnum12

Avidmagnum12

Member
It's time again to make your plans to join fellow C-Brats at Hontoon Island State Park located on the magnificent St. John's River near Deland Florida.
2020's dates are from Tuesday March 3 thru Thursday March 5. But many cruise the river and its tributaries before and after the gathering.

If you have attended in the past you know we have some day trips, some C-Dory seminars, evening potluck meals, great fellowship around the campfire, Colby S'mores, Lee's ice cream, Clow's fund raiser auction and much more. Good parking for your rigs at nearby Ed Stone Park on Highway 44.

More information to come in a few days.

moderator please set up event signup and album...Thanks

Added to Calendar
Signup list
-TyBoo
 
Thank you and Joyce for again putting this gathering together. It Is a highlight of a year for us. We will be there a few days early, and stick around for 3 weeks after--if all is well in the world!

Miss Angel is looking forward to seeing her doggy friends. I. have already started my pile of items to donate for the auction. I promise I'll not fall overboard! Plus we have a couple of new "kitchen gadgets" to share this year.

For those who have not come to the St. John's river there are a lot of great features. One of our favorites is the wild life. Plenty of crocs, Manatees, and wonderful birding! For those who come early or stay after--the time with Tom and Joyce is an amazing experience!
 
As Bob said, thanks for putting this together, and it's also a highlight for me! Rosanne and I will be there with Midnight Flyer. Assuming we're not snowed in up north. An early request. After Hontoon 2020, how about we shoot for the second full week of March. The last two years it's been pretty early in March, with cold and/or rainy days. Plus, we're still dealing with snow and ice in the midwest. Seems like in the past with a little later in March, the weather has been better. Anyway, just my two cents.
I'm also stacking up a few things for the auction. Not sure yet if we will be down more than a few days before the gathering, but very likely we'll hang out for a good week afterwards. Colby
 
Thanks Dr. Bob and Colby for the kind words. This is also the highlight of our winter boating season. The reason this works so well is the EVERYONE pitches in. Where else can you find a group like this? Colby.... we can check with the park and then see if the majority want to move back a week for 2021.

We are also getting some boat things together for the Clow auction to raise money for the park. Our project last year was to install a washer and dryer for volunteers at the park. I am happy to report that they are up and running. I was at Hontoon yesterday and a volunteer was doing a load of laundry and thrilled that they did not have to run to town. I was told that C-Brats are more than welcome to do some loads at the gathering. Your generosity is appreciated.

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Laundry Building

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Laundry Machines

Looking forward to see everyone....Tom
 
Always a hoot thanks to Tom and Joyce!

Will there be any more locks?

I see Three Rivers Marine has a new 2020 TC255 just in case Colby wants to do a trade-in en route and show up on a new ride.

The new 15,000 BTU rooftop Coleman AC really blasts out some cold air. The installers who took off the old 13k seized unit said "4 big bolts through the roof hold it on. Two were broken off and the third one was bent. Don't go out in seas like that with this new one because the warranty won't cover it." We didn't pay extra for the 'off road' or 'marine' edition. $850 for the unit and nonducted ceiling assbly from PPL, $115 truck shipping and $300 cash to swap out the units...what's another Boat Unit to stay cool?

Cheers!
John
 
I see Three Rivers Marine has a new 2020 TC255 just in case Colby wants to do a trade-in en route and show up on a new ride.
Click to expand...

Never say never, but every time I even think about a 25 or Tomcat, I talk myself out of it. For now still in love with my 22. :) Colby
 
Hi Brats,

That’s great news! Marcia and I will be attending for the duration and probably a few days before, as well.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Nick and Marcia
“Valkyrie II”
C-Dory 25
 
Already looking forward to the 2021 session. I like to plan a head --- long story. Anyway, will be following this one this year too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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This sounds like a lot of fun. Dana lived in Key Largo for years with her Pennekamp dive charter business, she want's to head across the country to do a circuit of Florida for the winter of 2021 (she did it in the early 70s and hopes it will still be fun). March may be good before heading back across the Okeechobee to the west coast.
 
Tom and Joyce, how generous of you to do this again. Thank you so much. We’ll be there, I promise with all my heart. We just gotta make it !
We’ll be spending more than the three days to enjoy the folks and the scenery.
Gives us a goal to conquer!! Thanks again
 
This gathering has been high on my "first year of retirement to do" list
for years now.
However, we cannot come this early in March.
My husband and son (and grandsons) have to ski the Birkebeiner
in Wisconsin the last weekend of February.
Maybe if it's a little later next year???? : )

Hoping for 2021!
Jackie & Bob
 
Hi All
It's fun to see the early sign ups and look forward to seeing everyone at Hontoon next March. I will check with the park about dates for 2021. If they are agreeable to go a week later for 2022 I will put it to a vote at this years gathering.

There are usually C-Dorys on the St. Johns a couple of weeks after the gathering. Don't miss the river just because you can't make the gathering.

Jackie......hopefully the guys will have enough snow to ski the Birkebeiner. You never know for sure. I sure loved to cross country ski in the day. Now I'm content to "boaterhome" up that way in the summer.

Joyce and I are going to take the C-Otter out for a few days and will be stopping at Hontoon.

Later....Tom
 
Tom, I suspect snow won't be a problem for the skiiers. We've already had 3 storms with about 8" total snow, and that was before the kids went trick or treating. (The last storm being earlier that day.) Most of the white stuff is gone now, and the farmers appear to be getting the rest of the corn down. We're looking at an artic blast early this week, but I hear it's even going to be cold in Florida. They say we (Midwest) are in for a very cold and snowy winter. Warmer climates are really starting to call to me, but I still have this working wife that doesn't want to retire yet, nor change jobs... As much as I want to get out of Wisconsin as early as possible, after the chillier last two gatherings at Hontoon, and the colder and snowier winters putting a chill on getting the boat out and prepped to head south, I'll be voting for at least a week or two later on the future gatherings. May just have to start positioning Midnight Flyer closer to Hontoon at the end of the summer boating season. :? Colby
 
Oh we will be there this year by c-dory . Last year by truck and met some of the nicest people. We will be there for a week and looking forward to it. Joe and Christa
 
Avidmagnum12":vds91nyk said:
Hi All
It's fun to see the early sign ups and look forward to seeing everyone at Hontoon next March. I will check with the park about dates for 2021. If they are agreeable to go a week later for 2022 I will put it to a vote at this years gathering.

There are usually C-Dorys on the St. Johns a couple of weeks after the gathering. Don't miss the river just because you can't make the gathering.

Jackie......hopefully the guys will have enough snow to ski the Birkebeiner. You never know for sure. I sure loved to cross country ski in the day. Now I'm content to "boaterhome" up that way in the summer.

Joyce and I are going to take the C-Otter out for a few days and will be stopping at Hontoon.

Later....Tom
Click to expand...

"This gathering has been high on my "first year of retirement to do" list
for years now.
However, we cannot come this early in March.
My husband and son (and grandsons) have to ski the Birkebeiner
in Wisconsin the last weekend of February.
Maybe if it's a little later next year???? : )

Hoping for 2021!
Jackie & Bob
Click to expand...

Tom, the coming CBGT at Hontoon is Mar 3-5, 2020. Are the dates for the 2021 gathering already set with the park? Just wondering why the possible 2 year delay for the date change?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
No reason for delay other than the 1 is next to the 2 and even spell check could not help me with that. 😇
2021 is the correct year for possible change.
Tom
 
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