03/06 - 03/08 St. John's River Florida CBGT

Jim...anyone interested in C-Dory’s is welcome to attend the Hontoon Island Gathering. Actually ......it’s a great way to checkout the different models all in one place. More than one person that joined us landed up deciding if a C-Dory is what they wanted and what size mite fit there needs. The best part of the gathering is the people. They come from many directions but all have a love for “The Boat”. The St. John’s is very doable with an IO but some of the side rivers and creeks are definitely shallow draft. More than one C-Brat that followed me last year commented that their depth gauge was blinking because we were too shallow. But we made it. Prop strikes do happen but so far only little dings. Adventure awaits in Old Florida! Tom
 
More than one C-Brat that followed me last year commented that their depth gauge was blinking because we were too shallow. But we made it. Prop strikes do happen but so far only little dings. Adventure awaits in Old Florida! Tom
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Ah...the river to nowhere...I'll never tell!

Of course, then, there is the run to the Sugar Mill/ De Leon Springs. At full speed, because the water is too shallow to do it at displacement speed! We can always tow the Sea Ray, if the water is too shallow for the outdrive...

I agree it is a great place to see all of the boats, and all of the modifications owners have done. Also our favorite river! Thanks to Tom and Joyce!
 
Hontoon Island State Park is open but the campground will not be until the road to it is repaired. Joyce and I had a great time volunteering there over Thanksgiving. The floating docks are all fine and waiting for everybody joining us in March for our gathering.

If anyone is out cruising on the St. John’s over Christmas be sure to join us at Hontoon Island. We will be helping out over there over the Christmas weekend.

“The river to nowhere “ Ha Ha.....Thanks for keeping the secret!

We will make more memories next March. Merry Christmas 🎁

Tom

PS...for those that have not signed up yet ....be sure to do so....you don’t want to miss the fun.
 
Thanks for the update Tom. And thanks to You and Joyce for all that you are doing to make the next St Johns River Gathering another great success. Jan and Lee on the Tully B wish you and Joyce and all our C-Dory friends a very Merry Christmas.
 
Good morning to all. Just sitting here freezing in this Fla. Cold. Tom and Joyce thanks for again organizing this wonderful event. Toby and I just signed up on the event calendar and can’t wait! We will be leaving our new dock on the ICW and spend two weeks before the getogether cruising north up to St Simons Is and then back up the St Johns to Hontoon Is a couple days before the getogether.
It’s been a very busy year with a new knee for me, a new dock for us and a hurricane for Florida (well...actually it was 3)! Hope all is well for all of our group and can’t wait to see all again!

T and T
 
yes I like the bigger bathroom and larger table area .The only drawback is you can't see out the back for mooring I think toby put a car's rear view side mirror on the boat and maybe even a back up camera?
 
Trust everyone had a Very Merry Christmas. Joyce and I spent Christmas weekend volunteering on Hontoon Island. The campground opened up last week. Not many campers but the campground looks good. The cabins are all clean and ready for guests. The road to the campground is in poor condition and a contractor will start on January Eighth to barge over fill and equipment to fix the road. The work is scheduled to be done by the end of February. The marina and day use area will be open while the road work is in progress, however, the campground will be closed.

The good news is that it will not affect our gathering. The docks are in great shape and all aquatic growth have been removed from the slips. We even dragged some away with our new dinghy. Joyce would hook it and we’d “relocate “ it. The water is still a bit high but we hope it stays about where it is so that it will be easier to get to DeLeon Springs for pancakes. 🥞

We held a fish fry for the staff on Christmas Day. I forget how much young people eat. We had just enough crappies and fries. The paddle wheeler that docks on Lake Beresford came by all lit up playing Christmas Songs. A special Christmas morning gift was a visit by two manatees right near our dock. Memories made.

A couple of months and we will making more at the Fifth Annual CBGT at Hontoon. Can’t wait to see everyone. I’ve been digging on the boat and shed for unused boat stuff for the silent auction. The piles getting bigger with the things the Clow’s sent down from Michigan.

If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do so and remember we do welcome those that are interested in learning more about the C-Dory family of boats.

God bless.......Tom
 
Merry Christmas Tom and Joyce. Thanks for the update and sharing. The brutal cold finally hit us here in Wisconsin. March can not get here soon enough! See you then. Colby
 
My wife and I are looking at buying a cdory this year. I was wondering if we could show up at the cdory gathering on St John's river in March and talk y'all about your C dorys
 
D&RLuke":1f6vmc8q said:
My wife and I are looking at buying a cdory this year. I was wondering if we could show up at the cdory gathering on St John's river in March and talk y'all about your C dorys
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Tom, is right, (Avidmagnum12), in that the gathering, (called a CBGT for C Brat Get Together), is a great place to meet the boats and the owners. You may find that you like the boats, and that the folks are pretty great too. Make it a point to get to one or more and see what happens. There are CBGT's in Florida, the Central states, Lake Powell, San Fransisco - the Delta Cruise, and the largest is Friday Harbor, in the San Juans with about 40 - 50 boats. Enjoy the time and find what works for you.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I have my boat in St Augustine now, and am thinking of cruising from there to this gathering if it's not too late to sign up. It seems pretty straight forward looking at charts, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience on the St John's from Jacksonville to Hontoon Park. Any insight appreciated.
 
As Dan and Peggy said very doable. And it’s not to late to sign up. It can be done in a long fast day if the railroad bridges are open and the winds are not up. It would be far better to figure 3 days or longer. There are many good places to spend the night at anchor or dock. Lots to explore. I’ve been exploring the St. John’s for years and I’ve lots more to explore. I think Tad and Toby are going to bring there 25 cruise ship up the ICW then down the St John’s. If you need more information send me a PM with your phone number and a good time to call. Trust that we see you at Hontoon. I plan on spending about 2 weeks on the river. Some time before the gathering and some after. Many of us look forward to this all year long. Till then ......Tom
 
Schedule--who has a schedule?...The majority of C Brat gatherings are rather loose in organization.. Tom and Joyce try and keep us all busy., with multiple activities. I have to say that not to be missed, is the entire experience. Camp fires, nature walks, birding, kayaking, jungle cruise, Auction, sharing of information--and for us especially the "cruises" before and after the gathering....Pot luck dinners, with special chicken and burgers as in past gatherings Hidden alcoholic beverages, charity for the Hontoon Island, and remembrance of those who have passed!

I am sure that Tom will put up some type of schedule--but come prepared to have fun, and enjoy the fellowship with like minded and crazy C Brats!~!
 
There IS a schedule, always available on that first day when we sign in. The eating times are most important to me! :mrgreen: But like Bob said, there are campfires, guided boat tours on the river around the island, some technical talks, and maybe some special events like a silent auction. But the only thing that is really important, is being there. I like to at least be in the slip a day early, just to get my preferred choice. And I leave my home so as to arrive a few days early, partly because it's a 1500 mile drive and that gives me a little leeway for any weather or traffic/car issues, and also a short visit with a relative on the way. And partly because it's always fun to cruise around before the gathering starts. Then I plan to hang around several days to a week after the gathering, as there is always some cruising to do after the event, either on your own, or with some others. I'd say most are in the slip the night before it starts, with a few more that show up on the day it starts. Some leave on the last day, many leave sometime after.
Anyway, just my two cents. It's a great gathering. One that is worth me towing the boat 1500 miles to attend. This will be my third year. BTW, you can take your boat out as much as you want, or stay in the slip and enjoy hiking around the island and just socializing with others. Colby
 
I was thinking this year that instead of all the fun stuff Dr. Bob mentioned, is to instead hold a boat waxing and detailing clinic. We would of course start with the C-Otter! But “she who must be obeyed” ruled that out. She said I’d have to wax the C-Otter before the Gathering so that the C-Otter would outshine the Cat O’ Mine with it’s Poli Glow finish. So I guess we will stick to having fun.

Seriously.....I’ll be at Hontoon the Friday before the Gathering and doing some side trips like DeLeon Springs. I was up there last week and with the high water, it was an easy trip. Tuesday is the official start and signup. We have a pot luck with burgers and hot dogs at 5pm with a campfire after dinner. Wednesday we have Publix chicken and pot luck at 5 pm. During the mornings we usually have a few seminars about the St. John’s and our C-Dory’s. Afternoon some go cruising, some go to the store and some just goof off.
We will try to have a more complete schedule a week or so beforehand. We will have some nature hikes and van tours. Fun for sure. Tom
 
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