03/09 - 3/11 - Hontoon Island CBGT DeLand Florida

The countdown is on for the 8th Annual Hontoon Island C-Brat get together.
A few reminders are in order.

1)if you park at Ed Stone park do so near the highway where they have the oversized parking if possible.
2) The area near the park is slow minimum wake and a manatee zone. No one wants to harm a manatee.
3) Be sure to be well provisioned for your time on the water.
4) Bring your “treasures “ for the silent auction and lots of cash or your check book for purchases. Sorry ....no Visa or Master Card.
5) We use channel 72 for communication.
6) We will have a nightly fire ring for those that wish to join in.
7) Bring your own chairs, writing instruments and eating utensils if possible.
8) No potlucks this year, but we will be serving food on Tuesday and Wednesday night. In order to simplify things, we will not have condiments. Tuesday we will serve Pizza and Wednesday Publix chicken, coleslaw, potato salad for those that wish to get together. Also a special cake on Wednesday!
9) We will have paper plates and disposable utensils available.
10) No 50/50 this year, but we will take an offering to cover expenses each evening with any additional funds donated to the park.
11) Bring name tags if you have one, otherwise we have some on hand.
12) Limited ferry service to and from the island.
13) As in the past, volunteers will be needed and a signup will be upon check in.

Lastly....we will all be working together to make this the BEST gathering ever. Thanks in advance for everyone’s cooperation.

You’re all the best! Tom and Joyce
 
Ahoy !
I plan to attend the Hontoon gathering.
Is there anyone who would permit a boat tour and possibly entertain about 100 (mostly dumb) newby questions?
Thanks!
Floyd
Tampa Bay

About me;
I am currently boatless, but looking.
I have decades of sailing experience, mostly racing on Tampa Bay but also a few deliveries and a Havanna sailing trip two years ago. My power boat experience is pretty limited.
I am considering doing the Great Loop and I want to thoroughly check out the C-Dory before making a purchase.
Covid19; I have not had it. I test once per month, all negative. I am not yet eligible for the vaccine so I have not had the vaccine.
Happy Sails !
 
Slip 12A is available now for any early arrivals starting Friday. Its not working out for us, so we're postponing our hontoon trip.

We'll be cruising the area starting the 19th - 28th. Wish Spring break lined up with this event every year, but this is a continual problem for us working stiffs with children in school.

Have fun! Maybe we'll get to see a few stragglers up at Silver Glenn or wherever we are on our adventure.
 
Paul... It’s difficult to line up dates that work for everyone but we try. Maybe next year? We will watch out for you on the St John’s later. Channel 72

Floyd ...I can give you a boat tour of our 25 if no one else steps up but I’m limiting questions to 99!

Everyone please register on Jotform link if you have not done so.
Still about 8 boats short.

https://form.jotform.com/60634279765163

Please call on 72 when docking. Most slips must be backed into. Help will be supplied when possible. Haven’t had a scratched boat yet!

Thanks Tom
 
Florida’s multiple flavors of ‘manatee zones’ can be confusing to out of state boaters. Bring binocs, often the signs are on the other side of the river and an osprey’s nest hangs over part of it. Tom has previously stated that ‘slow speed-minimum wake’ means about 6 MPH in our boats.

Although there are short stretches of 25MPH mid channel in the 3.1 river miles from Ed Stone ramp to Hontoon, some of that is around marinas and private boat docks with boats tied up, and you are responsible for any damage from your wake. We all want to be good responsible neighbors sharing the river.

Floyd,
We would be happy to discuss boating and C-Dory’s, esp if outside and six feet apart.

If our boat is open to fresh air cross ventilation, we are comfortable with visitors who have a quality mask (N95 or Filti 95) and take under 10 minutes inside the boat. That’s plenty of time for a 26 foot boat. You can take as many pics or video as you want, but please keep in mind that by then we will have been living on this boat for over 30 days!

We do not have any serious medical COVID risk factors, but many attendees do, and a “sorry, medical issues” comment MUST be enough in these tough times to elicit a ‘understood, many thanks, maybe next year!’ response on the part of anyone seeking a ‘look’.

Our questions limit is 101, unless you provide the wine.

Safe travels to all!
John
 
John, I could go well past 10 minutes just checking out your helm station :mrgreen:

Maybe next year :wink

You all have a great time down there. That clear blue water sure is pretty.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

9_Sept_Seq_2019_Cal.thumb.jpg
 
Is there anyone who would permit a boat tour and possibly entertain about 100 (mostly dumb) newby questions?

I am sure you will find all the answers--As long as the distancing etc is maintained. You can certainly come aboard--look around and then the crew can answer questions from the safe distance...

Many of us are "old"--really old--sailors.

There will be a moderated session on Wednesday AM on modifications to the boats. Plenty of opinions will be represented.

Welcome aboard.
 
Hoping everyone has a good time. It’s been a favorite event for me for the past 6 or7 years, and we plan to return next year.While we decided to forego attending this year, we are on the River now heading north. Water appears to be up, although we still managed to bump bottom here in Silver Glen Springs coming around the North Side. And it’s busy even on a Monday! Blue Creek is as scenic as ever and this year our bird house count was 74! Ed Stone is busy on weekends and we saw trailers parked on the other side of the road. With all the rain there is some standing water in the lower area of the longer rig parking area alongside the highway. There is also some construction materials in that area near the park entrance. If anyone is inclined to do some sunken treasure hunting I managed to lose a fairly new prop about 30’ off the center of that large dock closest to the bathrooms! (Hub failure possibly? Went into reverse and then had nothing in either reverse or forward. When I lifted the outboard all I had left was the Rubix rubber hub)... :( One last comment. 6 mph in a 22 does throw a bit of a wake. You really need to be below 5 mph. Have a great gathering and maybe we’ll see some of you on the River. Colby
 
Colby....

Betty and I just arrived in gator country this morning since leaving Punta Gorda in early January, currently on the hook in in Sixmile Creek near Green Cove Springs. We’ve been reminiscing of our pancake breakfast at Ponce De Leon Springs. Headed in your direction little by little so who knows we might hook up again. If not, please report back how you find the “mud” stretch across Spring Garden Lake. 51 nights onboard, of which 8 were marina nights, and all but 2 we were the only boat in the marina so we should be safe. I saw a study that showed smokers like me were less likely to get COVID so I should be double safe, though Betty reminds me that if I do get it I’ll be dead :wink:
Either way, it’s great to be a river rat again!!!

James
 
Hey James. We’re skipping the Pancake place too even tho I love it. But we figured as busy as they are... we’re in Salt Springs now. Only about 1.7’ under the boat crossing the bar in. Tomorrow we’re thinking of going up the Oklawala <SP?> to anchor. I’ve got my AIS transmitting when underway and we’re monitoring 16 and 72. Maybe we’ll see you guys somewhere downstream. I think Thursday night we may be in 7 sisters. BTW, Salt Springs is much nicer than Silver Glen. Very peaceful! Colby
 
Colby....
Betty will be running in the Murphy Creek Conservation Island so maybe we’ll see you at 7 Sisters. Should be there in a couple days or three. I’ll hail you on 72 to see if your around. Enjoy the Oklawaha, we’ll be taking a friend up the weekend after Hontoon.

James
 
I’m sorry to say that Kathryn will have to cancel this year as well. Site 2b is now available!

My 92 year old father in law is having eye issues—macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cornea impairment all rolled into one mess. We are making lots of runs to the eye docs with him. I hope they can save his vision.

NEXT YEAR!

Jackie & Bob Hall
 
We will not make it after all so slip 22 is available from 12th to 16th.
The planets are not lining up. I was really looking forward to this...
 
Jackie and Bob.....next year....family always come first!

Alan......I will try and line up the planets better next time! Isle Royal this summer? You can use your Meps #5..........

Tom
 
Schedule of Events..
Participate in the activities that you feel comfortable with. Practice safety procedures.

Tuesday... sign in, chat with other Brats, explore the island, bike, kayak, cruise or relax.
I’ll be ordering Pizza at 2 PM so be sure to signup before that time.
Pizza Dinner at about 5 to 5:15 pm.
Will light grill at 4:45 for those that want to grill out on their own.
Campfire at Dusk.

Wednesday....8:30 bring items to the tables for silent auction. Auction begins at 10:00 ends at 2:00 pm
9 Am Skipper’s meeting.....cruising options and more
9:30 open discussion and questions on mods and upgrades. Led by Dr. Bob
11:00 Safely towing your C-Dory. Do the Math. Led by Tom Schulke
5 to 5:15 Publix Chicken Dinner. Coleslaw and potato salad provided.
Campfire at dusk

Thursday.....10:00 AM Galley Gadgets and Boat Gear. Show and Tell. Vote on your favorite. Prizes!

Dinner at 5:15 Share leftovers and use up what’s leftover on your boat.
Grill will be lit at 4:45 PM
Campfire at dusk.

Volunteers will be needed and you can signup at the gathering. Please be patient with the changes this year. We’ll do the best we can on having everything go smoothly under the unusual circumstances.

Thanks and see you soon. Tom and Joyce
 
Hi Everyone,
Sorry to have to say that Pam and I will not be able to make it to the get together on Hoonton Island this year. If anyone would like to use the slip I reserved, they are welcome to it. Hopefully we will be able to get there for the next one.
Ross and Pam
 
Ross and Pam
Sorry you can’t make it but there’s always next year. I think you can get a partial refund for your slip on Reserve America.

Tom
 
I have a Furuno Radar, and Chartplotter (original listing is here: http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?p=348127 )I can bring to Hontoon, if someone wants it, free or whatever price it commands at the silent auction!? I would rather not haul it both ways, so please ping me and i will bring it if there is interest. Any bid goes to the auction cause. Fully functioning, thought it was sold several times but fell thru on shipping it no continued response. Let me know!
 
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