10/20 - 10/22 - Gulf Coast Gathering
- Thread starter Byrdman
- Start date
Thanks Marc!! Jeff and I plan to go buy some of these spots and get GPS locations. Great little town. One of my favorite spots is a Mexican place right at the east end of the bay bridge, ....serves great breakfast, lunches, and dinners.... at VERY reasonable prices too. Looking forward to some water time on Thursday/Friday..... and burning some meat on the grill @ the "Main Camp"/John's house on the river to get use to the grill.
Byrdman, the prices of real estate have gone way up in this area, so check it out before you "buy" any of these: :roll:
I went by there with Mark, it is a great place! It is on the Apalachacola side of the river. I would probably bring fender boards--I don't believe this is a "no wake" area..but not sure--fender boards would give better protection.
I have docked much larger boats at the Apalachacola marina in the past. The main visitor's dock is gone from the hurricane. My personal preference would be to take the trailers and tow vehicles to John's house, if he has room--We spent one night in our RV in the parking lot there in the past, and I would feel more secure if the trailer was close to the boat. We have a Honda Generator for our boat--and could bring a 5500 watt "contractor" type generator--but these things are noisey.....
That time of the year it is starting to cool down a little, and with a fan and ventiallation the evenings can be nice.
If any of the folks want to cruise from the Pensacola area, please contact me directly. I can give some directions and a good place to launch--plus we may be cruising there, instead of trailering.
I went by there with Mark, it is a great place! It is on the Apalachacola side of the river. I would probably bring fender boards--I don't believe this is a "no wake" area..but not sure--fender boards would give better protection.
I have docked much larger boats at the Apalachacola marina in the past. The main visitor's dock is gone from the hurricane. My personal preference would be to take the trailers and tow vehicles to John's house, if he has room--We spent one night in our RV in the parking lot there in the past, and I would feel more secure if the trailer was close to the boat. We have a Honda Generator for our boat--and could bring a 5500 watt "contractor" type generator--but these things are noisey.....
That time of the year it is starting to cool down a little, and with a fan and ventiallation the evenings can be nice.
If any of the folks want to cruise from the Pensacola area, please contact me directly. I can give some directions and a good place to launch--plus we may be cruising there, instead of trailering.
The Fran Sea
New member
OK, I'm a little slow, but 1.) who's JOHN???? 2.) is there a central gathering point for this gathering?? or is everyone going to be spread out in different places?? (not much camaraderia that way) and 3.) will it be an "in water" gathering??
1.) who's JOHN???? John is Marc's partner in Wefing's Marine, and owns the house and property to include the sea wall that many of us will tie to. Bob is correct, the is not a no wake area...but the boats will only be against the walls when we are not out and about.
2.) is there a central gathering point for this gathering?? This event is still over 3 months out...and I will for sure have this all worked out prior to the "weekend" (20-22Oct06) I want to be sure of what events (seafoof festival time around that time) are taking place prior to making launch ramp calls today. Several options I feel sure...but I have to make a couple of coordination stops.
2a.) or is everyone going to be spread out in different places?? Yes, I agree 100% about the camaraderia...but have to allow for "day time diversified interest of the C-Dory owners.. Some like to fish, some like to stay tied up, sit in the cockpits, in/on/around the docks and socials...some want to so see pretty nature things in the area. This is a GREAT place for the gathering because all of this is available. There is a great gazibo complete with cooking pit on John's property. There are great sand bars about 1/4 mile both up and down stream from John's house. I am on one of them in the picture below...and you can almost see John's place to the left side up river from the train bridge. There is great inshore fishing. There is great off shore fishing. There is great ecological river cruising areas. There is a great little historic coastal town. You pick it...you do it.
Now directing C-Dory owners is like hurding cats or pushing worms... ya can't do it. So, what I have seen that works best....is folks kinda pair up/group up and go do things with folks with similar interest. Folks that like to fish..go fish, ..etc. Now, a "GENERAL" time of gathering for Friday night will be 7pm under the gazebo. Those that are there ....great.. those that are not...that is fine too. Saturday night, we will have a seafood and BBQ dinner. We plan to roast a whole hog at the gazibo...I'll have some BBQ shipped in from our plant in Nashville (pulled pork, ribs, brisket), and Marc Grove, (Wefing's....John's partner that runs the boat stuff) will be providing seasonal fress stuff from the area. You will not be hungry. I will be at the gazibo all day Saturday with the hog.
3.) will it be an "in water" gathering?? For sure it is a in water gathering. Again...I am going down and will spend Friday getting some more detal and will email it to all those who are signed up to attend. This way, if/when folks sign up closer to the time of the gathering, I can send them a one or two page word document and they will not have to pick thru this thread as iff looking for the needle in the hay stack. Today, there is more than enough room for all on the sea wall....but, at basically 25' per boat... that will go pretty fast... and...I know there are some very nice coves in the river within 1/4 mile. This will be a blast!!
....now...this is a great boating area... Today, I am not sure if I plan to trailer down, take the river(s) down from either the east or west side of Alabama, or....because of some hoasting responsibilites, I may pre-position my boat there and just hang out... I will do what it takes to ensure we have a good time, eat good, and have time to TALK ABOUT C-Dory stuff.... :thup :thup :thup
BOB(Thataway): Once you make up your mind if you plan to cruise over from P'cola or trailer over, let me know. Some may "chose" to put in there and stow their tow vehicles, and enjoy the short cruise to and from. If that happens... please just plan on a arrival time around 3pm"ish" at John's. You take the lead on that... I am totally clueless about that area.
2.) is there a central gathering point for this gathering?? This event is still over 3 months out...and I will for sure have this all worked out prior to the "weekend" (20-22Oct06) I want to be sure of what events (seafoof festival time around that time) are taking place prior to making launch ramp calls today. Several options I feel sure...but I have to make a couple of coordination stops.
2a.) or is everyone going to be spread out in different places?? Yes, I agree 100% about the camaraderia...but have to allow for "day time diversified interest of the C-Dory owners.. Some like to fish, some like to stay tied up, sit in the cockpits, in/on/around the docks and socials...some want to so see pretty nature things in the area. This is a GREAT place for the gathering because all of this is available. There is a great gazibo complete with cooking pit on John's property. There are great sand bars about 1/4 mile both up and down stream from John's house. I am on one of them in the picture below...and you can almost see John's place to the left side up river from the train bridge. There is great inshore fishing. There is great off shore fishing. There is great ecological river cruising areas. There is a great little historic coastal town. You pick it...you do it.
Now directing C-Dory owners is like hurding cats or pushing worms... ya can't do it. So, what I have seen that works best....is folks kinda pair up/group up and go do things with folks with similar interest. Folks that like to fish..go fish, ..etc. Now, a "GENERAL" time of gathering for Friday night will be 7pm under the gazebo. Those that are there ....great.. those that are not...that is fine too. Saturday night, we will have a seafood and BBQ dinner. We plan to roast a whole hog at the gazibo...I'll have some BBQ shipped in from our plant in Nashville (pulled pork, ribs, brisket), and Marc Grove, (Wefing's....John's partner that runs the boat stuff) will be providing seasonal fress stuff from the area. You will not be hungry. I will be at the gazibo all day Saturday with the hog.
3.) will it be an "in water" gathering?? For sure it is a in water gathering. Again...I am going down and will spend Friday getting some more detal and will email it to all those who are signed up to attend. This way, if/when folks sign up closer to the time of the gathering, I can send them a one or two page word document and they will not have to pick thru this thread as iff looking for the needle in the hay stack. Today, there is more than enough room for all on the sea wall....but, at basically 25' per boat... that will go pretty fast... and...I know there are some very nice coves in the river within 1/4 mile. This will be a blast!!
....now...this is a great boating area... Today, I am not sure if I plan to trailer down, take the river(s) down from either the east or west side of Alabama, or....because of some hoasting responsibilites, I may pre-position my boat there and just hang out... I will do what it takes to ensure we have a good time, eat good, and have time to TALK ABOUT C-Dory stuff.... :thup :thup :thup
BOB(Thataway): Once you make up your mind if you plan to cruise over from P'cola or trailer over, let me know. Some may "chose" to put in there and stow their tow vehicles, and enjoy the short cruise to and from. If that happens... please just plan on a arrival time around 3pm"ish" at John's. You take the lead on that... I am totally clueless about that area.
How rude of me... below is a picture of John when he blessed me with the best catch of my life on his boat.....WOW...what a day.
John is the succesful Chris Christopherson looking dude on the right... I am the dirty, wet bumb on the left, and that is several nice dinners in the middle...
Yall come on down!!!
John is the succesful Chris Christopherson looking dude on the right... I am the dirty, wet bumb on the left, and that is several nice dinners in the middle...
Yall come on down!!!
I suspect that you can get all of the boats you want the that sea wall--because it is ideal for "med moor"--either bow or stern to the wall, with an anchor or two out aft. (two because of the current). We have docked all manor off boats that way, and all of the C Dories are ideal to go "Bow Too" a sea wall.
I would agree that there are a scad of other places up the ICW and river where groups can anchor or raft. The further up you go, the less traffic.
Heck maybe we could set a "record" for C Dory raft up--but I suspect that is a fairly big number!....
I would agree that there are a scad of other places up the ICW and river where groups can anchor or raft. The further up you go, the less traffic.
Heck maybe we could set a "record" for C Dory raft up--but I suspect that is a fairly big number!....
I think I can clarify a few things for y'all. As far as trailer storage , John's "compound" has some space for sure and there a few friends of mine with boat storage facilities very close by. That should not be a problem .
As far as tie ups are concerned , I think Bob [Thataway] has the right idea . There are a few wakes there as it is not a no wake zone, so the stern to tie sounds good . There is also a small basin there that will hold a few boats . We know all the neighbors and will probably have no problem using their docks as well . Id be mighty proud to fill it all up with C Dory folks .
The chart Mike [whaler go far] posted is the "downtown" area of Apalachicola . The gathering place is upstream from there just past the old ,but still functional railroad swingbridge .Its visible in the shot of C Byrd and his newly revitalzed boat above. Its about 3 miles away from downtown .
We will have some vehicles available, Blue portable restrooms if necessary [there is one outside bathroom] , but if we have lots of attendees ,we will provide more facilities . We have Honda Generators at Wefings if necessary, but I think the house will have enough circuits to run outside for normal things .
Personally , Id like to see it centralized at and around John's house . Im all for comraderie and we will do whatever we need to do to provide what we need for a fun couple days .
Marc Grove
As far as tie ups are concerned , I think Bob [Thataway] has the right idea . There are a few wakes there as it is not a no wake zone, so the stern to tie sounds good . There is also a small basin there that will hold a few boats . We know all the neighbors and will probably have no problem using their docks as well . Id be mighty proud to fill it all up with C Dory folks .
The chart Mike [whaler go far] posted is the "downtown" area of Apalachicola . The gathering place is upstream from there just past the old ,but still functional railroad swingbridge .Its visible in the shot of C Byrd and his newly revitalzed boat above. Its about 3 miles away from downtown .
We will have some vehicles available, Blue portable restrooms if necessary [there is one outside bathroom] , but if we have lots of attendees ,we will provide more facilities . We have Honda Generators at Wefings if necessary, but I think the house will have enough circuits to run outside for normal things .
Personally , Id like to see it centralized at and around John's house . Im all for comraderie and we will do whatever we need to do to provide what we need for a fun couple days .
Marc Grove
We just bought new tow vehicle Honda Pilot 4wd haven't tried it yet but should tow very good ? Im buying a trailer in sep still undecided about single or tandem axcel trl. We are planning on being there in oct . The Duck is still working out some problems with windlass and bilge pumps and hopefully will be cruise ready by oct. jennykatz/duck
As concerns the single or double axle I am no expert, but I have run into a problem with the single axle trailer I have. With the stuff I have put on the C-22 it now out-weighs the tires on the trailer (ST20575D14). I am now looking to change out the tires first to see if I can gain more carrying capacity. If the tires (ST22575D15) that I am getting will fit then I will be ok, but if not then I will try to add another axle. My last choice will be to get another (double axle) trailer.
I had Tim Poppell from Float On Trailers here yesterday and he is working on a premium equipped C Dory 22 trailer . Tandem,Torsion Axle,all Alum and Stainless Hardware . Their trailers are top notch and he has the best Tomcat trailer we have seen . Ill keep everyone posted .
Marc Grove
Marc Grove
Although we towed primarily with a 30 foot class A RV, we used our TOAD, at times and probably towed over 2000 miles with it--a 2003 Honda Pilot with all wheel drive. It is near the upper limit of the Pilot (3500 house trailer and 4500 boat. The C Dory 22, is probably a bit closer to a trailer than many boats, because of wind resistance, but it should work OK. (We towed out West, on a number of grades, and didn't see any problems.
Although a dual axel trailer weighs more and costs more, I would highly suggest it for road trailering. Be sure and get disc breaks--preferably on both axels.
Although a dual axel trailer weighs more and costs more, I would highly suggest it for road trailering. Be sure and get disc breaks--preferably on both axels.
F O C U S..... Gathering stuff....
OK, had another great trip down to the Eastpoint/Apalachicola Bay area...
Here are the GPS coordinates for
John's River House: N29.45.909 W085.02.222 which is where we will for sure eat the "Saturday evening dinner."
and the fork in the river for endless anchorages, some even protected by tight turns, and little "sand bars" to seperate them from the "river channel"
N29.46.738 W085.03.016
WhalerGoFar....thanks for the map photos. That is cool. With the GPS coordinates, you for sure can hit the targets! Thanks.
Our list of attendee's is growing, and I know of one to 3 more C-Dory owners from our area who have not signed on yet too.
Byrdman
OK, had another great trip down to the Eastpoint/Apalachicola Bay area...
Here are the GPS coordinates for
John's River House: N29.45.909 W085.02.222 which is where we will for sure eat the "Saturday evening dinner."
and the fork in the river for endless anchorages, some even protected by tight turns, and little "sand bars" to seperate them from the "river channel"
N29.46.738 W085.03.016
WhalerGoFar....thanks for the map photos. That is cool. With the GPS coordinates, you for sure can hit the targets! Thanks.
Our list of attendee's is growing, and I know of one to 3 more C-Dory owners from our area who have not signed on yet too.
Byrdman
Back to docking for a moment , I spoke with one neighbor with a multi boat dock just upstream of the Sea wall and we can not only use it , but can tie a line with floats between the docks for mooring assistance . There is lots of room , and there is a big lot we will mow for trailers ,campers , whatever .Its gonna be fun................
I got wind of some early photos coming for this event - something about some shanty on a hill - so the album is in place way early. It's at the back of the Cruises and Events album list for now, but it is there.
About 10 weeks away and 12 boats signed up, and I know of a couple more who indicated they are coming but have not yet signed up. Truly looking forward to it. Checking out of the net for a couple weeks on a mission trip to Peru.... I'll be back on after my return.
Be safe on the water.
Byrdman
Be safe on the water.
Byrdman
The Fran Sea
New member
We will be there, however our boat won't. We'll be returning from a trip to Michigan, and have booked rooms at the Gibson Inn in downtown for Friday & Saturday nites. However in the spirit of things, we will have on our Chesapeak Gathering Tee Shirts and our C-Dory caps. :lol: