SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH OR ON YOUR C-DORY TODAY??

Well, just to continue another beautiful day in Everett..The marina is thinning out as more and more boats are put away for the winter. We, however took advantage of the gorgeous day, lowered gas prices (2.69 at Costco), and flat water. Motoring out to the sound we saw several big fishing vessels down from Alaska, and what looked like the whole US Navy tied up at the Navy base. We toodeled up to Langley and watched a work crew scurry around the big red double hulled 'Gemini'. Then we pulled out into the middle between Camano, Hat and Whidbey islands, turned off the motor and just sat there among hundreds of ducks, and several curious seals. "It is well, it is well, with my soul"
 
I went out tuesday to the inlet in front of my house. We've been having a north easter blow for the last several days and it let up a little yesterday. The mullet were making thier annual migration south and they are being followed by speckled trout, blue fish and spanish mackeral. I caught about 20 trout and brought home 5 nicer ones to let swim in some hot grease. I put the heads and guts in the crab trap off my dock. Yesterday and old buddy of mine came out and we went out fishing and brought home 8 really nice trout all over three pounds. We were the only boat of the water! We got back to the dock just before dark and cleaned the fish. I pulled the crab trap and it had 21 nice blue crabs in it. Being to tired to fool with them I put the rest of the fish scraps in the trap and threw it back in. We will have steamed crabs tonight! Life is good as long as I don't listen to the news.
 
Took some friends from Bear Lake, Arkansas out yesterday to help them get a complete PNW experience, and went around Protection Island and then over to Dunginess spit Light House. The water was flat, rarely a ripple, and shades of steel blue. Looking back toward shore, the Olympic Mountains were layered in clouds, with their deep dark gray to puffy light blues over the sharp ridge lines of the mountians. Not like what they see at home. More like a moving water color. He was surprised by the C-Dory, Cabin heat, full array of electronics and quiet ride. They are used to open boat and warmer water, we wear PFD's (suspenders) and don't ski behind the boat. Saw lots of seal, birds and crab trap floats. Got a nice close look at a fairly strong tide ripe off the lighthouse, and a slightly more than occasional kelp. All in all, another great day on the water.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
OK, so including the Friday afternoon trip we have been out 3 times in the last 3 days, and each day just kept getting better. Sat afternoon we were out with a buddy and his daughter, much the same trip, but only saw a few seals, although there were plenty hauled out on Protection Island. Great flat water, and plenty of blue, sky and water, some ripples and no tide rip out by the lighthouse so went around the corner and got some good photos of Dungeness light with the Olympic mountians behind.

Today, we were out by ourselves. Sorry folks, looks like we ran out of friends :cry , well at least for this weekend, and we headed out towards Protection Island, then into Discovery Bay. Saw bunches, (herds, pods, or families) of pilot whales. From as far away as half mile to as close as 40 feet. Easier to see them when the water is glass flat. Clear blue skies and glass flat water for the whole afternoon. Tons of sea birds, and several sailboats, including a colorful Hobie cat. :rainbow

Have had some questions as to the working and understandability of the on board VHF, so when I heard Victoria Coast Guard give a "radio check" while we were down in Discovery Bay, I asked for one too. ON Hi power, I got back a "Loud and Clear" and they must be 40 miles from where we were.

It was great to get to share the C-Dory experience, and to have such great conditions. Yes, I know we can transit 6-8 foot waves from a stern quarter if we have to, but today was shear pleasure, and this weekend was what we got this boat for.

So, thank you to all of you on this site for all of your input, because it has all helped in one way or another to increase our knowledge and ability to have the experience we did this weekend.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
:moon :moon
 
Hi Harvey,

Wonderful mental images of your past three days on the water. You may make converts out of your southern friends - when Tom took us for our first C-Dory ride in the protected cabin, we were sold. And regarding your VHF: down here there are repeater stations, so we often hear, and have spoken with, the CG out of Corpus Christi. That might explain the 40 mile output. We always leave our VHF on Hi, except when talking to a nearby bridge or other boat, then switch to Lo.

Thanks again for your posts.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We have had some great fall weather during the last week or so. Today will be more of the same. I am going out to enjoy the calm waters and the beautiful fall colors. I think I will head down sound towards Harstine Island. Here is a picture from a few days ago.

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Robbi
 
What an incredible day on the water. I left the boat house about 10am and and spent the first hour or so just drifting in Chambers Bay, watching the shore birds, seals, jellyfish and just soaking up the warmth of a beautiful fall day. I didn't make it down sound, I just went a few miles to the south side of Fox Island and anchored on the last few hours of the flood tide. I stayed there for almost five hours, and I enjoyed every minute. Truly spectacular. I pulled the anchor just before sunset and headed back to the dock. Here are a few pictures from the day.

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Robbi
 
Since we were going to go up to Detroit Lake on sunday I was checking the boat saturday and found the dreaded steering tube freeze-up. Spent the day getting it out and freeing it. Learned a lot about the steering in that exercise.
 
Next time you have the steering rod out of the tube, drill a couple of holes through the motor mounts into the tube and thread them for S.Steel Grease fittings. :wink
:smiled Jack
 
Took a friend on a cruise down to Edmonds. Had lunch at Anthonys while overlooking the 22 footer 'Mickey Finn'. I was gonna take a picture with the cell phone camera but it said "You're out of memory" (At first I thought it was a text message from God.) :oops:
 
Well, we brought Lizzie home and put her away for the winter. This year we decided to tuck her in at the side of the house on the little spot we filled in and walled off a few years ago. I've been afraid to park the boat and trailer there because my civil engineer son told me that those 75 lb. wall blocks may not support the weight. But, after parking it out in front of the garage for a few years and compounding the problem by limiting access to a garage bay, I checked with a higher authority, Miguel my landscape guy. He said it would be fine, and, it is , so far. Spent yesterday taking stuff off, including the batteries and gas cans. I think we should start a thread called "Boat Stuff We Don't Need".
 
We went out Sat had a Great time in the Gulf 3-4 footers but no problem we were in a C-Dory .When we left our slip 1ft of water no problem we were in our c-dory 23 what a great boat These boats were made for florida skinny water and hot sun . WE love not getting sunburned and being able to tuck in the cabin when it rains Gotta love these Boats. We use our boat all year long except during Hurricanes .
 
We have been working on Discovery for the last few days in preparation for our winter cruise. I changed the oil and filters, the gear case lube, the water pump impellers and the Racor filter elements, on the Honda 135's. We cleaned and spiffed up the cabin and exterior. I installed a Artec T3A Pro digital to analog TV converter, so the flat screen will continue to work. The converter runs off of 12V as does the TV. I reworked the dingy carrier to be stronger, and more trouble free. Also checked the boat trailer, wheels, tires, brakes, lights etc.

I also finally got around to putting on the fancy raised letter C-Dory logo's that the factory sent me more than a year ago. Now the boat sports both TomCat and C-Dory decals.

We are leaving on Wed. Nov. 5th and heading to Florida for he winter. No float plan as yet. We will start at East Point (Wefings) launch, and continue to wander along the coast in a southerly direction for the next few months. Maybe all the way to the Keys again. We don't plan to return home until March or April.
 
Gazes wistfully at the TomCat on the lift and went to work on my brides Gloucester 22. Thorough cleaning inside and out, need to get it to the travel lift to install the centerboard for next season.

Have plans to build her a HAVEN 12.5, a small wooden sailboat about 16' O.A and Gaff Rigged, based on the Hereschoff 12.5 from the 1910 era. That should keep me busy this winter. I lucked out and found a set of molds for the hull (the oak ribs are bent to this for shape) that a guy at the Reedville Fisherman's Museum was done with.

Should be a fun job but I don't want it to get int he way of my C-dory time. It'll be a balancing act!

charlie[/url]
 
Took Swee Pea out in the Potomac today, just to spend some time on the water. Wanted to do several things.

1. See if my F150 could haul my Truck Camper AND Swee Pea - did with ease.
2. See how hard it is to launch the boat behind the Truck Camper - not too much of a problem
3. Keep the Honda 90 in shape by putting a few hours on it. Ran like a champ.
4. Test the Wallas because I have made myself a promise that I will take the boat out every month this winter!!! You know that I have never used the Wallas until today (shame on me) It worked like a champ!!! Made sure I followed the directions posted on this site:
1. Fuse on
2. Kleen Heat 3/4 full
3. Temp setting on High
4. Flip the toggle switch to on - light goes on
5. Red light blinks - then stays on when "all systems go"
6. Regulate temperature.
Shut down -
7. Flip toggle switch off
8. Do not turn off fuse
9. Red light will stay on - then blink when shutting down. NEVER ATTEMPT TO RESTART WHEN RED LIGHT IS BLINKING
10. Red light off. Unit can now be shut off at fuse.

I think I got it right. Must have - the Wallas nearly drove us out of the cabin!!!
Life is good ... at least for now. :wink

John
Swee Pea
 
Took Gizmo to Lake Washington. When putting it in the water the bow line got caught on the trailer, causing the boat to slam into it. Breaking the tail light, side board and damaging the keel guard. Without the guard on I bet we would be at the repair shop.
After that mess, I went around Mercer Island, then broke in the 6hp Suzuki taking it down thru the canal to Ballard and back before it ran out of gas.
Got into the lake calibrated the compass.
Deiced to go home instead went to Lake Stevens for more fishing.
Found out that the canvas needs waterproofing.
Great day!

Steve
 
Took the Tom-a-Hawk out for the normal weekend at Grand Lake - 2 nites, 2 days, anchored out, 78 degree daytime high, 45 degree nites... ahhhhh. Wallas fired up for morning heat and coffee with no problems. I anchored out up on the North end where few big boats go, next to the cliffs. Heavenly weekend again, thanks to C-Dory's all weather design.

Also, cooked breakfast, dinner and lunch on the Cobb grill in the cockpit and kept a pot of coffee hot on it all morning!

John
 
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