SW FL/Thous Is/Everglades/Keys Adventure

G

gulfcoast john

New member
Hi Friends!

We plan for this year’s Adventure prior to the Hontoon Hoot to be a cruise from Punta Gorda down the SW FL coast to the keys, up to Elliott Key in Biscayne Bay, then back. We originally planned a loop using the Okeechobee waterway. After three scouting expeditions by plane and car we decided that the ICW between Palm Beach and Miami is just one long 6 MPH over-priced, congested condo concrete canyon that we don’t need to see more of. Typical (nice) marinas were $3.50-$4/foot with a 40 foot minimum.

We like to keep my towing runs under 500 miles at 62 MPH. Our planned first stop on Tues Feb 9 is a North Tampa Hilton Garden Inn that has a large side parking lot (confirmed with staff that it would likely be empty for us). We’ll test the Road Toad I transferred to the 2019 F250 from the last truck to keep the fridge from discharging the boat batteries too much while towing (10 amp max charge with a built in circuit breaker and microprocessor that auto shuts down when the truck ignition is turned off).

We’ll have some exposed passages in Charlotte Harbor, Pine Is Sound, and out in the Gulf between Naples and Marco Island. There is no ICW south of Marco Island all the way around the Everglades and into the Keys. Molly Brown crew did it (with more time than we have) so we figure we can too. Worst case, we could pull out at Everglades City, Port of the Islands, Calusa Island marina etc and rent a UHaul van back to the rig in Punta Gorda (Enterprise has NOT been useful during this pandemic). Thanks to James for the rec’d of Laishley Marina (with decent ramp and a transient night there) and Crystal Cay secure storage for the truck and trailer ($48/$72 for a month) 3 miles away.

The days are getting longer, and summer is almost here! Time to get on the boat and go for a cruise!

Wish us Luck! (in our experience, Luck helps those like us a lot when we lack Skill).

John
 
Hey John:

Crystal Cay are good people. They’ve done work on Molly Brown many times. Please pass along our regards to Mike, Connie and Jim.

Didn’t need any bug spray since it was fairly cold. Some noseeums at dusk in a couple places but once it gets dark they tend to leave.

That state test is now mandatory, and includes all crew on the boat whether they pilot or not. Standard stuff, and you’ll like this.... FREE :smiled

Flamingo entrance channel is shallower than we remembered. All the boats do it on plane, legally, since slow speed zone isn’t until just before the marina. NO cell service except AT&T who has a tower at the marina. 2$/ft if you stay overnight, floating docks. We were the only boat over 3 nights.

Have fun,
James
 
Thanks guys, did not know Eileen needed a certificate too.

This Adventure started Feb 9 when we left in a cold rain that leaked into the Lewmar hatch in the southern tail of the same blizzard that swept across the US to start the boating season.

Arrived without issues at Hilton Garden N Tampa, which has a very large side parking lot in a quiet and safe area. Nearby state parks are cheaper, but we’re too lazy to reconfigure the berth. This is a find at 470 miles and one time zone from home; we prefer that trailering days be about 500 miles at 62 MPH.

DSC04162.jpg

We took on 150 gallons (900 lbs) E0 gas and arrived Feb 10 at the Laishley Porta Gorda city marina, which has a good ramp with a 300 foot day dock, fob security gate and clean air conditioned restrooms.

DSC04164.jpg

They have some moderate road noise, but not with a 15k BTU AC running. We spent a few hours arranging to store the truck and trailer rig 3 miles inland at Crystal Cay. They were pretty much full but fit us in. Ordinarily we would walk back, but it was sunny and 84 degrees on a busy road with no shoulders or sidewalks, so we got a Lyft back for $9. We regard being able to launch and stay at a transient slip at the same marina a huge advantage with no weather worries.

http://www.laishleymarina.com/

https://crystalcay.org/

The next day we crossed Gasparilla Sound and Charlotte harbor in one foot whitecapping slop to Cayo Costa island state park. Many larger boats anchor in Pelican Bay, protected by a mangrove island, but there is also a 2.5-3.5 ft deep cove behind a long sand spit that is mainly used by day boaters with outboards. Before sunset we were the only ones there. 82 degrees and sunny. This one was in the 1% that was still on our 40 year long quest to hike all the public beaches and islands between Key West and New Orleans. No night dockage and no generators allowed.

DSC04169.jpg

DSC04185.sized.jpg

DSC04188.jpg

Pelican Bay had over 100 boats in it 2 weekends ago according to the AGLCA blog.

DSC04167.jpg

DSC04198_001.jpg

It’s difficult to get to a trail to the beach other than at the docks, but can be done by wading thigh deep around a few hundred yards of mangroves jutting out into the water to find the Osprey trail and some , others intersecting it.

The next day we drove south through the south wind and slop to go up the Caloosahatchee river to Legacy Harbour Marina for two nights. We had a great time touring the Edison and Ford winter estate homes, labs and gardens. 83 degrees and sunny with gusts to 22 MPH. Early tomorrow we plan to head down to Pink Shell Marina resort before the winds kick in. (Maybe shouldn’t mention the weather unless it’s NOT 80-84 degrees and sunny). This is not the most direct route to Hontoon, but's it's lots of fun!

Safe travels!

John and Eileen
[/i]
 
We just finished a week of daily and nightly wind Small Craft Advisories (20-22 sustained, gusts to 28MPH at the airport) just off Matanzas Pass, Ft Myers beach in a very exposed dock at Pink Shell Marina.

DSC04251.jpg

Man, did we get walloped and jerked around and bounced and trounced and slammed and have cabinet doors open and spill out stuff (thank goodness we favor box wine!)

DSC04250.jpg


We had wind whitecaps putting the aft scuppers a good six inches underwater and had to deploy the 2 inch scupper plugs for the very first time ever to keep the overflow from reaching the aft portions of the fishboxes and getting into the bilges every minute. The auto bilge pumps would take care of that, but no sense in not doing a little preventive mitigation. My good camera is not waterproof and I was partially successful trying to avoid the stern geysers.

DSC04249.jpg

Anyway, not only did we successfully live through it, we slept through it like babies! However, we each admitted that when we went up to the marina bathhouse each morning, if we closed our eyes we would have to hold onto the countertop!

DSC04248.jpg

Better settled weather is already here:

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/ff ... 848087324e

Safe travels to all who are cruising, and GET ON THE BOAT to those who are not! 20 days until daylight savings time!

Cheers!

John and Eileen
 
I'll remember that last set of photos next time you invite me to go cruising with you in the Keys. lol... :mrgreen: Although it still looks better than the white and ice around here! Colby
 
Even though I’m reluctant to contribute to harsh obscene rhetoric, I must declare that those who claim that no sane person can sleep well on a TC255 anchored into the breeze due to to wavelet slap is a….

What’s the Worst that comes to mind?

OK, a ‘pantywaist’.

So there!

John
 
John & Eileen, we are enjoying following along with you on your adventure. The holding on to countertops, while at the Marina showers after some shake & stir nights aboard brings back many memories of us after weeks/months aboard walking like drunks on land & anytime in a Marina shower having to keep a steadying hand on the side.

Thanks for sharing & keep the tales & photos coming.

Jay & JoLee
 
Jay beat me to it, but after a month or so on the water, standing in the shower was not possible without holding on. Shampoo and eyes closed was dangerous :shock: :oops:

John, was there no way to get around onto the other side of the dock. Seems that might have mitigated some of the rock and roll. White caps at the dock is more excitement than one should really indulge in safely.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1872.thumb.jpg
 
Thanks Jay and Harvey…

Harvey, there is a pontoon rental operation on the ‘protected’ side of the dock, so we could not go there.

The violence of the ‘bucking’ was enough at times to make us concerned about the possibility of the boat gunnel getting trapped under the floating dock, and there would not be any possible way for us to free it. We managed that with careful line planning in advance, and one railing tie bowline to dock cleat in the pic that Bob can use for the next 30 years about how to NEVER use a railing when you need a cleat (hey Bob, permission is given). It was dark and rough and we were tired and the long line we needed was hidden under a box of (you guessed it) wine.

DSC04265.jpg

You too must choose your packing priorities. We suggest you always choose wine first.

Safe travels!

John
 
The violence of the ‘bucking’ was enough at times to make us concerned about the possibility of the boat gunnel getting trapped under the floating dock, and there would not be any possible way for us to free it.
Click to expand...

John, that is why you carry the sledge hammer, large crow bar and fire axe aboard--to demolish the dock when it traps your boat!

Keep having fun.
 
gulfcoast john":1here5fm said:
... The violence of the ‘bucking’ was enough at times to make us concerned about the possibility of the boat gunnel getting trapped under the floating dock, and there would not be any possible way for us to free it. ...
Click to expand...

That is one concern with the C-Dory. Not so much with floating docks, but certainly with fixed ones. In the mid Atlantic, there are a lot of fixed docks. Because the tide range can be a couple of feet and the height of the gunwales of the C-Dory is pretty low compared to some boats, there is the distinct possibility that a C-Dory can be shorter than the dock (especially at the back). There are places where I dock, that a low tide where other people are stepping into the cockpit or gunwales of their boat, I have to step onto the roof of mine.

So we have to be careful that the boat does not get trapped under the dock when the tide comes in or get suspended by the lines when the tide goes out.

The low height of the C-Dory can also make it a challenge in some places to position the fenders to keep off the dock. Fenders aren't much good if there is nothing to fender against because the fenders are so low.
 
The low height of the C-Dory can also make it a challenge in some places to position the fenders to keep off the dock. Fenders aren't much good if there is nothing to fender against because the fenders are so low.
Click to expand...

If there is a mid dock piling this is a good place to use a fender board. So that any fender can be on the piling no mater where the boat is located. We also carry long inflatable fenders (material similar to PVC inflatable dinghies) which are about 4 feet long. The could be deployed from the cabin top railing to the side of the gunnel, to keep the boat from getting trapped. Also using "Shelter Rite" PVC/scrim material you can make your own long inflatable fenders, using a standard Halkey Roberts Valve, and HH66 Vinyl Glue.

If there is a stand-off piling, that could be used to keep the boat away from the dock. Also using long spring lines can help to keep the boat out from under a dock.
 
It turns out that we had met the couple on the Cutwater 24 docked next to us in the picture in July 2019 in Canada as part of the Triangle Loop Adventure while cruising down the Richelieu river at a free town dock near Richelieu.

They have since downsized from a Ranger 30 and moved to Punta Gorda.

Today they headed toward Calusa Island Marina (one of our south FL favs) then to the Rod and Gun Club marina (a little worn, still cool) and then into the Ten thousand Islands and Everglades.

All that was in the Our Original Plan but has been overcome by events.
Details to follow.
Small World or what?

We need to get back to the pool.

Happy Cruising!

John
 
Many wise crews have said that “nothing is more dangerous on a boat than a schedule!”

We have found that to be true.

Wow, how a week can change weather!

DSC04288.jpg

DSC04287.jpg

DSC04285.jpg

DSC04282.jpg

DSC04278.jpg

DSC04276.jpg

Eileen tore up our schedule for this trip, then cut the pieces with scissors and a utility knife into tiny shards since we don’t have a shredder on the boat (most likely the ONLY boat here at Pink Shell marina without a shredder, a wine rack and a hot tub).

A few days later, we put those remnants in an old coffee can, filled it with gas and lit it.

The next week we took the 410 trolley and 490 trolley to catch the 430 bus to Home Depot to buy a galvanized 33 gal trash can, a “Hazardous Waste” label tape and a 80 lb bag of instant cement, and a gallon of Muriatic Acid, put all that in the can and secured it to the bike racks in the front of the trolleys and buses for the rides back.

We debated the Next Step for a week and then we added the Muriatic Acid and stirred it around with an old stainless steel ladle, which pretty much dissolved. We dumped all that in the 33g can and stirred in the instant cement. After that cured a few days later we slapped on the HAZMAT label, cast off all our lines and shorepower, and headed 100 miles out into the Gulf to heave it overboard.

If some shrimp boat nets it, we figure they most likely won’t keep it or open it.

It took us 28 days to get rid of that schedule, but it’s a goner.

Pink Shell Resort and marina is now our #1 winter marina pick!

$3.75 a foot with no minimum LOA is a bargain in season. Even more so since all resort amenities are included...daily pool/beach towel exchange, three heated pools (adult, kiddy and mixed), beach lounge chairs and umbrellas, super clean air conditioned marina bath house, free laundry, free bike, kayak and SUP with reservations, and (most important) an uncrowded hard sand beautiful beach for our daily 6 mile beach walk. Ice is only $2.50 ($2.00 at the Publx 3.2 miles away on slow trolley).

A free tram runs most of the length of Estero Island, and an air conditioned trolley the rest with a $0.35 fee for Geezers (Medicare cards suffice).

Cons: slips are exposed to wakes, supposed to be NO wake, IDLE speed but no one does except commercial trawlers. It all settles down after dark, and we’re not on the boat during the day.

Marco Island marina has one heated pool, but it’s $4.00 a foot with a 40 ft min!

We called eleven marinas at Naples, NONE had a one night transient slip.

Faro Blanco in Marathon was full (we rented a house with 22 ft Whaler there last month and are VERY familiar with that area).

So we ditched the Schedule and decided to stay here until March 3, then head back up to Punta Gorda, load up and March 5 head towards Ed Stone. Hope to see ya there!

When your crew decides to deep six a schedule, we hope it’s not such a complex operation as it is for us.

Happy winter cruising!

John and Eileen
 
John, Nice job. Too bad you had that schedule printed on paper. Just think how easy it would have been if it had just been on your phone. All you would have needed was one cement block and a role of baling wire, or duct tape :roll: I guess might have worked.

Sounds like you had fun doing it though and since you are on a boat, that is what counts.

Sometimes we just need to come up for air, enjoy some new found freedoms, and vent a little.

Nice job John.

PS: Is that a blue Marlin in that pool shot?
PPS: Why do they put telephone poles out in the water??

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Hiding out, not on a schedule!
0_God_s_Pocket_Anchorage.thumb.jpg
 
Full moon rise over Matanzas pass:

P1010773.jpg

More full moon rise:


This pirate ship under the full moon displays all the USCG required lights for navigation.

[img]http://www.c-brats.com/albums/CAT-O-MINE/P1010769_001.jpg


And then some!



One of our favorite mods is the galley extension with the 110v outlet previously hogged by the water heater. This allows the coffee pot, toaster, and NuWave skillet to all be used to make breakfast with the air conditioner on, with no wires crossing the center aisle. Or the toaster oven for dinners.

P1010777.jpg

The extension is ½ birch with a gloss stain, supported by the helm seat back when slid fully forward and the throttle levers, with the helm wheel positioned full down. The aft end is attached with 2 removable screws to a 1” board screwed to the existing teak fiddle. Cut carefully so the whole board can be stored under the Nav seat without interfering with the seat cushion snaps. This mod is stolen from the Ranger Tug concept.

We use the no-longer used water heater 110v outlet for these.

We find Publix and other grocers have much better and healthier choices in their ‘ready to bake’ sections as opposed to microwave entree selections. Therefore we choose a medium size Breville toaster oven over a microwave. In hot weather we’ll move the oven into the cockpit, or onto the dock connected to the power pedestal. It can hold a small pizza or baby back ribs.

Every marina has endless hot water showers with LOTS of room.

A perfect size very thin wood fiber cutting board from Epicurianusa.com covers the sink. Another covers the cutout for the removed butane stove (replaced by drop-in clear storage bins). They are flat on one side with a liquid-gathering cutout on the other.

Happy Cruising mods!
Hope you are cruising!
John
 
That’s a sweet set up John. You and Eilleen know how to live “right”. What caught my eye though was that jar of peanut butter....a permanent fixture in our galley :lol:
Trust your loaded back up and headed this way.....

James
 
Back
Top