Today is 2 weeks from departure for the Florida Keys. The boat is ready and all the gear is assembled in the garage. Next week comes the hard part. Shopping for provisions. My new IPhone saves pics in jpeg, not jpg and this site doesn't take jpeg, so pics may or may not be posted. I still have my android, so maybe?
I will try to post updates HERE as Chris and I progress on this little adventure.
Test to see if i can post a pic from old phone.
I was going to offer to post your photos for your upcoming trip, but I saw that it might be better that your accomplished daughter, who you can proudly recommend for her sewing skills, and/or her sister, who I'm sure you're equally as proud of, consider taking on this job for their sins in recommending that you should go with an iPhone!
gotta say that is one fine 19---merry christmas to you and joan
Quote from: kickingbug1 on December 21, 2025, 09:08:07 AMgotta say that is one fine 19---merry christmas to you and joan
Thanks Steve! Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to you and Sara and all Compac 'O Nauts.
Truck is loaded and the boat is attached. All I need to do is pack my clothing.
The second pic shows a sleave my daughter made to protect the foresail while trailering.
spare tire i hope?
Left this morning and just outside our neighborhood I had to slam on the brakes for 2 deer. Then right at mile 1 the strap securing the boat to the trailer popped off. At mile 72 the right wiper blade tore. At 112 miles the strap came off again. Except for the rain and constant slow downs for no apparent reason on 95, the trip has been mostly uneventful. Stopped for the night about 5 and just north of Savana. Taking 3 days to drive 13 hours gives me the chance to stop if I see anything interesting. Although Joanie will be with on the return so I can't stop anywhere she would like.
Made it to Florida without a major incident!
Thanks for the update and for sharing the pics, too!
Made it to Homestead, but not without incident. Just south of Miami a fender let loose. I was able to pull over and remove it before anything was damaged. I'm not happy about this. I paid over $300 last summer to a trailer company to install them. Looking them over, no lock washers were installed. They'll be seeing me upon my return home.
Chris and met up at the Pelican Resort in Key Largo. If you ever come here, I highly recommend this "resort". It's old Florida. I have stayed here 6 times since 2005.
Tomorrow we will laun h at John Pennecamp State Park on the oceam side. Low 80s predicted for this week.
So cool guys. I am going to miss this sailing adventure this year. Enjoy the great weather I ordered for your Keys adventure. Be safe and Sail On. Al
After a restful night we launched at John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park and drove to the outdoor storage where Bob let us wash down our trailers before he graciously drove us back to the park. We had planned on anchoring in Largo Sound, but they dont allow overnight anchoring so we motored through the mangrove cut out to the Atlantic and headed to Rodriguez Key. With a late start we had to motor to arrive before sunset. Upon arriving the entire area is a grass seabed. 4 times I tried to set the anchor and 4 times it dragged. I finally found a sandy area behind a derelict sailboat and set the hook. Chris is some distance from me as he had better luck anchoring. With a nice breeze ventilating the cabin I'll spend the evening organizing the boat.
I'm watching this thread with great interest and jealousy!
Peaceful night with a slught breeze. Awoke about 1am and sat in the cockpit listening to dolphins nearby. With a light rain falling thisorning I attempted tobscrub the road filth off the deck but it needs a power washing. Breakfast was oatmeal, a granola bar and coffee. With the boat closed up the tea kettle heated the inside, but I had installed a 12v computer fan on the lower drop board and with the mushroom vent on the forward hatch open, the steam was removed from the cabin. Rain is predicted to stop in an hour or so. I'll do a little more organizing and then sit on the cockpit and enjoy the rain.
After a lazy morning of reading and snorkeling waiting for some wind, we sailed to Tavenier. With NE winds I went tobthe east side of the island, while Chris went west. Chris found good anchorage long before I made it around the island. I dropped the hook about a mile south of Chris and because of the shallows, far out from shore.
If you have never visited the Keys, there is no east or west here. By land or water you're alwyas traveling north or south. Ask a local how to get to Key WEST, and they'll tell you to head south.
Day 2 anchorage
wish i was there. too much going on here
Loving this so much, Carl -- I am getting a serious case of 'adventure goosebumps' as I read this thread -- absolutely thrilled for you and Chris -- and the boats look absolutely gorgeous! Please keep the posts coming -- such a wonderful read!!!
We anchored close in at Indian Key and waded ashore. I was hoping excavating of the old village since my visit 16 years ago had progressed some, but it all looked the same. We moved the boats to deeper water just before grounding with the low tide. A very windy night made it difficult to remain asleep worrying about anchor drag. We got an early start this morning and sailed south crossing under the channel 5 bridge and stopping at Fiesta Key RV resort for fuel and ice. From there we sailed south on the bayside until I got confused looking at 3 gps's and ran aground. After freeing the boat I dropped anchor to look for a way around the shallows when once again I found myself stuck. The anchor had dragged. Chris had made it through with his Sunday Cat and proceeded to a small bay. I sailed out and around before catching up with him, but I didn't care to anchor in seagrass and kept going. After several hours we located a nice secluded, mud bottom cove to drop the hook. I must add, it is somewhat disconcerting when you are out on large water and all the weather reports are predicting strong overnight winds. Good sandy or mud bottoms are far and few between here and one must plan accordingly.
We did have a dolphin encounter, and they came so close to Chris I thought he would hit them. Then, as I was dropping anchor for the night, a large and small sea turtle swam in front of me.
just dont have a shark "encounter
A shark encounter would be better than what we discovered today. We started out on a beautiful sail south and under the channel 5 bridge. Needing to head north into Boot Key Harbor and the town of Marathon,(marathon is not a key) we had to motor in. Pulling dockside at Burdine's we chowed down on lunch before grabbing a slip. The dockmaster, like Chris, is from Ohio and worked out for us to split a slip. Chris was still having problems with his shrouds slackening so he lowered the mast and walked to a West Marine for advice. On our return we discussed possibilities and after an inspection our worse fear was confirmed. The mast base is compressing into the fiberglass infrastructure. This may bring a sudden end to this trip. Without the proper side tension, the mast could break at the hinge and come down.
I'll post more after Chris is finished with a more in depth inspection and we have consumed enough alcohol to make the problem funny.
With the winds strengthening and still coming out of the north east, tacking back and forth for 4 days would put too much strain on the mast base. This is where our journey comes to an end. Tomorrow we will scope out nearby ramps. When we find a suitable one, we will take the bus back to Key Largo, retrieve our vehicles, and pull the boats.
I have no interest in continuing on solo. I sailed this area over a 6 week period 16 years ago.
what a bad break. sorry that happened. hatem to say mit but there is a design flaw in there somewhere. com-pacs are built like tanks some of the hardware seems questionable. well, hope your time on the road is uneventful. best to joan.
where did those"m" s come from
Carl, so sorry to hear that things went belly-up for you guys. I was really enjoying tracking you by your posts and looking at Google maps to see where you had been sitting in my chair while it's 27 degrees outside. At least you had a little bit of fun and you discovered the issue before it was a catastrophe. Get home safe.
Just finished a Cuban sandwich from my favorite Cuban restaurant. Seriously, it made the entire trip worth it.
Paid for another night at the marina and went for a walk. Well, more like a trek. We checked out the public boat ramp and it looks nice. Parking is limited though. Then we made sure we knew exactly where to catch the bus. Found a place to leave the vehicles too. Tomorrow is predicted to have 3mph winds out of the NE. The exact direction we need to head. Plan is to take the bus to Key Largo on Monday and retrieve the vehicles. Drive back to Marathon and leave my truck, trailer, and Chris's trailer in a store parking lot overnight. Then before sun up Tuesday, bring the vehicles to the ramp and walk the 2 miles back to the boats. We will need to 1st head south to pass under the 7 mile bridge to get to the bayside and then proceed north 6 miles to the ramp. Once my boat is secured on the trailer, I'll drive to Homestead and check into a hotel for the night.
i would think that chris may consider contacting jason about repairing his boat since com-pac is out of business
Spent the early morning packing for our return. Moving personal items from storage to backpacks and such. Dumped all but a gallon of my fresh water and placed any heavy items in the bow. We will be catching the 3:10 bus for the 40 minute ride to Key Largo to retrieve the vehicles. We have hours before we make the 2 mile walk to the bus stop so sitting waterside watching people and vessels pass is the main activity for today. The strong morth wind has dropped the temp to "comfortable". The dock hand here is interesting. He sits all day facing away from the water looking at his phone. Vessels pull in for fuel and he doesn't know they are there until he is tapped on the shoulder. He would make some tips if he actually helped tie up the boats.
Sad to hear of your troubles.
Was enjoying following your adventure.
But you made a wise choice to abort until a later time, post-repair.
Please keep us informed about the needed repairs to the SunCat.
Best Regards, Roland
Hey, Carl and Chris ~ So sorry to hear the news -- sure hope everything gets straightened out AOK -- thank you so much for keeping us all posted -- safe travels back home!
As Chris and I walked north to catch the bus to Key Largo we passed a church and I hear someone say, "call them". Once at the bus stop and the large lot we intended to leave the vehicles, I noticed sheriff postings on 3 vehicles with for sale signs on them. The postings warned if the vehicles weren't moved they would be towed. Now we needed to think. I looked up the number and called the church explaining our situation. The director said it wouldn't be a problem as long as we moved them before the children arrive at 7:30am. I do believe it was the Holy Spirit telling me to call. When we arrived in Boot Key Harbor, Chris mentioned a YouTube couple he follows that are here. After getting on the bus, a young couple run on and Chris immediately recognized them as the YouTubers. We conversed until they got off. What are the chances? Bob, the owner of the storage business had our vehicles lined up and ready to go when we arrived. Driving back there was a vibration coming from the starboard side of the trailer. About half way the fender came off. Inspecting the tire, it appears it was never balanced. Arriving at the ramp I replaced the now unevenly worn tire with the spare. As I type I am sitting in the boat contemplating whether I ever want to trailer sail again.
Quote from: crazycarl on January 12, 2026, 07:36:38 PMAs Chris and I walked north to catch the bus to Key Largo we passed a church and hear someone say, "call them". Once at the bus stop and the large lot we intended to the vehicles, I noticed sheriff posting on 3 vehicles with for sale signs on them. The posting warned if the vehicles weren't moved they would be towed. Now we needed to think. I looked the number and called the church explaining our situation. The director said it wouldn't be a problem as long as we moved them before the children arrive at 7:30am. I do believe it was the Holy Spirit telling to call. When we arrived in Boot Key Harbor, Chris mentioned a YouTube couple he follows that are here. After getting on the bus, a young couple run on and Chris immediately recognized them as the YouTubers. We conversed until they got off. What are the chances? Bob, the owner of the storage business had our vehicles lined up and ready to go when we arrived. Driving back there was a vibration coming for the starboard side of the trailer. About half way the fender came off. Inspecting the tire, it appears it was never balanced. As I type I am sitting in the boat contemplating whether I ever want to trailer sail again.
I'm so sorry, Carl (and Chris!) about this situation -- I feel your frustration, for sure! As I'm preparing to embark upon my first season of trailer sailing, as opposed to slipping my boat, your story gives me great pause -- you both went to a lot of work to prepare your boats for this trip, plus the travel time/efforts to get there. From your earlier posts on this thread, I am glad that you both did get to enjoy some nice days until things unfolded as they did...I sure hope you keep trailer-sail adventuring with Miss Adventure -- you inspire me so much!
Tuesday morning promised rain and it delivered. We waited for it to stop/slow and headed south out of Boot Key harbor and the town of Marathon. Once outside we raised sail and the light winds gently pushed us to the 7 mile bridge opening. Chris decided the wind strength and direction wouldn't cause anymore damage and with the rigging tightened once again he also sailed on. About midway a dolphin surfaced next to me and that always raises my spirits. I couldn't help but feel this may be the last time I sail a small boat in these waters so I made sure to "take it all, in". Passing under the bridge we headed straight into the wind and the outboards were put into service. Amazingly, I had no difficulties with the motor on this trip. I arrived at the ramp much sooner than Chris and had my trailer in the water and was preparing to load the boat when he arrived. Pulling the boats was easy and I took note on how nice this public ramp was. Breaking down the boats and readying them for the road we too, out time and just as our sails had dried, the rain started again. I left everything but my daypack and phone in the boat and headed headed north. After checking into a hotel in Homestead I disconnected the trailer to make the drive to dinner easier. Then I showered, shaved, and opened my last beer. Once Chris arrived and settled in we headed to a steakhouse and had an enjoyable evening. In the morning we met in the lobby for breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed for home. The first hour of the drive was congested, but once I was north of the Miami area it opened up and I continued until the South Carolina welcome center where I climbed inside the boat and slept for a couple hours before moving on. I arrived home at 4:45 this morning and just now received a text stating my son in law is in Key West. He is flown down there every January for an all expenses paid week long fishing trip on a 44' boat owned by a supplier to the company he works for. Nice perk.
Sorry no pics, the .jpeg extension on the iPhone is not compatible with this site's .jpg and I couldn't find an app to convert them. I also have some video, but the upgrade to windows 11 deleted the editing software on my desktop and I haven't found one simple enough for this very low tech old man.
A couple of the videos from the trip...
Cleaning out the boat today. I have enough food left over for an entire summer of outings. When the weather warms, (down in the 20s last night) I'll store most of this in the Orion. I had "Beef in Gravy" from Hereford and it surprisingly good. The beef was tender and flavorful. Boil the bag and then I pourd it over the instant potatoes. Couldnt have been easier. I'm going to try these 2 this weekend.
Found a couple more pics on my old android.
Chris on the high seas
Chris sailing near dawn
Crossing under the Channel 5 bridge
Carl, it sounds like you and Chris wrapped up the trip well before parting ways to respective home bases — the videos were great — I didn't know you had a YT channel — I just subscribed and hope you continue to share there as well as here!
P.S. The close-up pic you took of Chris and his Sun Cat is absolutely stunning — love it!
dont give up trailer sailing, remember the CLR is in june. all you need is a spare tire and some lock washers
I'll be dropping the damaged tire off today for replacement and already replaced all the hardware for the fenders. I need to find a good way to secure the ratchet strap to the trailer. It came off several times on the trip.
i have trailer sailed for years, however. never the distances you have travelled. i have done the same things with all four of my boats. safety chain attached to the bow eye and a ratchet strap attached to the motor mount and to an eye bolt on the rear crossmember of the trailer. i also put a piece of swim "noodle" on the strap to eliminate chaffing on the transom. my trailer also has full length guide on boards on either side of the keel. the boat never moves.
oh yeah, happy birthday
Thanks Steve!