Well thanks to Sailing For Dummies and this AWESOME site I am no longer drive way sailing anymore. Had my 3rd sail since December and it was so much fun!!! Water is a chilly 73 here in the Keys but I jumped in and took this pic!!! Brrrrrrrrr :)
(//img%20width=800%20height=450%5Dhttp://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l594/CPYOA/IMGP1211.jpg)][/img]
(http://img]http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l594/CPYOA/IMGP1213.jpg)[/img]
That looks great!
Really like the color of your hull.
Where in the keys did you take this?
I'm in Tampa Bay and hope to make it down there soon.
Billy
HT:
Thank you for braving the frigid, dangerous waters of the keys just to bring us that photo. Your commitment to the site is unparralleled. The boat looks great...also love the color. Many happy sailing days to you!
Bob23 in NJ- 18 degrees right now! Even the driveway is cold.
Thanks guys....yeah the PO painted it that awesome blue color. We have yet to put the name on the side which is "Miss Ellie" (named afte our dog). I live on Big Pine Key and have access to tons of boat ramps. This pic was at Bahia Honda State Park. We buy the season pass which is good for all State Parks in Fl.
Yeah it's tough to get in the water here when it drops below 80 degrees haha ha But I wanted to try the ladder out (which totally sucks) hope to find a swim platform ladder in the future. Wanted to see where exactly the water line was in reference to where to paint the name and had no pics yet from in the water. We drew straws to see who went overboard!! ha ha ha
I sailed the Keys about two years ago with the Admiral for five days on a CP16. It was very nice although we hit lots of wind - too much for me! There were small craft advisories out but we had to get home... Anyway, I am in Orlando - will be coming down your way, soon, I hope! Boat looks great.
My 16 had no ladder when I got it. I installed a version with flat steps - so much better than the ladder on my 19, which is just the tubed stainless steel. I am going to cut some pool noodles to place on the ladder for when I am cruising. I also hang the extra gas out on the ladder when I am underway. Maybe a platform ladder could help with that as well....
Ted,
let me know when you plan to go to the keys. I'll go with you....if you want the company.
I would even be up for a trip to the dry tortures.
Billy
I think we have to just put it on the calendar. I will text you.
- Ted
Well if any of ya'll get down here let me know....Winds been anywhere from 9-12 with 15-20 knot gusts. Maybe a little to much for a green horn sailor like me but what do I know ha ha ha :) For the most part the surrounding water here is only 4-6 foot deep so the worst I figure is I have to stand up!!! No really I've been launching at the safest places depending on the wind. But man has it been FUN!!!! I am so hooked. I can't wait to do a couple overnighters when the weather gets warmer!!!!
Thanks for ALLLLLLL your advice on here!!! You guys Rock!
Dawn
Thanks Dawn for sharing... your enthusiasm is contagious! And, yes- I'll admit that I'm a bit jealous and my poor 23 sits in the driveway dreaming of spring. And if I make it down thar, you'll be the first to know.
I don't know which I like better: The color of the water or the color of your boat!
Bob23
I will be going down the Keys next week for business and pleasure, Bahia Honda SP probably Tuesday the 19th, Wednesday or Thursday without my CP16, "Slow Dancing". I just could not get the airline to take my boat in their cargo hold. I thought I might get a flat rate for mailing the boat in a box as per the original shipping carton but no luck. This trip will probly drive me over the edge without a boat to sail, even for a few minutes. . . Next Saturdays low temperature forcast in Lynchburg, Va is 13 degrees!
Envy, Envy,
Citroen/Dave
Was in The Keys this past weekend and saw your blue boat @ a local restaurant as we drove to Key West. The blue really looks nice. Very jealous of having your boat in the Keys. The weather was great and we did not want to leave! Looking in to trailering the 16 down this summer.
Hey there! I sent you a PM but just wanted to say HI from the other end of the seven mile bridge! Rough weather lately, right? I almost had to turn the A/C back on the other day ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for ALL your responces!!! If any of you EVER get to the Keys let me know!!! Our warm Keys hospatalty is alwas available.
I would love to do the Marquesas trip that Robert Burgess mentions in his book which is now on my bucket list this year. I will turn 50 years old and this is something that I really want to do......Wish me luck!!!
Dawn
P.S. Beware if any of you make it to the Keys I'll probably bend your ear off with more questions ha ha ha :)
Quote from: Bob23 on February 12, 2013, 04:55:15 AM
Thanks Dawn for sharing... your enthusiasm is contagious! And, yes- I'll admit that I'm a bit jealous and my poor 23 sits in the driveway dreaming of spring. And if I make it down thar, you'll be the first to know.
I don't know which I like better: The color of the water or the color of your boat!
Bob23
Hey Bob,
The color of the water down here is something I never get tired of!!! I drive over it, swim in it, snorkel in it and now sail over it!!! It really does amaze me everyday I've lived here!!!
Quote from: Citroen/Dave on February 12, 2013, 11:57:52 AM
I will be going down the Keys next week for business and pleasure, Bahia Honda SP probably Tuesday the 19th, Wednesday or Thursday without my CP16, "Slow Dancing". I just could not get the airline to take my boat in their cargo hold. I thought I might get a flat rate for mailing the boat in a box as per the original shipping carton but no luck. This trip will probly drive me over the edge without a boat to sail, even for a few minutes. . . Next Saturdays low temperature forcast in Lynchburg, Va is 13 degrees!
Envy, Envy,
Citroen/Dave
Hey Dave....You sure you can't think of a way to get the "Slow Dancing" down here ha h aha ha :) And I've never heard of anyonecoming to the Keys for "business" ha ha ha....usually it's more Pleasure.....Enjoy though
Dawn
Quote from: keyskid on February 13, 2013, 03:00:12 PM
Hey there! I sent you a PM but just wanted to say HI from the other end of the seven mile bridge! Rough weather lately, right? I almost had to turn the A/C back on the other day ;D ;D ;D
Yeah the winds been steady out of the N NE swithing to te S SE....not time for the A/C yet though....I like my electric bill where's it at ha h aha ha ha ha :)
Ok you guys...just to make you feel better...the temp. this morning here in the sunny Fl Keys is a chilly :o 52...winds are N NE 29 with gusts to 38...feel better ha ha ha :)....
Dawn
Ooooo...52 degrees. I'm sending you down one of my wool sweaters, Dawn. Wouldn't want one of our newer members to freeze to death!!!!!
Bob23 in NJ 29 now...down to 17 tonight.
Quote from: Bob23 on February 17, 2013, 05:36:29 PM
Ooooo...52 degrees. I'm sending you down one of my wool sweaters, Dawn. Wouldn't want one of our newer members to freeze to death!!!!!
Bob23 in NJ 29 now...down to 17 tonight.
Thanks Bob!! could you include a few pairs of gloves, mittens and long johns would be AWESOME!!!!
Ha Ha Ha!!!!
You got it! How 'bout if I just send down a Snuggie? Want a pink one!
Hahahaha....!!!!
Bob23
News Alert News Alert! Administrators please posts where appropriate!
Red Tide hits Florida South West Coast drifting south. Currently centered around Sarasota and Sanibel. Tourist birdwatchers and shell collectors sickened by airborne Neurotoxins. Dead fish on beach. Locals avoid the beaches.
I flew into St Pete and noticed, I think, brown waters and beaches. I remembered brighter colors from 40 years ago. Met fellow tourist in restaurant, taking two days to recover from exposures.
Check google for latestet intensities and drifts.
Much disappointed but heading to Miami this evening and the Keys tomorrow.
Citroen/Dave
Re: Red Tide
We crossed the Everglades on Route 41 to Miami. At Everglades City we took a detour south on Route 29 to the Everglades Visitors Center and there took the $32 catamaran tour boat out to the gulf. At least I got to see some of the 1,000 Islands that others have sailed. . . Now I can fill in my dreams of sailing these waters with some real experience until I can drag "Slow Dancing" down another year.
We expect to return to St Pete at the end of the week. We will take another look at the Red Tide's progress and hopefully dissipation so that we can do a little shelling on Lovers Key or Sanibel.
Citroen/Dave
Quote from: Bob23 on February 17, 2013, 08:53:57 PM
You got it! How 'bout if I just send down a Snuggie? Want a pink one!
Hahahaha....!!!!
Bob23
Yeah for the snugie and pink would be great ha ha ha!!!
Back from the Keys.
I can not believe that water anywhere is as beautiful as in the lower Keys. We saw the tourist's sunset from Key West: the water looked like mercury as the sun and sky changed colours. I have never seen anything like that, ever. The water was not transparent, but bright metallic silver.
The goal for the drag down now is Bahia Honda State Park marina. We met former sailors from Minnesota who visited B.H. SP in a Montgomery 15 and now were living in a C Dory 22 with iron wind.
We had many stops at various estuaries as well. The catamaran tour to the Gulf from the Eveglades Park was a mind bender as well as a similar tour from "Ding" Darling at Sanibel. The return up the coast found the Red Tide abating so we got to shell collect at Lover's Key and Sanibel.
I have not a clue as to why I am in Virginia . . . My sweethart's employer even gave her retirement (lay off) just before we left for Florida.
Ice storm forcast for tonight.
Florida dreaming,
Citroen/Dave
Well shoot. Heading to Tampa this Friday. Hope the beaches are kind to this weary northern traveler!
Well Dave, I'll tell you why VA especially SW VA is great to live in.
1. You can get to FL in one driving day, stay all winter, & return to VA in the Spring.
2. It's not nearly as hot in the Summer. Trust me on this. I've lived on the Gulf Coast before (For the first 11 years of my engineering career I lived in Baton Rouge, Houston, NOLA and Houston again. 90^f and 99% humidity stinks.
3. Spring and Fall sailing on your home waters, Smith Mountain Lake, is great and Summer sailing can be fantastic during the week for retired or self employed persons with flexible sailing schedules. Ave daytime highs - High 70's to low 80s, with 60%RH - BEAUTIFUL! ( during Summer the Stink-pot Tour-roids descend on SML on weekends. Look MA! No nautical sense!
4. The cost of living is lower in SW VA than FL, as you may already know.
5. The traffic on the highways is zilch compared to FL - ANYWHERE!
Need I say more? Oh - Yeah! I grew up in the Finger Lakes of NY. Learned to drive in snow & ice. Mini storms like the ice forecast for tonight makes for great spectating of the idiots that drive early the next day. I say "Soon Come!" on days like that.
Regards, TG
PS. Lets get together & compare notes over some Compac-O-Naught Coffee ; (CONC - Fab) with Tom Morgan - He lives in LunchBag too.
Quote from: Salty19 on February 25, 2013, 02:40:40 PM
Well shoot. Heading to Tampa this Friday. Hope the beaches are kind to this weary northern traveler!
Mike!
I would like to meet up, maybe have a lunch or something this weekend! I live in Palm Harbor (about 15 minutes north of Clearwater).
If our schedules can work out, I would even like to take you out on my 19. Heck even if they don't, I bet you could convince me to let you take my boat out without me, bareboat style.
If you have the time, and are interested, shoot me an IM and lets see what we can come up with!
Billy
Quote from: Tim Gardner on February 25, 2013, 05:22:33 PM
Well Dave, I'll tell you why VA especially SW VA is great to live in.
1. You can get to FL in one driving day, stay all winter, & return to VA in the Spring.
2. It's not nearly as hot in the Summer. Trust me on this. I've lived on the Gulf Coast before (For the first 11 years of my engineering career I lived in Baton Rouge, Houston, NOLA and Houston again. 90^f and 99% humidity stinks.
3. Spring and Fall sailing on your home waters, Smith Mountain Lake, is great and Summer sailing can be fantastic during the week for retired or self employed persons with flexible sailing schedules. Ave daytime highs - High 70's to low 80s, with 60%RH - BEAUTIFUL! ( during Summer the Stink-pot Tour-roids descend on SML on weekends. Look MA! No nautical sense!
4. The cost of living is lower in SW VA than FL, as you may already know.
5. The traffic on the highways is zilch compared to FL - ANYWHERE!
Need I say more? Oh - Yeah! I grew up in the Finger Lakes of NY. Learned to drive in snow & ice. Mini storms like the ice forecast for tonight makes for great spectating of the idiots that drive early the next day. I say "Soon Come!" on days like that.
Regards, TG
PS. Lets get together & compare notes over some Compac-O-Naught Coffee ; (CONC - Fab) with Tom Morgan - He lives in LunchBag too.
Tim and Tom,
Noel and I would love to get together over some coffee or a meal. We need to start making plans for an on the water event at SML, too.
Where and when? We will be at the lake Sunday afternoon, but as you know, retired people forget what day it is; any time will probably work. Have car, will travel.
434 237-5142
Best regards,
Dave
Hello Sailors, just joined the group. Have sailed and powered for many years. Been out twice for a few hours on a 81' CP 16. Would like to replace the main, jib and considering a jenny with hardware. Excellent condition used is ideal since they will out live me. Need lots of advise. I live in Key Largo. Boat in water at the end of my street. Very protected bay so I can usually sail on the lee. Passing thru, contact me. The boat basin has a good ramp if you're towing. Bob, give me a call. 305 852-3872 Your boat color blends with our pastel waters. Have Fun, Carl
Hey Tim where in the Finger Lakes? Lived near Cortland, kept Suncat at Finger Lakes Marine on Cayuga. Might take a little issue on summers in FL, at least in Punta Gorda. Spent many years in DE and summers there were brutal sandwiched between the Delaware & Chesapeake bays(humidity plus!). The upside was that imho there is no finer cruising ground :D than the Chesapeake. At least here in PG the summer temps stay mostly in the low 90's with a light breeze most of the time. Not as bad as we anticipated when we moved here from NY.
Hey Craig,
I grew up in Union Springs on Cayuga lake, could see the only Island (Frontenac) in the Finger Lakes from my bedroom window.
Was a Lifeguard at Cayuga Lake State Park in Seneca Falls in the late 60's. Dang! That was along time ago! I once sailed from Union Springs to Ithaca (~30 mi) on my Uncle's Sunfish, camped out & sailed back the next day with a couple of other friends. Great trip!
TG
Quote from: Citroen/Dave on February 25, 2013, 01:47:48 PM
Back from the Keys.
I can not believe that water anywhere is as beautiful as in the lower Keys. We saw the tourist's sunset from Key West: the water looked like mercury as the sun and sky changed colours. I have never seen anything like that, ever. The water was not transparent, but bright metallic silver.
The goal for the drag down now is Bahia Honda State Park marina. We met former sailors from Minnesota who visited B.H. SP in a Montgomery 15 and now were living in a C Dory 22 with iron wind.
We had many stops at various estuaries as well. The catamaran tour to the Gulf from the Eveglades Park was a mind bender as well as a similar tour from "Ding" Darling at Sanibel. The return up the coast found the Red Tide abating so we got to shell collect at Lover's Key and Sanibel.
I have not a clue as to why I am in Virginia . . . My sweethart's employer even gave her retirement (lay off) just before we left for Florida.
Ice storm forcast for tonight.
Florida dreaming,
Citroen/Dave
Hi Dave...glad you enjoyed the Keys....I go to Bahia Honda every weekend...it's an awesome park...great boating and awesome camping...I forget what year it was voted #1 beach in the US. Love living here and so happy I got a ComPac 16 as my first sailboat.
Dawn
Dawn,
I'm considering the purchase of a used Mobile Home on a lot for Florida wintering. My sweetheart has 5 cats and I early concluded that I could not afford a land yacht or a water yacht like a barge canal boat big enough for them. (The cats). I thought about summering on the Erie Canal in a canal boat, too.
We can sedate the cats for a long drive to their new Winter residence and later, the return trip for the Summer and Fall in Virginia.
So, I purchased small and light for easy trailering and occasional outings for adventures. I have yet to get the keel wet on my '83 Mark II CP16 and daily I find more things to do to get it ready for the first launch. Tim is right, there is much to enjoy in Central Virginia, but those swaying coconut palms are beckoning.
What are your thoughts about a favorite Key for Mobile Home Park wintering? Upper, middle, or lower Keys? I have seen many used Mobile Homes listed for lower Florida in the $10 to $20,000 range, but I think I would rather head into the Keys for a search. Smaller comunities and back roads look more appealing to me than the six lane comunity roads we drove through on our recent trip to Key West from St. Pete.
Any thoughts, anybody?
Thanks,
Dave
Tim, know Union Springs well. Ahh the adventures of our youth! I often ask myself: "Did I really do that?". I did some night sailing on the Chesapeake playing tag with large ship traffic that makes me shake my head today but back then it was exhilarating! :o
Quote from: Citroen/Dave on March 04, 2013, 05:44:12 PM
Dawn,
I'm considering the purchase of a used Mobile Home on a lot for Florida wintering. My sweetheart has 5 cats and I early concluded that I could not afford a land yacht or a water yacht like a barge canal boat big enough for them. (The cats). I thought about summering on the Erie Canal in a canal boat, too.
We can sedate the cats for a long drive to their new Winter residence and later, the return trip for the Summer and Fall in Virginia.
So, I purchased small and light for easy trailering and occasional outings for adventures. I have yet to get the keel wet on my '83 Mark II CP16 and daily I find more things to do to get it ready for the first launch. Tim is right, there is much to enjoy in Central Virginia, but those swaying coconut palms are beckoning.
What are your thoughts about a favorite Key for Mobile Home Park wintering? Upper, middle, or lower Keys? I have seen many used Mobile Homes listed for lower Florida in the $10 to $20,000 range, but I think I would rather head into the Keys for a search. Smaller comunities and back roads look more appealing to me than the six lane comunity roads we drove through on our recent trip to Key West from St. Pete.
Any thoughts, anybody?
Thanks,
Dave
HI Dave,
I've lived here in the lower keys for now on 13 years. Pretty partial to the mile marker 30 to 16 area. Upper Keys....to close to Miami and all their crap....Key West...expensive and a lot of tourist....Big Pine...woodsy...water and more like neighbors and friends here all year long...Lots of boat ramps to launch from....Just my thoughts. Good luck!!!
Dawn
Thanks, Dawn.
You reinforced some thoughts I brought back from my recent Florida trip.
More research to do and then another trip down to look at used retiree homes in mobile home parks. We might have to settle for the SW coast area but are hoping for the Lower Keys.
We fell in love with Honda Bahia. Does anyone know how it got its name?
Dave
Quote from: Citroen/Dave on March 09, 2013, 05:43:14 PM
Thanks, Dawn.
You reinforced some thoughts I brought back from my recent Florida trip.
More research to do and then another trip down to look at used retiree homes in mobile home parks. We might have to settle for the SW coast area but are hoping for the Lower Keys.
We fell in love with Honda Bahia. Does anyone know how it got its name?
Dave
I believe Bahia Honda means "deep bay" in Spanish...all I know it's where I love to be on the weekends....no phones, no one asking questions etc..as far away from Monday work day as I can get ha ha ha....Good luck in your quest...
Dawn