Key West

[TroyVB]

My family and I are thinking about pulling Sanctuary south for some sunshine in the keys.  We would like to stay in a resort setting and be able to do some daysailing and snorkeling.  Does anyone have any info about where we should consider.  

I would appreciate the help.

[sawyer]

I have only been as far as the John Pennekamp reef area near Key Largo, it was a few years back, and we took a glass bottom boat with about 20 passengers out and snorkled for a couple of hours.  The water was a little rolly and I think a CP-16 would handle it all right, but not sure about someone getting seasick in that type of water.  Some wind, not a lot of whitecaps, but 3-5 ft rollers can be a lot, and I think it is about 7mile out to the reef including a long run thru the mangroves by motoring I am sure.  The diving was good though, but I am real spoiled from diving off of Australia when I was in the Navy, not much can compare with Ningaloo reef in nw OZ.  I'm not so sure there is anything reasonable that you can get into this late in the season, I was looking for a flight to just Tampa with hotel package and only the real pricy stuff was left.  We have trucked down and stayed at St Joseph Island near Apalachicola, it is a barrier island, some years its warm enough to swim and body surf, other times they had to leave the water running at the campgrounds so it would not freeze.  We also will be heading south somewhere about Feb 10th or so, probably take the truck camper, and wouldn't mind taking "SISKIWIT" too.  There is some great protected sailing water inside the barrier islands in that area, but also some tides.  Probably a good thing the "16" doesn't draw much, I can just see bottoming out somewhere and spend the day shelling and waiting for higher water. Let us know about what you find out about getting into the Key West area this time of the year and what the launch sites are like.  Bob Burgess, author of the (com-pac) book, I think it is Trailer Sailing...  has some good writing about sailing to Ft Jefferson, I guess it would be good to have a sunshade of some type and mosquito nets.   Have fun, let us know what you find out.          
Doug/Merry
CP-16 II
"SISKIWIT"

[spaul]

I was there for nine days with our entire family from Christmas on. The Keys were pretty badly hit by Katrina and there is still lots of damage and things aren't generally green. There are lots of new shoals and reefs that aren't plotted since the bottom has been re-arranged.
I didn't sail, didn't have my boat and could only have gotten a week's rental. Guess I would advise you to call the Key West Chamber of Commerce and ask about ramps and trailer storage.
The Keys (especially Key West) are attempting to tighten up on parking and that kind of thing. There are ramps but they are shallow. I suspect a 16 will be fine but do find a safe place to stow your car and trailer. Also look for lodging from C of C. I have a few pamphlets here if you want them with lodging, restaurants etc. The water on the Gulf side is especially nice and calm most of the time. Let me know.
There is another thought. Key Largo has a park where you can leave your trailer but I believe you must inquire ahead of time and pay minimal fee.
I've seen this info on another forum and I'll look for it. Hope more people throw in here.
Steve Paul

[spaul]

Troy, perhaps you should contact Richard Crisler who is a great individual from Coconut Grove in Miami.

   
From: "richard crisler" <crisler@...>
Date: Thu Dec 29, 2005  11:54 pm
Subject: Re: [com-pac] charters/rentals/ experience  bayforms
Offline
Send Email  

Hi Steve... I wish I had known earlier that you were down here in S.
Florida and in the Keys. There used to be some small boat rentals in Layton
FL, one of only 5 incorporated cities in the Keys at about miles marker 68.
I would have previously recommended the Lime Key Resort where a lady USCG
captain ran a respectable small boat rental, and directly across from her
there was a small boat rental company that had a CP16, but I am sure it was
probably a neglected keelboat.
While you are down here, please feel free to call me. I would love to meet
you, sail with you, arrange a rental for you..... etc. .
As it happens, Erico Silva, a member of our group is visiting in Miami
Beach, and we have arranged to meet each other tomorrow at our sailing
academy in Matheson Hammock Park at 1:00PM. which is www.castleharbor.com.
As a SIDE NOTE, I am actually taking the popular Greyhound Shuttle down to
Marathon FL to sail one of our most popular boats, a Catalina 28 (named
Lucky Ducky) back to Miami. It is usually a two to three day sail, and I
have taken the time off to really enjoy this return sail of this very sailor
friendly boat. And, YES, I have enlisted a friend of mine to help me bring
her back the slightly over 100 mile cruise. Soooo.... I guess that is it
for now. I wish all my friends of this wonderful group a very Happy New
Year. For me this group represents "family". Best Wishes for the New Year
to all of the members of our group. I feel very fortunate to have met a few
members of our group, and tomorrow, I will meet another (Erico Silva).
What an oppportunity we are afforded when given the chance to meet others
from our Com-Pac group. ]
Fair Winds and Safe Sailing to ALL. We hope to see you all very soon.
Best, Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Paul" <steve.paul@...>
To: <com-pac@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 8:21 PM
Subject: [com-pac] Re: Landlubber boater

Richard doesn't monitor this forum as much as the other cp forum on Yahoo. If I can help send me a privat email and I'll do what I can.
Steve Paul
cp27/2

[TroyVB]

Well I may not be going south after all.  I ran out to get Sanctuary from the place where she was awaiting spring and found her full of water.  It looks as though the scupper tubes leak some and with the big rain we had last week she had a little over two and a half gallons of water in her.

Most of it stayed behind the divider in the lazarette but some came into the cabin and the cabin sole was soaked.  No big deal a boat can handle water, but as I was starting to dry her out I discovered that the fiberglass had delaminated from the concrete keel.  I've removed the fiberglass and have a small heater going to try to dry the concrete out.  It does not look to bad but I now know why the bulkhead was rotten.  The water sits right at that spot when the boat is not on the jack.  The new bulkhead I had installed had water sitting against it when I set her down in my garage.

I plan to give her at least three weeks to dry but maybe it will take longer.  There does not appear to be any delamination in the keel.  I'm glad I caught it early.  I plan to install a wood floor instead of the carpet that the PO had.

In order to remove all of the fiberglass from the keel I had to remove a big chunk of styrofoam that was wedged between the cockpit sole and the keel.  Do I need to put another one in?  I would love to have the extra storage but I am concerned about the cockpit support and the flotation, but I am not sure the amount of styrofoam would float the boat if it was swamped anyhow.

[spaul]

Oh my. Sorry Troy but what the heck. I'm thinking that foam is a cushion for the floor. I'd put it back in unless someone familiar with 16's has more knowledge for you. I don't think it's to float the boat but an interface between the concrete and the flooring.
Good luck with the boat and finding something else to do instead of the Keys.
Steve

[sawyer]

Troy;
Sorry to hear that.............   Did water get caught in the scupper tubes and freeze and break a seal or something?  I don't know how they are hooked up, I just thought they were fiberglassed in.  I use two rubber sink stoppers in mine when sailing to keep water out of the cockpit, and am ready to pull them when needed.  The original flaps of neoprene on the stern drainholes are shot and just open so when the boat heels a bit some water comes in.  They do not however leak into the bilge area. I have left the boat out in the rain on occasion and had a cockpit full after forgetting to pull the plugs, almost up to the seats, but never inside. Any ideas on repairing the drain tubes???
Keep in touch..........

Doug/Merry
1987 CP-16 II
"SISKIWIT"

[TroyVB]

I believe that the water got in through leaking scupper tubes and the fact that the PO had cut a little square out of the lazarette cover for a VHF antenna.  It looks as though water froze in the trough around the cover and that allowed water to run in.  I plan to check the tubes and seal once and for all bfore spring.

I have the new floor in after sealing the concrete with epoxy. I used some cedar and white pine to create a new cabin sole.  I like the looks of the strips even if it isn't the traditional teak and holly.  I will try to post some pictures soon.