New Window Covers

Living in Florida heat is a major problem during the summer. Mer Soleil is equipped with two 16K BTU air conditioners. There was black window tint on the windows when we purchased her. During the summer the inside of the windows would get so hot you could not touch the windows. We had curtains but by that time the heat was already inside the boat. We decided to stop the heat on the outside of the boat.

We had window covers made from Phifertex mesh, a 70% opaque. We like the look, very clean.

We are not a fan of curtains on the boat since it blocks our view. We like the open feeling of no obstructions. Even though the material is 70% opaque from the inside it is easy to see out.


No we don't have to remove the front window cover to uses the lower helm like we did with the sunbrella.







Another added benefit is we don't need the screens to keep the bugs out

Haul Out 2011

After a year of ownrership it was time for a new coat of bottom paint. It was sad to see her leave the water.  

Cruising through the parking lot. There were alot of strange looks from the people in their cars.

Settled in at her temporary home on the hard

 We decided to change the hull color from black to blue. The color goes very well with the yellow hull. 

After two weeks back home in her slip.

New YearsCruise-Baytowne Wharf to Panama City

We decided to return to Panama City on the inside (Itracoastal Waterway), the seas were going to be 5 to 7 ft offshore. That would have been an uncomfortable trip.

Leaving Choctawhatchee Bay.

In the ditch between Choctawhatchee Bay and St. Andrews Bay. Not much to look at.

The ditch was partially man made so the sides in some areas are like cliffs. Saw an eagle and a few deer.

The wind was out of the west and with an outgoing tide we were averaging about 10 knots.  Fast compared to our usual 8 knots.

Not much commercial traffic since it is a Sunday. We only passed two tows heading west with fuel barges

After two hours we entered St Andrews Bay. Wind was picking up about 15-20 kts.

Passing the underneath Hathaway Bridge (Hwy 98) cruising past the port of Panama City.

A water eye view of the Port. There is quite a bit of commercial traffic at the port. They announce there entry on VHF 16 so keep an ear on the radio.

Approaching St Andrews Pass. Before we made the turn into Grand Lagoon Vickie asked if we had enough fuel to make Tampa Bay. A quick calculation in my head and yes we do. Tempting, but it will have to wait for another time. The weather has cleared as the front passed and the wind has laid down. Barely 5 kts now. Maybe we should have kept going.

In Grand Lagoon. A few minutes later we were tied up in our slip.

We were treated to an awesome sunset

New Years Cruise-Baytowne Wharf

New Years was a little cold and windy but we made the best of it. We grilled steaks on the barbecue and watched the fireworks from the flybridge. The fireworks were right in front of our boat. What an awesome display. Our first of many New Years aboard Mer Soleil

New Years day was rainy in the morning but cleared a little by the afternoon for a couple of hours. Typical Florida weather it changes every hour. With her yellow hull Mer Soleil always stands out in a crowd. Went out for breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe in the Village. Walked around the village for a while to stretch our legs before heading back to the boat. Will leave in the morning for the trip back to Panama City.

New Years Cruise-Bluewater Bay to Baytowne Wharf

Left the slip at Bluewater Bay about 10 am and headed over to the fuel dock. We had planned to leave after lunch but the weather is building to the west and there are squall warning in mobile bay. After taking on 100 gallons of diesel we left the marina for the hour long trip to Baytowne Wharf.  Captain Ron was waiting for us at the dock in his golf cart to welcome us.

Settled in for the next three nights at Baytowne Wharf where we will celebrate New Years Eve. We have always wanted to do that and now we are.

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a wharf-side Village with many charming shops and boutiques, restaurants, and at exciting nightclubs and bars.

We ran into quite a few people we new that had the same idea.

The weather cleared and we are off to Baytowne Village tonight for drinks and dancing.

New Years Cruise- Panama City to Bluewater Bay

Our plan was to leave at daybreak, however since we couldn't sleep we were headed to the marina at 3 am. The temperature was 25 degrees and the dock was coated with ice as well as the boat. After a quick check of systems we turned the ignition and both engines fired right up. Gotta love those Perkins Diesels.

Cast off by 4 am, since the channel in the marina is not lighted so we steered from the fly bridge using the spotlight to light up the channel markers. We cleared the last marker into Grand Lagoon and headed for Deep Water Point. Once we cleared the point we headed out the pass to open water. We could see a slight hint of red in the eastern sky (hope the sailors tale is wrong today).

After setting the course west for Destin Pass we retreated to the warmth at the lower helm. Now we just settled in for the 5 hour trip. We had a following sea that built up to about 3 footers by the time we reached Destin

We cut the turn around the breakwater tight to avoid a beam sea as we entered the Pass. Once we cleared the breakwater we could see Destin Harbour and Noriega Point. we spent St Patrick's Day in the harbour earlier in the year.









As we cleared the bridge and entered the Choctawhatchee Bay we passed Crab Island which is a Hot Spot during the summer for boaters. It is not really an island just a sandbar for people to party on.

On the way to Bluewater Bay Marina. A family of dolphins escorted us for part of the trip playing in our bow wake as well as coming along side and looking at Vickie on the side deck. I am not sure who was most curious.









Docked at Bluewater Bay Marina. The restaurant here L.J. Schooners is a nice place to have a few drinks and dinner. We will leave tomorrow afternoon for Baytowne Wharf.

Scalloping at Port St Joe

We decided to celebrate the end of summer by going scalloping at St Joseph Bay for the Labor Day Weekend. We cleared the St Andrews Pass around 9 am and set the Autopilot for a run east along the coast about 2 miles offshore.

It was a beutifuel morning barely a  wind ripple. We were escorted by dolphins for most of the 4 hour trip. There were several sea turtles and even a sailfish.

On a day like this you really appreciate how lucky we are.

As we approached St. Joseph Bay we made the turn at the tip of Cape San Blas and entered the bay. We set a course for Port St Joe Marina where we would be staying for our adventure.

The marina is not very big and the entrance is a little narrow but a few minutes after we cleared the breakwater we were tied up on the Lay Dock.

 We were treated to a wonderful sunset.

We decided to check out Downtown Port St Joe which is within walking distance. We had dinner at Pepper's a Mexican restaurant. The food was very good and the drinks were cold. Huge Margaritas.

We settled in for an early night for our scallop hunt in the morning.

We anchored near Black Island in an area where some of the locals told us to try. Since it was the second to last weekend of scallop season there where alot of empty shells. We did get a few scallops. The warm water and the sun made it an excellant way to spend the day.

We were visited by some friends from our marina in Panama CIty. There dinghy motor wouldn't start so they had to paddle over from there boat. They decided right then they need a new motor. We all sat on the sundeck and had a few drinks until the sun started to set so we headed back to the Port St Joe Marina.

Back at the dock cleaning the scallops. There is an oyster bar at the marina and decided to give it a try. Several friends from our marina in Panama City arrived today. They had the same idea about scallops.

We never cease to be amazed by the sunsets we see on the water. Makes us wish we had done this years ago.

In the morning we headed back to Panama City. It was even calmer then when we came over.