Port St Joe

We were sitting on the dock behind our boat Friday night and we were trying to decide what to do. we both had Monday off so we decided to go to Port St Joe in the morning. It is only a four hour trip at our usual 8 knots. Next morning we got up picked up some ice and headed out. We stopped at the fuel dock for 50 gal of diesel, we hadn't taken on any fuel since June. Although since we only burn 2 gallons an hour at cruise we do not spend much time at fuel docks.

The weather was going to be beautiful in the morning and the wind was going to change form an offshore wind to an onshore. This would cause the waves to build but we had plenty of time. With the seas almost flat we made the run on the outside. As we approached Cape San Blas the wind switched and increased rapidly. There were white caps in St Joseph Bay. The smaller boats were crawling back into the marinas fighting the chop. About 1330 we arrived at the Port St Joe Marina, it is a friendly and inexpensive Marina. You can walk to the grocery store from the marina it is about 100 yards. it is an easy walk to downtown Port St Joe.

We ate at the oyster bar at the marina and retired early.

There was an other trawler behind us on a 42 ft Present sundeck trawler, Dual Dreams. They were in Port St Joe for the week and then they were heading to the keys and then the Bahamas. Wish that was us.

It turned out there was a songwriters contest that weekend and many places were having live music. We found a place called Haughty Heron. The second floor is actually a 3 bedroom 2 bath place you can rent out.

We had lunch at Sunset Grill which is a mile from the marina. Great food and nice owners. Have to try the Lobster Bisque. They only make it on Saturdays.

 The seas were going to be 4 to 6 ft so we decided to return on the inside in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW) also know as the ditch.

It was a great trip and with a favorable tide we picked up almost a knot of speed for most of the way. It was so peaceful almost no traffic.

We had dolphins on both sides of the boat for almost 2 hours. We arrived back to Panama City at 1600. What a great relaxing weekend. We need to do that more often.

Shell Island - Summer 2011

We enjoy going to Shell Island. It is less then an hour to our favorite anchorage and the water is what you find in the islands. The island is only about 150 yards wide from the Bay to the Gulf.

 The sunsets over the Gulf are so beautiful you can not cease to be amazed.

Vickie's Brother came over to visit. He is back from Afghanistan. We we hoisted his kayak up on top of the sundeck with our new davit and took it out to the island with us.  He had a blast, even the dogs got in on the action.

Labor Day - Tropical Storm Lee

We had planned on a taking a very long weekend and going to Orange Beach, Alabama to the Wharf but Tropical Storm Lee had other ideas. We spent the Labor Day Holiday at the dock with some extra lines riding out the storm. We had gusts up to 60 knots and tides about 1 1/2 ft above normal.

New Davit

We finally got around to installing our Davit. Vickie got a deal on a Dinghy (1.5 ft Rib 15 HP Mercury), no more putting around with our little 3.3 HP motor. We decided to go with a 12 volt motor so we wouldn't have to run the generator to raise or lower the dinghy. We added a dedicated battery just like the windlass with its own solar charger.

It turned out to be a good choice since the first time we went out after adding the davit the Voltage Regulator Board on the generator went out. Ordered a new one and we were back in business.

Being the engineer type I over designed the mount for the davit a bit.

Sundeck - Stern Boarding Part II

While our custom boarding steps made it easy for us to get from the swim platform, it also improved our boarding from the dock. In the area most of the docks are geared to sport fishing boats and therefore have short finger piers. Since we could not reach our midship entry we had to step off the dock onto the stern boarding step most level with the dock. This was not to difficult for us but the dogs couldn't do the same.

A solution was needed, we had seen the Marquipt self leveling stairs but they are designed for the side entry which we cannot use due to the short finger piers. A few sketches later a solution, we would need to mount the Marquipt stairs to the top of our custom steps. With drawing in hand the fabrication shop built our custom mount and powder coated them for about $110.

Wow what a luxury, we can now board at ease without worrying and so can the dogs. Although the pug is still a worry she has fallen off the dock three times, one time while on a leash. Although with the easy access we have to keep an eye on the dogs since they can come and go off the boat as they please. looks like we will need some kind of gate to control them. Another Project.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day in the panhandle of Florida is the official start of summer. We headed to Shell Island on Thursday to get a good spot on Shell Island. A few other people had the same ideas. There was already about a dozen boats already there.

We decided to try a new spot down from where we usually anchor in. The wind was about 15 knots on our stern so trying to back in to the island was fun. After using the engines to wiggle our way close to shore we threw the two stern anchors. Engines off about 1800. We are in the perfect spot. We were treated to a most gorgeous sunset.

The next day it was like an invasion. we have never seen this many boats here on a memorial day. It looks like it is going to be a good season for the locals.

It was a nice way to spend five days. The generator was giving us a few issues. The exciter breaker kept popping. I think I will replace it when we get back to the dock.

A rater unique boat showed up Sunday. A Florida Bay Coaster. It is a steel trawler with three stories. I bet there is a tale to go along with the name "Irony".

The water is crystal clear this year and you can see down about fifteen feet. We have traveled all over the Caribbean and few places compare to the water we get here.

We enjoyed our five days at the island and our looking forward to our next adventure.

After we returned back to the dock we received sad news from our friends John and Michele on High C's. They were on the Ten Tom Waterway and struck a submerged object. The boat began taking on water and was sinking. Fortunately John was able to save it by beaching it in a sandy spot They were able to get the the breach under control., but not before they had water up to the engines. They are being towed back to Demopolis Alabama for repairs.

Easter Weekend

We decided to take a trip to Spanish Ante on Shell Island for the Easter weekend. We thought that there would be very few boats out Friday night. We so enjoy having the island to ourselves or with very few people there.  Our friends on Salty C's were going to follow us out and we would show them how to stern into the island.

As we approached our anchoring spot we saw only one other boat that would spend the night, our friends on Happy Thoughts. They gave us a hand with our stern anchors.  Since there was a strong cross breeze it makes it much easier.

We radioed our friends on Salty C's and told them to do the same thing we did just to the east of us and we would handle their stern anchors. They radioed back they had lost power in their starboard engine and had shut it down. We went out in the dinghy to see if we could help figure it out. The motor was seized up tight. They would have to wait for another time to go to the island. They headed back to the marina on one engine. Anybody want to debate the twin vs single engines again.

We had the beach to ourselves. we enjoy the peacefulness. We were disappointed that our friends could not be out this weekend. It turned out to be a beautiful sunset.