Gulfcoastjohn
New member
Greetings from Key West!
After returning from the Cumberland/TN river adventure, we stripped the Poli-Glow, removed the wrinkled Cat O’ Mine vinyl decals, wet sanded with 400 then 800 then 1500 grit, applied new decals, and swiped on 6 coats of Poli-Glow. Cleaned the old bottompaint with green Scotchgard pads and rolled on two coats of Pettit Hydrocoat bottom paint while on the trailer. Removed the torn up Yamaha decals on the starboard engine cowling that got gouged up against the Joe Wheeler lock, did some wet sanding and spray painted in OEM Yamaha gray. Eileen insisted on new Yamaha decals for $150 but I said OK only if was coming out of her pension rather than mine (just kidding). Overall annual detailing done. Added 12 ” SS grab rails over the aft door, over the overhangs at the starboard and port boarding steps into the cockpit, and over the starboard deck waste pumpout port. My brother is a Physical Therapy tech who tells us, very convincingly, ‘a fall at your age is the end of your life as you know it, so don’t fall.’
The ride in the tide against the wind by Key West Bight was the most absolutely gnarly mess that we have ever been in. 5-6 ft tightly stacked almost standing waves. No matter my speed or approach, the top 12 inches of snarling green water came crashing over the foredeck, 3 inches reaching the windows and making vis about nil despite wipers. 20 minutes of misery. The AM marine forecast was for 5-10K westerly breezes, which is as good as it ever gets this time of year in Key West. Go figure. I know one thing for sure...if we had a camera video going of this scary adventure, it alone would sell more TomCats than anything anyone anywhere could ever do or say about the seaworthiness of the TC255. I have never been so close to losing control of the boat. Every single year of the past four years we’ve been trailering here, sea grass in this area has enveloped the water intakes on both engines and caused overheat alarms on both within 15 seconds of each other. If that had happened this trip, we would have been broadside to waves within seconds and on the rocks at Ft Zachery within minutes.
We would count our blessings, but they are innumerable.
The fish are beautiful and plentiful and piled up on every shelf at the seafood market. The water is 79.83 degrees, and 23 feet deep at our slip, which is plenty enough for any C-Dory.
Jimmy Buffet on the 8-track player (we don't have grandkids to help us do Spotify).
84 degrees and sunny, but another miserable Artic blast is due to blow through Wed, dropping our highs to 72 or so….BRRRRR!
We hate being the only Brats in Key West, so come on down and join us (slip B-20 at Stock Island Marina Village). $43/day plus $10 power, $10/day dual axle trailer storage right at Garrison Bight ramp, access to the heated pool at the Perry hotel.
Dec 29 we leave for a Middle Keys rental house with 70 foot dock with my brother.
Cheers!
After returning from the Cumberland/TN river adventure, we stripped the Poli-Glow, removed the wrinkled Cat O’ Mine vinyl decals, wet sanded with 400 then 800 then 1500 grit, applied new decals, and swiped on 6 coats of Poli-Glow. Cleaned the old bottompaint with green Scotchgard pads and rolled on two coats of Pettit Hydrocoat bottom paint while on the trailer. Removed the torn up Yamaha decals on the starboard engine cowling that got gouged up against the Joe Wheeler lock, did some wet sanding and spray painted in OEM Yamaha gray. Eileen insisted on new Yamaha decals for $150 but I said OK only if was coming out of her pension rather than mine (just kidding). Overall annual detailing done. Added 12 ” SS grab rails over the aft door, over the overhangs at the starboard and port boarding steps into the cockpit, and over the starboard deck waste pumpout port. My brother is a Physical Therapy tech who tells us, very convincingly, ‘a fall at your age is the end of your life as you know it, so don’t fall.’
The ride in the tide against the wind by Key West Bight was the most absolutely gnarly mess that we have ever been in. 5-6 ft tightly stacked almost standing waves. No matter my speed or approach, the top 12 inches of snarling green water came crashing over the foredeck, 3 inches reaching the windows and making vis about nil despite wipers. 20 minutes of misery. The AM marine forecast was for 5-10K westerly breezes, which is as good as it ever gets this time of year in Key West. Go figure. I know one thing for sure...if we had a camera video going of this scary adventure, it alone would sell more TomCats than anything anyone anywhere could ever do or say about the seaworthiness of the TC255. I have never been so close to losing control of the boat. Every single year of the past four years we’ve been trailering here, sea grass in this area has enveloped the water intakes on both engines and caused overheat alarms on both within 15 seconds of each other. If that had happened this trip, we would have been broadside to waves within seconds and on the rocks at Ft Zachery within minutes.
We would count our blessings, but they are innumerable.
The fish are beautiful and plentiful and piled up on every shelf at the seafood market. The water is 79.83 degrees, and 23 feet deep at our slip, which is plenty enough for any C-Dory.
Jimmy Buffet on the 8-track player (we don't have grandkids to help us do Spotify).
84 degrees and sunny, but another miserable Artic blast is due to blow through Wed, dropping our highs to 72 or so….BRRRRR!
We hate being the only Brats in Key West, so come on down and join us (slip B-20 at Stock Island Marina Village). $43/day plus $10 power, $10/day dual axle trailer storage right at Garrison Bight ramp, access to the heated pool at the Perry hotel.
Dec 29 we leave for a Middle Keys rental house with 70 foot dock with my brother.
Cheers!
