SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH OR ON YOUR C-DORY TODAY??
- Thread starter TyBoo
- Start date
Thanks, Roger. These are in the river a few miles in from the bar, so the wind has more effect on the conditions than the ocean - usually. My long-time fishing partner says it is supposed to let up for a day or so tomorrow, so if the wind is calm we will try it after work. Or not.
I drove to a couple spots and looked at the water, and then checked the weather buoy again and decided to give it a shot about 2:30 this afternoon. Tiffany and I headed down the river with 1' - 2' wind chop no problem. A few miles later there were 3' - 4' wind waves and the CG gave a routine report over VHF 22 saying the bar was restricted with 14' breakers. Another mile or so the wind waves got up to 4'+, and even though the boat was doing fine it wasn't looking like too pleasant a pot pulling experience was in store, so we turned around.
I told Tiff that it would be the turnaround of all time. Text book. We made the turn alright and it got eerily calm. Then I told her "It's not going to let us out", and ... oh, wait a minute ... that was George Clooney in a movie who said all that. Well, I did remind her of the movie and say the turn around/text book part, but I was just joshing.
No problems getting back to port, but docking was a little tricky. I tried to turn into my own spot and the wind hit broadside and was shoving us fast toward the big Tolly, so I aborted and backed out. Actually it was more sideways out, but we made it for another shot. The second time I took the big empty hole along the main dock and Tiff did her part to perfection. Not a mistake one as she jumped out and looped off on a cleat to hold us against the wind. Then we perfectly timed the push off and pull in to our slip using lines from the dock. Usually, the more tricky the docking is the more nervous she gets, the grouchier I get, and the harder it is. But this time it was clockwork. I'm proud of the kid.
If the storm doesn't drag my pots into the channel and nobody has helped themselves to them, we should have a few crabs in them.
I drove to a couple spots and looked at the water, and then checked the weather buoy again and decided to give it a shot about 2:30 this afternoon. Tiffany and I headed down the river with 1' - 2' wind chop no problem. A few miles later there were 3' - 4' wind waves and the CG gave a routine report over VHF 22 saying the bar was restricted with 14' breakers. Another mile or so the wind waves got up to 4'+, and even though the boat was doing fine it wasn't looking like too pleasant a pot pulling experience was in store, so we turned around.
I told Tiff that it would be the turnaround of all time. Text book. We made the turn alright and it got eerily calm. Then I told her "It's not going to let us out", and ... oh, wait a minute ... that was George Clooney in a movie who said all that. Well, I did remind her of the movie and say the turn around/text book part, but I was just joshing.
No problems getting back to port, but docking was a little tricky. I tried to turn into my own spot and the wind hit broadside and was shoving us fast toward the big Tolly, so I aborted and backed out. Actually it was more sideways out, but we made it for another shot. The second time I took the big empty hole along the main dock and Tiff did her part to perfection. Not a mistake one as she jumped out and looped off on a cleat to hold us against the wind. Then we perfectly timed the push off and pull in to our slip using lines from the dock. Usually, the more tricky the docking is the more nervous she gets, the grouchier I get, and the harder it is. But this time it was clockwork. I'm proud of the kid.
If the storm doesn't drag my pots into the channel and nobody has helped themselves to them, we should have a few crabs in them.
Remember walking your kid to kindergarten the first day? This is the first time we've left Wild Blue in someone else's hands (besides the factory)... she went in for bottom paint today, first thing this morning. I checked back with them a couple hours later, and the guy doing the work said, "People are crazy about your boat. We've had three people in here this morning asking if it was for sale."
Not a chance.
The dock looked pretty bare, so I launched the catboat, did some sailing, and put her at the dock. One neighbor said, "Did your boat shrink?" Another asked, "You didn't get rid of that other boat, did you?" And another said, "Your bigger boat is quieter. Bet you miss it already." Yep. And that was just in the canal on the way to our dock.
81º today, mostly sunny, wind 10 - 20 (normal for here). Good day for sailing. The boat yard doing the work has a chain link fence with barbed wire around the top... not in the best neighborhood, though. Sure hope Wild Blue is safe and comfortable. I'll go check on her again tomorrow. Sigh.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Not a chance.
The dock looked pretty bare, so I launched the catboat, did some sailing, and put her at the dock. One neighbor said, "Did your boat shrink?" Another asked, "You didn't get rid of that other boat, did you?" And another said, "Your bigger boat is quieter. Bet you miss it already." Yep. And that was just in the canal on the way to our dock.
81º today, mostly sunny, wind 10 - 20 (normal for here). Good day for sailing. The boat yard doing the work has a chain link fence with barbed wire around the top... not in the best neighborhood, though. Sure hope Wild Blue is safe and comfortable. I'll go check on her again tomorrow. Sigh.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
We went out at what the book said should be high slack, and the river was running out about 5 knots. Must be a lot of water inland.
We found two of the pots, but let go of the first one because it was stuck to the bottom and I couldn't pull it free or hold the boat against the line. The second one we tied to a cleat (with knife in hand) and drifted it loose. Pulled it up with only 8 crabs in it, but seven were legal. The current got stronger and the floats wouldn't show, so we gave it up. We're going back out in and hour for low water to try again. The wind seems to be lessening just a little, so maybe this afternoon will be flatter.
We found two of the pots, but let go of the first one because it was stuck to the bottom and I couldn't pull it free or hold the boat against the line. The second one we tied to a cleat (with knife in hand) and drifted it loose. Pulled it up with only 8 crabs in it, but seven were legal. The current got stronger and the floats wouldn't show, so we gave it up. We're going back out in and hour for low water to try again. The wind seems to be lessening just a little, so maybe this afternoon will be flatter.
Captains Cat
New member
Mike, be careful out there.... :shock:
Charlie
Charlie
With the C-Dory on the hard, getting her bottom painted, we put the catboat in for a few days. After the past 4 months on Wild Blue, the perspective from a small sailboat is certainly different. The weather weasels were calling for 20-25 mph winds today, so we decided to head out early, before the winds came up. Joan and I shoved off from the dock around 7:30; the wind was 8-10, the temp was 72º, and the light was gorgeous. We motored out of our canal, raised the sail, and headed for the ship channel leading to the Gulf. Coming out of the Port Isabel Channel, we could see a barge with two tugs in the Brownsville Channel... we did a couple 360s to give it time to pass and stay out of their way (you can see him in the distance)...
We weren't the only ones out and about this early; here you can see a 65' shrimper and a very classy looking smaller bay shrimper...
With all the birds surrounding those guys, point a camera any direction, and you've got wildlife photography...
The wind was beautifully consistent, now about 10-12. You can see how protected it is in the ship channel, with almost no wave action. The Blonde is enjoying her job as jib-trimmer (and enjoying her morning coffee)...
We took turns on the tiller...
More traffic: a tug and a workboat...
A headboat; fishing in the bay (how many at $15/head?)...
Especially from the perspective of a small catboat, the headboat above looks pretty big... until you see him in comparison to a freighter coming in...
I could see that we would be sharing the ship channel with the big fellow, so I gave him a "security" on the radio and told him to stay clear of the manly catboat. OK, that didn't happen... we scurried to the upwind side of the channel and stayed the heck out of his way...
The wind built to around 15, and I considered a reef, but knew we were going to be turning downwind soon. I pulled up the board and let the boat make leeway towards the other side of the channel. Once into our turning basin, I chose to do a 270 instead of a gybe, and we sailed along the north side of our island, with the houses and trees blocking most of the wind. We had been seeing dolphins along the way, but none closer than 50 yards. Then 3 of them came alongside Cat's Pajamas to see what we were up to. Both sides of the boat. Close enough to feel the dolphin spit...
We made a few passes along the island, turned into the wind, dropped the sail, and motored back in. By the time we got to our dock, the wind was up to 21G25. The protection is great in our canal; the boat hardly pulls on its lines.
I took Joan out for a late lunch at our favorite little Mexican restaurant, and we took the motorcycle to the boat yard that is doing the bottom job on the C-Dory... progressing nicely...
It wasn't C-dorying, but a nice way to spend the day.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
We weren't the only ones out and about this early; here you can see a 65' shrimper and a very classy looking smaller bay shrimper...
With all the birds surrounding those guys, point a camera any direction, and you've got wildlife photography...
The wind was beautifully consistent, now about 10-12. You can see how protected it is in the ship channel, with almost no wave action. The Blonde is enjoying her job as jib-trimmer (and enjoying her morning coffee)...
We took turns on the tiller...
More traffic: a tug and a workboat...
A headboat; fishing in the bay (how many at $15/head?)...
Especially from the perspective of a small catboat, the headboat above looks pretty big... until you see him in comparison to a freighter coming in...
I could see that we would be sharing the ship channel with the big fellow, so I gave him a "security" on the radio and told him to stay clear of the manly catboat. OK, that didn't happen... we scurried to the upwind side of the channel and stayed the heck out of his way...
The wind built to around 15, and I considered a reef, but knew we were going to be turning downwind soon. I pulled up the board and let the boat make leeway towards the other side of the channel. Once into our turning basin, I chose to do a 270 instead of a gybe, and we sailed along the north side of our island, with the houses and trees blocking most of the wind. We had been seeing dolphins along the way, but none closer than 50 yards. Then 3 of them came alongside Cat's Pajamas to see what we were up to. Both sides of the boat. Close enough to feel the dolphin spit...
We made a few passes along the island, turned into the wind, dropped the sail, and motored back in. By the time we got to our dock, the wind was up to 21G25. The protection is great in our canal; the boat hardly pulls on its lines.
I took Joan out for a late lunch at our favorite little Mexican restaurant, and we took the motorcycle to the boat yard that is doing the bottom job on the C-Dory... progressing nicely...
It wasn't C-dorying, but a nice way to spend the day.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
starcrafttom
Active member
My drive way and street are still covered in ice and snow. very little is melting withthe temp only hitting 25 or so. To cold to work on the boat let alone go out in it. Susan, safety inspector, says no towing of boat on ice. Also no work today. To cold in garge to sand on my dads whaler sooo... just sitting around doing nothing and planing for the cayman trip.. james did I mention how little I like you these days???
We found the things just fine. Not much for crab, though. One had an open bait box and no crabs, and the other two had three keepers each. Weird. The last time I left them out overnight I had 40 or so keepers. Maybe I shouldn't have used turkey legs for bait this close to Thanksgiving. Or maybe the things figured out how to escape in three days.
The weather and water were actually pretty nice this afternoon. Not as nice as south Texas, but not bad. The river never quit running out at all. Still about two knots ebb after the tide turn. It must be full.
The weather and water were actually pretty nice this afternoon. Not as nice as south Texas, but not bad. The river never quit running out at all. Still about two knots ebb after the tide turn. It must be full.
Jim B,
Fantastic, clear blue day up here in the PNW. Great views of mountains. Looks like a Christmas card. (that was the good news)
Hasn't been above 20 F on S. Whidbey Is. all day, had to use my Kubota front loader to clear the driveway around the boat from all this white stuff that fell down here from Canada. Didn't risk launching as my driveway is straight downhill to a road of pure ice then 100 ft straight down to the water.
Wildlife... saw 5 Eagles in the snowstorm yesterday, or maybe they were vultures....checking to see if anything died.
Got 3 poor little humming birds trying to overwinter and their feeder freezes every 20 minutes. When I go back out with a fresh one they nearly take my ears off trying to get to it.
Think we might have polar bears on the back lot.........
Can't wait for the Lake Washington Cruise
Merv
Fantastic, clear blue day up here in the PNW. Great views of mountains. Looks like a Christmas card. (that was the good news)
Hasn't been above 20 F on S. Whidbey Is. all day, had to use my Kubota front loader to clear the driveway around the boat from all this white stuff that fell down here from Canada. Didn't risk launching as my driveway is straight downhill to a road of pure ice then 100 ft straight down to the water.
Wildlife... saw 5 Eagles in the snowstorm yesterday, or maybe they were vultures....checking to see if anything died.
Got 3 poor little humming birds trying to overwinter and their feeder freezes every 20 minutes. When I go back out with a fresh one they nearly take my ears off trying to get to it.
Think we might have polar bears on the back lot.........
Can't wait for the Lake Washington Cruise
Merv
Well, Tom, might I suggest you go to Hell! :twisted: Now, before any of you get up in arms at my statement to my buddy, Tom, Hell is a small town on Grand Cayman. It's been almost 20 years, but I can guarantee you that I've been to Hell and back. :wink: It's worth renting a scooter just to go there. After all, how else can you tell someone to "go to Hell" and have them look forward to the trip? 
Tom, I feel your pain. I spent many years with body parts numb, wondering how many layers I could put on and still move.
Remember the old shampoo commercial: "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"? Tom, don't hate me because I'm warm. You laughed at me when I got on your boat last January, bundled up to try to ward off the cold... I think your statement was something to the effect of: "Cold? This isn't cold." 8)
It was a trip to the Caribbean some 20 years ago that convinced me that warm is good... especially when you go to the warmth from the frozen northland. In the middle of winter.
The house next door to ours is up for sale. Should I send you the specs? :xnaughty Two C-Dorys in this canal would really attract attention (and give Dave something else to find aerial photos of :lol
!
Best wishes,
Jim
PS - Joan just reminded me that the Sea Cottage across the canal from ours is for sale, too. We could have an on-going C-Brat gathering!!! Anyone else interested? :smiled
It's almost 6:00 in the evening; the sun has just set but there is a gorgeous glow in the sky. It's 78º. Joan is sipping wine, and I am "surfing" out on the deck. It doesn't suck.
Tom, I feel your pain. I spent many years with body parts numb, wondering how many layers I could put on and still move.
Remember the old shampoo commercial: "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"? Tom, don't hate me because I'm warm. You laughed at me when I got on your boat last January, bundled up to try to ward off the cold... I think your statement was something to the effect of: "Cold? This isn't cold." 8)
It was a trip to the Caribbean some 20 years ago that convinced me that warm is good... especially when you go to the warmth from the frozen northland. In the middle of winter.
The house next door to ours is up for sale. Should I send you the specs? :xnaughty Two C-Dorys in this canal would really attract attention (and give Dave something else to find aerial photos of :lol
!Best wishes,
Jim
PS - Joan just reminded me that the Sea Cottage across the canal from ours is for sale, too. We could have an on-going C-Brat gathering!!! Anyone else interested? :smiled
It's almost 6:00 in the evening; the sun has just set but there is a gorgeous glow in the sky. It's 78º. Joan is sipping wine, and I am "surfing" out on the deck. It doesn't suck.
JamesTXSD,
Jealous of the tropical tip of Texas weather. Got up today to 8" of the evil white stuff. Took most of the day to clear the walks and driveways. Have to also do the mother-in-laws, next door.
We spent the last two winters in Rockport, Texas, just north of Corpus Christi. Great people those Texans. Loved being winter Texans ourselves.
More details on the properties for sale please!
Jealous of the tropical tip of Texas weather. Got up today to 8" of the evil white stuff. Took most of the day to clear the walks and driveways. Have to also do the mother-in-laws, next door.
We spent the last two winters in Rockport, Texas, just north of Corpus Christi. Great people those Texans. Loved being winter Texans ourselves.
More details on the properties for sale please!
Hi Brent and Dixie,
We know Rockport well. Up until recently, we had work displayed/sold in the St. Charles Gallery on the main drag there. Joan's Mother lives in Portland (TX), so when we visit her, we try to make it to Port A and Rockport on occasion, too.
It is different here from the Rockport area... more of a fishing village atmosphere, and many think it is more like Mexico (we are very close).
We were winter Texans for 9 years before we made this area our only home. Regarding the places for sale near ours: small homes on this island. The water access is exceptional (the reason we bought/built here). To get a cottage home on the water, you can expect starting prices in the $200k range and up (mostly up). Nearly double that if you want something on the ICW. Occasionally an empty lot comes on the market ($100K +), but they go fast; not many left. The Sea Cottages (mostly duplexes), 3 level, have more square footage; the one across from us is listed for $265K. Nice location. If you're serious, I can put you in touch with a local realtor.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
We know Rockport well. Up until recently, we had work displayed/sold in the St. Charles Gallery on the main drag there. Joan's Mother lives in Portland (TX), so when we visit her, we try to make it to Port A and Rockport on occasion, too.
It is different here from the Rockport area... more of a fishing village atmosphere, and many think it is more like Mexico (we are very close).
We were winter Texans for 9 years before we made this area our only home. Regarding the places for sale near ours: small homes on this island. The water access is exceptional (the reason we bought/built here). To get a cottage home on the water, you can expect starting prices in the $200k range and up (mostly up). Nearly double that if you want something on the ICW. Occasionally an empty lot comes on the market ($100K +), but they go fast; not many left. The Sea Cottages (mostly duplexes), 3 level, have more square footage; the one across from us is listed for $265K. Nice location. If you're serious, I can put you in touch with a local realtor.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
starcrafttom
Active member
I have been close to hell, she was my first wife. All most did not make it back from there. If I go to hell this time do I get a t-shirt? last time I just got nightmares.
I'm just complaining that i have time off and cant get out to do anything. the river is out of shape but if I dont work tomorrow I will go fishing.And its not that we dont like the cold its just that we can not go sking yet and I going house crazy after just two days
James you covered three of my favorite things yesterday boating, mexican food and motorcycles.
thanks for the heads up about hell. I love going to the little weird places that others miss. We have been on the phone with the two resorts we will be staying at getting all the details worked out. It should be a great trip.
Now for a few words about texas. I lived in texas twice. Once in Springs and then later in Arlington. I always loved the people but hated the summers. to hot and to wet in spring. i have spent half my life in the south sweating and dont like it. I love my winters, just not all the ice.
.
I'm just complaining that i have time off and cant get out to do anything. the river is out of shape but if I dont work tomorrow I will go fishing.And its not that we dont like the cold its just that we can not go sking yet and I going house crazy after just two days
James you covered three of my favorite things yesterday boating, mexican food and motorcycles.
thanks for the heads up about hell. I love going to the little weird places that others miss. We have been on the phone with the two resorts we will be staying at getting all the details worked out. It should be a great trip.
Now for a few words about texas. I lived in texas twice. Once in Springs and then later in Arlington. I always loved the people but hated the summers. to hot and to wet in spring. i have spent half my life in the south sweating and dont like it. I love my winters, just not all the ice.
.
It is true. Crabs are cannibals. We once pulled three commercial pots off of Pacific City, left there by a crab boat that sank months earlier. Each pot had lots of empty shells. Probably two empties for every one live crab. One pot also had a wolf eel that was about a circumference and a half of the pot, plus two glass coke bottles. But the effort did pay off with over 40 crab.