View from the Keys

T

thataway

Active member
Bob and Marie arrived a day early--and not sure this is what we wanted--maybe part of Global Warming. 61 degrees and wind of 20 to 25 knots. Down to 53 last night. The winds should die down and temp up to 65 tomorrow.

On the way we detoured to Amelia Island and spent a few hours with Robert and Cathy Haley, whose Garmin HD 24 we purchased. His new 6 foot scanner on the perfectly kept C Dory 25 is impressive, along with 10" and 12" Garmin displays. Talk about a well out fitted boat!

Along the way there were many more RV's in transit than last year. We were lucky to get a spot one day early at Knight's Key. It looks as if 100% occupancy currently. Last year there was about a 20 % vacancy this time of the year.

We didn't launch the boat, so I cannot comment on Boot Key Harbor and how many boats on the mooring field. There is one sailboat anchored right off Knight's key to get some protection from that North Wind.

Any other Brats in the area yet? We will have to have another gathering this year. We have advance tickets to the Middle Keys Concert series--well worth going to if you are in the area. Give me a call, and we will give and C Brats a ride.
 
Hello Bob and Marie,
We arrived at Mangrove Marina Jan. 3 at Tavernier. The weather has been great for the most part. We have enjoyed a couple of overnights out cruising to Everglades park area to the north.
The fishing has been fantastic.
I expect we will meet up soon. Glad you made here.
Dan & Peggy
"Lake Effect"
 
Bob,
Ginny, Lucy (the dog) and I are leaving Pa. January 30th for the Black Fin Resort Marina in Marathon. Should launch there Feb 2nd. Be there for a week. I believe Joefish will be in the area maybe another dinner at Castaway or somewhere else? There is a new place to us that we would like to try called Sparky's Landing in the Key Colony Beach area a little north of you just over a causeway on the Atlantic side off of Rt.1 but still in the Marathon area. It's right on the water and friends gave their food good reviews. They will also cook your catch if you bring it to them cleaned and filleted. The following week we will pull the boat and head for Key West's Garrison Bight Marina. We plan to go to the back side of the keys around Johnston key and anchor out a night or two. The following week we are trying a new marina near Long Key called the Seabird Marina gulf side twenty miles south or so from Islamorada. The last week we have left open. We want to stop and check our St. Augustine on the way back up north. Plan to be home around March 2nd. I'll get in touch after we get settled at the Black Fin.
D.D.
 
Hi Bob and Marie,

Stacey and I will soon be heading back down to Plantation Yacht Harbor in Islamorada and hope to launch ViewFinder on February 15th. After 30-years of teaching high school art, Stacey retires the end of January! We'll be sharing a villa in Key Largo with sailing buddies from Alberta the first week of March and will then head down to Key West for a couple of weeks. We'll be sure to contact you after we arrive and hope we can get together with even more C-Dory fans.
 
It sounds like another or maybe several "C Brat" South gatherings are in the works. We are up for a night out any time! Bob's back is much better this year--the Admiral is keeping a close rein on me!

The weather has "warmed up" to 70's day time and low 60's at night.

One restaurant is out of the picture: Salty's Waterfront Grill at 7 mile marina caught fire at about 3 AM this morning, and burned pretty much to the ground--along with two good size charter boats which were also totally consumed by the fire. No idea what happened, but the state Arson Investigation squad was there about noon, along with lots of "crime scene" tape.

We got the Caracal Cat in the water--but no battery power. The tilt had worked fine about 5 minutes before when we removed the "Transom Saver". It turned it it was the Hella Switch….A good German/ Austrian/ New Zealand product, now made in India! New switch and we are in business.
 
Ah Ha--the real key weather is here--at least for the next week or so--Days in the mid 70's and nights in the mid 60s (except Wed. when it will be 65 and 58). Today light wind, so we are gong out for the afternoon, and then an Artie Shaw tribute band concert tonight.

I had decided several months ago, that with my back problems, I have difficulty starting even small outboards--and also carrying them. The solution is a Torqeedo 1003 electric outboard (about the equivalent to a 3 hp outboard--being used on boats up to 22 feet for getting in and out of the harbor etc). This will become our dinghy motor also. Since the Torqeedo breaks down to 3 parts; the heaviest part is about 15 lbs, so it is easy to handle. We are putting a removable outboard bracket on the swim step, because the transom cut out with the single engine cat is too narrow (especially with the Bay Star steering) to mount the motor on the transom.

I'll report of the performance of the Torqeedo as a "kicker" and get home engine in the next few days. The Caracal is going to be slightly faster than the C Dory 22, but it will give us some idea of the usefulness of the Torqeedo as a "get home" or trolling motor on our 22--again going for something which is light and easy to handle for both the dinghy and kicker.
 
Dr. Bob,

Would you consider starting a new thread if you have more to say about the Torqeedo? I've been interested in that motor for some time and would consider your review quite valuable. I'm sure others would as well.

Hope to see you and Marie in the Keys soon.
 
Joe,
We got the swim platform mount today--since it is raining hard, we are postponing the attachment (requires hauling the boat out) until tomorrow.

We will do another thread on this subject as soon as we get the data. The Torqeedo has a GPS built in and gives speed, and anticipated range based on the speed, and amount of battery power left.

Anyone who does not have our phone number, please send me a PM.

Any of the folks who are in the Islamorada area, The Artie Shaw Band is playing there tonight at Island Community Church, 83250 Overseas Highway. The web site is at: http://www.floridakeysconcerts.com

There was almost 2 hours of music and it was first class. The best rendition of Stardust I have ever heard. Many other favorites from the big band era--17 musicians total. That single concert is $40, entire series of 6 concerts is $95.
 
Although we have taken the Torqeedo with us a number of times, we have been having too much fun to try i out.

Several days ago we visited with Flint and Leslie Firestone by land and then by sea. Yesterday, Tom Herrick and his wife dropped by for an hour's visit as they were leaving Big Pine Key, and on the way back to Kentucky.

This evening Nick Rukavina, Flint and Leslie Firestone, David and Ginny Deem are all joining us for dinner out. Anyone else in the area?

Fishing has been good enough that we would not starve, but not always as good as we would like. A couple of days ago we got several nice snapper and some yellowtail. Today one nice yellowtail. Right after Nick called and we told him where we were fishing--he informed me that was where he had caught a number of blow fish--We had never caught a blow fish down here==the next fish I caught was a blow fish. Marie followed that up with a 2 1/2 foot long eel. That sucker wound up all of the leader, past the swivel, over 3 feet, when she brought him in. He went back in the water to fight another day…but we had to put on the heavy gloves to handle that fellow.

Still nice in paradise!
 
I bought the 1003 model this month as well for the 19 as a kicker and as a dinghy motor of course. I am doing a series of big projects on the boat and will not likely test the Torqeedo out for a couple of months. There is an existing thread on the brand but nothing model specific. I would be happy to contribute as well once I get some time on the unit. Enjoy that warmth!.

Greg
 
Our present view from the Keys is at Garrison Bight City Marina, Key West.
We have been here a few days and plan to leave in a few more weather permiting.
Our next stop will be a revisit of Boot Key Harbor at Marathon. We are cruising with friends on the Molly J.
 
Give us a shout when you are up here, and we can all get together--and also meet up with Flint and Leslie Firestone. The wind will be down for the next 3 days (according to the weather reports).
 
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