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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Living on board full time and going South (PART 10

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/17/2007 : 13:32:54

It's hard to believe that it's April 7, '07... outside it is 7 degree below zero and snowing... the truck, boat and trailer are streaked and plastered with grime and road salt... We ask ourselves what in the world we are doing this early in the season in Port Hope, Ontario... If we had a breakdown while towing our '95 C250 WB we'd be suffering big time in the snowy cold this far north...

But however astounding as it may seem, we have just have completed leg three of our “Living on board full time and going South” trip during the last 6 months... Johanna is digging up the few winter clothes we took along to keep us warm... We're also getting a renewed taste of the meaning of being tarped over, snowed-in, frozen solid, mast-less, dockside/driveway winter sailors... As we drive through Up State NY into Ontario through flying and drifting snow people in passing cars stare at us and think “those guys are real optimists”...

It's hard to get a grip on the fact that already our overall plan calls for the next phase which is flying to British Columbia to visit kids, admire 2 newly arrived grand-daughters, do our income tax, banking, prep for the September trade show, home storm/rain damage repair, visit and have lots of dinners with friends and family... Plane tickets were purchased a while ago using accumulated air mile points for the Toronto, Vancouver portion and a second 1000 mile flight from Vancouver to Smithers, BC with return to Toronto scheduled on May 4 th,'07. Shortly after that we hope to begin our approximately 6 week 300 mile plus Trent/Severn canal trip departing from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, Ont... We're excited and look forward to exploring the inland waterway with its rivers, canals, lakes, sluices and lift locks...

But slow down for a second... let me back-up a little and higlight a few details of the time we still bathed in sunshine and were enveloped by warm temperatures in the central part of the west coast of Florida.

After visiting the Catalina factory in Largo, FL, we again headed north to Port Richie. Talking to some locals we were directed to a marina in Port Hudson, FL. The reason for this was rather simple... By checking marinas further South, prices seemed progressively higher to a level were we felt it to be beyond being reasonable... We would have loved to sail the Keys and beyond but were also quite content to find suitable moorage a bit futher north around Port Hudson, FL where we were made very much welcome by the marina staff. “Be aware though”, we were cautioned... “you have to motor out of the 2 mile long channel before you'll find sufficient depth below the keel to sail”... Oh... no problem... it is always exciting to sail new waters.

So... we got busy, trailered the boat to the public ramp in Port Hudson, which we had checked out the day before and prepared for launching ... we backed the boat into the water. Johanna signaled that the boat was floating free and the trailer could be pulled out but... a big clonk and vibration indicated that, yes, she was floating but something was holding her from drifting off the trailer... Sure enough... in spite of having tied the centerboard in “up” position before launching, the keel was down with a snapped cable and was hitting the trailer's cross support... What a bummer!!... There “ain't” no way of getting the boat off the trailer, short of diving underneath and lifting the keel up and over the cross bar only having to face the shallows of the harbor and coast line later... So... instead, we winched the boat back onto the trailer, took down the mast and made her travel ready again to find a boatlift... Fortunately when visiting Catalina we had obtained a new cable (for exactly such a situation), albeit thinner than the original and in my view less suitable... Installing the cable is no big deal but getting to it is... and costly!!... Port Hudson marina fortunately has a boat lift capable of handling a 25 ft sail boat. It took less than 15 minutes to remove the snapped cable and install the new one.

After we launched by lift we motored to our reserved slip on the other side of the marina and were caught off guard and bounced over several shoals. “Oh yah... forgot to tell that you have to stay on the INSIDE of the markers”, Larry the marina manager said later when we went back to have a shower..

From our log on March 16th,'07... “We're hanging out in the cabin of the boat in the harbor of Port Hudson, Florida waiting out a big rain, wind storm which started last night and is still going strong... Wonderful feeling to be safe and snug nicely tucked away behind larger vessels... Fortunately we're picking up someone's wireless in the harbor and are able to send and receive e-mails from the boat... It even allows us to make phone calls via the $36 per year on-board computer Skype program and talk, at no cost, with people anywhere in Canada and the US and even with a $40 camcorder have a computer video/phone conversation with our son in Smithers, BC!!... How about that for technology... it is wonderful and keeps us in touch most of the time!! Oh... got to go... Johanna just brewed a fresh pot of coffee which fills the entire cabin with a sweet aroma and wants me to give her my undivided attention”...

Our first contact with Richard and Claire was during the time that they were docking their spiffy looking 26 ft Chrysler sailboat in a slip next to us... The way they were handling the boat looked a little unusual with Richard hopping in and out of the cockpit to regulate the outboard, and steer, trying to keep the bow from drifting by a brisk cross wind... “We're trying a new way to dock”. Our offer was kindly declined. Once they managed to securely tie-off the boat we introduced ourselves... this was the beginning of a friendship. Besides cruising/sailing together during the weeks to come we often honed our skills in the use of chopsticks in the various Chinese restaurants... Plans were made to meet up again in Vancouver, B.C. sometime soon.

Parking the truck and trailer close to the boat was no problem and there was room for the dingy on the dock next to the boat... Oh yes... speaking of the dingy! It apparently felt that it had traveled long enough on the bow of Someday Lady catching flies and road dust and had been out of the water too long. Assisted by strong winds, without a painter to restrict its progress it was blown from the edge of the dock and driven by wind and waves sailed to the opposite side of the bay where it promptly hid behind a private dock with its bow on the rocks. We had not noticed it missing until the following evening when we planned to go out that it finally dawned on us that the dock was empty!! Panic... instant stress... where could it be...!!! It was here just a while ago.. did somebody take it or...?? We notified dock security and checked everywhere without success. As a last resource, we talked to people living on the bay in the direction the wind had been blowing... Much to our delight the answer was “yes..., next to our dock is a dingy that appeared out of nowhere ”... Sure enough, there, just peeping over the dock, stuck on the shore rock was our little snooty, independent, dingy, all by itself and seemingly proud of its accomplishments... We brought the lady a bottle of wine as a token of our appreciation and hauled the little wayward vessel back to tie her up but good.

During our stay in Port Hudson we received another e-mail from Jerry Mulvihill asking where we were and inviting us for a visit and possible boat time... We said good bye to our friends and headed toward the East side of Florida to St Augustine where we located an RV park. Jerry met us there and we talked into the wee hours of the morning... Jerry reamed us out prim and proper for disappearing from the radar and now leaving too little time to go sailing... The following day, on his insistant invitation we parked the boat in Jerry's driveway. We were shown around their beautiful house and property and walked his unbelievable 520 ft long dock complete with boathouse and storage facility to where their '04 C250 WK Pretty Penny is moored. It was like a private paradise! That evening, we dined in, without doubt, the worlds finest sea food restaurant bar none... Thank you Jerry for taking us, making our stay totally comfortable and making a sincere attempt to solve our keel up haul problems.

From Jerry at Orange Park, FL to Cape Hatteras on the outer banks of north Carolina is a fair distance and was covered during two days of uneventful driving... In order to explore the surroundings, lighthouse, the infamous “graveyard of the the Atlantic” coastline, sites and museum we stayed two nights. It certainly was worthwhile making this side trip to do some exploring...

Another impressive experience was traveling the 28 km toll bridge spanning the Chesapeake Bay.

As we travelled further north, we hit the predicted cold front “from Canada”, experiencing freezing temperatures. Traveling toward upstate New York we needed to slow down due to severe snow flurries all the way to the Canadian border... The truck, trailer and boat received a load of road salt... Felt good to be back in Canada and to eliminate the 20% plus exchange as well as driving the shorter kilometers again...

Before going on to complete our 3rd leg we visited with Johanna's brother John and Wendy Zweerink PICTURE FAMILY DINNER 3056 and their family in Kingston, Ont. Two days later we arrived at the farm of Johanna's youngest brother George and Elsie Zweerink who live in Port Hope and who offered to store our Boat, Truck and Trailer while we fly, across Canada to the kids in British Columbia, for a 3 week period. We hope to return to Ontario during the beginning of May '07 to continue our fabulous road and float trip by doing the 300 plus mile Trent/Severn canal system... It is going to be strange for a while not to have our boat equipment with us... we already miss our little cocoon.

Love you all and see you soon
Henk for Johanna too

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

Edited by - on

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2007 : 13:43:31

thanks for sharing your experience!

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esailor
Navigator

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USA
118 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2007 : 14:12:18

I love posts like this because it seems like we went right along with you.

Thanks,

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 10:26:27

Henk, it was great having you and Johanna here for even the one day. PennyII is sparkling again and getting ready for haul out next Monday. Hope you have a safe trip over and back. Don't forget the Nationals, you will be right there.

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 15:31:59

Finally an internet connection... Thank you for the responses guys and the Mulvihill's for your unlimited hospitality... It's been a hoot and hope to continue once the weather in Ontario gets warmer. Jerry we're strongly considering motoring to the Nationals in Cleveland if all works out

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