John Malnor, count your blessings that you are on fresh water. After 38 times of cleaning up, and putting away the boat on saltwater, a picnic at the dock will start to look better than going out.
Got a bunch of smallish lakes in the area, and many have too many bass in them, so the little kicker boat gets out to chase them. Of course, once we've caught them we have to gently thank them for the thrill and then slip 'em back so they can make more bass to catch. Because the average depth of these lakes in Central Florida is about 10 feet, doing any kind of serious sailing is not in the cards right now. Having come from the Seattle area where we lived our our boat for a while, the lack of real sailing is somewhat troubling, but at our age there's lots of things we used to do that we only fondly remember as we find things we can still do that we enjoy.
June was OK, July was pretty epic and August so has been a real let down on my part of the Salish Sea. For the most part I've been getting out a few times a week for a 3-4 hour sail with the odd overnight tossed in. I've got a nice chunk of time set aside for getting up to the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival this year, looking forward to that.
My 11 year old grandson from CT joined me in July for the 4th year of “Papa’s Sailing Camp” on Kentucky Lake. We spent 2 overnights (4 days total) on my Rhodes 22. He is getting pretty comfortable sailing the boat.
We’ve cruised for about six weeks since mid-May…first in the San Juans and then recently in South Puget Sound. (When temps got too high for us in South Sound, we retreated to the mid-Sound area, returning this morning.) We’re planning to spend the month of September cruising in British Columbia waters…so a terrific season of boating so far.
Ida, have you gone Through the Cape Cod canal, either direction? Any tips? Thanks (am wondering if doing it in a Montgomery 15 with a 5 hour trawler electric motor is practical or legal.)
Eric, I know what you mean. That one weekend you, Dave and I were holed up in that creek owned by the Smithsonian, it got into the 90s on Tuesday and I had to hightail it out of there. Too hot - in the 100s in the cabin.
I haven't figured out how to sleep in Indigo's tiny cockpit Brad. Or made a bug net for it either. You'd wake up a shrived raisin from mosquito bites. Think about that during your build and let me know what you come up with!
Eric, see my comment in this thread, re the montgomery 15 - same dilemma, as in, getting things arranged in a small cabin so you can have a good night's sleep. Fortunately i've got a 2nd set of companionway boards for the monty cabin that have screens in them, to keep bugs out, but some air coming in, and also around sunset when the noseeums begin the invasion, i crank up the Thermacell bug repellant unit - about the size of a walkie talkie, or you can mount one on an 8 oz mini propane tank. They really do work. After laying a cranked up Thermacell unit on a cockpit seat, within 5 minutes, the mosquitoes & noseeums are vamoose. The farther away from shore you anchor, the better, too. I suppose making a 2nd set of companionway boards for the AL that have screens in them or having openable portlights that have screens in them will be something I'll consider at that point in the build!
I have been through the Canal but not in my Typhoon (I don’t have a motor). Most motorized craft (excluding jet skis) are allowed. (You should check the Canal regs on line)
The railroad bridge is something to think about before you transit. No vessel is allowed under it if it’s being lowered or is down. And this happens at haphazard times.
It’s best to transit the Canal with the current (goes ‘out west’ as we say) but if you are suddenly halted by the Canal Patrol because a train is coming you’ll need enough power to turn and buck a fair current.
The weather in the Northeast has been dodgy at best. A lot of rain and inaccurate predictions.
I think I've sailed 38 times since June 1 - but they are 1-3 hours on an inland lake - not two weeks or more away from shore......
And I keep the boat in the water at my dock to make it quick to get out / in
John Malnor, count your blessings that you are on fresh water. After 38 times of cleaning up, and putting away the boat on saltwater, a picnic at the dock will start to look better than going out.
Amen. Salt and shark free……
I'm fortunate in that I have a mooring through the city that is only a block from my home. I get out at least twice a week for a few hours at a time.
We have our Montgomery 17 in the marina at the lake (only 15 minutes from home), so it's easy to get out more often.
Got a bunch of smallish lakes in the area, and many have too many bass in them, so the little kicker boat gets out to chase them. Of course, once we've caught them we have to gently thank them for the thrill and then slip 'em back so they can make more bass to catch. Because the average depth of these lakes in Central Florida is about 10 feet, doing any kind of serious sailing is not in the cards right now. Having come from the Seattle area where we lived our our boat for a while, the lack of real sailing is somewhat troubling, but at our age there's lots of things we used to do that we only fondly remember as we find things we can still do that we enjoy.
June was OK, July was pretty epic and August so has been a real let down on my part of the Salish Sea. For the most part I've been getting out a few times a week for a 3-4 hour sail with the odd overnight tossed in. I've got a nice chunk of time set aside for getting up to the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival this year, looking forward to that.
My 11 year old grandson from CT joined me in July for the 4th year of “Papa’s Sailing Camp” on Kentucky Lake. We spent 2 overnights (4 days total) on my Rhodes 22. He is getting pretty comfortable sailing the boat.
Did a trip up to Ross Port on Lake Superior and sailed out to Battle Island. The only great lake I have not sailed is Lake Michigan.
Heading out on Lake Ontario this weekend.
We’ve cruised for about six weeks since mid-May…first in the San Juans and then recently in South Puget Sound. (When temps got too high for us in South Sound, we retreated to the mid-Sound area, returning this morning.) We’re planning to spend the month of September cruising in British Columbia waters…so a terrific season of boating so far.
As I sold my boat last year at the age of 90 I am now dependent on OPB sailing
My Typhoon is handily moored near my cottage on Cape Cod so I set out most days that the wind and skies are agreeable.
I frequently invite a friend and am always quizzed with a light to my eyes as to how long I plan to be out.
Six hours and I’m feeling good. Seven even better, though I will accommodate the two to three hour sailors
Across the Bay and the Cape Cod Canal, Great Hill, Bird Island, and Widows Cove make great day sails.
When I steer for home I’m most likely to reach the mooring as the sun spills over the horizon.
Ida, have you gone Through the Cape Cod canal, either direction? Any tips? Thanks (am wondering if doing it in a Montgomery 15 with a 5 hour trawler electric motor is practical or legal.)
Advancing geezerhood concomitant with the dreaded lumbar 'ritis have kept me on the dock so far this summer.
July, Chesapeake Bay, hottest month on record globally since records kept, water temps in upper 80s means your cabin never cools off = no thank you!
Eric, I know what you mean. That one weekend you, Dave and I were holed up in that creek owned by the Smithsonian, it got into the 90s on Tuesday and I had to hightail it out of there. Too hot - in the 100s in the cabin.
I haven't figured out how to sleep in Indigo's tiny cockpit Brad. Or made a bug net for it either. You'd wake up a shrived raisin from mosquito bites. Think about that during your build and let me know what you come up with!
Eric, see my comment in this thread, re the montgomery 15 - same dilemma, as in, getting things arranged in a small cabin so you can have a good night's sleep. Fortunately i've got a 2nd set of companionway boards for the monty cabin that have screens in them, to keep bugs out, but some air coming in, and also around sunset when the noseeums begin the invasion, i crank up the Thermacell bug repellant unit - about the size of a walkie talkie, or you can mount one on an 8 oz mini propane tank. They really do work. After laying a cranked up Thermacell unit on a cockpit seat, within 5 minutes, the mosquitoes & noseeums are vamoose. The farther away from shore you anchor, the better, too. I suppose making a 2nd set of companionway boards for the AL that have screens in them or having openable portlights that have screens in them will be something I'll consider at that point in the build!
I am 80 years old, I live on the Chesapeake Bay. Too hot for my physical condition, and too many thunderstorms as well. Looking forward to the Fall.
5 days sailing from Santa Cruz, CA to Oceanside, CA via Avalon on Santa Catalina Island.
Then, OBX130. 5 days of camp cruising on the NC Outer Banks.
Hi Brad
I have been through the Canal but not in my Typhoon (I don’t have a motor). Most motorized craft (excluding jet skis) are allowed. (You should check the Canal regs on line)
The railroad bridge is something to think about before you transit. No vessel is allowed under it if it’s being lowered or is down. And this happens at haphazard times.
It’s best to transit the Canal with the current (goes ‘out west’ as we say) but if you are suddenly halted by the Canal Patrol because a train is coming you’ll need enough power to turn and buck a fair current.
Maybe see you ‘down’ this way.