Dave,
I haul with a Dodge 1500. It is really not enough to pull the boat up a slick ramp. I have surfed up a ramp a little pulling it. The marina I am keeping it at pulls it out for $12.50. We figured that we save that much driving the car down there and back. I have friends that do really well with 2500s, 4 wheel drive is really nice. If you can find a marina that will tow it down the ramp for for a small fee, it is nice.
I know a couple people that anchor in the Crooked Island area and there is a down side. The Air base will shut down areas because of training runs. There are times where they have to askk all recreational vesels to leave the area. They are very nice about it and try and give as much lead time as possible, but the training missions come first.
I would just recomend getting a chartplotter that is preloaded. I bought a Humminbird 785c2i preloaded with Navionics Gold for about $285 3 years ago, it was like paying full price for the Navionics and getting the chartploter for free.
My trip log, don't expect much.
We got a late start Sunday and ended up getting eaten alive with No See Ums while launching. It was already dusk and dark by the time we got out on St George Sound. It was pitch black. I kept thinking if my chartplotter goes out, I do not know these waters good enough to get to Shippers Cove in this dark of a night. We got there and after setting anchor, we put Mico down for the night. Another great night on anchor.
The next day we built a Smokkey Joe while listening to Mechanical Mike break the news that a storm was coming Monday night - Tuesday morning.
So we hoisted the main reefed and made it back in. Safe at The Moorings waiting for the storm. Left the hatch open to watch the lightening flashed that night.
We headed out the next day and sailed main only for Apalachicola. Mad a good 4.5 knots. Thought about raising a genoa but Ivy and were happy with 4.5 to 5 knots sustained.
Approaching St George bridge, nice sight after hours of sailing.
Can someone say Spanish Mackeral for dinner? We caught 2 coming into Appalachicola bay.
Entering the Apalachicola river just past the bridge.
Going thu the railroad bridge.
Entering Lake Wimico.... Mico found it cool that his name is in the name of the lake.
A very happy first mate.
Approaching White City. This was a great lay over.
White City sign after mom and Mico went for some hand scooped ice cream.
Settled for the night and ready to enjoy that fish dinner. Great cleaning stations here.
The ditch to St Joe.
Sailing to the tip of Cape San Blas. Just as we anchored there the wind really kicked up so we decided to go on to Eagle Harbor rather tan dinghy in the wind.
After getting into Eagle Harbor we sent the first mate to bailk out the dinghy. I am sure there is a law against this.
Eagle Harbor on anchor.
Going ashore for much needed time on the beach and playing. We found after calling the Ranger Station and asking permission to anchor for the night that because the winds were really blowing in the bay, there is no charge to enter the park and use the facilities when it is for safe harbor.
The next morning just before leaving Eagle Harbor.
We sailied back to the tip of Cape San Blas and exploring.
Cooking some dogs at the cape.
Finding a Ladybug while exploring.
We made our way back to White City and Mico found some friends to fish with. We caught another Spanish Mackeral leaving Eagle Harbor.
Hanging out with some Cruisers, the gentleman sitting next to me in the red shirt has been cruising with hs wife and sons for three years now. We joined them for dinner on their 41 Morgan Outlander.
Sailing back and flying a kite, we again had the wind to our stern for the trip back.
Daves favorite sailing position.
Making 5.5 knots with just the standard Jib.
Once it got really sunny we broke out the $20 umbrella. It held up in while sailing 5 knots.
Putting Recess up at The Moorings after a great trip.
