Commissioning tasks and ongoing improvements of a 83 Cat 22 from trailer to saltwatercamper

[Jacktar]

Little trip down to my marina in Bayou Chico in pensacola, way out of any storm effects allegedly, but goes to show my personal practical theory, when a storm is in the gulf everybody gets wet and has some effect. The water level in the marina this am was at least 2.5 feet higher than normal. So we got surge here almost to mobile alabama.

 

[pclarksurf]

glad it was limited to surge-- I always cringe with empathy every time I see the hurricane forecasts.

 

[Jacktar]

Bad thing is local forecasters focused on stupid cone and did not advise of any surge in our area. Even though before it got even with Ft. Myers everyone there was getting rained on heavily and experiencing storm surge already. "Dump the cone, go to radar" is my new bumper sticker.

 

[Jacktar]

Well managed to get out on Dec 23rd for likely last sail of year, lovely weather, upper 60s, east wind at 10 knots, and light chop. Another enjoyable day with new ruddercraft rudder, holds course quite well with davis tiller minder. No more drifts upwind when I let the tiller go. Pix of me enjoying the day.

 

[Jacktar]

First decent day for sail in 2024(finally) and run into a fog bank at 1 in afternoon and then wind died, but worth it to get out on the brine for the day.

 

[Jacktar]

Out again in mid may but very gusty, not acting like usual May in Pensacola, got chance to run the the tohatsu for an hour or so and look around the rebuilt palafox pier marina area.

 

[Jacktar]

Well just noticed 4 days later that the unpredicted 2 ft surge in pensacola bay from last storm has dropped back to normal. Of course we will get another from Helene , apparently weather folks have not realized when a storm is in the gulf everybody gets a little surge and lots of rain from it regardless of being inthe cone of confusion or not. Also all this occurs 1 to2 days before the mystical center dot is anywhere near you. Legacy info from 39 years in florida.

 

[Jacktar]

Couple of shots early in Helene and late showing once again the unpredicted surge of nearly 4 ft in Pensacola .

 

[Jacktar]

Just jumped in to hookah dive the swing keel and annoying barnacles on port stern quarter before cold snap drops lovely 79 degree water in harbor. All ok , knocked off some oysters from keel and hangers area and stern. Another year of good control by Trinidad SR bottom paint, put it on in 2017 still going strong. Dodged the pullout bullet for another season.