Trailer/Sailors Association The magazine of the Fall 2003 Trailer/Sailors Association

Features/anouncements Front Cover Welcome Aboard CS Editorial Staff 1 President s Column Wayne Bell 1 Treasurer/Membership Report David Craigie 10 From the T/SA Web Discussion List ed. John Coppedge 16 Welcome New Members 27 Ramp Report - Three Ramps In The Florida Keys John Ulmer Back Cover Classified Ads

Cruising Articles 4 Tip of the Thumb John Myers 13 Tangent to Rossport Tom & Rosemary Hamill 21 North Channel Snips Wayne & Debbie Bell 22 Cruising the West Coast of Florida Claiborne Young

How-To 1 A Little about Boating Etiquette Mike Collins 9 A Cautionary Tale Bud Meade 17 White Swan Bud Meade

Special Items 8 Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast Claiborne Young

Special Note: Webmaster Mike Nelson reports the 2003 North Channel Cruise photo albums are now available for viewing on the T/SA web site. The url is http://www.trailersailors.org/photoalbums.html

The authors of the newsletter disclaim any and all responsibility for any kind of injury or damages sustained which may result from the application of any or all ideas or suggestions appearing in any articles of Clipper Snips. The authors of the newsletter furthermore give no warranty, express or implied, as to the merchantability, fitness for purpose, advertised quality, or any other matter of any products advertised in Clipper Snips or appearing in any articles of said newsletter.

Clipper Snips Page 1 Fall 2003

Welcome Aboard...

It's been a busy summer, and I hope In Tangent to Rossport, Tom & tunity to voice our trailer/sailor all our members used their boats to Rosemary Harrill describe skim- concerns as part of this organization create some great stories. Sue & I ming along upper Lake Superior surveys. did what we could, but like every in their trimaran Tangent. The registration screen is at: http:// fall, we're shedding some tears and www.prr.msu.edu/boaterpanel/ saying "We should have used ithe I included a piece about Claiborne boat more." But we DID make Young's updated Cruising Guide I didn't really consider the info I some great personal stories. to the Northern Gulf Coast. He provided to be very private; but you includes an offer of $3 discount can bail out at any time before you Henk for T/SA members on orders be- submit the screen data. We'll see if One story I'm happy to report is that fore Christmas 2003. I get that $20 coupon. Henk Vanderhulst, who fell ill last Keeping with the focus on South- Future Articles Spring, has fully recovered, thanks ern Venues, John Ulmer delivered to tender loving care from his wife Ramp Report - Three Ramps In The focus of the Winter issue is Sia. Besides being my favorite sen- The Florida Keys. Fix-it/Improvement Projects, and ior citizen sailor, Henk contributes we've got a few in the pipeline. about 1/3 of the stories in Clipper Survey Invitation In Trailer sailing with a 9.9 HP Snips, so I was understandably con- "The Recreational Marine Research Yamaha, Henk Vanderhulst pro- cerned. Center (at Michigan State University) vides some how to on several sub- is in the process of forming a Na- This issue tional Panel of Recreational Boaters jects including a motor tilter, a dolly, a hoist, and a mast support This issue includes part 1 of who would be willing from time-to- Cruising the West Coast of time to complete short on-line sur- Your editor shares a little epoxy Florida. This is a transcript veys on topics including: your opin- know-how in Install a Fishfinder ions related to boating facilities and (typed by T/SA treasurer Dave services, participation rates, angling In Your Sailboat. Craigie) of a presentation made from boats, boat and boating equip- In Let's Talk Trailers Henk Van- by Claiborne Young at the Har- ment purchases and sales, perspec- derhulst shares his thoughts from borage at Bayboro Marina in St tives on proposed policies (e.g., fee over 50,000 miles of towing. Petersberg, FL. changes). Participation as a panel member will provide you a unique Karl Schmitt describes a device in A Cautionary Tale; a 'how-to' opportunity for your viewpoints and [Fuhrler Support] Designed by article by Bud Meade about mak- needs to be reflected in industry deci- Schmidt, Modified by Schmitt. ing some epoxy improvements to sions, and federal and state boating his new Seaward 25. It's also a policy decisions. John Burrows shares some do-it- 'how-not-to' as the boat caught "Boater Panel members who com- yourself projects: one about a self fire, and was destroyed. plete at least one online survey will tacking jib, and another about a solar panel installation. Upon hearing of Bud's boat fire, be emailed a coupon for $20.00 off a $100.00 purchase at West Marine Trailsail group member Tom Par- Next issue also contains Part 2 of stores nationwide We will also email rent lent Bud his Hunter 320 all Boater Panel members the results Cruising the West Coast of Flor- White Swan. Bud reports mixed of the surveys in which they partici- ida by Claiborne Young. emotions of 'free chartering.' pate. In the near future we will be Mike Collins provides some com- developing a Web The Clipper Snips Winter issue: ments in A Little about Boating site where Panel Deadline: January 1, 2004 Etiquette members can ac- Focus: John Myers writes of some inter- cess reports using a username and We did it articles esting anecdotes describing sev- password." eral cruises in Tip of the Thumb. Winter Fix-up/Improvement Projects Aside from the Wayne & Debbie Bell reveal $20.00 bait, this Cruise Reports: All Venues somecruise observations in North may be an oppor- Summer Cruise Plans/suggestions Channel Snips.

Clipper Snips Page 2 Fall 2003

President s Column Wayne Bell

Dear Trailer/Sailors, this November, a new T/SA enthu- YES. There is absolutely no truth siast will assume the role: John to that story!!! Rather, what I did For us in the north, the sailing sea- Clement. was invite John to sit down near son is winding down. While the edge... I did put my hand in the many of us still have our boats in John and his wife Irene, as well as small of his back...he might have the water, the talk along the docks crew Karen and Eric, are well felt just a bit uneasy with the tone concerns ramp availability and win- known among the Trailer/Sailors of my voice I did say it was a ter storage. In the next few weeks ranks. From Aurora, Ontario they long way down to the water. But we up north will be pulling and sail Taranui, a Precision 23. never once did I even infer that he covering and dreaming of next As I say that, I need to refute the had to say yes!! spring. Like in everything, as the rumor about T/SA presidential suc- saying goes all good things come John, welcome and thank you. We cession.: to an end. are all assured that under your lead- I DID NOT THREATEN TO ership the Trailer/Sailors Associa- Not only is the sailing season com- THROW JOHN CLEMENT tion will continue to thrive. ing to an end, my term as President OFF THE CLIFF AT THE of the Trailer Sailors Association is Fair winds, NORTH CHANNEL S COVERED also coming to a close. As of the PORTAGE UNLESS HE SAID Wayne Bell, President, annual meeting in Lake St. Clair Trailer/Sailors Association Treasurer s Report Dave Craigie

After an absence of three years In- hearty thanks to all those TSA with T/SA information. I do hope cipient finally returned to the North members with whom we got to sail, that everyone enjoys being a T/SA Channel. It was a little bit of a dine and share cocktails, new member: please help us by re- bumpy trip to begin with, but after friends and old alike. And a special turning your dues promptly. we settled some family matters we Thank You to all the members that Take a few minutes to fill in the were off and running and made the hosted Joyce and I in their homes Questionnaire too. Without your 1500-mile trip in three days (A re- on our return trip to Oklahoma. support, it will not be possible to cord time for a couple of old folks You made this a very special trip sustain this important part of the that stop every five minutes). for the both of us. Directory. And please do not hesi- tate to let us know that you are dis- We made it to the T/SA North Once again it is that time of the satisfied or have suggestions to Channel rendezvous during the year for dues renewal. This is what make. Thanks for your support!!!! second week and then got to enjoy keeps the wheels greased and the another three weeks after that. A postman returning to your door David Craigie, Treasurer A Little about Boating Etiquette ... Mike Collins

For over forty years my wife Jan shared space in hundreds of anchor- Over the years we learned that there and I have trailed a sailboat. Win- ages. Since retirement, and until are many unwritten rules about how tertime found us trailing from our recently, we spent the winter season to get along in a live-aboard marina home in Minnesota to Florida aboard Y-Knot, our Southcoast 26 and an anchorage too. As a trailer/ where we lived on, cruised and in various marinas in the Keys. We sailor one needs to remember that plied these waters for many years. made many friends, both Trailer/ you are sharing a small space with During that time we berthed in Sailors and cruisers alike. many boaters. For many of these many marinas as transients and (Continued on page 4)

Clipper Snips Page 3 Fall 2003

A Little about Boating Etiquette ...

(Continued from page 3) anyway, as there will come a time clean. Wash your boat regularly, boaters, living-aboard is not just a when there will be no one there scrub the water line and shine up hobby; it s a life style. You need to and you will have to fend for the stainless, get the bird poop off know the rules in order to be ac- yourself. Jan always stood at mid- of the canvas, polish a portion of cepted and to get along. ship, dock lines in hand and boat the boat occasionally. It s good hook close by, ready to step on exercise and your boat is a reflec- Written below, and in no particular the dock as soon as it was safe. tion of you personally. Take order, are some observations con- We practiced this and made a pride in Her and you will make a cerning marinas and anchorage s. If good team. First impressions are good impression. you are new to the boating scene, very important. The best dockings or if you re an old Salt, or if you 6.If you must have a pet, be extra are when other boaters say, we have never shared space at a live- responsible. No pet should be never heard you come in. aboard marina, this information left aboard without proper food, might help you blend in better and 2.Try to tie up as seaman-like as water and ventilation. No pet make friends faster. you can. Bow and stern lines, should be left aboard, or on board spring lines always look nice at all for that matter, that will In The Marina: coiled on the dock. Water hoses, make unnecessary noise. No pet 1.When entering a marina, be pre- electrical, telephone and TV lines should be left to roam the marina pared. If you are unfamiliar with and anything else should be laid unattended. And I hope it goes a marina, try to call ahead and let so that others do not have to step without saying to pick up after the dockmaster know that you are over or around them. your pet. No one wants to step in coming in. They can usually give a mess, then carry it back to your 3.Tame your halyards. This is a you a heads up about where to go own boat on your shoes. Remem- must. Slapping halyards may and on what side your tie up will ber, no matter how close people sound very melodic. But they are be. I always make my boat as live in the most crowded urban very annoying when trying to ship shape as possible before en- areas, no one lives closer then sleep at night. I always twirl my tering. My sails are furled, my when they are in a marina. halyards around my spreaders. dock lines are in place, fenders It s very effective and it looks 7.When walking down the dock, try are attached and a general plan of salty. In my home marina they to keep your eyes straight ahead. action on how we will dock has had a sign which read; loose hal- No one wants a stranger looking already been discussed with my yards: first offense $50.00 fine, into their floating house. Now, wife. Preplan your slip entry and second offense $500.00 fine, third that s not to say that your perif- come to it smartly. On most occa- offense, your boat will be sunk. eral vision won t pick up a mate sions someone will be kind nodding to you from the deck of enough to grab your dock lines 4.Don t let your boat look unkept. their boat. Or that you will appear and assist you. But be prepared If you must dry clothing on the arrogant and not acknowledge a lifelines, do it and friend. Just don t act like a tourist get it down and walk down the dock, peering ASAP. Keep the through every cabin window and decks ship shape open companionway. I was once and free of other surprised by two little old ladies unnecessary items looking at me in my underwear that project an making coffee. Thankfully I was unsightly and un- in my shorts because I usually seaman like ap- sleep aboard wearing only a smile pearance. If you do not have the 8.Never feed the birds. They are room to stow the not potty trained and human food stuff properly, do is bad for the birds anyway. Let you really need me repeat; never feed the birds it? anywhere at anytime. Particularly Mike & Jan Collins on Y-Knot 5.Keep your boat (Continued on page 5)

Clipper Snips Page 4 Fall 2003

A Little about Boating Etiquette

(Continued from page 4) All of the above rules apply here tions to go aboard someone else s when you are in a marina. If you with the exception of the wind and boat. A sailing couple we know want to make a lot of folks gas generators, which should be went aboard someone s boat for unhappy, hold a scrap of food off used only as needed. Never use gas the evening. After much liquid the stern of your boat and then get generators during quiet times. In refreshments were consumed they ready for the Wrath of Hell. If addition, there are a few anchoring were asked to stay the night and you want to feed the birds, go to suggestions that should be looked change partners. What a shock! the park or the beach. at. Another couple we know went aboard for a party and the first 9.Be friendly, but not overbearing 1.Develop a system of anchoring thing they knew everyone but and try not to borrow things. Try signals. The person on the fore- them was smoking Pot!! Later to blend in, listen, contribute in deck and the helmsman should they told me they didn t partici- small doses until folks get to know what the other needs, with- pate at all. But then I said; What know you better. Boater s are out shouting. It doesn t matter would happen if they got busted folks that will bend over back- what these signals are, just have a when you were there? They wards to help. If you can offer pre-arranged set of hand signals. would surely have a striped sun- expertise in some field that s al- There is no standardization of tan. If in doubt, politely decline. ways welcome. When I would these signals that I know of and as If things go south after getting work on someone s boat I would long as the helmsman clearly un- there, hit the dink, pull anchor and never accept any money, and the derstands the crew s intention you bug out. No excuses or politeness word went around to that affect. will look far more Salty than the and no Miss Manners required So they would usually send us out crew that shouts and is heard here. for a dinner. So then my daughter throughout the anchorage. made a sign for me that read: 4.Watch out for thieves. Just like at 2.Choose your spot only after you Will work for food. To help home, don t hang out the wel- have looked over your neighbors. someone, a simple Thank You is come mat for the seedy side of No, we are not looking to see if payment enough. boating. If you must leave your we will like being next to some- boat at anchor for a few hours or a 10.Shower responsibly. Many one personally. This is not a per- few days take some reasonable boaters living in a marina still manent location like in real estate. precautions. If friends are close work. If you are retired or on va- Look at your neighbors though to by, or if you feel you can trust a cation you do not need to take a see how their boat is laying. Are neighbor, let them know your shower at 0715, just when the they using all chain rode, or do plans and to keep a look out for working boaters need to get in they appear to be using rope and you. Never leave obvious tempta- there and do the same thing. Be chain? What is their scope? Are tion for others to see. Stow all considerate and take a shower in they on two hooks or one? If the gear and lock up what you can. the off peak times. You will feel wind changes, will we swing into better for it and remember, they them or them into us? When you 5.Don t leave your fenders hanging are still paying into Social Secu- are going to ride the hook in an over the sides. There is no excuse rity. anchorage, all of the above should for having your fenders out when be observed, keeping in mind that you are sailing or at anchor. 11.Wind and gas generators should the person who anchored first has Unless you are in a marina or raft- not be used in a live-aboard ma- the right of way. (Maritime Law ing up, look smart and stow them rina. states he has the right to ask you properly. 12.Know your flag etiquette, but to move). After anchoring, if I have sailed for over fifty years don t criticize others who don t. there are still any questions or and I consider my sailing friends lingering doubts about whether 13.Never board any boat without my greatest treasure. specific permission from the you are anchored properly, dink Fair Winds, owner. It s a good way to get over and talk with your neighbors. killed. It s a good way to meet new Mike friends. In the anchorage: 3.Be choosy about accepting invita-

Clipper Snips Page 5 Fall 2003

Tip of the Thumb ... John Myers

Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron provides Even years a great place to learn to cruise or when we sailed relax and enjoy the slow pace of a the North Chan- fishing village. The bay provides nel or went protection from all wind directions camping out except Northeast. Quaint fishing West, we man- villages, good marinas, which cater aged a short to transients and an uninhabited visit to the island with a lighthouse to explore, thumb. This add to the experience. Our first trip was due in part "out of sight of land" was the 8- to my wife mile trip to Charity Island in our Cindi who grew 1977 Catalina 22 Holyon with only up in the area a compass and VHF. 0ur first "sail and still has to an unknown harbor" and "out of many family sight of land" experience was the and friends who 24-mile sail from Caseville to East live there. We Tawas also in the Catalina 22. Ac- use Caseville as tually with Charity Island in the our home base middle of the bay you can always and have two one day out and one- ask the crew and they voted for Port see the island even when both day back destinations of East Austin on an easy reach so off we shores are hidden so you always Tawas and Port Austin. Sometimes went to Port Austin an easy 8 mile have a point of reference. we make a triangle of the cruise detour. visiting both ports before returning Caseville - Tawas - Port Austin Caseville was originally a commer- depending on the weather and the cial fishing village, now it caters to We have been vacationing in the wind direction. A visit to ports in a cottagers. The icehouse of what thumb of Michigan every year for triangle makes good sense because was the largest commercial fishing over 25 years. Originally in a it gives you more choices depend- company is now the Huron Yacht camper, parked on the beach watch- ing on the wind direction. Last Club. The municipal harbor is lo- ing sailboats, then camping and summer on the way back from East cated ½ mile up the Pigeon River sailing our 1977 Catalina 22 for 5 Tawas we were beating into 3-foot and right behind Main Street; not years, and finally living aboard our waves and hard on the wind. As we more than two blocks from any 1986 Watkins 25, Y Knot (during left the protection of Tawas bay and store. From our boat at the munici- vacation) for the last 10 years. got farther off shore the waves got pal docks, we can see 2 restaurants, even bigger. I deter- 2 bars which server food, a phar- mined that I could not macy, a party store, a used book- hold the rum line for store and a couple of craft shops. Caseville harbor. That The municipal docks are only a few meant that the last years old with excellent facilities. hour would be motor- The boat ramp is dual lane, paved ing dead into the wind with a large parking lot. A Laun- and waves with sails dromat, a lounge with TV and a down or tacking to kitchenette are part of the marina windward for several facilities. Overnight trailer parking uncomfortable hours. is not permitted but the harbormas- I pointed the boat to- ter will make arrangements for ward Port Austin and parking your trailer nearby for free. immediately things We have several times arrived in calmed down to an Aerial harbor view of Caseville, MI easy broad reach. I (Continued on page 7)

Clipper Snips Page 6 Fall 2003

Tip of the Thumb ...

walk runs would have been sustained. about a mile in Central Michigan has weather like either direc- the North Channel, the warmest tion from the time is late July or early August, marina making even then we pack half sweatshirts walking or and jeans and half T-shirts and riding a bicy- shorts. Some years we only use the cle very safe. shorts and some years only the We ride bicy- jeans but most years some of both. cles to the It almost always cools down beach then enough at night for comfortable walk for miles. sleeping. We like the facilities at In the evening Caseville so much that it is hard to we ride our pick a favorite but here goes. We bicycles to the Caseville Harbor, MI love the county beach; it's about break wall, one hundred yards wide and half- (Continued from page 6) which stretches about a quarter mile long strip of sand. You can the evening and slept overnight on mile out into Saginaw Bay to watch walk out in the water until you get the boat without incident but we the sunset and the sailboats coming tired before it gets chest deep. We notified the harbormaster of our in. The "Scenery" may not be as love to eat breakfast at Walt's res- intentions to rent a slip the next day grand as Key West but still a very taurant next to the marina where all and he graciously gave us a key to pleasant experience. the locals hang out and a sign on use the public bathrooms. Your Over the last 10 year I have experi- the wall says, "Children left unat- vehicle can stay as long as needed mented with several systems to tended will be sold as slaves". at the marina. The state ramp has a haul bikes to and from the water. Lefty's Drive Inn at the edge of low slope so I have needed all of First I tried lashing two bikes on town is reminiscent of the 1950's. my trailer's tongue extension to get either side of the lowered mast on On cool rainy days the antique the boat to float. On very low wa- the foredeck. This required putting bookstore provides a diversion and ter years I have sometimes had the a moving van pad on foredeck to a source of many of my Horatio boat put in by Hoy's Saginaw Bay keep black marks off, lots of pad- Hornblower novels, a 1968 copy of Marina a couple of blocks away. ding to protect mast They have two travel lifts. Reser- and still some scratch- vations (517-856-4590) are needed ing resulted. Next I and they do not haul boats on the tried disassembly and weekends. There is a private ma- storing in the back of rina across the harbor on Water the truck. This Street that has a very steep dual worked but took up ramp ending in gravel. I used it the valuable cargo space summer of 2002 without problems. and got grease on eve- I probed it with my boat hook be- rything. This year I fore trying, 25' from the water's installed a bicycle edge it was 60" deep, but after that rack on either side of it was basically level, that being the the trailer on the an- bottom of the harbor due to low gling part near the Son, Travis, ferries load ashore Charity Island water. My Watkins 25 Y Knot bow. This worked draws 30" and the dual axle trailer reasonably well but some damage Chapman's and several nautical does not have drop axles, so if the to the bikes still resulted from rub- how-to books. Y Knot can do it almost any trailer- bing against each other. If only able sailboat can float on. The Charity Island can be seen from the one bike was put on each carrier public beach is about 3/4 of a mile beach or the break wall in Case- instead of two then no damage away to the North. A wide side- (Continued on page 8)

Clipper Snips Page 7 Fall 2003

Tip of the Thumb ...

(Continued from page 7) the surface. The men said they ville, about eight miles off shore. came often and just motored in very Charity is uninhabited, about a mile slow with the keel retracted and a long and 1/2 mile wide with an bow watch posted. They were also abandoned lighthouse to explore curious to see me since I was the along with a mile of sand & rock first person they had ever encoun- beach. This trip is great practice tered who came to the bay from the for a trip to the eastern side of the interior and had braved the fabled North Channel. Buy a good chart, bugs and snakes. the area around the island is very Another destination is East Tawas, shallow and strewn with boulders an easy 24-mile sail from Caseville the size of houses; submerged, of across Saginaw Bay. The state course. docks are good; ask for a floating There are no buoys or nautical aids. dock, as the permanent docks can It is best to approach from at least be several feet above deck level on two miles off the North shore and low water years. On your way head strait for the center of the Is- across the bay you want to pass 3 or land. Line up on the cut, which 4 miles to the North of Charity Is- leads to the harbor. The harbor cut Y-Knot crew atop Charity Island land. Next you will cross the ship- forms a break in the tree line, which Lighthouse ping lane where freighters bound can be seen a mile or more off for Saginaw pass. As you enter shore. Stay on that heading until Tawas bay, note the lighthouse on you will want to anchor outside the you get to the break wall. I advise the North Shore and the huge wharf harbor entrance behind the break idle speed that last 3/4 mile with a at Alabaster a half-mile or more off wall. The harbor is private, part of lookout posted at the bow. The shore where ships used to load a failed real-estate plan to develop a depth is 9 to 12 feet with 5-7 feet Gypsum. You can still see the tow- housing project on the island in the inside the breakwall on mean water ers for the overhead tramway that 1990's. No houses were ever built, level years. Take your dinghy and brought the gypsum from shore out only the harbor, which is now in anchor well off as there is no dock to the wharf. Now the ships are ruins. For several years before I and the shoreline is not keel loaded at Port Gypsum but on shore got up the courage to visit Charity friendly. The lighthouse, commis- from a much smaller wharf that you Island, I asked the locals about it. sioned by Abraham Lincoln, is con- will pass next. The state docks are The response was always the same. structed of brick with a wrought at the back of the bay behind a "Stay away. Don't go. Big rocks, iron stairway and wrought iron cu- large retaining wall. It is possible big snakes, big bugs" etc. However pola. The light keeper's cottage is to anchor in the harbor but we have we have never visited without be- in ruin. The lighthouse tower is in always purchased a slip. The docks ing joined some time during the day poor repair but thankfully they built are a long way from shore making by at least two or more other boats. them pretty strong in the 1860's. trips to the shower/bathroom a long I think this is one of those special We always climb to the top for the walk. A Holiday Inn sits on the and rapidly disappearing wild view and a picture session. The shore overlooking the harbor. The places that the locals want to keep beach is sand and smooth limestone food is good and we have also for themselves. One year I hiked to shale, the kind that is good for rock stayed here when sailing with an- the south end of the island down a skipping. The water is crystal clear other couple on their boat. Next to logging trail and came out on a thanks to the Zebra Mussels and the Holiday Inn is a state ramp. I beautiful half moon bay with sandy warm due to the shallowness of the have not used it or measured it. It beach. Anchored off shore was a bay. The island's interior is noted looks ok for sailboats below 24' or 21' sailboat and two men were grill- for snakes and mosquitoes so we below 2' draft. The parking lot is ing steaks on the beach. This usually stick to the beach. Our kids small and not secure. Within walk- amazed me since the south side of think the climb to the top of the ing distance of the dock are a thea- the island is very shallow with lighthouse tower is the coolest part many boulders protruding above (Continued on page 9) of the trip. If you stay overnight

Clipper Snips Page 8 Fall 2003

Tip of the Thumb ...

(Continued from page 8) Saginaw Bay provided no protec- ter, ice cream shop, hardware store, tion. The boat was rolling heavily several craft shops, a department in the swells, with the inclinometer store, grocery store and several res- occasionally pegged at 45 degrees, taurants. Adjoining the dock is a but with the wind on our hindquar- nice public beach with pavilion. ter it was not too uncomfortable The theater with its very low cost except for the sick feeling when the admission and the ice cream shop swells ran under the keel from be- are our favorite things here. hind. In an attempt to get to port before things got worse, I had too Most crossings of Saginaw Bay much sail up. Our son Travis have involved setting the autopilot turned green and started moaning, and finding a comfortable place to "lets go back", "we have to go relax and enjoy the next six hours back", over and over again. I said but one particular crossing was not the standard things like "try to look as relaxing but more educational. at the horizon" and Cindi broke out On this particular trip, with the the gingersnaps but nothing would Watkins 25, we crossed to East make him quit moaning and com- Tawas and my mother in-law and plaining. Between the motion of her sister decided to drive around the waves, worrying about my the bay and meet us there. They mother in law and listening to my stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn son complain it was shaping up to and my mother in-law was to ride be a very unpleasant day. At noon back to Caseville with us the next Y-Knot in Port Austin my mother in-law said, "What's for day. My 60+ years old mother in- lunch". Lunch was the farthest law had never been on any sailing thing from any of the rest of ours of the Thumb. M53 from Detroit boat so my wife and I were very minds. Holding on seemed like a dead ends right at the harbor launch concerned about how this might full time job. We all exclaimed ramp. The dual ramp is very shal- work out. We cleared the harbor that we could not eat and would not low, suitable for only day sailors. around nine A.M and set sail across think of going below to fix lunch. The docks and harbor however are Tawas bay without problem but as My mother in law looked rather huge, designed as a harbor of ref- the day progressed and we moved hurt by our lack of hospitality; she uge for up-bound and down-bound farther from shore the wind picked went below and made herself boats on Lake Huron. Almost all up and big black clouds rolled in. lunch, ate and returned to her seat. of the docks are for transients. The Along on this trip besides my My son stopped moaning and com- docks are permanent and were mother in-law and myself was my plaining and sullenly stared off into raised a foot during high water in wife, my daughter Allison who at the distance, I think it was out of the late 90's. Last summer, a nearly the time was about 9 and my son shear embarrassment. Four quiet record low water year, the docks Travis age 15. My son has sailed hours later we surfed into Caseville were one foot above the cabin top with us since he was seven years harbor without further incident. As of our Y Knot, which has standup old but he never developed good soon as the boat was secure we all headroom. The harbor is huge and sea legs. I must confess to also went to Guzzepi's for pizza. Safely I believe boats can anchor over- having a relatively weak stomach. on land with a full stomach and the night, but call the harbormaster on As the seas built to over 4 feet, all world stopped spinning around, the your VHF for permission. In the five of us were sitting on the high events of the day seemed less omi- early 1900's wealthy people from side with feet braced on the oppo- nous, more humorous, even some- Detroit made Port Austin a summer site seat edge and holding onto ei- thing worth writing about! cottage town to escape the heat of ther the toe rail or a stanchion or the city. Businessmen could leave Another easy 18 mile sail from winch. The wind was out of the their families there for the summer Caseville along the North shore is North-northeast coming right down and visit by train on weekends and Port Austin at the northern most tip the full fetch of Lake Huron, so (Continued on page 10)

Clipper Snips Page 9 Fall 2003

Tip of the Thumb

(Continued from page 9) Garfield once visited. holidays. It still caters to the We keep our sailboat on local cottagers. Several res- Grand Lake in Ohio and have taurants, a hardware store and twice cruised the North Chan- a marina with chandlery are nel. But Saginaw Bay in located within walking dis- Michigan's Thumb is the tance of the state docks. A place we must visit every nice beach is located across summer for at least a week or the river from the state docks, two. however it is about a half- mile walk around to get there John Myers by land. A Laundromat is [email protected] located about two blocks from the marina. We enjoy The Bank , a restaurant in a Cindy at Port Austin Dock 19th century bank building and "Garfield's", a restaurant in a fine old mansion where President Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast

Claiborne S. Young and Watermark receives exhaustive attention. you mention your membership in Publishing have announced the re- Trailer/Sailors Association, Clai- Specific enhancements of this edi- lease of the fourth edition of our borne will extend the special pre- tion include: Cruising Guide to the Northern publication discount price of Gulf Coast. Expanded Coverage of Louisi- $29.00 per book (plus S&H), for all ana waters. For the first time in orders received prior to December This edition contains 576 pages this fourth edition, we are cov- 25, 2003. (144 more than edition #3). Much ering the water moving west of this increase are greatly ex- from New Orleans to Grand panded grayscale NOAA chart re- Mention T/SA member- Isle. Heretofore, CGNG's cov- productions to locate marinas and erage always stopped on the ship when you order be- anchorages, as well as all-new shores of Lake Pontchartrain fore Christmas (2003), black and white photographs. It covers ALL the waters between Complete Detailing of the Ex- and get a $3 discount. Carrabelle, Florida and Grand Isle, tensive Navigational Changes Louisiana, and the ICW passage along this entire stretch of coastline Of the book, Claiborne says "When we finally were able to take up the For the first time, Lat/Lon posi- reins and begin work on the North- tions of ALL marinas and an- ern Gulf guide, we found soooo chorages have been included many important changes, that it Extensive accounts of the area's was practically like starting an en- many new and expanded mari- tirely new book." nas You can reach Claiborne with ques- Exciting reviews of recently tions or to place an order at: opened restaurants in all coastal Claiborne S. Young communities Watermark Publishing The fourth edition of Cruising 800-803-0809 Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast [email protected] carries a list price of $32.00, but if http://www.CruisingGuide.com

Clipper Snips Page 10 Fall 2003

A Cautionary Tale ... Bud Meade

Last year at work I heard those relocated the sink, installed a door magic words: Early retirement ! and drawers under the counter, ran new water lines, installed a new It involved making a lump sum electrical panel and made a new payment equal to 5 years worth of teak lid for the icebox. retirement contributions but it seemed like a fair trade off. We The boat had a problem with mast sold our Seaward 25 to cash out our compression of the deck. I decided equity. We thought that we would to epoxy in teak pieces between the be boat-less and charter once a bulkheads and the interior cabin year. However, we made the mis- top. Picture at right shows the new take of going to Strictly Sail in Chi- support piece, dry fitted into place. Bulkhead support (dryfitted), cago and caught 'boat fever'. ready to be epoxied. I mixed a batch of epoxy with filler We started looking at boats again. to do the starboard side. Not hav- More specifically we started look- ing enough to finish that side, I I had not eaten all day because I ing for another Seaward. After mixed up a WHOLE BUNCH was busy working on the boat. I months of looking at boats in vari- MORE so there would be enough to called my wife to see if she was ous parts of the country we found a do both sides. going to be home for supper. When 94 Seaward 25 near Detroit and she said no, I decided to drive to It was a cool day the epoxy had not decided that was the one for us. town to get something to eat. kicked off by the time I was done. We bought it in March and brought When I looked in my rear view mir- I threw the plastic bowl in the it home to Southern Illinois. ror as I left the drive, smoke was locker I was using for my trashcan coming out of the boat. I ran into There were several items inside the and left the boat. The picture (on the house and called 911. Dragging boat that we wanted to change/ the next page) was taken as part of the hose from the garage to try to upgrade. I made a new galley my documentation of the repairs I put the fire out, I realized it would- counter top to cover the large hole was making on the boat. It shows n t reach. I ran into the basement that had been cut in the original top. the two teak pieces ready to be in- and got another. Still not long stalled above the port and starboard This is what it looked like with the enough. I ran back and got a third bulkheads. They are resting on the counter top in place but prior to hose. It reached, but by then the locker into which I threw the extra installing the sink and icebox lid. flames were being whipped by the uncured epoxy. I added insulation to the icebox, (Continued on page 12)

Interior before modifications Interior New Galley Countertop

Clipper Snips Page 11 Fall 2003

A Cautionary Tale

Editor's note: While building our sail- stayed for most of an hour to be ing dinghy, I learned a little about ep- sure that it didn t start back up. oxy, and that used carefully it is a very The picture below is what it looked useful building material, especially for like when the fire was out. use on boats. As the pictures show, While I was sick to my stomach Bud is a very knowledgeable and tal- seeing all of my work gone up in ented boatbuilder, and that accidents smoke, I was so grateful that the sometimes just happen. boat wasn t still in the driveway, as Below are some comments taken from we would have lost our house. No "Devlin's Boat Building" by Sam one was hurt. Bulkhead supports, resting above Devlin. Similar information can be All's well that ends well. "Like a the locker used to hold trash. obtained from any reputable epoxy good neighbor", State Farm settled supplier (System 3, West System, etc.): the claim with a check in 14 days. Epoxy is a two-part adhesive. The We won t be able to make the NC wind. It was too little, too late. resin component is a clear, syrupy trip this July. We have ordered a liquid, while the hardener is thicker The volunteer fire department got new Seaward 26 and hope to be (more viscous) ... When mixed, the here as soon as possible and put the back on the water in a couple of epoxy undergoes an exothermic reac- fire out in about 20 minutes. They months. tion, generating heat as it cures. As Since the this reaction happens, the liquid fire, I have thickens and becomes a solid ... It is heard from not uncommon to have a container of many others epoxy smoke or even "flash off." who have Mass also affects the rate at which had fires the epoxy kicks off. The smaller, caused by more confined... the hotter the exo- epoxy. I thermic reaction and the faster the hope that by epoxy will go off. When a batch of telling this epoxy overheats in your container, story you remove it from your workspace im- can avoid mediately. having to tell a sad story of I can attest to this: we once had to take your own. the smoking plastic container out of the garage using a pair of pliers. Bud Meade Joe Orinko After the fire

From the T/SA Web Discussion List ...

This is a synopsis of threads on the Arlyn Stewart: I use a checklist all work done at least one week board that are, I think, of interest to for annual maintenance and tick prior to a trip... so that I'm not the most members. the things off in a fairly methodi- tired at departure from a last min- cal fashion. It includes the trailer, ute scurry. This year, I replaced John Coppedge motor, boat and dinghy. Up- an Edison push / pull steering ca- Boat Prep for Cruising (Catalina grades should be tackled well in ble with an open wire steering 250) advance of a trip. I like to have (Continued on page 13)

Clipper Snips Page 12 Fall 2003

From the T/SA Web Discussion List ...

(Continued from page 12) Michael Morris: I'd go to a Mac- you were willing to spend the system, which got rid of the play gregor 26S. Easily trailered, easily time, would give you almost eve- and increased my steering ratio. I rigged, light on the road, lots of rything there is to know about converted an old ice chest to a room below and it's beachable. many of the boats you might con- fuel locker. My old beaching rud- For the North Country I'd stay sider. This is certainly true for the der had developed cracks in the away from the 26D dagger board Mac 26X. We moved up to a 26X gel coat...and unsure if they were model and only buy a 26S center- from a Catalina 22, which we also structural or cosmetic, I bought a board model. liked. Personally, I cannot imag- new rudder...will stow the old in ine cruising with 4 people on our Paul Roberts: For trailering, V berth for a spare. I sawed the old 22. We find 4 people very family cruising, shallow waters locker cover under the V berth in tight on the 26X, although we did and interior space you should look half on the line of the cushion run into an old TSA member a at Macgregor 26Xs. They have break and installed a piano hinge. few years ago in Killarney who water ballast and look very nice. Now one cushion needs to be was cruising on one with 5 kids moved over the other and the Rod Brandon: My wife and I sail and 2 adults. I doubt you will be hatch swung open to get at the an Ensenada 20 we've owned doing much beaching in the North space. since 1996. We ve put about Channel, but shallow draft is an 3500 miles under the keel, mostly advantage since some of the best Bigger Boat just the two of us, but occasion- anchorages ever have been in 2 or Wayne M. Bell All three-- the ally with kids. All are good boats. 3 ft of water. Cat 22, Cat 25 and the O'Day 27 Bigger boats are generally more Florida Information are great boats for the North seaworthy, give you more pres- Channel and Georgian Bay. You tige, and are more comfortable. Lowell Loweke: For anyone con- will see many of them there. All There's a lot to be said for a pri- templating a sailing trip to Flor- three are trailerable--but the vate head, standing headroom, ida, I found a Trailer Sailor group higher up the scale/ length you go cavernous lockers, sizable galleys, in Florida called the Central Flor- the more powerful tow vehicle is at least 2 feet per butt in the cock- ida Yacht Club. They cruise the required (we use ½ Ford F150 to pit, and room to turn around. On Southwest coast of Florida/ pull our Cat 25). The thing that I the other side, bigger boats cost Florida Keys and have a nice web like about the 25 (I used to own a more in every way you can think site at http://www.cfyc.com/. This Rhodes 22) is that she has a of and few maybe you don't such would be another source that "larger" boat feel. The cockpit in as sails, winches, fullers, canvas, could provide some valuable info the 25 is actually smaller than the bottom paint, slip fees, insurance, on a Florida Cruise. 22, but you are higher off the wa- trailer tire/bearing maintenance or Mosquitoes ter and the room below is total trailer replacement. In addi- "almost" standing --I'm 5' 10'' tion, everything on bigger boats is Lowell Loweke: From the with a "private" head area. The usually heavier from the boat to Beneteau listserv. No idea if this draft with the keel down is 5 ft. the sails, anchor, etc. works. Put some water in a white the same as with the 22. 4 people dinner plate and add a couple of Jack Metzel: I have a Catalina 25 will be tight on a 22. We have drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish with a swing keel. It draws the had 4 on our 25 for several days-- detergent. The mosquitoes flock same as your 22. Two feet make you need to be really good to it, and drop dead shortly after an enormous difference. You have friends. One reason I like the Cat drinking the fluid. a real galley and head running 25 is that the manufacturer is still water. A bigger sail plan square Apostle Islands in business and parts for the 25 feet of sail. Get the low down (even though it is no longer being Tom Larimer: It's a great area to from many owners at http:// produced) are available from the cruise and it has a unique beauty www.catalina25-250.org. Catalina and another company all its own. Only one of the is- called Catalina Direct. There is John Coppedge: There is enough lands is inhabited and a couple also a Cat 25 members group. information on the web so that, if (Continued on page 14)

Clipper Snips Page 13 Fall 2003

From the T/SA Web Discussion List

(Continued from page 13) nas are more than willing to help ([email protected]) if may have some rangers - but the empty them. Last year there was you only have a few. 3x5 or lar- rest are wilderness. a problem--I understand, but that ger prints can be scanned (no is the first one I have every heard slides or negatives), and will re- Dinghy Safety Kits of. turn the originals if you wish. John Clement: Today I saw kits Please identify each picture, ei- Canadian Money for Cruise containing the Canadian legal ther in text, title or file name and extra requirements for dinghy Jack Johnson: Yes but there is a organize them by location or in- safety in Canadian Tire (big hard- bank in Spanish and Little Cur- clude location in the file name. ware store) for about Canadian rent where you can ex- Solar Shower Upgrade $15. Just put batteries in the change. You can also use the flashlight and you're both "in ATM up there and get your funds John Coppedge: Our solar compliance". in Canadian. shower came with a cheap hose and an even cheaper nozzle. The LED Trailer Lights Wayne M. Bell: Most folks take hose kinked and restricted water US dollars in Canadian stores. Mike Nelson: LED have no fila- flow and the nozzle leaked and But you get the best rate at either ments to break, 10,000 hour life broke easily. We bought a re- a bank or currency exchange. An- estimate and are fully submersi- placement kitchen sink spray as- other option is ATM, which gives ble and completely sealed Cost sembly. It comes with a rein- the daily rate. was about $50 USD the pair, in- forced hose (very difficult to cluding wiring harness. John Coppedge: We have never kink) and a spray head with a converted to Canadian cash and PortaPotties In Canada spring loaded positive valve the little we end up with we get in (doesn't leak and fairly rugged). Rod Brandon: The PortaPotty change. We use credit cards (very An added benefit is that the hose must be permanently affixed and good exchange rate) whenever is much longer so you have the plumbed for dockside pump possible (which is almost all the option of having some significant out. Most portapotties can be time) and US currency when not water pressure. The hose has to easily plumbed. If you don't (probably lousy exchange rate be glued to the shower (we used want to make permanent modifi- and only for small purchases). goop) since the fitting on the cations to your vessel, you can We have not run into anyone up shower will not take the compres- mount the deck fitting to a piece there who wouldn t take US cur- sion associated with a hose of plywood you stick out the rency and they were used to do- clamp. hatch for pump out. Note that ing it. One thing strange - VISA Trash Bag Storage vessels equipped with a "Y" valve and MasterCard are separate up for offshore overboard discharge there and many merchants don't Joe Orinko: On Unicorn we must have it locked out inopera- take both. VISA appeared to us to store those plastic grocery bags tive while in the Great Lakes. be by far the most commonly ac- (blue bags and other colors) in John Clement: I might be able to cepted. cardboard tubes from toilet tissue. We use scotch tape on one end, share some photos of my porta- North Channel Photos Wanted potti setup if anyone would really and jam the bags in with a dowel Mike Nelson: As in past years, find this useful and if I can find or hammer handle. We get we would like to post a selection them. (It's one of those modifica- around 4 bags per roll, making of photos from the North Channel tions that seems bigger before them always available, and neatly cruise to the album section of the you do it than after). stowed in minimal space. T/SA web site. Digital pictures Wayne M. Bell: Deb and I have should be reduced to approx 640 sailed "Bells Toil" in Canadians pixels width, and file size of John Coppedge waters for more than 20 years around 60KB. Format should be Board Moderator with a portapotty. While Cana- jpeg or Photoshop. Mailing me a dian Law says "NO!" most mari- CD is preferred, but email OK

Clipper Snips Page 14 Fall 2003

Tangent to Rossport Tom & Rosemary Hamill

I love the geometric definition could have anticipated. In hind- Saint Marie, along the Lake Supe- found in Merriam-Webster s Colle- sight, the total time from plans-to- rior Circle Tour, there are plenty of giate Dictionary for our little boat s launch was mostly due to our inter- German resorts and lovely farms. name, Tangent, and its implication pretation of Webster s third defini- New pavement along this northeast- of touching-but-not-intersecting. In tion of tangent; an abrupt change of ern shore was a welcome change the catamaran community, flying a course: DIGRESSION hull is a spectacular sight for the builder went off on a Tangent>. an important factor in our destina- beach crowd. However, the serious tion and drive route decision. After finishing the construction, our multi-hull racers will not intention- next goal was to spend as much The launch angle at Rossport is ally achieve this relationship of the time sailing as was spent building. steep but we got the boat on and off boat to the water, because they And we did. Nine years of the re- easily with help from our first new know that when the windward hull wards that only a trailer-sailor can friend, Mike Renaud. Mike is a is 'touching-but-not-intersecting' the experience and a boat builder can real Canadian of the Ojibwa tribe boat is sailing on the fastest point of be proud and happy to share. who grew up just 100 miles north sail possible for their lightweight of Rossport. His curiosity about craft. This is a short story from one of our our boat led us to a discussion of Boat building the numerous op- literature warns tions from his one to first build quiet little sea- a canoe, or port. Sailing east, maybe a bird- to the Slate Is- house, before you lands, Mike as- undertake the sures us that we construction of a can see caribou, boat. Husband if you hike a lit- Tom gallantly tle way into the assured me that bush, are real as an experienced quiet, within carpenter and maybe two hours woodworker, he or so . The Slate certainly could Islands are the build a little boat. farthest south that So what if it s got caribou can be three hulls, four found in all of beams and un- North America. known complica- The trip requires tions that could planning and not only be imagined Tangent at Old Man s Harbor many boats ven- and never pre- ture there because dicted. Upon receipt of a set of of the 50-mile range between a fuel favorite adventures. plans for Number 244, a TrailerTri station and these remote islands. 680 (length is 680cm = 22'9") from With only two weeks of vacation Wednesday morning we woke up to Ian Farrier of New Zealand, we set time and a keen desire to get away 25-30 mph winds and a forecast of off on a project that up to that point from it all, we knew that Lake Su- possible thunderstorms. Not a good had only required the purchase of a perior would live up to its name. scenario for standing our 34 Super metric tape measure, everything We departed from our home north Cat aluminum spar atop our little else being standard stuff . of Detroit, Michigan, on a Monday boat and sailing away. So we jump morning, leaving the rain behind us Nine years later, Tom would admit in the vehicle for a quick ride to at Flint along I-75. North of Sault the project was more than anyone (Continued on page 16)

Clipper Snips Page 15 Fall 2003

Tangent to Rossport

(Continued from page 15) small moose tracks. About the Tri: Rainbow Falls, a beautiful park The next day we tour Little Lake To tow the Tri, Tom suggests An with excellent walkways and spec- Harbor alongside a brood of duck- Allis-Chalmers tractor is good for tacular waterfalls. We hiked be- lings and try our luck at fishing. moving it around the yard but once yond the easy stuff, farther down We like to fish if the sailin s no you re on the road a pickup truck the less-traveled path, finding blue- good and sail if the fishin s no or a van is what you ll want so that berries and breathtaking views of good . To make the most of the the tail doesn t wag the dog. the Lake and islands of this incredi- day, we were just goofing off ... Once you re up to a cruising speed ble shoreline. staying away from civilization. All of 70 miles per hour, the aerody- Thursday was a perfect sailing day. the while, maintaining a short sail namic shape of the hulls helps the At 9:00 a.m. we started our 6 hp or motor within our homeport if the boat to draft behind the van. Yamaha engine, and shut it off 45 weather forces us in. And it did - Setting up the little Tri takes about minutes later. At 1:30 p.m. we ar- dark skies and a thunderstorm pre- 40 to 60 minutes, with quite a bit rived at waypoint, Slate , the diction brought us back to Rossport of rigging for the mast. There are opening to these islands. Seeing where we took a cabin for the eve- two sets of sidestays a temporary the Forest Service cabin was occu- ning. A short walk to and through set fastens onto the main hull for pied, we motored slowly and qui- the seaport s enchanted garden launching and for an overnight in a etly into a secluded little bay. Tom leads to one of its gourmet restau- tight marina slip. The larger per- set the anchor while I found the rants, Serendipity, a popular stop manent stays run outboard to each coffee pot and Coleman stove. along the Superior Circle Tour. of the floats, or amas as the Poly- While sipping our first cup, at 4:30 Sunday was a rain day. A road trip nesians call them. Tom continues p.m., we looked up to see our cari- to Thunder Bay allowed us to enjoy to describe his experience, the bou. A little one had come down the spectacular rock formations and trimaran sets up and launches like from the dense rock and forest for a beautiful forestry of the countryside any other trailer/sailor boat. Just drink of water. Gee, Mike, it was- along the northwestern Lake Supe- as you are about to stand up the n t more than 20 minutes! rior shoreline. The Nipigon sailors 34 aluminum stick - all of a sud- I wanted to spend a few days ex- we met in Rossport are very den the entire parking lot fills up ploring these islands, but Tom was friendly and we ve made a note of with people right underneath your correctly concerned about the their marina being another excellent mast. weather and at 1:00 p.m. on Friday launch site. The large Nipigon Bay The accommodations are tight - we set sail due West from Slate . is a great place to sail when Lake like camping in a pup-tent. With It was a pleasant afternoon, but true Superior is too rough and/or the Tom s remodeling, We have a to the Great Lakes, the wind and weather too unpredictable. pop-top in the companionway that weather were constantly changing, On Monday morning we have a provides standing headroom. It s making our return route a much new week and new weather. Con- right in the way of everything or different experience than the previ- ditions dictated that we sail west where you can cook from we ve ous day s fast sail. We tucked into from our home base, with our eve- never done that, we just use it for Copley Bay for the evening and ning anchorage at Old Man s Har- ventilation. The main hull has were greeted by a family of loons bor. There are many kayaks along two 'coffin-like' beds so you had on the south shore. Tangent s shal- this shoreline enjoying the lovely better like your sleeping partner or low draft (11 ) allows us to beach passages and safety provided by the sleep alone. The one in the wing her while unloading picnic sup- islands. They also have local ferry where you can see out the window plies. We then push her off to let service available if paddlers wish to is where we sleep. We use foam her float, gently held by bow an- venture further to expand their op- pads to make it habitable and chor, while we light the charcoal tions. Rosemary gets to sleep against the grill on shore just before 7:00 p.m. screws of the sail tracks. There are wildflowers everywhere, Around noon of the next day, we a beaver house on the east shore, meet Burt Saasto and his dog, some very large and some very Munchie. Burt is the retired (Continued on page 17)

Clipper Snips Page 16 Fall 2003

Tangent to Rossport

(Continued from page 16) ous navigation into CPR slip. An lighthouse keeper at Battle Island interesting and challenging hike, who keeps coming back during the including climbing-a-rope, led us to We like to fish if the summer to volunteer maintenance the most spectacular view. While sailin s no good and of the grounds and management of at the top of this incredible summit, the tourists. We climbed a tiny Tom seized the opportunity to sail if the fishin s no circular staircase and were inside thank our hosts by righting their good . To make the the light when a seagull caught our maple leaf flag onto its pole. Oh attention. It was to the west of the Canada, what a beautiful country! most of the day, we lighthouse, trying to get a fish that On Thursday the fishin s no good - were just goofing was too big, when Burt said, I m at the tiller doing what I love Look! From the woods to our off ... staying away best sailing fast. Tom is making north, a bald eagle swooped past from civilization. a video of my little finger holding us, dropped down to the water be- the tiller while Tangent is reaching low and scooped up the fish. What at 12 knots. I lost my cap and we a thrill it happened so fast and night show a heavenly experience. roundabout for a recovery. Sug- right next to us! gesting that we practice man over- Saturday morning radio delivers We bid farewell to our hosts at Bat- board, Tom declines not in the driving music from the Beach tle Island and sailed to the lovely cold waters of Lake Superior. Our Boy s Best-of Album, Back in the Woodbine Harbor. After anchoring evening anchorage is Little Lake U-S-of-A . Thirteen days have Tangent, we toured the harbor area Harbor. passed with one to recover before with our inflatable kayak. A hike returning to work. Our TrailerTri Friday morning we make breakfast, on shore rewarded us with raspber- 680 is described by its designer as a read books, pretend to fish, and ries for the evening dessert and weekender or daysailor . Tom delay the departure from our pri- blueberries for our morning pan- and I have certainly stretched this vate and pristine environment as cakes. description - our past camping ex- long as possible. At 11:30 a.m. we perience and a backpack mentality Awaking to a beautiful summer arrive at Rossport where we fold- has given us two sweet weeks of morning, we ventured further west, up and pull out Tangent. Two cruising on our small, fast trailer/ flying with the cormorants near hours later, we have tied everything sailor special. Tangent s light Raven Island. We encountered the to the trailer and enjoy lunch right weight and large sail area allowed perfect conditions described by off the dock with fresh fish pre- us to make the most of the wind, Bonnie Dahl to attempt the danger- pared by Mike s wife, Rose. rarely using our iron jib except Five driving for an occasional calm and when hours later, we motoring away from or into a ma- take a room at rina. Trailer Sailors can find a the Hilltop Ho- great place with good people like tel. Tom wakes the Innkeepers, Ned and Sheilah me up to see the Basher. Rossport provides a safe aurora borealis harbor in Ontario and a wonderful northern lights. place to enjoy this northernmost It's at 4:00 a.m., shore of Lake Superior as much for but this is well its sailing opportunities as its land- worth my sleepy based adventures. dream interrup- tion! The clear Tom & Rosemary Hamill skies and lack of [email protected] city lights make the northern hemisphere s

Clipper Snips Page 17 Fall 2003

Welcome new T/SA Members

A Last

Brigham B B

D Butela Brust

Felix E Delker

Goebel G G

H Grant

H H H

Jernigan J H

M L Junge

Miller Meade

Phares M M

P P Plant

T Stewart Rutledge

Weyer T

a

a

g

i a a

o o

o

r

i a r

r r

e

e a

g

m

e

e u

o o

o

e m

e

m a

p

F

l e

r

r l

w

i

h

n l

a r

t e

b

p

n

u r

u

m

n

b

a

p s

i

p

e

h

t

e

d

r

l

d

n

Here s our i

n

t

r

e

a

n

a

t

e

o

n

n

o

i

a

c

y

o

i

e

t

n r

e

r

l

d

s

e

r

g

c

u

a

w

k

w

c

o

n

t

t

e

e

e

a

n

h

e

r

s

new mem- g

e

r

t

r

l bers, e

B Jack First

Henry C

J R G

G Allen Warren

Fred Bud L

C J

E Dwight Mel

Brian Peter Allen

Bud J Dutch

Marc Michael

Gene Sandra G

Mark J Peter

Tim Arlyn Flip

Dieter M

.

i

a

a

e

u

h o

M i r

o a

h

e

c

m

m

r

i

e

g

a

r

a

r

c

b

n

r

h

g

y

a

r

.

r e

e

e added y h

e

a

l

l

l

o

s

n

s

a

e

l

e

d

r

e

e

r s

d

s

y since the l

Mate

Brendy Marlijo

Libby J Alice

OK C Ann

Mary Maureen

Andy J Yvette

T S

Val Terrie

N

N Rosemary

Valerie

Debbie J K

P Lin

J

u

u

a

a

t

h

a

a

e

a

a

l

l last T/SA e

n

n

e

r

m

i

l

i

n

t

e

e

e

l

e

e

e

r

a

l

c

e

s

e a

t n

l

y

i

l

t

s

e

a

L

e directory. e

a

R

r

o

s

e

w

n

e

If you see l

l

B Crew

E

Frank

H

C

C

C A

G

Tim

N

l

o

r

a

a someone l r o

a

y

i

i

a

b

n

r

n

t

t

s

n

o

n

h

t

i

e

s

s

n

n

a

d

a

l

e

o

i

e

i

n

e

n

n from your d

n

y

&

c

e

a M

&

,

r

&

u

M

O

&

e

N

g o

w

B geographic r C

a

h r

o

i

o

;

r

o

l

t

h

l

i

o

E

e

a

s

n

b

r

w

r

n

s

m

i

b

& area, s

a

S

i

t

y

l

L

o

a

y

u

r

p

&

i

n

n postal h

a

a

K

e

r

a

t code, i

e

P 5 A

5 1 4

3 2

5 5 1

2 2 3

8 8 5

6 N

1 8 5

1 1 1

P PO Box 137 4

2 8

W 7 1

1 1 1 someone 7 P

4

1

9 0

4 0

8

4

7 0

1

4

2

1

1

8

3

1 2 .

8

1

0 9

2 2

6 0

5

9 0 .

O d

0

1

O 7

2

8

H

O

6

1

6

1

4 4

1

1 9

2

6

8 8

4

4

B 0

2

7 1

2

M

7

M 1

d

9

6

0

C P 1

R

a

1 W

N .

1

7 .

S 4

B

0

P

5

5

1

0

G

F

7

M

B

4

a r

C

D

r

1

E

8

R B

C

o W

T

o o

3 with a boat S a

o

. e

.

a

w

W

O

n o

l

S

S

r

I

B

V

. o

8 N

l

i

e o

l

H S

o 2 s

P i

r a

r

c t

t

9

p

o

r

t

a

e

l

l

x

d

e

h

o

W

l

u

w o

l

t t

e

a

x

t

7

s

i

s

r k

u

i

a

i d

t

o n

a x

g p

o

u r

n

s

a

o

a

s

a o

s

g

r e

K

o

r

e

3

l s

c

i

t

d

l

i

n

1

W

r

g

l g

n t

R g

g

n

d t

i

g

s

1

m

n

n

n

e

n B like yours, w e

i H

y

k e P

d

l 4

4 s

e

a d

6

n

g

l

e

e

c

b

r

a

S

R

i

s

o

e

A

i e

S

r R

D

a

D d

4

C e

.

5 a

R

e

T

d

C

f

x

l

e

D

r

n

s

a

S

s t

t

l

L

r

M

o

r w

H

r

t

d

a

a

v

r

d

g

r

r

r

d

t

G

k

r r

w

T

h t

R

.

n

D

r

t

a

A

.

L

l

r .

e

a

e

o

.

e

k

. or some- e

.

e .

L

o

.

.

i

d

P

S p

i a

R

n

s i

r

.

d

r

e

l

l

v

n c

l

m

e

S

r

. R

.

D

a

c

t k

k

.

e

d

W

k

.

d

D

P

e r

e

t

o

H

.

d

r

N

.

A

k

e

R

n

.

.

r

.

one who a n

i

.

O

n

.

t

l

v

D

y

d

y

l

e .

C

R

. r

D

B

.

.

i

d

S

r has the r

o

.

.

.

W

x

4

love of 0

P City

R Valencia C

S L

A E S

U Chappaqua O

Park Ridge S N

P S

B A G

D L Lilbum

M Oakley Nashville

Dalton L

M B B

W R Lodi your life O C C

a

o

a

e

d t a

p

a

e

a

o

l

m

e p

e n r

a

a l

a

o a

s

G

p r

t

o k

a

h

r

n

a m i

g

t

m

w

r

n n

l

r

l n

h

c

o

p

n

l r

a

l

e

p

e i

l

t

e

i

n

T

r o

d

r

n

a a

t d

y

a k e

n

b t

u a

o

e h

t

A

i

d

a

n

listed as d

l

e

i

s n

C a

e m

w t s

p

o

g

o e

d

a

r

H

i

n

S

n

a n

o

t

R

n

r

b

b

O

o

w

b

R

g

s i

l

a

g

s

d

S

e

b

G

p

e

t

p

n

o

u

o

b

r

b

o

l

t

y

a

e

a

n

a

o

r

e

r

h

r

t

o

r

s

their crew, u k

i

v

u

d

r

p

o

g

n

r

n

a

o

n

r

r i

d

i a

v

g

l

g

g

d

l

B

e

e

l

e

s then give e -

a

R

c

i

h

v them a e

r

State

PA VA OH

NY TX

OK PA FL

NY NE MI

OH CT NJ

CA IL

M MI WI

OH GA V

CA I TX

MI NJ

ON PA G

NJ W MN

NY ON TX

ON call, drop L

T

A

I them a I

P

L

L L0N 1C0

4

o

1

H

N line, or zap s

6

6

t

7

32459

7

45066

4

30047

3

2

1

49707

68132

9

4

7 43138

75693

1

12540

94561

4

20119 43551 a

54156

7

5

8

3 8

1

0

2

1 6

6470

9

5

0

17815

7869 5

M

7458

4

8

7878

l

0

5201

9

T

3

0

3

3

0

0

2

2

5

0

5

7

5

1

5

6

4

5 them an 5

3

1

8

3 6

6

0 4

3

6

2

5

7

1

5

1

5

1

2 9

4 0

4

4 8

4 8

3 8

0

6

5

1

1

email. A

r

402

2

802

903 608

724 540

850

4

847 937

734

740

973 9

706

763

9

905 845 419 e

3

570 914

2 914

616 707

214 7

618

5 321

705

519

517

715

0

a

0

7

2

7

7

6

0

3

0

0

3

5

5

1 The most 1

Ph1

443

620

426 238

963 823

343

8

389

4

462 7 874

656 729

5

354

8

665

3 447

625 327

6

252 592

9 297

5

391

587

455

381

277

737

579

715

8

3

3

2

5

8

8

2 significant 2

8

4

3

9

0

5

5

5

7 feature of Ph2

8244

3000

3300

6986 4 3

2

4443

8

6960

3 8923

2289

9860

3562 2

7

8 4827

8742

5224

5

1022

7594

9585

1760

9

3

2011

9

3 2

0 4

4

2117

668 6

4

2

504

5

0

677

755

1

7

113

1

8

3

6

9 4

0

0

4 5

7 our group 0

1

7

4

8

9 6

9

4 2

4

9

3

4

5

7

E

c r j

b h

B j a

l g s

J F g

C

z

d b c

r b l

n

p s s

f m j

m t r

a

m

l

a

e is our will- j

o

e l

i

b b

l

a

g

h

j i

c

h e

b m

i

f

r e

j

u u

l

m i

r

d r

h

f

a

u

o r

i

g

e

p

p

a

d

e i

g e

m

a r

o

k

r m

i r

a

r

0

t

d

r

r

l

a

s

r

a

c

e

r

m

c r

@

i e

g

l @

b

d

c

w

y 7

r

e e

e

l

r

e

e

g

i

s

0

n s

m

i

o

i

s

l h

i

@

h

t

x

a

h

k

@

@

t l

e

i

k f

e b

m

n

d

j

h

o

i

i

t

i h

@ g

1

g

u ingness to e i d

i

1 v

n

g

e @

e

t

d

i

e

r

c

m r

n

@

a

@

m

a

i

@

a

c

c

o t

r

@

o

t b

@ a

g s @

y o

@

r

e a

e

o

a

4 y

u

m

r

2

@

h

m

@

d h

@

y

n p

y

@

n

5

o

n n

o

y

p

A

@

e

@

c

l

6

e

@

o

s

m y

a

a

c

a

5 @

e

j

t

@ g

@

g

o

r

o

p

@

a

@

a share our a

O

o b

a

m @ o

w

h

g

o

c

@ @

@

p

m

6

p

@

d

d

r

o

t x

a

h

s

k m

p c

n

h

e

e

p

L

i

t e

o

c

y

a

9

r

.

o

e

o

e o

c y

l i

i

g e m

l

o

a r

h

r

n

.

t

. s

. o

t

c

o

n i

a

t

i

n

l c

a r

t 6

o

c

. c

l

n

o a

o

l

n

l t

e

o

p

l

i

t

o

n

t

.

i g

h

r d

i

i

l

l

r

o

o experi- c

h

t

o

o

c

d

r n

e

m r 9

l

n

o

i t

.

n

.

.

e

n

e

h

o

m . s

n

c

.

t

c

c b o

o

e

o

m

d

b

.

k n

m m

s

n

l

@

g

t

l

.

i

h

n

a .

e

h

o i

o

o

.

i

c

a

o .

o

e e c

.

m

s e p

n a

c

n

l

c

e

i

. n

a .

o

.

i

m .

m

l o

n t

n

n

p t

e l

a

o .

h

e

r n

n

a c

t

.

e

r

. ences on c

c

e

e

e

m

i

. n

t

o

m

.

t

e

r

k

o

m

t

n

n

o

n

.

o

t

t

t

e

i

e

t

.

c

t

g

n

m e

.

e

n

m

r

t

m m

n

o

g

t

. t

.

e

e

c

c

m

a

trailer sail- . t

t

o

o

c

i

l

o

m

m

.

c

m ing. o

m

C S Boat

W P P

M M B

R S

N W W

M P C

S C W

P Precision 15

Seaward 25 C M

C P M

W P M

M Montego 20

P C

V S

e

r r

e

r

r a

r

r

i r a

a

o

i

a

h

h

a

a

e

r

i e e Get more a a e

m e

a e

e

a e

e a

e e o

a

e

a

a

n

t

y n

t

r

r

t

e t

n

b

c c

c c

s s

c

s c

c c

c c

c

s

c

c f

a

w

a

y

t

y

n a

a

d

f

b

t n

i a

i

G G

t

t

G i

a t

G i

G

i

t i

G

i

l

i

l

s

s

t l

l

u s

s

R

s

s

s

s

s

i

e r

a

i l

i

i

r

n

g

1 n

e W W

n

l W

l

n

W

n

r

i i i

r r

r i

i

r

i r

i

r

i

e

l

r

e

e

7

o

d o

o

o

a out of your o

o

o

o

e a

d

e e

a

e

e

e

o a

a e

d

r

2

r

r

e n n

g g

y

i i

g n

i

n

g

n g

i n

n g

2

m

2 2

g

2 g

g

C

g

2

(

2

0

2

2

r

F

o o

o

o

o

o

p

1 1

2

2

2 0

2

1

4 2 2

h h

2

h

e

h

5

5

6

2

a

8

1 5

o

8

r r

r

r

r

r

r

t 3

t

t 1

2

3

r 1

t

0 member- 1

6

p

,

e

x

y

2

2

2

2

2

2

P

P

3 P

P

N

r

s

1 6 6

6

6

6

1 i

6

o o

o

o

t

7

e

5

1

i

X S

X

t t

t

t

g

w ship 8

t t

t

t

e

e

e

e

e

p

)

r r

r

r

o

1 1

1

1

r

9 5 reach out 5 9

t

N to a mem- e

p

t

u

n

ber. e

2

4

Clipper Snips Page 18 Fall 2003

White Swan ... Bud Meade

Upon learning of Bud s boat fire, wanted to back the boat out of the Tom also mentioned a few jobs that Tom Parrent offered Bud the use of slip. I thought it might be some needed to be done on the boat in his Hunter 320 for a week. kind of test of my boat handling case we had a little extra time. experience. However, I later found They weren t very important. Bud expresses his gratitude with out that his slip neighbor was con- Things like fixing the engine cover this tongue in cheek story of Free stantly hitting his boat when dock- latch so it didn t tip when you Chartering in Chicago. Ed. ing. Tom was hoping that I would walked down into the cabin. He give them a couple of boat bashes mentioned the problem so we When I mentioned to my 81-year- in return. He could blame me and couldn t sue if we broke a leg fal- old mother that someone on the still have the satisfaction of re- ling into the boat. He also asked to Internet had offered us the use of venge. I was smarter than that. I run the reefing lines etc. I started his sailboat for a week she was let him demonstrate how he backed to wonder about his claim to have a alarmed. She said we had to be out and darn the luck, he did it per- degree in mechanical engineering. careful of strangers on the Internet. fectly. I m beginning to think it was from a correspondence school. I assured her that Tom Parrent was We went for a pleasant sail with no stranger than anyone else on Tom and his daughter, who is, by Monday we slept in late. I volun- the Trailsail E-group and we would the way, a very bright and engaging teered to find coffee and a paper for be perfectly safe. girl who keeps Tom in check most Nancy. Somehow I drove right of the time. After he showed me past a large grocery store and wan- I looked for those extra the ropes, so to speak, we came dered around for miles until I found fire extinguishers he sup- back in and Tom asked me to dock. a gas station. Found my way back Not knowing how to get out of it, I to the marina by accident and we posedly bought (based on agreed. However, I reduced power, had a leisurely breakfast. my history with fire) and mumbled something about taking it It was clear and cool that day; only nice and slow and managed to re- they were nowhere to be needed three layers of clothing and turn to the slip without hitting any- found. gloves. Still wondered about the thing. Didn t tell Tom how rare need for AC at night as it got down that was; I acted like it was an to 62. Sailed down the lake and every day occurrence. Because However, when we met Tom at the motored around the harbors without Nancy wanted to stay on the boat boat for a checkout, I was not so hitting any other boats. Junior sail- she didn t even comment on the sure. I think he may have only in- ors from the local sailing school rarity of it all. vited us as a way of getting rid of kept trying to sail in front of us his boat without having to find a Tom showed us all of the systems muttering something about sail- buyer. For example, he told me on the boat. One thing I didn t un- boats having the right of way. I that if the boat started taking on derstand was the heating/AC sys- yelled back, Oh ya, in case you water to open the sea cocks and tem. Never having been on a sail- didn t notice I have a sail, it s just make sure it sank in deep enough boat with climate control, I paid not up. You would have thought water that it couldn t be raised. In close attention to his instructions. I that the instructors would have addition, I looked for those extra may not be the brightest light on warned them. I guess I m still not fire extinguishers he supposedly the porch, but we didn t need AC, very well known in Chicago. bought (based on my history with as the nights were nicely cool and Nancy thought she needed some fire) and they were nowhere to be the days were warm enough. I more clothes so we went downtown found. think some boat salesman took ad- to go shopping at Eddie Bauers. vantage of Tom by telling him he As he was kind enough to loan us Returned to car to find a $50.00 needed it. At any rate, it only White Swan, a Hunter 320, for a parking ticket. Meter said parking worked at the dock because Tom week, I was willing to give him the from 9 - 9 unless otherwise posted. didn t have a very long extension benefit of the doubt. It didn t last The posting was 92 yards away at long. He immediately asked if I cord. (Continued on page 20)

Clipper Snips Page 19 Fall 2003

White Swan ...

(Continued from page 19) On Wednesday we had friends After a while it rained harder and I the other end of the block in letters from Nashville join us for a couple thought I shouldn t be getting wet 2 high which said no parking from of days. They were concerned either, so I went below and left the 4 - 6 PM. The time on the ticked about the sleeping arrangements as boat on autopilot. Everything was 5:38PM. Do you think this is a we gave them the V-berth and kept seemed to be ok at first. Every setup? the aft cabin to ourselves. After couple of minutes I would poke my telling them to bring only their head out and check to be sure that We went to West Marine to see if clothes and bedding as there would we weren t going to hit anything. I anything was on sale and picked up not be much room on the boat, they was pretty certain that we were ok a couple of screws so I could attach still brought enough for a month. because there wasn t another boat a winch handle holder for Tom. This included homemade cookies, to be seen on the whole lake. The clerk seemed interested in my brownies and snacks (all of which I Couldn t figure out why, with thou- name. tried my best to eat - in an effort to sands of boats in the harbors, no Tuesday was warmer than Monday. lighten the boat and improve sailing one else was sailing. Still we didn t need the AC at performance), along with 14 cases I decided to use the head and had night. Only needed 2 layers and of soda, pillows, blankets and 5 just taken my seat when all heck gloves. Found the same gas station duffle bags in addition to a soft broke loose. The boat heeled way again and brought back coffee and sided cosmetic bag. After loading over, the crew started shouting that the paper. Light winds and sun- everything of theirs on the boat, the I should hurry up . When the wa- shine. Could have used the heater bow was down by 4 inches. I ter became visible out the port win- but without a longer cord it was out thought this was a good thing be- dow, the shouting got louder. of the question. I did find an in- cause the stern would be high and verter on board but it wasn t any- we wouldn t get wet if there were The crew continued to where large enough to power the any leaks. heater. Seems like Tom could have shout words of encour- We went sailing and I acted like I been more thoughtful. Nancy tried agement to me from knew what I was doing. Dean kept to open the first aid kit and broke asking me how sails work and I within the (warm & dry) the hinges; back to West Marine to threw around terms like lift, drag, cabin while I continued buy another one. Clerk greets us by slot effect, coefficient of friction etc name when we enter the store. Had to get drenched until he stopped asking. I didn t to get more toilet paper and head want to tell him I had no idea. He chemical as well. Seems like Tom seemed concerned that we could thinks one roll is enough for the I scrambled up on deck, found the actually sail out of the sight of land week. We cooked supper on board. hatch boards, put them in the slot and insisted on wearing a life jacket Even though Tom showed me the and closed the hatch behind me. It even though the winds were light LP system, I couldn t get any gas to couldn t have been more that 20 - and the water flat. We sailed the come out. I was positive he never 25 gals of rain that came in the Chicago lakefront and both Dean cooked and gave me bad instruc- boat. I remembered something and Judy commented on how it tions. At least I thought so until about a manual bilge pump but put looked just like the postcard! That Nancy showed me a LP switch it out of my mind figuring that the reminded me of the time I flew into which has something to do with the crew could bail if their feet got wet Midway. We came in over the lake stove. Oh well, we used the micro- enough. The winds were now gust- and I thought how much it looked wave to make supper. At least I ing over 25 knots and the autopilot just like the map. knew how to operate it without couldn t hold the boat on course. I turning on extra switches. Called We decided it was time to head rolled up the jib, headed up wind Tom about the 12V outlet which back to the harbor as we had in- and feathered the main. didn t work. Tom said it never vited Tom to supper. As we started The crew continued to shout words worked from day one. Unscrewed north the sky turned dark and the of encouragement to me from the electrical panel and found a wind picked up a little bit. I wasn t within the (warm & dry) cabin blown in line fuse. Put that on the concerned but when the rain started while I continued to get drenched. list for the next trip to West Marine. I suggested that everyone else go below so they wouldn't get wet. (Continued on page 21)

Clipper Snips Page 20 Fall 2003

White Swan ...

(Continued from page 20) Tom seemed very interested in my entrance, I had Dean remove the After a while the rain let up and the stories of boating disasters. He sail cover and ties. One of the ties winds subsided. Seeing that it was wanted to be sure that he hadn t blew right out of his hand. Judy better outside, the crew opened the missed anything. After telling him said we should go back for it but I hatch and asked if I needed help. about the fire, losing a boat at thought better. I told her by the (A small footnote for historical ac- 65MPH on I57, wrapping a line time we would have turned the boat curacy: Nancy insists that she tailed around the prop shaft in the North around it would have sunk or blown the jib sheet, to keep the sail from Channel, losing steering at Sister up on shore. Truth is that I didn t flogging itself to death, while I Bay, and some other personal boat- have the confidence to turn the boat rolled it up. While that may be ing disasters, he seemed convinced around with the strong winds and true, it distracts from flow of the that there was still a possibility of waves. story.) collecting insurance money before Realizing that Dean would need the week was out. Most owners We made it back to the harbor right help in raising the mainsail, I gave would have just made up an excuse before another front came in. It Nancy the helm. I m pretty sure to get us off the boat ASAP but rained hard for another hour. that I was acting in a calm and ra- Tom just smiled. After admitting Nancy and I taught Dean and Judy tional manner as I gave instructions he was related to Noah and that the how to play Farkle. I called Tom to to the crew. In fact, the wind was rain was all his fault, he left. The ask if he was still coming to the so strong that yelling, screaming or rain immediately stopped. Go fig- boat as I was going to get ribs for cursing was necessary to be heard. ure. supper. The ploy worked as he of- With the main about 1/2 way up fered to stop by Carson s and pick Thursday morning we woke to and the boat about 3 lengths from up some ribs. When he arrived his small craft warnings. NOAA as- shore, Nancy made the decision arms were loaded with four large sured us that the wind would dimin- that we were going in, and turned boxes containing ribs, chicken, ish in the afternoon. After break- the boat around before we hit the pork and salmon. He also had fast, Dean and Judy wanted to go rocks. Another chance for Tom to grilled Portobello mushrooms, cole back to the neighborhood in which collect on his insurance was nar- slaw, sauces and rolls. Needless to they lived 40 years ago. Dean was rowly avoided. say we ate until we couldn t eat any sure that a bar he frequented would Back in the harbor I noticed that more and still had food left over. still be there. It wasn t, but we our neighbor was taking up the Dean, forgetting that Tom was a walked around and he told us of all whole slip. It seems like his crew banker with deep pockets, offered the things that were gone. We went failed to secure the boat and it had to pay for supper since we were back to the boat and had lunch and blown downwind into our spot. We eating on Tom s boat. As an astute played Mexican dominos. made several large circles until he money man, Tom didn t want to The boat next to us left to go sail- got the boat moved. Knowing that deprive Dean the pleasure of giving ing. I convinced the crew that the the water wasn t deep enough to and took the money. winds were lighter and we should keep the mast from showing if we go also. I did take the precaution of sunk, I decided that it was time to moving the boat to the upwind side try for a successful landing. The Tom seemed very inter- of the slip since our neighbor was wind would blow us into the slip ested in my stories of gone. It was a good move on my and against the dock. I briefed the boating disasters he part. The wind was blowing so crew about the importance of stop- hard that we just cleared the dock ping the boat before we ran over seemed convinced that on the downwind side by inches. I the dock with the bow. To my there was still a possibil- did notice our neighbor returning complete surprise we landed with- ity of collecting insur- and wondered why they only stayed out a scratch. Rather than compli- ance money before the out 5 minutes but didn t mention it menting us on the successful land- to the crew for fear that they may ing, our neighbor said Not enough week was out. think it was too windy. wind for you either? I quickly re- plied that we left to make room for As soon as we passed the harbor (Continued on page 22)

Clipper Snips Page 21 Fall 2003

White Swan ...

(Continued from page 21) broken casting at the base of the neighbor who had been loudly talk- his return so he wouldn t hit us. mast. It appeared the shackle at ing at 2:30 AM seemed slightly That seemed to put him back in his the bottom of the vang had gotten peeved when I banged things place. in a bind; we planned another trip around but I figured I would never to West Marine. see them again so what difference I had invited a former co-worker, did it make. When he asked me Sandy, to join us for an evening Went sailing again. As we were who I thought I was I replied Tom sail. Before he arrived, Nancy and going south towards the city I could Parrent . He wrote that down for Judy decided they would rather see a large black object in the air. some reason. I figured that maybe fight the traffic on Michigan Ave- A view through Tom s binoculars he was going to offer Tom a job nue than go back out. As soon as revealed that there was a helicopter cleaning his boat if I did a good they left Sandy arrived. We had a towing something in the air. Con- job. Nancy cleaned the inside and supper of leftovers from the night tinued to pass them around so eve- used 5 rolls of paper towels, two before and then went out. Sandy ryone could have a look. It turned bottles of Windex and three 33 gal- had never been on a sailboat before out to be some kind of ad but never lon trash bags. Couldn t hardly tell so he didn t know what to expect. got close enough to us to tell what that we hadn t bothered to clean up We managed to make it out of the was being advertised. (Note to for a week. harbor and set the mainsail without Tom: Next time get the image sta- any problems. The wind was still bilized binoculars as it was hard to The Tartan Ten fleet was racing up in the mid 20 s and the waves were hold them steady enough for a clear to Waukegan that day and one hot 4 - 5 feet. The boat was doing a view.) shot racer is docked next to White great job of taking care of us. We Swan. He thought he looked so sailed east towards Michigan. Af- The West Marine clerk cool walking up with the jacket he ter about 1/2 hour I asked how eve- had won last weekend. It read ryone was doing. Dean thought we now greeted us like old 2003 National Offshore One De- were far enough away from shore. friends making me think sign, Second Overall I thought he I told him we would tack and go he was working on com- would be embarrassed to let others back. As soon as the main filled on know that he wasn t first, but it the opposite tack, there was a loud mission and I was giving didn t seem to bother him. I bang and the boom vang was flop- him a record week for wished him luck when he removed ping around. It was dark and we sales. a dehumidifier from his boat. couldn t see what happened so we Seems like his bilge pump wasn t sailed back. working and he was trying to keep his boat dry. Works at the dock but With more luck than usual, we After lunch Dean and Judy left for I don t know what he does when he made another successful landing at home. Nancy and I went back to is sailing. One more thing, he the dock and tied the boat up. West Marine to buy sail ties, a big couldn t afford sail bags for his Closer inspection of the vang re- shackle for the vang and some ep- sails. He kept them neatly rolled vealed a bent shackle. I told Dean oxy. I tried to collect on the life- up like carpet and they were some we would investigate it further in time guarantee on the shackle but dingy yellowish color. Maybe they the morning and we covered the they said it s lifetime was over. were old and he was afraid to stuff sail the best we could with the wind The West Marine clerk now them in a sail bag, for fear of them continuing to gust. I rigged a stern greeted us like old friends making tearing. He couldn t afford bright line to pull us away from the dock, me think he was working on com- white ones like we had on White added 2 fenders and we turned in mission and I was giving him a re- Swan. His rigging must have been for the night. cord week for sales. suspect because he made a real Friday morning was warm and Saturday morning I woke up at small crewmember go up the mast clear. Back to the gas station for 4:30 AM. Dawn was breaking and and look around. Noticed the other coffee and a paper. Breakfast on I knew that we had to get going on T Tens were doing the same. board. We took a closer look at the the boat cleaning or Tom would Maybe the whole fleet has mast- vang and where it attached, found a never let us come back. The (Continued on page 23)

Clipper Snips Page 22 Fall 2003

White Swan

Swan securely tied up at the dock. Tom complimented us on how ...Tom suggested filling I had to confess to breaking his good the boat looked. I didn t tell a gel coat void with ep- vang attachment point on the mast him about the neighbor taking his heel casting. Seemed to cheer him name. Perhaps he will call Tom oxy. Once again he was up that something had gone wrong later. We took all of our stuff to thinking total loss... but wondered why I couldn t have the car, said goodbye and headed parlayed that into a total loss. home. (Continued from page 22) Much to my surprise Tom sug- I think that Tom is still trying to get head problems. gested filling a gel coat void with an insurance settlement as he in- epoxy. Once again he was thinking vited us back in the Fall. Tom finally arrived to see if he had total loss but I fooled him by mix- Hope springs eternal. one more chance for the insurance ing a very small amount and throw- settlement. He didn t display his ing the leftover epoxy in the dump- Bud Meade disappointment at finding White ster. North Channel Snips Wayne & Debbie Bell

One of the great joys of sailing in John and Coleen Travis immediately, they asked what the the North Channel are the announced that it was a dinghy symbol meant on our hats. impromptu meetings that you bingo afternoon. They had Let me tell you all about it, I have with folks. They are often brought bingo cards with them and responded as I rowed toward them. funny even when the participants everyone gathered in their din- But there was something about do not realize it. ghies at the head of the bay. their body language and nervous More than 20 din- laughter that told me they really ghies all kinds and didn t want me telling them any- sizes floated to- thing. gether as John called out the numbers, and I stopped rowing and said hello, people looked at their and immediately one of the women cards. Everyone had asked again quite nervously, their heads down, qui- What are all those people doing etly waiting for the up there? next number to be Deb and I shared that it was a game called. of dinghy bingo and that we Deb and I played for a were Trailer/Sailors. while but then we The woman said, Oh. We thought started to return to it was a prayer meeting. Another North Channel prayer meeting? Bells Toil. Anchored nearby was a sailboat The second event happened when Two events happened this summer that was not part of the T/SA about 10 T/SA boats went into that got Debbie and me laughing cruise. On board were two couples Thomas Bay. When we got there, both at the irony and absurdity. from Michigan. As we passed I a steel hulled powerboat had the heard one of them say, There place to himself. It was a real The first event was in the Benjamin they re wearing it too!! (Deb and beauty black, with lots of var- Islands, where the Trailer/Sailors I had on our T/SA hats.) nished wood and the skull and North Channel cruise laid over for two days. Our Cruise Leaders I rowed toward them and almost (Continued on page 24)

Clipper Snips Page 23 Fall 2003

North Channel Snips

(Continued from page 23) boat talking loudly over the drone of his en- crossbones flying from the bridge. gine say, It sure is If you have ever been on a T/SA crowded it here. cruise in the North Channel, you Speaking equally loud, know that we do tend to fill-up a to be heard on the smaller bay like Thomas, and this bridge the man in the was the case that afternoon. dinghy yelled back say- Just after we got settled two more ing, Yea. All this powerboats began to enter the bay, trailer trash just came and the captain of the black steel in. beauty, hopped into his dinghy and He was pretty close went to assist them in anchoring. Trailer is one part of our I heard someone in the lead power- name!!! Nope. Trailer/Sailors BINGO! Cruising the West Coast of Florida ... Claiborne Young

Cruising guide author and long you a little bit about how somebody City on the North Carolina coast- time member of the Trailer/Sailors gets into the business of writing line, which was our home base in Association, Claiborne Young gives cruising guides and my insight into those days, I went down to the lectures to yacht clubs, United cruising guides if you will. bookstore where I had purchased States Power Squadrons and other the Chesapeake guide and said we Back in the spring of 1980 my first nautically related organizations on really enjoyed using this. How rate-first mate and I took a long request. about a similar book for North cruise up on the Chesapeake Bay, Carolina waters? Much to our sur- At one such presentation, T/SA and eventually cruised up the length prise the only thing they had to treasure, Dave Craigie was pre- of the Potomac River to our nations show us was a general East Coast sent, and coerced Claiborne into capitol. We stayed there at the publication which I think in those allowing a printed copy of the Capitol City Yacht Club for a few days North Carolina got some 38 speech. He also got permission to weeks. In planning and executing pages, most of which were filled type it up, and print it here. that trip we used the Blanchard with advertising. hardback Chesapeake Bay Cruising The following text is about cruising Guide, which I might add went As the summer of 1980 progressed, the West Coast of Florida. Clai- through 39 printings. I certainly being an old North Carolina coastal borne hopes that this will better hope that s typical of all cruising boy, it occurred to me that I could inform T/SA members of the won- guides. do better than that. So, that fall I derful cruising opportunities that wrote a long letter to a publisher in are available in this diverse south- When we got back to Moorhead North Carolina. Didn t hear any- ern area. Enjoy, ED. thing for about three months and I ...My books have been suc- assumed that my very brief writing cessful because I was a Let me look at my watch here, we career was at an end, till one day don t want to run over. The lion s cruiser for many, many the phone rang and it was the pub- share of our time this evening will years before I became a lisher himself. He went on about how a detailed guide to the North be comprised of a very quick travel cruising guide writer. log of the West Coast of Florida, if Carolina coastline was a great idea my voice doesn t give out. But to Claiborne Young (Continued on page 25) begin with let me just share with

Clipper Snips Page 24 Fall 2003

Cruising the West Coast of Florida ...

(Continued from page 24) and then start all over again. I tant objectives. First, it allows me and did I have my manuscript ready think my computer now has 128 to call it just like I see it. There s a to submit. Of course I kind of megabytes of ram. When I think of marina in this book, down in the choked as I hadn t written the first a paltry 64 kilobytes - Um hard Charlotte Harbor region, that I call word yet, but I promised him I to believe. Anyway, that book did the seediest marina in all of Flor- would get right on it. well also, and I have gone on since ida. Now just so that you know, I that time to write guides to the East had originally written something a I once had a reporter at the Jack- Coast of Florida, the West Coast of little bit different. For the only sonville Times Union ask me rather Florida, the waters from the Florida time this has ever happened, my astutely, Well Claiborne, what panhandle, moving west to New publisher called me up and said, does right on it mean? Well, in Orleans called Cruising Guide to Claiborne you can t say that, this particular case it meant about the Northern Gulf Coast, and most we re going to get sued. But just three years. I had to decide how I recently, my largest book to date, so you know, I had originally writ- was going to go about it, what was Cruising the Florida Keys. This last ten that the dockmaster at this ma- going to be included, and in par- guide was done with a co-author, rina had not had a bath since ticular, I wrote that original manu- for the first time, my dear friend Dwight Eisenhower was president. script out in longhand, an experi- and sailing columnist for the Sara- Well, we toned that down a little bit ence I never hope to repeat again. sota Herald Tribune, Morgan Sti- in the final form. But finally, in October of 1983, nemetz. seemingly a terribly inauspicious Now more importantly this narrow time for a guidebook covering the Now let me just say a brief word and deep format gives us the physi- North Carolina coastline to be re- about the books themselves. Fel- cal space in these guides, whereby leased, the original edition of low cruisers if you leave here to- Cruising Guide to Coastal North night not remembering anything ...The way I like to research Carolina hit the bookshelves. else I say, just remember this; my a marina is to come in by Much to everyone s shock, particu- books have been successful not, lar yours truly, the first printing repeat not, because I am some water, with the marina per- was gone in four months. world-class talent as a writer. I sonnel having no idea who I assure you, Tom Clancy I am not. I My publisher called me into his am or what I m doing. have met Mr. Clancy, and I am not office at that point and said, in his rarified atmospheres. My Claiborne, after a start like that, books have been successful be- we attempt to verbally explore what are you going to do next. cause I was a cruiser for many, every marina, every anchorage, That was a real shocker, as I hadn t many years before I became a every creek, every river, every bay, planned to do anything next, at cruising guide writer. I went into every nook and cranny. Now, in- least as far as writing was con- this business with the express goal evitably at the end of a presentation cerned. However, I had thoroughly of presenting the maximum possi- just like this, there s usually one enjoyed writing the North Carolina ble information to my readers. person who can t wait to get up guide, as well as doing the PR work Now, to accomplish that objective here to tell me about some little afterwards. So, never being one to early on we developed a format - of nook that I missed somewhere. I ll look a proverbial gift horse in the course I m not at all prejudiced, but be the first to admit we re not per- mouth, I began work on a guide to I think it s unique - that we term as fect, though we make a genuine the South Carolina coastline. narrow and deep, where classi- attempt to cover all of the waters. This time, things went a bit more cally cruising guides have been Now briefly what does this infor- swiftly. I purchased one of the broad and shallow. Now what do I mation consist of? Of course there original Apple II E computers with mean by narrow and deep? Real is most up to date possible naviga- 64 kilobytes of ram. For those of simple, we devoted an entire book tional info derived from our own on you who are familiar with com- to a single coastline with abso- the water observations. One thing puters, you could type about six lutely, positively NO advertising that we do that is different from a pages before you had to save it to whatsoever allowed! lot of guides is that we take this one of those old 5 ¼ floppy disks, That accomplishes two very impor- (Continued on page 26)

Clipper Snips Page 25 Fall 2003

Cruising the West Coast of Florida ...

(Continued from page 25) a stormy afternoon and no one was breezes but well sheltered from pure nav data, split it apart in its to be seen on the docks. The dock- northeasterly winds. And, we tell own subsections and screen it in a master had taken refuge up in her you something about the shoreside gray background. So when you are office at the top of the hill. So conditions; undeveloped, lightly on the water and the depth sounder when we finished our little obser- developed or in the cases of some is down to 5 ft. maybe you don t vations, and when I had found her, of the anchorages I do in southeast- have to read through the history of she had no idea we had come in by ern Florida, surrounded by walls of St. Petersburg to hopefully figure water. Well, the first question out concrete, glass and steel. out what is going wrong. of my mouth was Now how much Then we get into the shoreside in- depth do you have at your docks? Then we get into a listing of mari- formation. That s the where to go, With a straight face she looks right nas and their services, all of which what to see, what to do, and my at me and says eight feet. I have are verified on site, in person by personal favorite, where to eat been told that I do no have a poker yours truly. Now that seems pretty ashore. Now fellow cruisers, res- face so I guess some incredulity obvious doesn t it? You would not taurant reviews are a very difficult showed in my visage, because all believe some of the cruising guides part of this job, but somebody just of a sudden, it was quite dramatic, that perform their marina research has to do it. And occasionally all the color started to drain out of by sending out questionnaires to we ll find a restaurant like Kelly s, her face. She got very white. She marinas and asking them to fill right up here in Dunedin, that finally said to me Did you come in them out and send them might require three or four back in. That can produce visits to be certain that our some very interesting re- research is right on target. sults from time to time. Lastly, in another life, I There s a certain marina used to teach American which shall remain name- history and it is my firm less here tonight over on belief that no one can en- the East Coast of Florida. joy their cruise, as they Another guidebook once should, without an appre- claimed that there was eight ciation of the heritage of feet of water at their docks. the land of the waters I m certain that the last through which they are time Melbourne experi- Claiborne Young and T/SA Treasurer, Dave Craigie voyaging. For that reason enced a hurricane and they I include a great deal of had storm serge, that they did have by boat? And I said Yes we coastal history and folklore in all of eight feet of water at their docks on did. And have you already my guides. that particular occasion. But, on an sounded our depths? Yes, we Okay, you ll be glad to hear that is average day at mean low water they have. And her immoral reply was the end of the commercial message. have four to four and a half foot Well, you know the river is really The rest of our time we will talk dockside depths. low out there today. Of course, about cruising the West Coast of ignoring the fact that the Indian Now I remember the first time we Florida. Two aspects usually sur- River has no lunar tides as a matter ever came into this marina. The prise Newbies to the western Flor- of fact. way I like to research a marina is to ida coastline. First, this is a far, far come in by water, with the marina Okay, then we get into anchorages shallower coastline than the East personnel having no idea who I am and we just don t tell you here is an Coast of Florida, Georgia, South or what I m doing. We then sound anchorage. We tell you things like Carolina, or, for that matter, the their depths, look them over and the depth of the water and what Gulf States. Secondly, only a por- only then tie up and go find the size boat is appropriate for the par- tion of this coastline is served by a dockmaster and conduct my little ticular anchorage. We also evalu- protected and well-maintained In- interview. ate the anchorage s shelter; for in- tracoastal Waterway. We ll talk a stance, wide open to southwesterly In this particular case it was late on (Continued on page 27)

Clipper Snips Page 26 Fall 2003

Cruising the West Coast of Florida ...

(Continued from page 26) mosquitoes on Little Shark River. little bit more about that in a min- Now these guys flew inland one ...you could spend a life- ute. Moving south to north, the day and they were so big that they time and never exhaust all Waterway does not begin until one captured a cow. And the first mos- reaches the mouth of the Caloosa- quito said to the second one Let s of the gunkholing and an- hatchee River. It stretches north to take it back down to the river and chorage opportunities in Anclote Key, and then ceases we will eat it there. And the sec- the Ten Thousand Islands. again. ond mosquito replied, Are you nuts, then the big ones will get it. With that being said, let s begin to navigation in this entire region. down south at Cape Sable, which is I remember when we were first And, you learn very quickly that the southwestern most tip of researching this area were, while one Ten Thousand Island looks mainland Florida. There are two launching one of our smaller re- pretty much like the next Ten ports of call that you might con- search craft in some of the rough Thousand Island. Unless you have sider in the Cape Sable region. The and ready fish camps in Everglade a GPS aboard, interfaced with a first is what was once the old vil- City, we spotted a whole collection laptop computer and a full set of lage of Flamingo, but now is just a of quart size bottles of Avon s digitized charts on your hard disk, parks service concession. Always Skin-so-Soft on the marina store s it can be more than slightly diffi- assuming you can make it through shelves. I thought that was a cult to figure out just where the hell the four and a half-foot entrance strange place to be selling Avon you are in the Ten Thousand Is- depth, they have a little sheltered cosmetics. But, I learned that s lands. But, if you can overcome dockage basin that makes for a nice what the locals use for insect repel- that, as I say, you can find some place to hide during foul weather. lant down there. The only trouble I wonderful anchorages. have with Avon's Skin-so-Soft is The other port of call in Cape Sable that if you put enough of it on you The one exception to this unmarked is more interesting. It s called the can squeak through any keyhole character is called the Indian Key Little Shark River. Now this is you want to get through cause it s Channel, which runs by Indian Key definitely a case of good news and very oily. and all the way up to Everglade bad news. Let s go with the good City. Because it is a marked chan- news first. If you enjoy the feeling Okay, north of Cape Sable, the nel, the anchorage behind Indian that every puff of air or every turn character of the western Florida Key is the most popular in the Ten of the screw carries you farther coastline changes radically, and Thousand Islands. But, there is a from the maddening crowd, then you soon get into the region that on major caveat for this anchorage. you re going to want to make the the charts is called the Ten Thou- About three out of every ten times acquaintance of Little Shark River. sand Islands. Actually, according you anchor behind Indian Key, the You can even follow a deep feeder to a friend of mine who is a profes- local fishing fleet up at Everglade stream on the Little Shark up to the sor of geography at the University City will decide the next day is a Big Shark and track your way as of Miami, it should be the Sixteen good day to go fishing. And, I can much as twenty nautical miles into Thousand Three Hundred and Four tell you from painful experience; at the heart of the Everglades, with Islands. But, since it s on the approximately four a.m. in the excellent depths. And, when you charts as the Ten Thousand Islands morning they come boiling out In- throw out the hook abeam Gunboat that s what we will call it. dian Key cut at full bore. First time Island you will be as far removed Now assuming you had a shallow that ever happened to us I jumped from our modern well-planned enough draft vessel, you could straight up and got a good knot on world, as you re ever likely to get spend a lifetime and never exhaust the top of my head from cracking it this day in time. all of the gunkholing and anchor- on the main cabin ceiling. It s a Now for the bad news: You don t age opportunities in the Ten Thou- dramatic awakening. You ll just want to do this on a still summer sand Islands. The bad news is that have to take my word for it. So, if night. Down in Everglade City, navigation in the Ten Thousand you anchor by Indian Key, you d which we will talk about in a min- Islands is, shall we say, challeng- better be ready. ute, they tell a story about two ing. There are very, very few aids (Continued on page 28)

Clipper Snips Page 27 Fall 2003

Cruising the West Coast of Florida ...

(Continued from page 27) see to believe. If you do not round to several good anchorages, but Of course, you can track your way a little bitty, non-descript daybea- they are a long way from Naples up from Indian Key to Everglade con before crossing under the proper. City which I think probably wins bridge, there is a SeaTow boat wait- North of Naples, the next place I the award for the most backwater ing for you. They will be glad, for a want to talk about is Fort Myers community on the entire West very small fee of course, to come Beach, one of my favorite stories Coast of Florida. And there, you out and pull you off the bottom. on this coastline. How many of can tie up to a place called the Rod We will talk more later about how you know, that on the state law and Gun Club which is one of the you can tell places where there are books in Tallahassee there is an most historic structures left stand- navigational problems by how unusually clear statute that states ing in Florida. Now there are some many SeaTow boats there are sta- unequivocally, no county nor mu- fine little restaurants in Everglade tioned around them. The other nicipality may regulate anchorage City, but the Rod and Gun Club is problem with the Marco-Naples in any way, shape or form. That not one of them. Get my book and waterway is that at low tide there privilege is reserved only to the you can read about the good ones. are some spots that only carry four state of Florida. Now, the Florida and a half feet, even when you are North of the Ten Thousand Islands attorney general has never seen fit right in the middle of the markers. we soon come to Marco Island. I to enforce this statute. always say if they build one more Now the bigger question is, when So a decade or so ago, the City of high-rise condominium on the gulf you get up to Naples what are you Fort Meyers Beach decided to im- side of Marco; it is definitely going going to find there. If we were hav- pose a seventy-two hour anchorage to sink into the sea. The happy ing this little get together as little as limit. And they got away with it news is on the extreme southern tip eight months ago I would now have for quite awhile. But one Sunday of Marco, just where you would launched into a long story about the afternoon the local water cops made least expect to find it, an old fishing good properties of Naples; that has a big mistake. They boarded a village by the name of Goodland all changed, for the worse. Turner large vessel, and told the owner to has to a large extent preserved it s Marine, the marina there that was move along, not knowing that he character. They have two marinas long friendly to the cruising com- was the senior law partner in one of here that are friendly to cruising munity, has been bought out. They the largest law firms in Miami. He craft, and you can even anchor off built a big, high-rise dry stack stor- took Fort Meyers Beach to court. and dinghy in. Several excellent age building. They are going to The judge read the state s statute. restaurants are found here as well, build a high-rise condo. Boat Ha- Fort Meyers Beach anchorage regu- including my personal favorite, Lit- ven is in the process of being sold. lations were thrown out forthwith. tle Bar. Course if you are in the You know, Naples is very short of The problem is how many of us can drinking mood you ll probably high rise condos, so they are going do what that gentleman did. You ll want to make the acquaintance of to build another one up there where have to pardon me; I tend to get up Stan s Idle ourHour. Boat Haven is. That leaves the city on my soapbox about this issue. pier as the only transient dockage Now you will remember that I said Besides the obvious common sense space in Naples. Today you could that this southwestern most part of practices of not blocking channels, find as much as a forty-five day Florida does not have an official and not trespassing and things we wait for an overnight transient slip Intracoastal Waterway. That is cor- all know about, consider this; there at the Naples City Pier. So, Naples rect. However, there is an unoffi- is not a single solitary anchorage has a real problem, and I want to cial waterway, which is not, let me regulation in North Carolina, South say, they know it. Their local city say that again, is not maintained by Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis- council is trying to do something the Army Corp of Engineers. It sissippi, Louisiana, or Texas. Now about it but, their waterfront is so runs behind Marco Island all the don t you think that kind of makes developed, I m not just entirely way up to Gordon Pass and Naples. Florida stand out among the group sure what they re going to be able of the southeastern states? Right before you get to the high to do. I guess the only good news rise Marco Bridge there s an L is that Gordon Pass, which is the North of Fort Meyers we get to a turn in this channel that one has to deep pass that serves Naples, leads (Continued on page 29)

Clipper Snips Page 28 Fall 2003

Cruising the West Coast of Florida

(Continued from page 28) Clipper Snips. It will start at the line quarterly newsletter known as very crucial intersection at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River The Salty Southeast. To sub- mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. and continuing on north to Carra- scribe, simply send an e-mail to This is the southerly genesis of the belle, Florida. [email protected], that official western Florida ICW. It is contains the word subscribe. ED To learn about Claiborne and his also the westerly terminus of the books, visit his web site at: Okeechobee Waterway. www.CruisingGuide.com. Part two of Claiborne s presenta- Claiborne also publishes a free, on- tion will appear in the next issue of

Ramp Report - Three Ramps In The Florida Keys ... John Ulmer

I first sailed the Florida Keys in by just a few feet under your keel. they say before you head out. 1970. A friend and I sailed my lit- It's watching the pelicans flying in Thirty years ago, on my first cruise, tle West Wight Potter from Key formation just above the surface of my Potter's six inch draft allowed Largo to Key West. We were the water. It's swimming with the me to sail anywhere the birds were- tough back then, and did it without tropical fish on the only coral reef n't walking. I often ignored the an engine. We had a great time. in North America. It's all this and navigation channels and sailed As far as I'm concerned, the Keys much, much more. where no boat had sailed before. In are as close to paradise as you can In the Keys you can cruise any way the process, I often scraped the bot- get with a boat and trailer. you like. You can head to the shal- tom and left a muddy trail where I The Keys really are a wonderful low water of Florida Bay and find had been. When I wanted to stop place to cruise, as proven by the plenty of solitude and quiet anchor- for the night, I just sailed toward thousands of people that go there ages among the mangrove islands. shore, waited for the centerboard to every year. It's not just the warm Or you can stay near the highway hit, and threw out the anchor. As weather, swaying palms, and clear and enjoy all the comforts of a ma- the tide went out, the Potter would water that draws people, it's the rina and a good restaurant every be left sitting high, dry, and safe on interesting harbors, good restau- night. There is bus service to Key the bottom until morning, when the rants and friendly people. It's the West, so a one way cruise is possi- tide would return and we were hundreds of uninhabited islands and ble if you prefer. afloat again. the birds that live on them. It's the Unfortunately, there is trouble in It was great fun, but you can't do it delight you experience as you paradise. The environment of the any more. Today we know that watch the bottom of the ocean glide Keys is very fragile and it is feeling disturbing the bottom anywhere in the effects of the Keys can do major harm. Who the thousands would have thought that the sand in of people that the Keys was different from the visit each year. sand anywhere else, but it is. Now To save the you can expect a big fine if you Keys, new en- touch the bottom with anything vironmental other than your anchor, so make laws have been sure you keep plenty of water under passed. They your keel. are strictly en- We have also learned that the birds forced, so you and wildlife that live on all those John Pennekamp State Park should be aware of what (Continued on page 30)

Clipper Snips Page 29 Fall 2003

Ramp Report - Three Ramps In The Florida Keys ...

leave the trailer. see signs for the park. The turn will Land is scarce be to the left, so get in the left lane and marina early. There are two fine concrete parking lots are ramps, each 25 feet wide. I meas- full, so it is dif- ured them one foot from high tide ficult to find and found them 5 1/2 feet deep 30 ramps with safe feet from shore; and 9 feet deep 42 overnight park- feet from shore. This gives an 18 ing. Never fear, percent slope and an incline of 10 I can help. On a degrees for the first 30 feet. The recent trip to ramp is free, but there is a fee to get Sunshine Key Marina (near Bahia Honda State Park) Florida I found into the park. Overnight car and three ramps that trailer parking, if available, is $8 (Continued from page 29) will get you on the water so you per night. For more info call : can enjoy the Keys. (305) 451-1202 uninhabited islands need our pro- John Pennekamp State Park Sunshine Key Resort And Ma- tection. Getting too close can dis- rina - On Ohio Key - Near Bahia turb their nesting habits. Most of John Pennekamp Park is located on Honda State Park the mangrove islands are now part Key Largo, which is at the northern of the national wildlife refuge. You end of the Keys. This is by far the In the past, I have always recom- can't go ashore or even wade in the best place to launch if you want to mended Bahia Honda State Park shallow water around them. The spend a few days diving on the reef. when I received a request for ramps best way to see the birds is from the If you rent a dock in the marina you in the Keys. It is located in a great comfort of your own boat. are assured of a parking space for spot, about three quarters of the your car and trailer. There are only way down the Keys. It has a really Even the coral reef needs protec- 8 visitor docks available and they good ramp very safe parking, but tion. Over the years, the coral has fill up fast, so call early for a reser- their space is extremely limited. been damaged by the anchors of all vation. Now, in order to park your car and those boats bringing divers to the trailer overnight you must rent a reef. To protect the coral, it is now Being at the northern end of the slip at a dollar a foot, with a 22 ft. illegal to anchor anywhere on the Keys, John Pennekamp would seem minimum. That makes it a pretty living coral or on the seagrass beds. to be a perfect place to start a long expensive place to leave your car You can anchor in the sand, but it is cruise down the Keys, but it's not. for a long cruise. better to pick up one of the many Their space is very limited, and the mooring buoys that are provided by rangers don't really want you park- Sunshine Key Resort and Marina is the park. They are free and are lo- ing your car and trailer overnight if located on Ohio Key, just one very cated near all the best diving spots. you are not renting a dock. If they short bridge north of Bahia Honda By the way, you don't need much do have room, the rangers will al- Park. It offers the same great loca- equipment to dive on the reef. low your car and trailer to stay a tion but the parking is just eight Many places are so shallow that all few nights, but don't expect them to dollars a day. You can park for as you need are fins and a snorkel. be enthusiastic if you want leave long as you want, but space is lim- them for a long cruise. If you do ited, so you will want to avoid ar- For more complete information on leave your rig here overnight, make riving on a busy weekend when the environmental regulations, con- sure you file a float plan with the their lot may be full. tact the rangers at John Pennykamp rangers to keep your car and trailer State Park or Everglades National The marina is easy to find, it's the from being towed. You can find Park. Their numbers are listed be- only business on Ohio Key. As you the ranger's office in the gate house low. head south on Rt.1, the marina is at the entrance to the park. located on the right side of the road, The problem with cruising the Keys Getting to the park is easy. Within just after the Seven Mile Bridge. has always been finding a place to a few miles of crossing the Rt. 1 Look for the large Texaco gas sign. launch the boat where you can bridge from the mainland, you will

Clipper Snips Page 30 Fall 2003

Ramp Report - Three Ramps In The Florida Keys

(305) 872-2217 There is no fee for parking or the ramp, but there is a $10 fee to enter Flamingo In Ev- the park. If you are going to be erglades National gone overnight, you MUST file a Park float plan with the ranger to keep While Flamingo is your car from being towed. not located in the There are 2 concrete ramps, each Keys, it does give 28 feet wide. They are 30 feet long you outstanding and 3 1/2 feet deep at the end, giv- access to the Flamingo in Everglades State Park ing a 12 percent slope and an angle Keys. There is of 6 1/2 degrees. I measured a foot plenty of parking and a half below high tide. There The ramp is concrete, 17 wide, 4 here, making this a good place to are docks at the ramps and I could 1/2 deep, and 23 feet long, giving leave the car for a long term cruise. find no drop off. an angle of 11 degrees, and a 19 Flamingo is at the end of a 40 mile percent slope. Tides are less than 2 For more information call (239) long dead end road. There is no real feet, and I measured about 1 foot 695-3101 town here, and no stores except for from high tide. There is a drop off a small camping convince store at John Ulmer at the end of the ramp which is the marina. If you need supplies, [email protected] even with the concrete docks on the get them before you enter the park. sides. For more information, call -

Clipper Snips Classified Ads

I have replaced the original set of FLAGS / TEE SHIRTS / HATS "FOR SALE: Unicorn class "A" Doyle sails that came with my All sport the T/SA logo. single-handed racing catamaran 1994 MacGregor 26C with a new (18' L X 7'-6" B). With a success- custom set. The originals, main, For Tee-shirts, contact: Doris ful racing history this boat is very genoa and jib are in good condition Lockie, 67 Springbrook Drive, well equipped and in beautiful and were always covered, or re- Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 1L4 condition. $1,300. For details call moved and sowed when not in use. The Tees cost $13 (U.S.). Please Bob Hodgson : (248) 620-6639." As we are basically a weekend specify the sizes. sailor, there is still considerable For Trailer/Sailor flags [$10.00 For sale: 60's Mercury 20 HP out- life left in these original sails. They ($12 U.S. if you live in Canada)] board in very good condition, are clean and quite useable. contact: Wayne Bell, 344 Creek which I have owned for 40 years. These sails will fit any Mac 26 Drive, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 I will sell for about 25% of the (except the "X") and most Mac For hats [$13.00 ($15 US if you current new price. 25's. Also other boats that use simi- live in Canada)] contact Wayne. lar size sails, and I can provide the If your are interested, please con- dimensions. tact me direct at 636-797-4203 or I should like to sell them as a set [email protected] and pricing will be at about 1/3 the Karl J. Schmitt current price of similar quality, original equipment sails. If your are interested, please con- tact me direct at 636-797-4203 or [email protected] Karl J. Schmitt

Clipper Snips Page 31 Fall 2003

Trailer/Sailors Association

The Trailer/Sailors Association is a non-profit organization formed more than 15 years ago. Its members provide a exchange of ideas and information about all aspects of sailing trailerable sailboats. Our more than 500 members are scattered across the USA and Canada, and the diversity of their experiences enrich the association and heightens our collective interest in small sailboat cruising. Clipper Snips, published in a Winter, Spring, and Fall issues, is the official publication of the organization, provid- ing cruising articles, association announcements, how-to articles, and free classified ads.

Association Officers:

President: Wayne Bell, 344 Creek Dr., Slippery Rock, Cruise Recorder: Don Ziliox, 1340 Elmdale NE, Grand PA 16057, (724) 794-4704, E-mail:: Rapids, MI 49525, (616) 361-8230, E- [email protected] mail:[email protected] Treasurer: David Craigie, 101 W. Marshall, Midwest Launch Ramp Advisory: John Ulmer, 659 S. Canal St., City, OK 73110, (405) 741-2555, E-mail: Box 4101, Canal Fulton, OH 44614 (330) 854-3796, [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Treasurer: Jack Beggs, 2586 Cheswick, Gizmos, Gadgets, and Galley Column- Debbie Bell Troy, MI, 48084-1012, (248) 646-5082, E-mail: (ed.), 344 Creek Dr., Slippery Rock, PA 16057 (724) [email protected]. 794-4704, E-mail: [email protected] Trailersailors.org Webmasters: Mike & Diana Nelson, Public Relations: Gary Schafer, 2578 Pembroke, Bir- 2717 N. River Rd., Yellow Springs, OH 45387, (937) mingham, MI 48009, (248) 649-4911, E-Mail: 767 9487, E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] TRAILSAIL Discussion Board Leader: John Clipper Snips Editor: Joe Orinko, 433 Lincoln Avenue, Coppedge, 2557 Queenston road, Cleveland, OH 44118 Erie, PA 16505-2449, (814) 456-6469, E-mail: (216) 932-9126, E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

PRSRT STD Clipper Snips Editor U.S. Postage 433 Lincoln Avenue PAID Erie, PA 16505-2449 Erie, PA Trailer/Sailors Association Permit #554

Forwarding Service Requested Dated Material Please Deliver Promptly

Clipper Snips Page 32 Fall 2003