Sheesh...over 750 posts while I was gone..

Well, here's the news...we won't find out until the end of the week about
the job situation, but it looks very good. The bad thing: very very
shallow....if we did take Chanteuse down, we'd be sitting on her keel half
the time and half to sail 15 miles offshore to find water deep enough for a
good sail...The good thing: lots of sailing in the area, just need a much
shallower deaft boat...the Fort Myers area isn't nearly as built up as I
thought it would be...not anywhere near as "throbbing" as St. Pete/Tampa
area...lots of hummocks and estuaries, etc to explore. We stayed on Estero
Island (yourist trap...) which is just south of Sanibel (bigger tourist
trap) A lady was wading in a canal on Sanibel and offered herself for lunch
to a 15 ft alligator who ended up being euthanized for his efforts (heck, if
she was dumb enough to wade in a crick...)Went to 3 different nature
preserves, rescued a whelk and a sea urchin ( very tricky, sea
urchins...trying not to get stung, that is...) watched a pair of dolphins
fishing and playing about 30 feet offshore in low tide...really having a
grand time of it....found a poor little manta that must have been clobbered
by a gas hog...saw the biggest red ant I've ever seen in my life and hope to
gravy I never get bit by one....found a cute black snake about 2 ft long
with a pretty head (not a pit viper configuration...going to have to look
him up in a book...) ate grouper almost every day. Didn't get sunburned
until the last day, when I listened to Mr Sails who said: You could stand a
bit more sun...Was a big shocker getting off the plane in Grand Rapids at
midnight...40F from 87F and cold rain...was ready to het right back on the
plane...and then I had to be up at 6am for work this morning! But I had a
great time!

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

"katysails" wrote in message
...
Sheesh...over 750 posts while I was gone..

Well, here's the news...we won't find out until the end of the week about
the job situation, but it looks very good. The bad thing: very very
shallow....if we did take Chanteuse down, we'd be sitting on her keel half
the time and half to sail 15 miles offshore to find water deep enough for
a
good sail...The good thing: lots of sailing in the area, just need a much
shallower deaft boat...the Fort Myers area isn't nearly as built up as I
thought it would be...not anywhere near as "throbbing" as St. Pete/Tampa
area...lots of hummocks and estuaries, etc to explore. We stayed on
Estero
Island (yourist trap...) which is just south of Sanibel (bigger tourist
trap) A lady was wading in a canal on Sanibel and offered herself for
lunch
to a 15 ft alligator who ended up being euthanized for his efforts (heck,
if
she was dumb enough to wade in a crick...)Went to 3 different nature
preserves, rescued a whelk and a sea urchin ( very tricky, sea
urchins...trying not to get stung, that is...) watched a pair of dolphins
fishing and playing about 30 feet offshore in low tide...really having a
grand time of it....found a poor little manta that must have been
clobbered
by a gas hog...saw the biggest red ant I've ever seen in my life and hope
to
gravy I never get bit by one....found a cute black snake about 2 ft long
with a pretty head (not a pit viper configuration...going to have to look
him up in a book...) ate grouper almost every day. Didn't get sunburned
until the last day, when I listened to Mr Sails who said: You could stand
a
bit more sun...Was a big shocker getting off the plane in Grand Rapids at
midnight...40F from 87F and cold rain...was ready to het right back on the
plane...and then I had to be up at 6am for work this morning! But I had a
great time!

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

Can you say "wing keel"? I think if you had to take your boat down you could
probably retrofit a wing keel, though I would imagine it would cost 6-7k
minimum. By "Estero Island" did you mean Ft. Myers Beach? Did you go to the
bird sanctuary on Sanibel?
John Cairns

How shallow a draft do you need? Your dillema reminds me of a guy who
used to be here, flying for one of the airlines. He bought a brand
new Valiant 40 in anticipation of retiring to Florida. It was a
beautiful boat. Just before leaving he developed anxieties over the
boat's draft, so he had the boat hauled and ignoring the warnings and
pleadings of everyone, proceeded to take about a foot off the bottom
of the keel with a chain saw. I guess that is one approach to the
problem He must have been related to Jim Cate/Bobsprit.


On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 20:07:22 -0400, "katysails"
wrote:

Sheesh...over 750 posts while I was gone..

Well, here's the news...we won't find out until the end of the week about
the job situation, but it looks very good. The bad thing: very very
shallow....if we did take Chanteuse down, we'd be sitting on her keel half
the time and half to sail 15 miles offshore to find water deep enough for a
good sail...The good thing: lots of sailing in the area, just need a much
shallower deaft boat...the Fort Myers area isn't nearly as built up as I
thought it would be...not anywhere near as "throbbing" as St. Pete/Tampa
area...lots of hummocks and estuaries, etc to explore. We stayed on Estero
Island (yourist trap...) which is just south of Sanibel (bigger tourist
trap) A lady was wading in a canal on Sanibel and offered herself for lunch
to a 15 ft alligator who ended up being euthanized for his efforts (heck, if
she was dumb enough to wade in a crick...)Went to 3 different nature
preserves, rescued a whelk and a sea urchin ( very tricky, sea
urchins...trying not to get stung, that is...) watched a pair of dolphins
fishing and playing about 30 feet offshore in low tide...really having a
grand time of it....found a poor little manta that must have been clobbered
by a gas hog...saw the biggest red ant I've ever seen in my life and hope to
gravy I never get bit by one....found a cute black snake about 2 ft long
with a pretty head (not a pit viper configuration...going to have to look
him up in a book...) ate grouper almost every day. Didn't get sunburned
until the last day, when I listened to Mr Sails who said: You could stand a
bit more sun...Was a big shocker getting off the plane in Grand Rapids at
midnight...40F from 87F and cold rain...was ready to het right back on the
plane...and then I had to be up at 6am for work this morning! But I had a
great time!

How shallow a draft do you need? Your dillema reminds me of a guy who
used to be here, flying for one of the airlines.

Man, I've heard that old wives story for years now. Didn't happen like that at
all. The owner had the yard do the job and it was because of the slip he owned,
which was a bit too shallow. Valliant was involved in the mod and the boat was
sold recently on Yachtworld after he died. The boat was a beaut.

RB

katysails wrote:
Sheesh...over 750 posts while I was gone..

Well, here's the news...we won't find out until the end of the week about
the job situation, but it looks very good...

Glad you had a good trip and are safely home. Good luck with the job!

Here's a personal tidbit... I found some old family film showing
vacations of long ago, included some footage of me & my cousin sailing a
Butterfly.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On 27 Apr 2004 00:39:18 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

How shallow a draft do you need? Your dillema reminds me of a guy who
used to be here, flying for one of the airlines.

Man, I've heard that old wives story for years now. Didn't happen like that at
all. The owner had the yard do the job and it was because of the slip he owned,
which was a bit too shallow. Valliant was involved in the mod and the boat was
sold recently on Yachtworld after he died. The boat was a beaut.

RB

Well, since I knew the guy, have been aboard the boat which he kept at
the marina I have been at for 15 years and know the Valiant guys, I'll
stand by my story. Valiant may well have modified some keels, but
they had nothing to do with this one.

John asked: Can you say "wing keel"?

We asked about that and were told that wing keels are not good on the
shoals...that they tend to bury themselves and you can't get off without Sea
Tow or someone coming to give you a shove....
By "Estero Island" did you mean Ft. Myers Beach?

Yes...Fort Myers Beach is on Estero Island
Did you go to the
bird sanctuary on Sanibel?

With 15 foot marauding alligators dining on women? Nah.....Went to Lover's
Key....


--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

felton asked: How shallow a draft do you need?
They're saying no more than 4 ft...and that's getting "iffy".....the
municipal marina is only 5 ft and the mooring fields at low tide are at
4-5....

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 21:32:03 -0400, "katysails"
wrote:

felton asked: How shallow a draft do you need?
They're saying no more than 4 ft...and that's getting "iffy".....the
municipal marina is only 5 ft and the mooring fields at low tide are at
4-5....

Sounds like a Coronado 27 is in your future..

You need a catamarran or a Cat boat

There are three pretty catboats in the
local marina. One of them needs work, and
I've been toying with the idea of getting
one--just what I need another boat. I found
one that is being offered for free--Hmmm!

They have a wide beam, a centerboard. Most
use an outboard. I've seen one with an
inboard diesel.

For shoal draft, you can't beat a centerboard.

Bart

"katysails" wrote

Sheesh...over 750 posts while I was gone..

Well, here's the news...we won't find out until the end of the week about
the job situation, but it looks very good. The bad thing: very very
shallow....if we did take Chanteuse down, we'd be sitting on her keel half
the time and half to sail 15 miles offshore to find water deep enough for a
good sail...The good thing: lots of sailing in the area, just need a much
shallower deaft boat...the Fort Myers area isn't nearly as built up as I
thought it would be...not anywhere near as "throbbing" as St. Pete/Tampa
area...lots of hummocks and estuaries, etc to explore. We stayed on Estero
Island (yourist trap...) which is just south of Sanibel (bigger tourist
trap) A lady was wading in a canal on Sanibel and offered herself for lunch
to a 15 ft alligator who ended up being euthanized for his efforts (heck, if
she was dumb enough to wade in a crick...)Went to 3 different nature
preserves, rescued a whelk and a sea urchin ( very tricky, sea
urchins...trying not to get stung, that is...) watched a pair of dolphins
fishing and playing about 30 feet offshore in low tide...really having a
grand time of it....found a poor little manta that must have been clobbered
by a gas hog...saw the biggest red ant I've ever seen in my life and hope to
gravy I never get bit by one....found a cute black snake about 2 ft long
with a pretty head (not a pit viper configuration...going to have to look
him up in a book...) ate grouper almost every day. Didn't get sunburned
until the last day, when I listened to Mr Sails who said: You could stand a
bit more sun...Was a big shocker getting off the plane in Grand Rapids at
midnight...40F from 87F and cold rain...was ready to het right back on the
plane...and then I had to be up at 6am for work this morning! But I had a
great time!