2008 Spring Gathering

[Classic]

DOCREED,
     If you are coming from the south, you can cut across the bar on the north side of the egmont channel.  What I do is line myself up 50 yards or so outside of the Gulf Pier and just go due north until you pass the range marker just north of the pier.  There is a nice cut right there. Then you can swing out west to enter Bunces Pass.  I have crossed that bar that way many many times and you'll have 4 feet even on the lowest of tides. When you have a strong NW wind and outgoing tide, the waves will stack up pretty good through the cut but it just makes for an uncomfortable ride.  If you have a high tide, you can get across that bar anywhere if you stay on plane without bumping or dragging.  
   Be careful coming into Bunces Pass.  If you follow the channel on your chartplotter, it will leave you high and dry about 3/4 of a mile outside the pass on a low tide.  It's best just to visually find your way through or wait outside and watch a few boats go in and out.  Don't just follow the first one you see... just because he made it doesn't mean he didn't drag the skeg for 50 yards.  You can make it in and out of that pass on the right line no matter what the tide.
By the way the 68 Diver will be there...somebody's got to have an old beater at the gathering.

Joel

[DOCREED]

Thanks for the info.  Local knowledge is invaluable.

I'm renting a truck to tow it up near there.  I will be way cheaper than the $800 for fuel if i take her up on her own bottom.
Then on the way back I'll fill her up in a gas station and save some there too.

If I save any more I will be making money!!!!!!!!!!


I wish

[RickK]

Thanks for the info.  Local knowledge is invaluable.

I'm renting a truck to tow it up near there.  I will be way cheaper than the $800 for fuel if i take her up on her own bottom.
Then on the way back I'll fill her up in a gas station and save some there too.

If I save any more I will be making money!!!!!!!!!!


I wish

Good decision.  
Are you going to put in at Desoto ramp?  You'll need about $1 worth of gas to get from the ramp to the gathering and back. Now if you go out and play ....  :twisted:

[JimCt]

Joel,

 Will miss seeing the old girl.  She isn't a "beater" by any means; she's a Fifty Mission Crush Aquasport.

From Wikipedia...

A "fifty mission crush" is an Army Air Corps, or Air Force, service cap that has the stiffening ring removed, and is worn crushed and battered.
This cap is obviously out of uniform, however steeped in tradition. This tradition was started by the 8th Air force flying personnel
as a mark that separates the fledgling from the battle hardened survivor of 25+ combat missions.
This mangled cap was frowned upon, but tolerated for those who earned the right to wear it.

Both you & she have earned the right.

[strikeout]

I spent the day out by anna maria island.  Finally finished the break in in my new opti..  The water temp was perfect for cooling off and keeping the beer cold.  Anyone else out this weekend or are you all just spit shinning your hulls for next weekend?

[RickK]

It's GREAT to be back home again.  8) Man was that a LONG trip.
Heading out boat camping in a couple hours for 3 days - gonna be nice and relaxing although it looks like it may storm today a bit.  Oh well, that is what I bought all that canvas for. Even in a storm it's still better than being at work.  The rest of the week looks like it will improve and will be nice for the gathering.

[John Jones]

I'm up to my ears in gators with family issues.  I doubt I'll make it.  You guys have fun.  

[ANTIBLING]

Can you still camp on the island? I used to years ago but wasnt sure. There used to be an old beat up cat sailboat beached on the northside of the island.

anyways doubt my boat will be done to make a showing, whens the next gathering? lol

[DOCREED]

I'm planning on launching from that ramp in SR64 almost in Anna Maria.

I'm hoping there will be fewer people there to watch me try to launch it and i will get to run her for 30 min or so getting to where you guys will be.

[strikeout]

I put in there on saturday,  not too bad,   pretty shallow if you get outside the channel.  Only a few A**holes at the ramp that didn't want to wait there turn.  Looking forward to meeting you all.

[Mike Answeeney]

Just got the T-Top installed today!

Steve, you better put an extra coat of wax on your girl because Mine's lookin' soooo goooooood!   :twisted:  

See ya all Saturday on the water!

[RickK]

Well, something came up for Dave that causes him to miss the gathering this time  :(  so I'm not bringing up the 230 this time and camp by myself.  What this means is that all that shade that I carry with me and the BBQ grill won't be available this time :( Instead of the party barge, we'll have to do a beach thing again too.
With that being said, I will be towing up the 170 early Saturday morning.  She hasn't been invited since I got the 230.
CUSnooking, I can't offer breakfast anymore but I'm going to try to be there real early (like 7?) if you want to do a little fishing.  Stevo, if you want to meet early to fish too, come on.
We'll still meet around 12 to start the gathering- remember that the new restrictions on Shell beach as it pertains to Dogs and Alcohol might cause us some grief and cause us to move slightly so tune your radio to 68 for updates and keep an eye out for the bunch of Aquasports on the beach.
My Cell is 9417372165 if anyone needs to call for anything.

[cusnooking]

Rick I'll be there by 7 and ready for some fishing, I just put on a new trolling motor and ready to try it!! See all saturday.

[Mike Answeeney]

Hey guys,

Since we'll be beaching it, I'll bring my football tailgate grill out and fire it up on shore.

If anyone wants to bring burgers, dogs, snaugages my small grill will be available.

See you guys around noon time.  :P   8)  :P

[RickK]

Rick I'll be there by 7 and ready for some fishing, I just put on a new trolling motor and ready to try it!! See all saturday.

No problem getting through the tolls that early I take it?
Today's task was to move the axle more to the rear to get more tongue weight.  A buddy helped and we dropped off the boat at a boaters club I belong to and then tackled the axle.  Peice of cake. Found some BIG cracks in the tires on her trailer though so I put 2 new ones on so I don't have to worry about that for a few years.
Since the boat was already in the water I took her out for an hour when I went to pick her up and boy did she run fine.  What a change from the 230 for the last 3 days.
See ya there bright and early.