Weather has us down for the next few days.

A Break in the weather !

 

The end of October usually signals some type of weather change, going from the high eighties to the mid seventies. Thia weather pattern is usually a welcome change for the Keys Natives who look forward to a break from the hot summer weather. Mid seventies is fine by me, great fishing and sailing weather.

 

 

GMZ031-241445-
FLORIDA BAY INCLUDING BARNES SOUND, BLACKWATER SOUND, AND
BUTTONWOOD SOUND-
437 AM EDT THU OCT 24 2013

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR INCREASING WINDS...

.TODAY...NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS EARLY...INCREASING TO
NEAR 20 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A MODERATE CHOP...BECOMING ROUGH. SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
.TONIGHT...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. BAY WATERS VERY ROUGH.
SCATTERED SHOWERS.
.FRIDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS...INCREASING TO 20 TO 25
KNOTS LATE. BAY WATERS VERY ROUGH. SCATTERED SHOWERS.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY. BAY WATERS
VERY ROUGH. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.SATURDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS...DECREASING TO 15 TO 20
KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. BAY WATERS VERY ROUGH...BECOMING CHOPPY.
ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20
KNOTS. BAY WATERS CHOPPY. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

 

 



Getting settled in...Flats Boat launched, Marshall Sanderling next.

BACK IN THE KEYS

 ALL SETTLED IN FOR THE WINTER

 

 

I arrived back in the Keys last Wednesday and started preparing for the long winter stay. First on the list was to move in and get everything put in it's place, next go food shopping , then sit back and relax. The second day I went to my friend Roland's house to move my to boats to prepare them for launching. Roland is kind enough to allow me to store my boats on his property, he also provides me with a room for all the items I don't take back to NJ each year.

 

 

Preparing the Flats Boat is fairly easy, since there is no need to winterize the engine, it is simple enough to treat the gas so it does not go bad, disconnect the batteries, fog the engine and finally put on the summer cover. This year, I took the added precaution of staking the boats and trailers to the ground in case of high winds or a Hurricane.

 

Flats Boat in it's "winter position"
Trivia question, where have you see "winter position" before?
Counting on you Baydog! 

 

 

PUFFIN, my Marshall Sanderling takes a little more effort to get ready for launching and sailing. Not only does the hull get washed and waxed, the bottom painted and washed inside and out. Painting  the bottom involves sanding, washing then painting all while the boat is on the trailer. Quite the job in cramped quarters as you will see from the photos but worth it in the end.

 

Preparing the mast, new halyards and a good wash

Puffin, all washed and waxed, waiting for the bottom paint.

Two preparations for the hull, mild compound followed by a Carnuba wax application.

 

On a final great note, this is how my day ended.

 

 

After an exhausting day in the 88 degree heat, a great Sunset always helps to recharge my batteries.

A boat and it's crew enjoying the Sunset on the Bay.



PREPARING FOR THE ANNUAL MIGRATION TO THE KEYS...

OCTOBER 15, HEADING FOR THE KEYS

 

 

On October 15, I will begin my trek back to the Florida Keys, Tavernier, to be exact.  Tavernier is located between Key largo and Islamorada, mile marker 93.5 on the Overseas Highway. I look forward to getting my Marshall Sanderling, PUFFIN,  ready to sail the Florida Bay once again; next to get wet will be the Flats boat that takes me out into the shallow waters of the Everglades National Park for some fine fishing.

 

See you then, hopefully with some good fishing and sailing pictures along with some interesting stories and facts about my time in the Florida  Keys. Until then, fair winds and smooth sailing.

 

Enjoying a comfortable sail on the Florida Bay