Vessel Name: | Partynutts IV |
Vessel Make/Model: | 55' Viking Motor Yacht |
Hailing Port: | Resort At Little Harbour, Ruskin, Fl |
Crew: | Jeff, Jan, Mickey, Dana, |
About: | Captain Jeff has been retired for four years and Mickey has decided turn in his brief case December 31, 2014. Planning an Abaco trip around the end of May 2015. |
Extra: | Partynutts3 was sold and replaced with a 55' Viking Motor Yacht. |
We have set the date for the Abaco trip. Will leave the dock April 16 around noon for a short trip to either to Marina Jacks or The Buccaneer at Venice Inlet. Next day we'll make aour way down to Ft. Myers Municipal Marine for an overnight stay, The following day we'll head across the state bound for Riveria Beach Marina, which will make for a good position to crossover when the weather allows.
Mickey bought a 10' Rigid Frigid dinghy at the Ft Myers Boat Show last month. Neat little (expensive) boat equipped with a 30 HP Evinrude. We are also installing a Raymarine A67 chart plotter with depth and AM/FM radio on it. It fits perfectly up on our dinghy deck. Since getting the boat back from Kentucky, new canvass and side curtains have been intalled on the bridge. We also made a visit to the boat yard for new bottom paint and full maintance on the stabilizer system. This week a new Raymarine E165 Chart Plotter and open array radar will be installed. The old Furuno radar (still working) will be sold or trashed, what ever comes first. The yacht has been running flawlessly since taking delivery up in Kentucky. She should be ready to go when we head out for the Abacos around the end of May 2015.
Shifted to the fuel dock at 0745 Hrs and topped off the tank. Departed at 0830 Hrs. I don't recall having to request one bridge opening during the entire trip. Welcome to the West Coast of Florida. We had 4 or 5 in the short ride down the ICW heading for Tampa Bay. Arrived at our dock at 1300 Hrs on [...]
Departed Steinahatchee at 0800 Hrs and transited the long shallow channel out to the gulf. Departed #1 marker at 0845 Hrs.and went another 4 or 5 miles out and turned left headed for another way point and then took up a heading 160T for 99 km into Clearwater Pass. Had 15-20 knot winds on the nose for the first 5 0r 6 hours then wind shifted to the north, off our port quarter down to 5-10 knots which mad for a very pleasant ride. Arrived at Clearwater Municipal Marina at 2000 Hrs.
Departed Carrabelle at 0705 and entered East Pass at Dog Island at 0740 Hrs. Had winds from SW at 15 with a falling tide which made it a little rough. As soon as we got to number 2 marker and turned left and took up a heading of 95 degrees to Steinahatcheee the stabilizers took over. Nice ride. The closer we got to the West Coast the wind and sea layed down. Arrived at the dock at 1515 Hrs. Only one 50 amp power box. oh we'll, we have power for main salon A/C, fridge a few lights and battery charger. Life is good. Long day tomorrow heading out early for Clwr.
We are staying put at the marina today. Winds are decreasing today and so should the seas. Tomorrow looks doable but of course fog is in the forecast in the morning which will delay our start. It's about 70 miles over to Steinhatchee and we should arrive in the mid to late afternoon, during the low tide of course.