Dan Vitale's Comments

Hi, Yes helped deliver a boat to Annapolis from Ma., was an awesome 7 days. A Bowman 48'. Sailed her alone on a 3 - 6 am watch..was incredible!!!!! Doing a few more this fall I hope..was offered a mate's job. Sailed a 17' on the Lake today... 15 steady, gusts in the 20's..jib & main... flew wing and wind about 7 kts down the lake, raced back..eye's rolled back in my head it felt so good. Hope your having a great summer!

How's it going??? Sailing yourself silly yet??

Awwwww..... I was feel'n the dream... the taking off, less responsibilites...then got jarred with "whatever marina wants to rip me off" LOL...yep..they me plenty of those.. I think you'll have a blast..just bring plenty of $$$$$ :-)

Yeah - my hubby Mike and I are experts at the canal systems here in Canada. We used to keep our boat in Montreal - and to get into Lake Ontario - we had to go thru' 5 locks. The law here in Canada is you have to be 2 in the boat, but we've seen some go thru' with just one (and that's without a boat hook). I had to help that sailor out, as we were rafted together in the lock, and he was having probs getting the lines being thrown down. Since we moved our boat further west from Montreal, we now a) save $$$'s not paying to go thru' all the locks; and get into Lake Ontario much faster.

We're off to Marathon, Florida (Keys) in a few weeks, and I'm getting antzy about getting out on the water. Have a few friends that are retired there, who live on their boat 365 days (lucky buggers) - so we hope to get out with them for a least one day of sailing - if not - I'll use my Canadian/British charm to win over someone to let us crew for them!!

Dan - I just commented on your story - and then came to check on your background. We're pretty similar in what we used to do prior to getting our first sailboat 5 years ago (BTW, in Algonquin we used to take our aluminum boat to the interior, what a slice of heaven that was, even with the serenading mosquitoes at night).
BTW, you don't know Shawn or Darlene Fadden in Rochester? We come out your way quite a bit (Montreal is only a 6 hour drive away). Also have friend in Seneca Falls. Small world huh?
Right now we're in the process of getting ready for retirement - do we keep the house - or sell it - and get a big boat that is ocean worthy. We're presently selling our Catalina 25, I am reluctant about letting her go, as she's a sweet sailing boat, but alas hubby (Mike) wants bigger boat. I've compromised with going to a 30', no bigger. Also don't want a deep draft (currently 4'). We like to tuck into places to anchor that allow us to do this with the our keel. Anyway, wish us luck in selling our Fat Cat (secretly I hope we don't sell it as I would love to keep her and the new one). If you know of anyone wanting a good deal of a 1985 Catalina - you know who to ask (tho' we did ask a few friends of our in Rochester, but docking charges are REALLY high out your way compared to what we pay in Canada - we are at a volunteer yacht club just west of Cornwall, Ontario).

Perusing Yachtworld...... drool factor on this one... http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/photoGallery.jsp?ro=9&slim=quicknull&r=2124926&checked_boats=2124926&rs=yachtworld.com&boat_id=2124926&back=/core/boats/1987/Bayfield-36c-Cutter-2124926/Gananoque/Canada&boat_id=2124926

Sounds like a plan Dan...hope to meet you then.

So, when do you plan to come to Myrtle Beach?

Dan
I was reading some of the comments in chat this morning. I saw where you mentioned the liveaboard laws in Georgia. When I had my trawler, I was a liveaboard and moved it around from Mississippi up to Savannah. This was in 06. I didn't realize it until I got there that the state of Georgia didn't allow liveaboards, anywhere in the state. The deal is, it's one of those state laws that they enforce when it suits them. I lived there at Bull River Marina for 6 months. I was told by the owner that if I were ever asked, I was just passing through. You just didn't broadcast the fact that you were living living on your boat in the state.
As for Jeykle Island? I think you would be dissapointed if you decided to stay there. I motored down from Savannah and spent a little time there. Not only is the boating around there not all that good, the water is very dirty and it's very shallow, as is all the ICW waters in Georgia. Jekyle Island is a very high end place to live. Unless ofcourse you can afford it. Across the bay in Brunswick, the city marina is pretty nice and pretty cheap. I've been there twice. There isn't much to the town of Brunswick though. Once you get past Jekyle and closer to Florida, the water gets deeper and there's more to see and due. Personally, I like the St. Augistine area if I was looking to stay in NE., Florida.
I'm back in the Biloxi, Ms. area now and will probably stay, unless we get another Katrina like storm.
Let me know if you have any questions about the ICW from Savannah to New Orleans. I"ve been down here for several years now and have seen a lot.
Have fun
Chuck
c-bee

Ahoy Dan, From the photo you posted, you seem to have the same jib deck bag the we used on our Coronado 27.

Can't remember now what town it was in. It wasn't red..was white with red canvas and wood like amber..lol. I think the red one was for sale at the same time..maybe same area. Remember seeing that one on Yachtworld...was less $$$ I think. The one I liked was 14,900 if I remember correctly. There's a 40 something Bayfield at my marina on the hard...just sitting there uncovered for 5 years so far I think..older guy won't sell..just rotting away..facing the bay..very sad.