Another Florida Summer Roundup

[sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Oh, ok. I'm starting to get anxious..

I posted a few questions on your thread, 12vMan, a couple days ago.....Where ya at?????

Good day to ya.

PS: that little anxious guy is cool!

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

I get goose bumps every time I hear Caicos and Turks. We officially retire on December 7 and head for the intracostal on January 1. We Google Earth everyday to study the keys and beyond. I hope you guys will stay track of us and meet up with us as we travel south. We are newbies as you all know and are looking forward to our new lifestyle and making lots of new friends. I will continue to follow you all, too. Stay Green-
First Mate Carole and Captain Skip.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Keep us posted on your voyage. The coast is only 30 minutes away. All we need is another excuse for a get together!!

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

We are Texas bound on 10/19-23..

I need to know if a passport is required as I don't have one and don't know how long it takes to get one, but I can look into it.

If they had their way, yeah, you'd need a passport. As of now, Texas is still one of the fifty United States of America... So, no, you won't need a passport at this point.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

I get goose bumps every time I hear Caicos and Turks. We officially retire on December 7 and head for the intracostal on January 1. We Google Earth everyday to study the keys and beyond. I hope you guys will stay track of us and meet up with us as we travel south. We are newbies as you all know and are looking forward to our new lifestyle and making lots of new friends. I will continue to follow you all, too. Stay Green-
First Mate Carole and Captain Skip.

Right around the corner!!! I'm sure I can safely speak for all of us when I say that we wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, and fun filled retirement.

It was really nice meeting you and "Skipper Skip". hope to see you guys at the next get together.

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Thanks Veritus and all. We got a couple of 18 speed trail bikes so we can sell the car anytime after 12-11. When one of my dock neighbors saw them she said they would last maybe a month after we got on the salt water. Any views or experience on that? Will W-D 30 keep the metal from rusting? That is if we keep them. We trying to learn to ride them before we make that decision. What a Hoot!!!!!! I barely reach the ground with my toes to steady the 20" and Skip ended up with the purple girls' model! We may have to spring for the folding 3-wheeler we were looking at in the first place or drink more before practicing.
Oh well..Stay Green - Ambulance chaser and medic wannabee

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Thanks Veritus and all. We got a couple of 18 speed trail bikes so we can sell the car anytime after 12-11. When one of my dock neighbors saw them she said they would last maybe a month after we got on the salt water. Any views or experience on that? Will W-D 30 keep the metal from rusting? That is if we keep them. We trying to learn to ride them before we make that decision. What a Hoot!!!!!! I barely reach the ground with my toes to steady the 20" and Skip ended up with the purple girls' model! We may have to spring for the folding 3-wheeler we were looking at in the first place or drink more before practicing.
Oh well..Stay Green - Ambulance chaser and medic wannabee

If you use WD-40, you'll have to spray all unpainted metal just about every day around salt water. If you use a heavier oil, you'll be able to go a few days between oiling. Either way, you'll need to look the bikes over pretty much every day, and take care of any little rust spots which will show up here and there. About every week or two, wipe off the oil and reapply. As long as the bikes stay well oiled, and you catch the rust spots quickly, it will be simple surface rust which will pretty much just wipe right off. If you allow it to take hold, though, it will quickly begin to break down the metal. Watch the aluminum alloy parts for corrosion. This will start off as tiny little rough, white spots. Treat it the same way you do the rust spots. If your willing to dedicate 5 minutes per day, every day, your bikes should last a long time. You'll just need to be diligent about it... Kinda like maintaining a boat.

Good "hearing" from you. Hope you guys are having the greatest vacation of your lives!!! That's what retirement should be.

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Where has everybidy gone to? I miss seeing new posts. Is there another thread to check out? We thought maybe we could get together in January to say goodbye for the winter or find out where everybody else is going to be. Somebody let me know, OK?
Later and stay green.

First mate Carole and Skipper Skip

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Not a lot of posting going on. Looking at the main forum boards, it's all the same questions that have been answered 1000 times already. seems to be getting monotonous..."what boat shoud I buy"..."What's the best paint to use"...How do I winterize"...yadda, yadda, yadda. Just wish something new would happen...

Getting close to your retirement date! When do you plan on leaving for the first leg of your trip?

 

[sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

I will be hanging out on the Waterway, Mate. Give me a shout!

I traveled with a bicycle for years to the Carib. They are a "must have" as far as I'm concerned. I broke mine down and kept her in the engine room. Sometimes I kept it in the cockpit with a BBQ gril cover over her. I always used T-9 Boeshield for protection. My first bike had a steel frame and held up pretty well, then I went aluminium.

Here she is, loaded for a 4 day trip.

Good Luck....hope to see ya' soon.

Mike

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Thanks for the info on the bike oil and storage,Sasto. Mike, everytime someone asks us when we're leaving the time gets shorter. We're both having a hard time sticking to our list of checks and double checks. 1.We have to sell the car. 2. We are scheduled to have her pulled out and the shafts packed and zincs checked on December 14. (Skip retires on December 11.) He will rest a day, hahaha. then start checking oil, filters, zincs etc in the engine room. I have been canning meat and stocking the cupboards so we won't worry about adjusting to SS, hahahaha. I want to spend New Years Eve dancing on the back deck (naked) under the stars in our little cove off the river a couple of hours from here. I think that would be a definite start to a new life. We'll see if we hold out that long.
Stay in touch. and chck out my catfish!View attachment 123538View attachment 123539
Later and stay Green
First mate Carole and Skipper Skip

 

[sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

All good to hear, Skipper and Mate, especially New Years Eve.

The marina here is becoming full for the winter. Speaking if zincs...I've been diving all week replacing zincs here, and have many more to go. I kinda got suckered into it. I do my own, but the diver that usually works this area became ill and I got nominated.

If your headed to the Islands I can give some advice on dealing with Customs and Immigration. Not a big deal. There are some things you may want to take with you that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

Take your time and enjoy yourself!

 

[sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

All good to hear, Skipper and Mate, especially New Years Eve.

The marina here is becoming full for the winter. Speaking if zincs...I've been diving all week replacing zincs here, and have many more to go. I kinda got suckered into it. I do my own, but the diver that usually works this area became ill and I got nominated.

If your headed to the Islands I can give some advice on dealing with Customs and Immigration. Not a big deal. There are some things you may want to take with you that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

Take your time and enjoy yourself!

 

[mrs sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

I am big time jealous of you two! However, your time is well deserved. We will just have to live vicariously through you for awhile! May all of your travels be blessed and your dreams come true. By the way.....your News Years Plans sound awesome! I think Sasto may just find himself doing the same....with a glass of champagne and me! Enjoy!!

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Who's bad?! Tee Hee!
Are you guys still at Nettles Island? I get mixed up on who is saying what on this thread but I thought you were going to the Camens or somewhere with a new job? If you are on our way we will certainly stop over. Maybe Fireman and some of the others will use it as an excuse to celebrate one more time this year. That would be awesome!
My new grill has been shipped, the new anchor chain should arrive any day now and pay day is Friday so we get our ice maker, solar shower bags, Dr. appointments and a year's RXs filled, fishing licenses and boat registrations. (which ticks me off. We documented the Home Stone only to find out Florida wants the boat registered too. blood succkers!) Anyway, so be it. Wills are being drafted and documents copied for the ditch bag. Wow, I get tired just keeping track. Gotta love it.

can't wait to relax with new friends.
Later, Stay Green
First Mate Carole and Skipper Skip

View attachment 123749View attachment 123750
ps I am reposting the pics of my catfish because I think maybe they didn't come through.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Fireman?!?! Celebrate?!?!...someone's perked my interest!!!

Yes...count us in...where ever...when ever...


OK...Here's my thought...stay with me...

A one day celebration in Jax for Skip/Carole's retirement....

then...

A celebration when they hit the Keys for their safe arrival....juss thinkin' out loud....

 

[coolguy147]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

hello.

 

[First Mate Carole]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Hello,hello,helloooo, (echo). I feel so lonely and left out. anyway, I need help. We had our boat hauled out of the water yesterday to have the shafts packed. (That's the first question. We thought it could be done in the water without sinking.) They guy spend an hour not doing it because the only tool I saw was an 18" pipe wrench and of course there was no room for it. Then they wanted $1000.00 and two days to clean out the black water holding tank, remove the vacuum tank and motor muffler hose to try to get the shaft nut off. ??? Of course we said put it back in the water. Even I knew he didn't have room to use a wrench like that. We were told he didn't touch the nut, but scraches and being up all night pumping out the bilge tells a different story. Anybody know anybody around Sanford (other than Boat Tree Marina) that packs shafts? We will be fixing the auto part of the bilge pump so we can at least get some sleep, and getting tools together for the nut and maybe getting some new packing rope that is more modern than flax (which is what the original product was). any body tried GFO fiber? So I will hang around this mail today and hope to hear from someone.

 

[sasto]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

They sell a special wrench for that packing nut....and it's a short one. That nut should come off easily. I always do it in the water.

Start a new thread under Boat topics, Carol, you will have better luck there. I'll be looking for it.

PS: I would be glad to help you on this thread, I just think another thread would be more helpful in the long run......talk to ya soon!

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Another Florida Summer Roundup

Sent you a PM. I have a couple folks that might be able to help.