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Another Keys Story

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/09/2003 : 08:34:33

Sometimes southerners start a story with "Now you aren't going to believe this...." Even though I live in the south, I don't consider myself a southerner, but, you aren't going to believe this story.

While on my shakedown trip to the Keys in February I spent some time in and out of La Siesta Marina, used to be Matecumbe Marina until they sold out to a local resort. This is the friendliest marina in the Keys that I know of, and the handiest for a trailer sailor to use, but that's another story. We would come in every few days to replenish beer, ice, beer, food, beer etc. One day we came in and there was a 65 foot sport fisherman parked in this small marina. Really out of place, and the other folks said that it barely made it into the marina as the channels are tight, and shallow. The boat was based in Alabama. There were three people on the boat, owner, owner's lady friend, and a captain. Being the friendly sort that I am I was talking with the owner, and he asked me where did we spend our nights. I told him we would anchor out, or stay on a mooring ball by one of the islands. He asked "How could you stay on that boat without air conditioning?" I was dumbfounded (my usual dumbness of course) I had to explain that it is rather pleasant at night in the Keys in February, cool temps, no bugs, etc. He couldn't accept that. Of course, they did not stay on their 65 foot brand new huge sport fisherman at night, they checked into a local motel. I also wondered why a sport fisherman this size doesn't have a fighting chair, or any chairs for that matter, or any signs of fishing poles.
When his lady friend came over to look at my little 25 she was telling us that it looks like fun, and would like to try sailing. The owner came over, gave me a really stern look, and told her she had to leave immediately.
After they all left, I heard a sizzling sound, looked up, and the electrical adapter they had in the outlet plugged into the socket next to my slip (so Icouldn't use electricity if I wanted to) started shooting flames out so I jumped up and kicked it out of the outlet. Then I noticed that their combiner/adapter (or whatever you call that thing which enables you to combine two 110 outlets to make 220) started smoking so I kicked out the other leg of this setup. I figured that now I am in big trouble. I found the guy who runs the marina (a guy named Jim, who is a university of Tennesse law school graduate, and the nicest guy you would ever want to meet) He thanked me profusely for my quick action. The outlet adapter was his own, and now it was toast. (couldn't these folks afford their own?)

See, I told you you wouldn't believe this.

So, if you are going to trailer your 25 to the keys, go to La Siesta Marina, at mile marker 80.5 they charge 37 per night to slip your C25, 15 to launch, and only 5 bucks per day to store your trailer and truck, this fee is waived if you are in a slip. You can't beat that at all. Very few places will let you park your vehicle in the keys as land is at a premium. There is a great breakfast bakery/restaurant one block away. They have bicycles you can borrow if you want to go a half mile down the bikie path to Lorelei, one of the best places to eat, have your favorite beverage, and watch the sunset on their docks, or even their beach, which has tables set up.
I'll be back there next February. I hope I don't see any 65 foot sport fisherman.

More stories to come. Kind of like a cheap pulp fiction novel. No no, not like the movie.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2003 : 12:15:02

Well written, Frank. Keep them coming!
-- Leon Sisson

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2003 : 13:28:09

You're not going to believe this Frank but reading of your exploits in the Keys was almost as good as being there, having been there.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>, wishing I was still there<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>, especially significant being frozen in on the hard DAGNABIT
Val

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2003 : 16:03:41

He has a new 65' boat in the Florida Keys and goes to stay in a motel. Go figure.

He doesn't know what he's missing. The best nights sleep I've ever had have been afloat... in or out of the marina. Just something about the motion and sound of the water.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2003 : 00:58:28

Frank - I'm glad you got to do your shakedown cruise before gas prices skyrocket any higher. Today I got an e-mail from the Cruising coordinator of my sailing club saying that our big summer cruise to the San Juan/Gulf Islands is probably going to be cancelled. The trailering distance from here to the launch point (Bellingham, WA) is about 1900 miles round trip, and the feeling amongst our club members is that if gas is going to be much more than about $2.20 a gallon, most of the people that had signed up for the cruise are going to bail out. Our regular monthly meeting is next Thursday night, and we will discuss cancelling, or moving to a closer venue, San Francisco Bay, maybe. Since I grew up in San Francisco, spending my vacation there doesn't seem very "special", although the sailing in the summer months is first-rate.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2003 : 08:13:02

Larry,

Gas prices went up about 20 cents over the 2 1/2 week span between going and coming back. I traveled 1000 miles each way. I got 10 mpg pulling that big beast behind me.

Next time I'll call Scotty

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 15:51:04

Mmmmmm Frank:

If I remember correctly you said something about being a Gator and now you reporet that you found a <font size=6>NICE</font id=size6> UT Law school guy in the Keys? Mmmmmm?

Seriously I'm enjoying your stories and look forward to more. thanks for sharing them with us'all.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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