Mullet Key Bayou Cruise The Long Story

After some viewers asked on why the movie is so long and the blog is so short it is time to make a short story long.  So here is the famous or not so Mullet Key Bayou Cruise- The Long Story for your edification.
Keep those cards and letters coming!

After several unsuccessful attempts at aligning the moon and the stars, not to mention tropical storms, three boats all captained by crews who are old enough to know better set off one hot day in July for a cruise from our home port in Gulfport Florida through Pass-A-Grille Channel into the Gulf of Mexico heading south to Bunce’s Pass bound for Mullet Key Bayou.home of  Ft Desoto.

Ft Desoto - No Wake Zone Enforcement Squad 

Not an epic journey perhaps, nonetheless a Google Earth photo taken at the entrance to Bunce’s Pass featured a nicely found sailboat heeled over on the beach without the slightest trace of water to be found.    Bunce’s Pass, you must understand is not maintained nor does it feature markers.  Water depths vary from Heron Knees to Davie’s Locker in scarce a beam width.     

Of the three participants, Miandros, HideAway, and Smooth Sailing, only the shallowest draft boat, HideAway at 28 inches had an electric depth finder.  Miandros used her handy lead line while Smooth Sailing took soundings several times with her always dependable keel.    While all three depth finding methods are accurate some have less desirable outcomes than others.

Sailing HideAway's Course Plot

Sailing a course of 215m from Pass-A-Grille channel marker 7A  HideAway tacked towards Bunce’s Pass north shore when the Ft Desoto Park water tower was 120m.  Depths of 12 -15 feet abounded.  The north tower of the Skyway Bridge framed the channel’s entrance as we closed on the shoreline.   

A radio broadcast from Miandros called us back to lead the rest of the fleet in.   In the process the HideAways somehow employed a five year old way point that put us well south of the new channel in 4 feet of water.  Not cause for great alarm but we ended up showing the rest of the fleet good places not to go rather than a good path to nirvana.   Eventually the best navigational aides proved to be fishing boats anchored on the edge of the channel, larger power boats coming out and the bright green color of the water.

Once you are past the beach the channel is marked but be advised the depth of the water on the marker’s northern edge is more suited to fiddler crabs than sailboats. No mistakes are allowed.   HideAway experienced a main sail malfunction that required a stop over at the Ft Desoto boat ramp and those wonderful floating docks while the rest of the fleet searched the southern reaches of the bayou for the best anchorage.  The channel going into Mullet Key Bayou is well marked and at pretty high tide is 6-8 feet deep.  Miandros, the largest of the three became the anchor boat with Smooth Sailing rafted to starboard and HideAway to port.   The waters around the point are 8 feet at high tide in a large area.  The crews rested during the hot afternoon.  The coolest place on HideAway proved to be below decks in the wind-sock cooled breeze.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge viewed from Mullet Key Bayou

Story telling and snacking had hardly begun when Dan, the best weatherman around, announced that we had two minutes to leave the raft and maybe another five to drop the hook as far away as possible.  Dan noticed that the big US flag flying at the park’s entrance had changed directions indicating to him a tempestuous wind was close at hand. 

We barely had our anchor set when the severe storm covered the bayou with two and three foot breakers. (See the video “Small Boat Big Storm on the Sailing HideAway You Tube channel). The rigging howled, the rain pelted and HideAway did a rock and roll dance to make any hippie proud.  Eventually the storm passed and the rain cooled air provided a treat for the adventurers.  After building the second raft, story telling went on well into the night with much joy and laughter; a proper sailor’s party at a great gunkhole.

The morning brought with it a forecast grimmer than the previous day.  Instead of waiting for the afternoon tide as planned, the crews decided to risk low tide to beat the coming storms.  HideAway lead the way, but unaccustomed to following channel markers was forced to make an abrupt course change as her rudder smelled the bottom and a green marker appeared to starboard. Miandros steamed straight down the middle of the channel followed closely by Smooth Sailing.  Moments later Steve declared his depth finder – the keel mounted one – had found the bottom.  

The Great Mullet Key Bayou Pocket Cruise

MULLET KEY, TAMPA BAY FLORIDA 

Mullet Key, home of Ft Desoto Park at the entrance to Tampa Bay is usually found by land yacht however it is much more interesting to approach from the Gulf of Mexico using Bunce's Pass.

Sounds simple, however the channel is unmarked, not maintained and has shallows ready to snag your keel. A distant water tower the only navigational reference. Add in some choppy seas, challenging sun angle, a recent tropical storm that rearranged the channel and your depth finder becomes your best friend.

The Great Mullet Spirit

Of the three boats on this gunkhole cruise only HideAway, the boat with the shallowest draft, had an electric depth finder.  Another used a lead line and the other their keel. All three methods are accurate however the side effects of some methods are less desirable than others.  Of course the Great Mullet Spirit who loves to roil up the bayou as it hangs on to your keel must be entertained or he'll never let you leave.  But then again, who'd want to?

Sailing HideAway Mullet Key Bayou, Tampa Bay Florida

It was a great gunkhole cruise that included a severe storm, an escape from it's brothers at low tide and the drama of the unknown --

Come join us as we navigate the tricky waters of Bunce's Pass at the mouth of Tampa Bay

See also "Small Compac Sailboat Big Storm" another video from the same cruise.

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Summer Sans Sail Sailing Story- {so sorry}

The storm, Isaac, has passed without causing ill effects for HideAway yet others further north were not as lucky.  As often happens, storms on Isaac's course tend to veer to the northwest unless a cold front drops down  to push it onto the west coast of Florida.  There are always a few anxious days as we wait for the storm move away knowing that some day one will tack to starboard with dramatic effect.

Meanwhile HideAway, stripped of her sails, sits on her trailer like a bug caught in a spider's web of tie down lines. It is one thing to have a fully found sailing vessel that you choose not to sail at this moment and quite another having a fine vessel sitting decommissioned unable to raise sail.

In a place where sailing is a year around sport the idea of placing the boat out of commission for a month should not be an issue. 

Even though we have sailed every month of the year more than once I would be hard pressed to brag that we sailed them all in chronological order during a single year. The reality of work and other events of the average life place harsh limits on time spent messing about on things that float. 

This time of year the fun of boat projects melt in the brutal Florida summer heat and the friendly sea breeze has all the charm of a blast furnace. Still, to be completely land bound, unable to feel the boat heel into the wind on a bright sunny day is more difficult than I would have thought. 

True, the reason for my predicament is honorable, a new double reef, loose foot main sail is at this very moment being sewed together by JSI/Doyle sail makers in St Petersburg.  I’m sure they are working day and night on such an important project.  It’s my fantasy, OK!

Sailing HideAway-St Pete Beach Fl

It won't be long now.  HideAway will be back sailing the low seas.  Yes not long, I'm sure.

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

HideAway Prepares for Hurricane Isaac

National Hurricane Center Hurricane Isaac

No longer in the Cone of Uncertainty, the designated space where Hurricane Isaac's eye may pass, West Florida and the Tampa Bay area looks safe from the big storm and except for that pesky blue line denoting a Tropical Storm Warning, life is good.   The experienced sailor knows this concept contains less truth than the average political advertisement.

Isaac has a Beam of 200 Miles 

The very best time to prepare for the inevitable is when the sky is blue.  If you wait until the sky is black and you notice it is hard to walk against the wind and your exposed body parts sting from the rain, the need to prepare for the storm has passed.

Auger Tie Down Four Per Boat

Saturday found the capt at the Gulfport Florida City Marina tying up loose ends as it were. HideAway sits majestically on her trailer held to the ground by auger tie downs provided by the marina.  Preparations include making sure the trailer wheels were blocked and doubling the lines.  Below deck chores include buttoning down all ports and finding places to put on deck items- solar panels and such..

HideAway Waiting for Isaac

The Admiral insisted the capt make a photo record to show the insurance agent should a worst case scenario develop thus the video below documents our hurricane procedures.  Although you may find them helpful your results may vary. For that matter you may see a blank space where HideAway used to be in the next blog.  Stay tuned....

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Small Boat Air Conditioning the Natural Way

By the time July rolls around in Gulfport Florida the thought of cruising to a secluded gunkhole somewhere is not the first thing that comes to mind.

Sure, if you have a large boat equipped with an air conditioner you can waddle over to a marina, jump in the pool - northern folks call these things hot tubs I believe - to get wet and hope the sea breeze cools you off a bit before you call it a day and retreat to conditioned air.
.

HideAway's Natural Air Conditioner 

 If you're lucky you have a small  boat like HideAway, a Compac 23, with a Swing From the Hook Natural Air Conditioning System.  On a very hot day the wind scoop may not provide relief.

HideAway's Natural AC Set on HIGH

Fortunately, another method is readily available to the Florida Summer Sailor.  It requires little set up and is far more exciting than a dip in a hot pool.

Notice how calm and serene this scene is - Then have a look at the video below shot minutes later!

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

GOT CRABS? A Sea Pearl Story

In our Sea Pearl days too many years ago, our hands down favorite place to sail was the area north of Ft Desoto park at the mouth of Tampa Bay.   Often we'd let the boat sail itself from the boat ramp to the shallows across Bunces Pass until it ran aground among the myriad of Mangrove islands that populate the area.  One of my adult children reminisced  that the Capt's cure for running aground was to make crew members leave the boat one at a time until flotation was achieved.  This is not as bad as it sounds since the Magic Pearl drew all of eight inches or so.


One of our efforts to use the Magic Pearl for an over night cruise found us aground at sunset near a large barrier island near the Gulf Of Mexico.  We dropped an anchor over the bow and ran ashore, without benefit of a flashlight, to catch the last of the sunset .   Returning after dark on a moonless night had us wishing we'd at least lit the anchor light.

Our Magic Pearl had disappeared in the darkness.  So did everything else.  

As we walked bare foot along the shallows of a large beach we could hear what sounded like silverware clinking.  We could not place the direction of the sound, but it was very close.   We stopped and it stopped.  The two of us stood in the pitch black darkness completely befuddled.  Suddenly Linda, who is not known for this behavior,  let let out a shriek and ran in the general direction of where the boat might be.

I felt them a moment later.  Unseen  wild creatures with lots of legs were scampering over my bare feet. While I won't admit to a shriek, we eventually ran into the boat from which I grabbed a flashlight and returned to the scene.

At first I couldn't process why the ground seemed to be moving away from me.  In an instant I discovered the silverware symphony came from thousands upon thousands of Fiddler crabs snapping their huge claws as they tried to get out of my way.  If I stopped and especially if I had turned off the flashlight, they would return to crawl all over my still naked feet.

Fiddler Crabs On the Move!

Earlier this year found us encamped near the Lower Suwannee river hiking the many trails in the area.  After crossing a foot bridge to an island we found a wood bench near the seldom traveled back waters begging for company.  As we sat there awhile we realized the waters edge was literally crawling with Fiddler crabs.

At that my friends was the inspiration of the movie:

Wild Beach Camping or Why I Like My Compac 23 Cabin

Yes it's cheesy but it was a lot of fun in the making!   

Next time back to sailing "Weathering the Gunkhole Storm"

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Eastport Pram Sailing Conversion - The Hard Way

HideAway Pram  St Pete Beach Florida

Back in 2002 we acquired an Eastport Pram kit from Chesapeake Light Craft as a tender for HideAway.  We had no intention of sailing the dink.  Then one fine day the folks at CLC brought all their boats to our part of the world.  We tried a few kayaks then started on the sailboats.  I noticed the Eastport Pram on the beach begging me for a sail.  It was not a long time before I discovered the pram sails as well as it rows and  with none of the effort.  I was instantly hooked.

A fellow sailor who had enough of my babbling about the sailing pram gave me an old rig as more of a dare, I think, than a polite suggestion to shut up or put up.  More time passed until I happened upon the plans for the pram hiding in a long forgotten place.

Yeah, I know that's not how the dagger board looks on the plans  

 If you know how to read plans it is easy to trace the full scale drawings onto plywood and cut them out.   It's a bit harder if you don't notice the difference between millimeters and inches.  'Course then you wouldn't have a spare dagger board and rudder like the author. 


Some modification is still needed to the donated rig.  Who, besides me, needs a gooseneck when you have a bit of electrical wire and a couple of non stainless steel plates?

Yes that's electrical wire and a couple of metal plates

OK a lot of modifications will need to be made.  It has to be easier to make a new mast rather than scarfing on a couple of feet to prevent the ever painful boom-whacking-noggin incident. Not to mention that the existing mast is too skinny to fit the deck hole step.  If the dink had a mast step that is.

I'm sure you have realized by now, as have I, that the step hole for the mast bears little resemblance to the American way of measuring wood.   There is not really enough space to enlarge the existing hole and maintain the designed strength.  The good news is I'll likely get a new block plane out of the deal as I shave 3/8 INCHES off the last eight INCHES of the new mast.

Mighty handsome rudder & tiller construction don't you agree?  The answer is - Yes by the way!

We spent an entire Saturday afternoon unraveling the mystery of the rigging.  The process involved many trips to the Internet and at one point taking photos of the screen then running outside to compare with reality as we understood it. 

We believe this to be the correct rig setup

 The HideAways did eventually discover the correct configuration.  The lines in the foreground were determined to be the standing rigging of the former craft.  I bet that was interesting!

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA !

It was a lazy day for the HideAways Saturday. It was the first sailing day after Tropical Storm Debby wrought havoc in our part of the world.  Relieved that we had escaped unharmed or damaged we took our time recommissioning HideAway, our Compac 23 sailboat.  The afternoon sea breeze had set in but we chose to anchor for a leisurely lunch and a nap.  Later, after sailing off the anchor across Boca Ciega Bay listening to WMNF 88.5 Community Radio in Tampa spin 50s era platters, I craned my neck around the bimini to check the mainsail set and noticed our large American flag flying off the back stay framed against a clear blue sky

Trading the tiller for my camera I started shooting this video when the music stopped for a moment and suddenly The Star Spangled Banner, sung a cappella, reached over the air ways.  Neither of us could speak when it ended. 

Unfortunately the combination of wind and bad reception ruined the original audio but my good friends at UTube stepped in with this rendition.   A special day for the HideAways on Boca Ciega Bay near Gulfport Florida. 

The Great Mullet Key Cruise

Mullet Key Ft Desoto Florida Tampa Bay 

Mullet key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay on the north edge of the Mullet Key Shipping Channel. Mullet Key is home to Ft Desoto Park with its cannons hidden behind tall concrete abutments along its western shore in defense of Mullet instead of the Spanish these days.

Even though Ft Desoto is one of the most popular parks in Pinellas County, Mullet Key proper is a place of heart stopping beauty and serenity. In 2001, I believe it was, the North Shore of Ft Desoto Park was judged best in the known world by Dr Leatherman. It shares this distinction with Caladesi Island State Park 30 miles or so north just offshore from Dunedin Fl. Both are highly prized by the HideAways as sailing and in the case of Ft Desoto, beach camping destinations.

The entrance to Mullet Key from the Gulf of Mexico is via an unmarked channel surrounded by Heron Knee Water that extends half a mile or so off shore known as Bunce’s Pass. Navigation of the pass varies each day to the whims of afternoon sea breeze storms, not to mention the rare hurricane or not so rare tropical storm.

In preparation for the cruise HideAway’s Capt. surveyed the channel using a two year old Google Earth image, duly noting that one photo of the entrance to Bunce’s Pass featured a large sailboat firmly aground on a vast beach without a single drop of water in sight.

Bunce's Pass Looking Toward Gulf of Mexico

If you are as unfortunate as to catch Bunce’s Pass in a bad mood the combination of tide and wind can produce, for your afternoons’ sailing enjoyment, 6 foot seas with a short fetch in an unmaintained and uncharted rather narrow channel. No wonder few large cruising sailboats call at this secluded tropical gunkhole.


On Tuesday night last, a group of renegades from the usual marina sailors met at Boca Ciega Yacht Club in Gulfport Fl to discuss strategy. Of the three boats in attendance HideAway, a Compac 23 would be the smallest and the only boat equipped with a nearly modern electric depth finding device and a mostly burned out GPS. Thus HideAway would take the lead with the others, a 26 foot something or other and the largest, a Pearson Wanderer, following. The fact that HideAway has the shallowest draft at 28 inches was over shadowed by the ownership of the electric depth finder without considering that navigation would really consist of bearings from a water tower, past excursions, and a change of sea color.

Thus plans were made, courses plotted, tides observed and rendezvous chosen. Someone added Debby as a possible addition to his crew list but no one paid much attention to the change.

As I write this in the dark, Debby is busy trimming my trees, flooding my street and yard and otherwise throwing a major hissy fit that I fear will prove costly to many.

Tropical Storm Debby - Which Way Will She Go?

Since the hurricane center is convinced that Tropical Storm Debby will head west ignoring the most reliable models that suggest a Florida landfall a nervous night is in store for everyone including the flooded city of Gulfport.


Yesterday we left HideAway spider webbed to the ground in her dry slip prepared for a level one storm event. Meanwhile work continues between power outages on HideAways’ dink sailing conversion.

The Great Mullet Key Cruise will wait for more favorable weather.

HideAway's  Dink Sailing Conversion Under Way

SMALL BOATS ROCK!



The Ladder of Success

 The odd thing about sailors, OK. One of the odd things about sailors is that we often disregard the knowledge and skills of somebody who went to school a long time and no doubt spent his entire career figuring out what works best on the very boat you own.


Still, making modifications to sailboats for good or questionable result is at the very heart of the sport. Besides wandering through a boatyard looking for new ideas is as close to a mystical experience any of us are likely to have. 




Custom Rudder Compac 23

 

Custom Rudder Compac 23





There have been of posts on the Compac Owners Association website recently about making a better rudder. However this interesting invention was overlooked.

The real purpose had more to do with the wheel steering system on this Compac 23 rather  than rudder art.  Somehow the idea of wheel steering on a Compac 23 and this particular rudder setup seem made for each other.

When building the trailer for HideAway I used 2 x 6 guide on boards set tall to catch the keel at the earliest possible moment.   The system keeps the boat centered in a cross wind and makes loading easier.  Sometimes an unfortunate gust of wind or my inattention would bring HideAway on the wrong side of the guides adding another scar to the keel.

Clearly sharper minds were at work to produce not one, but two versions of the Bounce & Glide Keel Guide

Made from what looks to be plastic drain pipe and held on with galvanized through bolts this guide will keep you centered in the universe of your understanding without much separation of boat dollars and your wallet.

In this deluxe example wood is carpet wrapped and held in place by a complicated but sturdy frame of Schedule 40 plastic drain pipe for a gouge free keel.  Note the new rollers for ease of loading.  Oh, the decadence.

You see sailing is as much about the tug of the wind in your sails as the discovery of a new approach to an old problem. You're a Sailor-man & Tinkerer Too!

SMALL BOATS ROCK!