Trawler Blogs

Saturday, 12-27-2014: Low tide was at 11:15 this morning so we got going about 09:00 to get ahead of it. We had 9 bridges today but only had to have 3 of them opened. It saves us a lot of time by putting our large antenna down so we can make it under 22′ bridge clearances rather than 29′. It was a beautiful, sunny day and 75 degrees. Being a Saturday, it brought a lot of weekend boaters out and the waterway was pretty busy. Keith did most of the driving because of all the traffic and also the water was really shallow most of the day. I get too stressed out when the depth alarm keeps going off. Thank you Keith for driving all day.

We got to our anchorage by 14:00, put out 50 feet of anchor rode in about 4 to 5′ of water.. We have stopped here many times in the past and were always alone in this anchorage. Today there was another boat anchored already; a Gold Looper from Punta Gorda. About an hour later, another boater came in, this one was in the process of doing the loop and was from Portsmouth, NH. During the afternoon, several day boaters came in and out of the anchorage.

CO’s comment: Here we are in a 54′ boat, drawing 5′ of water with only 2′ under the keel. People are waving at us to get out of the channel so they can drive their 16′ boats down the center; unbelievable. I was ready to use my horn several times but I knew the XO would get upset so I didn’t. I guess they do not know that larger vessels have the right-of-way?. Once, several years ago, we said we would never travel on the weekend; guess that went by the wayside.

12-27-2014: Cape Haze anchorage, a busy place today.

Saturday, 12-27-2014: Low tide was at 11:15 this morning so we got going about 09:00 to get ahead of it. We had 9 bridges today but only had to have 3 of them opened. It saves us a lot of time by putting our large antenna down so we can make it under 22′ bridge clearances rather than 29′. It was a beautiful, sunny day and 75 degrees. Being a Saturday, it brought a lot of weekend boaters out and the waterway was pretty busy. Keith did most of the driving because of all the traffic and also the water was really shallow most of the day. I get too stressed out when the depth alarm keeps going off. Thank you Keith for driving all day.

We got to our anchorage by 14:00, put out 50 feet of anchor rode in about 4 to 5′ of water.. We have stopped here many times in the past and were always alone in this anchorage. Today there was another boat anchored already; a Gold Looper from Punta Gorda. About an hour later, another boater came in, this one was in the process of doing the loop and was from Portsmouth, NH. During the afternoon, several day boaters came in and out of the anchorage.

CO’s comment: Here we are in a 54′ boat, drawing 5′ of water with only 2′ under the keel. People are waving at us to get out of the channel so they can drive their 16′ boats down the center; unbelievable. I was ready to use my horn several times but I knew the XO would get upset so I didn’t. I guess they do not know that larger vessels have the right-of-way?. Once, several years ago, we said we would never travel on the weekend; guess that went by the wayside.

12-27-2014: Cape Haze anchorage, a busy place today.

Friday, 12-26-2014: We had a 5 hours day planned with at least 5 bridge opening so after staying a second day at Longboat Key we got going this morning by 10:00. The tide was just starting to come up and we had some very skinny water for a while. Sarasota Bay had a light chop and was shallow; 4 to 5 feet most the way. By 11:30 we decided to stop early as we were in no hurry. This way we would not have to worry about getting to our anchorage before dark. We anchored by the Ringling Causeway bridge in Sarasota in about 6′ of water just adjacent to the Bait Shop. We tried this anchorage last spring for the first time and it worked well for just an over night.

CO’s comment:  The only downside to this anchorage is all the boat traffic; it is rock and roll all afternoon.

12-25-2014: Kim Jo IV at Longboat Key

12-25-2014: Moore’s restaurant

12-25-2014: Sun Set at Longboat Key

12-26-2014:  Our Sarasota anchorage; lots of building going on here, Ringling Causeway Bridge, and the Bate Shop

Friday, 12-26-2014: We had a 5 hours day planned with at least 5 bridge opening so after staying a second day at Longboat Key we got going this morning by 10:00. The tide was just starting to come up and we had some very skinny water for a while. Sarasota Bay had a light chop and was shallow; 4 to 5 feet most the way. By 11:30 we decided to stop early as we were in no hurry. This way we would not have to worry about getting to our anchorage before dark. We anchored by the Ringling Causeway bridge in Sarasota in about 6′ of water just adjacent to the Bait Shop. We tried this anchorage last spring for the first time and it worked well for just an over night.

CO’s comment:  The only downside to this anchorage is all the boat traffic; it is rock and roll all afternoon.

12-25-2014: Kim Jo IV at Longboat Key

12-25-2014: Moore’s restaurant

12-25-2014: Sun Set at Longboat Key

12-26-2014:  Our Sarasota anchorage; lots of building going on here, Ringling Causeway Bridge, and the Bate Shop