captainbill

[captainbill]

One thing about Fort Myers Beach thst malkes visiting great are the several seafood markets just north of the shrimp boat docks. Trico provides ample dinghy and small boat docks next to theres store. You can buy shrimp, lobster, grouper, and mahi there today. Open 7 days a week. Picture here is the dinghy dock; aboat offloading shrimp; and the shrimp stir fry I made on Good Friday.

[captainbill]

Sorry to make no notes since October. We made it with many trials including a serious fall and injury.

We arrived in Fort Myers Beach mid December with short stays in Miami and Marathon. For Christmas we headed north to be with family. When we got back, my 89 yo father became ill and we visited hospitals for 2 month.

Wright Tack’s generator crapped out and it took weeks to get it repaired. Using it today for the first time.

Finally getting back to enjoying life aboard.

We should be heading north May 1st.

Fort Myers Beach is a great place to spend the Winter. It’s just warm enough to survive without a heater, and you can wear shorts most days. Moorings are just $312/ month including clean heads and showers and free pumpout. If you have access to a car you can get a 6 month parking space for $25 with one months mooring. Trolleys and busses are inespensive with senior monthly passes for $26. Most of the Winter moorings were available.

Shoal draft vessels can anchor past the East Mooring field. But heads and showers aren’t available. Pumpout is $5.

Deep draft vessels up to 7 feet can find a mooring if careful. Come in at high tide. After passing under Matanzas Pass Bridge turn left and stay in the narrow channel that then turns rightl. Keep to port near the shrimp boats for deep water. The mooring field is devided into west and east. Once passed the first ( East) enter the West field down the center and select a mooring with 2 to three more feet of depth than you need. Tides run 2 to 3 feet, and tidal currents are strong. Deep draft boats will run aground at low tide in the south channel.

The dinghy docks are under the southside of the Matanzas Pass Bridge. You need to check in at Matanzas Inn Office down to your left.

There are numerous restaurants and beach shops on the way to the beach. By dinghy there is a Topps (IGA) grocery at the end of the canal going south from the West Field. A publix is way down the bay.

[captainbill]

One week living aboard. Heading south and waiting out the storm in Solomon's Isl. MD.

[captainbill]

After almost 3 years Wright Tack is ready ro sail.

[captainbill]

New generato runnig.

[captainbill]

New dinghy hung from new arch. Refrigerator and freezer reach temp despite 90 degree temps

[captainbill]

Wright Tack floating 3 months to moveaboard.

[captainbill]

Retirement

Retirement begins tomorrow. I have 10 weeks to move aboard Wrighttack. Expect to leave for Florida right after the boat show.

[captainbill]

Spring is coming. This week hopes to a see progress on the rigging. A rotten section of the starboard rail was replaced. Pictures next week.

[captainbill]

Wright Tack has a mast. She still needs a lot of rigging work to be finished. The job completion date was this past July. I can't recommend you higher services on the Delmarva if you want it completed on time.

[captainbill]

A new blog

We're beginning a blog to share our new adventure living on our 44 foot cutter. We our currently renovating Wright Tack now on the hard at Sailing Emporium, Rock Hall, Maryland. A leek on the keel is waiting repair. The mast and rigging are being renewed by Sipala Spars. A new engine, generator , and watermaker are being installed. Plumbing and electric are being renewed. We hope to move aboard in April, one year late.