Boating the St Lucie River

 

Railroad Bridge Raising
St Lucie River near Stuart, FL
July 17, 2024

Heading out from Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno yesterday provided another fantastic day on the boat. While the weather continued to be almost uninhabitable, our high temperature go 90 degrees was well below that of places in Maryland which saw 98 degrees.

We had a nice breeze and of course we generated our own breeze as we pushed the speed up towards 30 mph once we were on the St Lucie River and out of Manatee Pocket where the marina is situated.  The plan was to explore the North Fork of the St Lucie River and then head to Stuart for lunch and some light shopping, but the railroad bridge across the river was down for an extended period when we arrived and so we backtracked to Stuart for shopping and lunch. 

Dolphin
Manatee Pocket, Port Salerno, FL
July 17, 2024

After lunch we headed up the river, passing under a couple of highway bridges and the raising railroad bridge. We enjoyed time on the river and headed north to look for manatees, but sadly saw none.

Returning down the river and heading for the marina, once we reentered Manatee Pocket we spied some dolphins working the area. As the marina was busy when we called in and were advised to take it slow to give them time to clear out a few boats, we stopped for a while and watched the dolphins. We were not the only boat which was enjoying watching the dolphins work the waters. 

It was an enjoyable day on the water and I am happy to report that our first attempt at mooring with just Chris and I aboard the boat was a success! Previously we had either others onboard to help or someone on the dock to manage the lines while I remained at the helm for the entire process, but yesterday we managed the mooring process and it went very well as we tied-up in Stuart. There is something cool about arriving at a place, be it a restaurant or a city, in a boat.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL   

A Cloudy Day can be a Great Beach Day

Chris at the Helm
ICW
July 10, 2024

The skies were gray yesterday, both from clouds and the Saharan dust. Normally, a day like that would not be a good day for boating or beach activity. But yesterday, the clouds and sand kept the sun from baking the beach and those of us outside. It was nice, almost cool.

I noted that the water temperature in the ICW was over 89 degrees. The ocean felt cooler, maybe 85 degrees. All still too warm. 

From the Beach
Jupiter Island, Stuart, FL
July 10, 2024

We went to my favorite Jupiter Island Beach, which is best accessed by boat from Peck Lake in the ICW. The beach had only a few other people on it, all arriving by boat. It is possible to walk along the ocean from other parts of Jupiter Island, but it is a long walk and then one had to walk back. 

The gray skies helped to moderate the incredible heat and stress temperatures of over 105 degrees that had been the norm for the past few days. The day was comfortable until early afternoon when the sun finally broke through to bake the earth. By then, we were already back at the marina and headed home to our air conditioned condo. 

A cloudy day can be a great beach day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Hitting the Waves

US-1 Bridge Construction
Loxahatchee River, Jupiter, FL
June 6, 2024

 A great boating day turned into a great beach day as we headed out with friends yesterday. The plan was to motor down and check out the US-1 bridge construction and then head for a beach. 

The water, as it was just after high tide, was crystal clear. Truly. We could see the bottom at 15 feet depth. That is something that does not often happen here. 

On the Beach
Tequesta, FL
June 6, 2024

The bridge construction was exciting as they have started placing the beams for the second span. We may actually have a US-1 highway bridge over the Loxahatchee River by November! That would certainly ease the wintertime traffic congestion. We saw additional beams on a barge waiting to be emplaced. 

Osprey in a Tree
Jupiter Island, FL
June 6, 2024

After passing through the bridge construction area we turned around and headed back north to a fairly secluded, accessible only by boat, beach up the ICW. There is one very popular beach, but I chose to head a bit further north to an area where boat access is easy, but most boater choose not to land because it is a narrow strip of beach that, since the tide was going out, I knew would get larger as we enjoyed ourselves. I had to adjust the boat on the beach after an hour or so as the receding tide meant that it was becoming a bit too beached for my liking. Turns out, that was a good choice. We were able to get underway after enjoying lunch and a few hours in the sun without having to resort to extreme measures to reflect the boat. 

As it was just after noon, we motored north to Bridge Road in Hobe Sound to enjoy the wild areas that can only be observed from the water. We happened upon a pair of Ospreys in a tree who did not seem to mind ur presence. I was able to get a fairly good image of one of them, but the other flew off before I could frame a shot of both of them. 

It was a very enjoyable morning and we returned to the marina about 1:30 PM after four hours of boating and beaching.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#boating #ICW #osprey #US1bridgejupiter 

Biking, Boating, and Beaching

Shooting into the Sun
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
June 3, 2024

 Yesterday's tune-up ride with my newly adjusted bike went well.

The bike worked to perfection, except for a small click in one of the gears. I may take it back in tomorrow to have the click checked if it doesn't go away during my ride. 

Now, however, my big project is that I am beginning to pack the panniers for the ride and trying to decide which items should go where. It is not easy since I have never attempted a ride with the complexity and length of the GAP. I know that I will forget something, probably something important. 

Today, however, is a boat day! We will cruise the intracoastal and get some beach time. I haven't yet decided exactly which beach to beach the boat at, but given that the tide will be high, but receding, there should be a couple of nice beaches from which to choose.  

Should be a nice Thursday. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back to the Boat

Route 1 Bridge Construction
From the ICW, Jupiter, FL
May 30, 2024

The beautiful weather we are enjoying in Florida is good for a number of outdoors activities and one of them is boating. Yesterday we were able to head out onto the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) with the friends who watched our home and Finnegan while we were in Europe.

Iguana in the Dock Near our Boat
Seasons 52, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
May 30, 2024

The winds were light, the water had almost no chop and we enjoyed over six hours of motoring the ICW. The blue skies were fantastic. We set out soon our longest trip yet, motoring all the way south to Rivera Beach and in sight of Peanut Island, a manmade island accessible only by boat island at the south end of Lake Worth and entrance to the Lake Worth Inlet. 

It was a long motor to the island, about 2 hours. We didn't not land on the island but viewed it for a bit and turned north for our planned lunch stop at Seasons 52 in Palm Beach Gardens. We enjoyed a nice lunch and were amused by a green iguana walking the dock and checking out our boat. 

Setting up on the Beach
Jupiter, FL
May 30, 2024

After lunch we headed to a beach for some relaxing time, but that ended shortly after a large boat traveling very fast sent waves onto the beach which swamped our spot. It was very distressing as one umbrella became a watercraft for a short time. It was almost time to depart to get the boat back to the marina, so we broke camp and headed off. 

We enjoyed the day and Finnegan, who joined us, also enjoyed the boating experience. 

It was good to be on the water and at the helm. I had been on the water very often during the month of May, but as self-loading cargo. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back to the Water

Setting Out on a Sunny Day
Tequesta, FL
March 26, 2024

 It was a boating day, albeit short.

The winds were stiff and the water a choppy when we departed the dock about 1 PM and so we turned an expected long boating day into a short tour. It did not even make the "three-hour tour" of Gilligan's Island fame.

We had fun showing Luke around and especially passing under the US 1 bridge construction. The project seems to be on time as the first road beams were installed from the south abutment before the end of March which is right on schedule. 

The wind was definitely strong and there was a chop. We decided against some beach time, opting instead to return home and enjoy the remainder afternoon. 

I do note that the post-boating docking went very well in a stiff wind and current. The dockhand indicated that we did the best of anyone all day.

Did I say, I had fun? I almost always enjoy myself when we are on the water. I also enjoy going to beaches that are inaccessible from land. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Motoring the Intracoastal (ICW)

On the ICW Near Hobe Sound
March 15, 2024

 Taking advantage of the incredibly great weather, yesterday was a day for motoring the ICW with friends. 

During the morning hours the water was calm, but by afternoon there was a moderate chop on the St Lucie River which made the ride back to the marina a bit sporty. Fortunately, I was able to get in behind a much larger boat and enjoy the relatively calm waters in its wake. 

Chris and Carola
Jupiter Island, Stuart, FL
March 15, 2024

I took our friends on a tour of the ICW from the St Lucie River Inlet down to Jupiter Sound to look at both the natural beauty and the expensive homesteads along the waterway. After motoring for about an hour or so, we headed to my formerly favorite beach, anchoring our trusty boat along the eastern shore of Peck Lake and walking about 100 yards to the ocean on the Atlantic side of Jupiter Island. I say formerly because the beach is usually deserted, but yesterday it was actually crowded. The beach is best accessed by boat and while we were one of three boats anchored on the ICW side of the island when we arrived, by the time we departed a few hours later there must have been easily 12 boats anchored on the beach--and the ones next to me were closer than cars in a parking lot. It was a mess and I was fortunate to have some experienced help to get away from the island without incident.

Michael Preparing the Lines
Manatee Pocket, FL
March 15, 2024

As it was a beautiful day, I decided to head up the St Lucie River with a tour to the north. The wind came up as we motored north and the water developed a moderate chop, which with the wind caused some spray occasionally across the boa. The situation became worse as I headed south into the wind. This is where I was lucky to fall in behind the larger boat as we headed back to the marina.

The waters smoothed as we entered Manatee Pocket where the marina is located. About 6 hours after we set out, we returned to the dock and unloaded after a really great day on the water. Michael and Carola were a great help. 

I had been excited about taking out one of the newest boats in the fleet, Capt Crunch. I had been looking forward to motoring about in the boat since it arrived, but was a bit disappointed. The boat did not have the electronic throttle to which I have become accustomed and the throttle assembly was loose, meaning I had to keep a hand on the throttle while we were on plane and cruising. That can be really hard when crossing a wake and in the moderate chop we experienced on the St Lucie River. It is possible that we were the first members to take the boat out, which was cool. 

All-in-all, another great day on the water. Warm temperatures moderated by a pleasantly cool breeze made for a very enjoyable day.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Along the Intracoastal (ICW)

Honey Fitz former Presidential Yacht
Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

 During our boat trip on Tuesday, we spied many interesting things along the ICW on our way south to Jupiter and return. 

One of them was the Honey Fitz, the former Presidential Yacht. It had moved from its previous location in Tequesta into the Jupiter inlet and was docked outside of the Pelican Club. The Pelican Club is where President Biden had his fundraising lunch about two weeks ago. Because the location was not published in advance and we could not gather outside the club to see and wish him well. 

Sea Bean coming out of the Barn
Port Salerno, FL
February 13, 2024

During our journey, Chris and I were able to point out many of the important sights along the way. The Jupiter Lighthouse, of course, was one. But we also traversed the US-1 bridge construction area which is a bit congested.

 

Beach Road Drawbridge
Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

They were able to see how a boat comes out of the barn at the marina and is set in the water and prepared for us. I just think it is so cool to see my boat being transported to the water and readied. 

We were also able to show them the drawbridges along the way. During our trip we passed under three drawbridges, one of them actually was opening as we transited. Of course the US-1 bridge construction will be the fourth drawbridge once it is completed. We also showed them the rail drawbridge along side of Alternate A1A. 

It was not just a lunch cruise. And with the manatee and dolphin sightings along with numerous ospreys, there was plenty of wildlife observed as well. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#boating #freedomboatclubsouthfl #intracoastalwaterway #honeyfitz

Going to Lunch on the Water

Sue in the Bow
Intracoastal Waterway, Stuart, FL
February 13, 2024

 Yesterday was a more normal South Florida February day. Fortunately, I had reserved a boat and the plan for the day was to motor on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) from Port Salerno south through to Jupiter, passing under three drawbridges, and have lunch the Dive Bar in Jupiter. The idea was to show off South Florida's ICW to visitors from Maryland. 

It was a good plan, well mostly. I did not factor the time required to motor all the way to Jupiter, given that about half the trip is at low speed with minimum wake which in Sea Bean is about 6 mph. I had hoped to get in some beach time on the way back, but we had to have the boat back at 3:30 PM and we pulled into the dock precisely at 3:15, which was the time I was aiming for when we departed the restaurant in Jupiter. So, there was no beach time, sadly. 

Sea Bean Tied Up
Dive Bar, Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

The a five hour roundtrip was my longest boating outing.

We departed the dock with five persons and one dog. Fortunately we returned with the same compliment. 

Along the way we spied a dolphin feeding in the shallows of the ICW and as we approached the Jupiter inlet we saw 10 manatees. That was very exciting. Unfortunately, there was not a picture that could be taken. On the return trip we saw an additional 2 or 3 manatees. I had to be very careful around the manatees and both avoided them and traveled very slowly. 

Bringing the boat into a relatively narrow channel with other traffic and tying up at an unfamiliar dock was a new experience.

Yesterday was one of the best weather days we have had in a few weeks and we were lucky to be out on the water enjoying the sun and relative warmth. 

It was another great day and Sea Bean was a perfect vessel.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#freedomboatclubsouthfl #boating #intracoastalwaterway

Don't cut the Corner

Sea Bean Tied Up (Blue boat)
Stuart, FL
February 9, 2024

 Friday, while not a perfect Florida day was good enough for us to pile into a boat and head off on an adventure! George and Sue are visiting and Chris and I thought it would be fun to motor to Stuart, tie-up and wander around the town for the day. 

And that is what we did! 

Looking Down Osceola Street
Stuart, FL
February 9, 2024

We boarded our trusty vessel at the Freedom Boat Club marina in Port Salerno and headed off to Stuart. It is a short, about 30 minute or so, ride and even though the day was overcast and the St Lucie River was slightly choppy, it was a good ride. We successfully tied up at the city docks and walked onshore looking for adventure.

We enjoyed the day and the city. We have been there many times before, but there is something really different arriving by boat. For one thing, parking is a lot easier. We did keep an eye on the weather, however. After lunch at the Boat House, sitting on the deck overlooking the river and the docks, we decided that the wind was beginning to kick up the waves and we should probably head back to the marina. It was a good decision. While we had planned a stop at a beach, due to the cool temperatures and wind, we decided that it would not be enjoyable to be on the beach. Fortunately, we all had coats and were able to keep warm.

Tow Boat working to help Beached Boat
St Lucie River, FL
February 9, 2024

On our return trip though, we spied a boating nightmare. Apparently, a boater unfamiliar with the waters and who did not check the charts decided to cut across the turn from the St Lucie Inlet into the St Lucie River. That is an area where there is a large sandbar and it is very close to the marked channel. It was clear that the tow boat was having a problem getting the beached boat off the sandbar. Anyway, it was not a good day for the boater. We felt bad for them, it probably ruined an otherwise good day.

Note to self--don't cut the turn unless you are sure of the waters' depth.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

@freedomboatclubsouthfl #freedomboatclubsouthfl

Capt Finn the Six-Pound Captain

Capt Finn Monitoring Shore Activities

Finnegan (Finn), our six-pound Yorkie, acts like he is the captain of the vessel when he sails with us. He performs many of the duties the captain does, well, except for manning the helm! He is far too short to reach the wheel!

Finn Keeping Watch

One of his favorite activities is standing in the bow directing the activities of the boat and searching the water for obstacles. I admit, the other day he failed to recognize a manatee in the water, fortunately the human captain saw the large mammal and gave it a wide berth. It is likely that he is not aware of what a manatee actually is because Capt Finn never goes into the water.

Capt Finn with the Passengers 

Captain Finn keeps a close eye on shore activities. He monitors the crew and passengers as well as keeping a close eye upon the vessel to ensure it remains safely anchored or tied up. He does enjoy a bit of free time checking out the items on shore or at the waters edge, but he definitely does not like to get his feet wet!

Underway, Capt Finn busies himself conversing with the passengers and ensuring they are comfortable while also checking out the safety equipment. In the image to the right he is performing a life vest demonstration for the crew and passengers.

Capt Finn doing a Life Vest Demo

The passengers appreciate his calm demeanor on the vessel. He exudes an air of confidence that provides a sense of calm to all those aboard. Capt Finn is a dog, however, and he loves to get his nose into the wind and sample all of the smells lingering in the atmosphere.

Capt Finn loves to explore the boat and check out all of the equipment aboard. He is very mindful of personal belongings and does not bother the passengers's possessions.  

Capt Finn taking a nap

Other boaters wave and smile at Capt Finn when he is surveying the water from the bow of the boat. He is a humorous sight, a small six-pound dog standing at the bow acting like he is in charge of the activity. It is exhausting for Capt Finn, being everything to everyone, and nap time soon arrives and he hands his duties off to one of the humans aboard so the he can catch a nap to the gentle motion of the boat.

-- Bob & Chris Doan, Tequesta, FL

#freedomboatclub #freedomboatclubsouthfl

@freedomboatclubsouthfl

Cold Boat Day

Chris and Finn on Tide Runner
Jupiter Sound, FL
January 31, 2024

 It had been since early December that Chris and I had checked out a boat and spent some time on the water and so we decided to hit the high seas yesterday. 

It was cold in the morning and so we delayed checking out or trusty boat, Tide Runner, until the afternoon. By the time we departed the dock, the temperature was about 70 degrees. The wind was still cold, but the bright sun mitigated the discomfort. 

Bridge Road Drawbridge Opening
Intracoastal Waterway, Jupiter, FL
January 31, 2024

We went out and motored around for about two hours before calling it a day and heading back to the dock. I had planned on heading out to a restaurant for lunch, but with the later departure time that plan was scrapped. The highlight of the day was seeing a manatee right about in the area where I took the image of the drawbridge. 

Tide Runner is the same make and model as my favorite boat, Sea Bean, that we take out from Port Salerno. It is convenient to take Tide Runner out because the marina is within walking distance of the house, but given the chairs and bags we take with us walking is not an option. Port Salerno is about a 20 minute ride away. I prefer the docks at Port Salerno because they do not require the 90 degree turn to enter or exit like those in Jupiter. The turn into or away from the dock is always complicated by wind and current.

It was a nice afternoon diversion on the water as we enjoyed the blue-crystal sky and the warm sun on our faces.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It's Cold--but on the Boat

Jupiter Lighthouse
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 6, 2023

It is Pearl Harbor Day.

Yesterday was a cold morning, but it was a boating day. Due to the expected cold temperatures, I delayed our usual 9 AM pick-up until 10 AM. Still, the temperature was in the low 60s and we were wearing coats as we motored out of the marina. 

US-1, Federal Highway Bridge Construction
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 6, 2023

Despite the temperature and the wind, it was a beautiful day with a near crystal sky above and blue water beneath us as we headed south in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The Jupiter Lighthouse was radiant in the sunlight as we motored by on our way south, ultimately to Lake Worth.

Along the way we enjoyed looking at the boats, houses, mansions, and Christmas decorations. It would be awesome to motor the ICW at night to enjoy the lights, but my boat club does not allow nighttime boating. 

I also had the chance to check out the US-1 Federal Highway bridge construction. The work is moving along and the plan is for one lane to be open each way by next November! I certainly hope so. 

Seasons 52
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
December 6, 2023

We stopped for lunch at Seasons 52. It was my first time teeing up at a dock other than one owned by the club. We did really well getting the boat to the dock and tied up even with the stiff wind and strong current. It was a great lunch sitting outside under cover and out of the wind but watching the boat bob in the water.  

Looking to the Jupiter Inlet
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 6, 2023

All too soon, we were off again and headed for our home marina.

I wish the good times could never end, but I am sure I would not appreciate them as much in that case. After motoring for about 45 minutes we were in the familiar waters of the ICW in Jupiter and after passing by the US-1 bridge construction we had an unobstructed view of the Jupiter Inlet and the ocean beyond. The water was very blue due to the clear sky and the rising tide which was bringing relatively clear seawater into the ICW.  We made a left turn shortly after I took this image to continue along the ICW and a short ride later and we were safely back in the marina and heading out for the remainder of our day. 

I have to admit, the wind was strong making the day seem a lot colder motoring north rather than south. Going south we had the wind to our backs and we were traveling about a fast as the wind--so it felt like there was no wind and we enjoyed the bright sunshine. But once we started back north--we felt the 60 degree wind its speed doubled by our motion across the water. 

Another great day on the water!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Plying the Inland Waters

Finn Keeping Lookout
ICW, Jupiter, FL
November 8, 2023

 Yesterday's weather was not perfect for boating, but it was very nice. 

I write that it was not perfect because we motored into a pop-up rainstorm that vexed us for about an hour in the Loxahatchee River where we got trapped when the railroad drawbridge went down for what seemed like and eternity--at least 45 minutes. I could see that the weather was clear north of us in the ICW, but could not get there, or at least I thought we were trapped in the river. With the bridge not budging, and at Chris's insistence, I decided to attempt to cross under the tracks at an alternate location and found that I had about a foot of clearance, meaning that I am no longer trapped by the railroad drawbridge when entering or leaving the Loxahatchee River from the ICW! Yay. 

Chris and Finn on a Beach Along the ICW
Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023

Motoring back through Jupiter amid the US-1 bridge construction is always fun because I get a view that cannot be replicated from land. We are about a year away from having one lane of the bridge complete each way! It has been a long time since the bridge was closed and torn down,  but there are still months/years to go before the project is complete. 

We proceeded north in the ICW, past the Jupiter Inlet,  until we found some boat-only access beaches. I have to admit the one that I wanted to visit already had two boats with at least three dogs enjoying the day of broken clouds and occasional sunshine. But I knew that there was another stretch of accessible beaches just a bit further north. The beaches are nice because the water stays deep until just about a boat's length from the shore which makes for an easy landing. 

Small 5-armed Starfish
ICW, Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023

The exciting part of yesterday's beach day was finding two different species of star fish. We found one moderately large 9-armed starfish and 2 very small 5-armed starfish.

9-armed Starfish 
ICW, Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023

They were fun to discover right at the edge of the water. 

As we sat along the ICW, enjoying the day and chatting, both Chris and I noticed something. When there were no boats passing and when the waves from the boats stopped lashing the shore, it became very quiet. There was no wind, and no waves and it was so very quiet and peaceful. We have grown so accustomed to waves crashing on beaches that this newly discovered quiet was something which caused us to stop talking and sit quietly to enjoy. 

Finnegan enjoyed exploring the beach. The beach was perfect to allow him off leash because he does not like getting into the water and the beach was protected at both ends by mangroves which pushed into the water. We could walk around the mangroves by going into the water, but we had to carry Finn. He was, therefore, contained. 

It turned into a very nice boating day, even with the earlier rainstorm. It was good to be out on the water again. And Finn kept a great lookout from the bow.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

Ringing in November

 

Looking South from North Fork Loxahatchee Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 31, 2023

I hope everyone survived Halloween and are enjoying the first day of the penultimate month of the year. 

I closed out the month of October with a 16 mile ride. The ride took me over 200 miles for the month and October was the first month over that amount since May! It just shows the amount of travel we have been doing. Well, and our weekly boating adventures do cut into my biking days. 

I rode my usual route around Tequesta and enjoyed watching the houses under construction along with the myriad Halloween decorations. I expect the decorations will be coming down during the next few days to be soon replaced by Christmas decorations. My stop on the North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge in Tequesta was short, but I enjoyed looking at the flat water and imagining being out on that water in a small craft. 

I am getting prepared for today's boating adventure. We will see where we end up. We are departing from Jupiter and therefore will head south probably to explore more of the Loxahatchee River. Time will tell. At least I will have my trusty deck boat back instead of the pontoon boat. Funny thing about the pontoon boats we took out the past two weeks, they both had a slide which we never used. 

Well, it is the hump of the week and Halloween is now behind us. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Off to the Beach by Boat

Setting-up The Camp
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Beach, Jupiter Island 
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

 Yesterday was a great day for sitting on a beach. Mild temperatures and light breezes highlighted the experience. We chose to head out on a trusty pontoon boat for a few hours one of my new favorite beaches. 

Finnegan and Chris on the Beach
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Beach, Jupiter Island 
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

The double-decker pontoon boat was the same model, but a different boat from the one we took out last week. The one last week managed a top speed of 21 mph, yesterday, the best I could get yesterday was 11 mph at 4K RPM. I think the pontoons need to be scraped to reduce the drag from barnacles on other sea junk. We used as much gas yesterday as we did last week, but only traveled about half as far. 

The ocean was relatively calm with the waves crashing on the beach, but with a steady soothing rhythm. Sadly, I did not manage any shut-eye time in a chair under an umbrella.

I enjoyed a walk along the beach and for the entire beach portion of the day Finnegan was off-leash. He stayed close and only had to be recalled on a couple of occasions from his continual desire to ensure that no birds were within his field of vision. 

Flight of Blackhawks
Hobe Sound Wildlife Preserve, Jupiter Island
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

The excitement of the day was a flight of four Blackhawks flying just offshore. Of course we all wondered what they were doing as it is rare to see even one Blackhawk. My guess was that the Commander of USSOUTHCOM was headed somewhere. But, of course, I have no further information to substantiate that wild guess. 

After our time on the beach, we toured the ICW south to just north of Bridge Road, in Hobe Sound. That was about the spot where we turned around during our outing last week and headed back south to Jupiter. 

It was another great day of boating with friends. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Plying the Intracoastal and Finding History

Former Presidential Yacht Honey Fitz
Jupiter Island, FL
October 19, 2023

 Chris and I took our friends out on a pontoon boat yesterday to see and enjoy the sights along the intracoastal waterway (ICW). 

We checked out a different boat for the day than my usual deck boat. It was a pontoon boat and it was perfect for the six of us, plus Finnegan, to enjoy a day on the water. 

Godfrey Pontoon Boat
ICW
October 19, 2023

As we were exploring the ICW, we came upon a piece of nautical history that has only recently arrived. We passed the former Presidential Yacht, Honey Fitz. There she was, tied up along the ICW for us to enjoy. It is funny that I recognized it immediately. Historically, Honey Fitz, which was given that name by President Kennedy, served five presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. It was recently purchased and restored making it post-restoration debut at the Palm Beach Boat Show this past March.

Chris and Finnegan Aboard our Boat
ICW near Jupiter, FL
October 19, 2023

Our vessel for the day was not nearly as elegant, but it provided reliable transportation as we explored the ICW and visited a sandbar in the Loxahatchee River before finally landing on a beach to enjoy the mid-day sunshine.

Finnegan accompanied us for the day and enjoyed being out on the water. He was a very good dog and never needed to use his live preserver. 

I found that the pontoon boat is not nearly as agile as the deck boats I usually check out, but for a group of people to be comfortable and enjoy a lazy day on the water, pontoon boats are the way to go.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Escape to the Ocean

North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 14, 2023

 I am going to call it like it was, an escape.

That is what I did yesterday, I escaped from the flooring project and joined two friends on the ocean for a day of fishing. 

It was something I have not done for quite a number of years. 

The boat was a 30 foot Cobia a bit larger than the 22 foot Cobia that I normally get from my boat club. Being the same maker, I was pretty familiar with the layout, but this boat had something I can only long for in a boat club boat: autopilot! Wow, That really mage navigating easy and getting to some specific points on the reefs for fishing was incredibly easy. 

Railroad Drawbridge Down
Jupiter, FL
October 14, 2023

We departed from a canal behind the boat owner's home and navigated to the river. I enjoyed motoring in the canals to the river. Passing under the North Fork Loxahatchee River bridge was a really cool because it is the bridge that I have taken so many pictures from while riding my bike. I have to confess, it looks much different from the water.

Traversing under the railroad drawbridge both ways we had the opportunity to wait for trains to cross. All told, I saw three Brightline trains and one freight train cross the bridge from the river. 

The ocean had rolling waves, but was not rough. It was not smooth either. The fishing was fun and over the course of the day the three of us managed to catch enough legal-sized fish for dinner. I had the biggest disappointment of the day by letting a nice Mahi get away. I had the fish at the boat but it made one last desperation run and crossed over the bow of the boat where I forgot the anchor was exposed and the line broke as it passed over the anchor. It was a very nice looking fish and we were disappointed that I did not land it.

It was a great day on the water and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In other news--the floor project is complete! I was not to there for it the last three hours, but Chris handled the job very well. The house looks great! I am amazed how much larger the new floor makes the living spaces seem.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Rainbows on the Day

Rainbow over the Marina
Tequesta, FL
October 4, 2023

 It was a boat day. 

And we took out a boat from a different marina, one that is very close to our home. It is less than a mile away and we would walk to it except that we take chairs, coolers, and other items with us on the boat. 

Rainbow and the Jupiter Lighthouse
Jupiter, FL
October 4, 2023

It turned out to be a great morning on the water. We were treated to rainbows as we motored the intracoastal waterway (ICW). The morning was bright, but by early afternoon the clouds thickened, the wind rose, the water got choppy and we made a timely decision to head back to the marina.

Setting up on the Beach
Jupiter, FL
October, 4, 2023

We spent our time on the water exploring areas that we had not yet visited due to the distance from our Port Salerno marina. We traveled south on the ICW all the way to the northern portion of Lake Worth. It was an enjoyable trip, most of which at slow speed, minimum wake meaning for my boat about 6 mph. It provides us a lot of time to sightsee. And there are a lot of sights--huge houses, some mansion size, fill the shores along the ICW.

We stopped for a bit at a beach along the ICW south of Jupiter. It is a park which appears to be accessible by only boat. I love finding these spots because I otherwise would not be able to enjoy these locations. The small beach is only on the ICW and it happens to be along an area of the ICW where the speed limit is 25 MPH during this time of year and so the waves can get a bit high. As the tide was also rising, we only spent about 45 minutes exploring the area and filing it away for another time. There is a nature area connected to the beach and so it is more than a "one-trick pony."

The closeness of the Jupiter marina means that we can shave about an hour off of our to-and-from travel time. Convenience is the key. Boating wise there is a huge sandbar just off shore that must be navigated once we get onto the water, but that is doable. 

While Tide Runner, the boat we had yesterday, is the same year and model as my favorite boat, Sea Bean, they "cheaped" out a bit on the outfitting. Tide Runner does not have trim tabs and the GPS is a very basic position only model. I was happy that I had my own chart program running on my phone because the northern end of Lake Worth is a bit confusing for someone who has not been there before. 

All-in-all, another fantastic day on the water. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL