Trawler Punches on the IntraCoastal Waterway

2011-09-30T12:04:00.000-04:00

Punches put to bed for the Winter

I finished putting the winter cover on my trawler, Punches yesterday.

The rain has been crazy, but I found a two day window to get the cover on in the
dry weather. Only in the 50’s this morning , so Florida calls in a few weeks.

2011-08-26T21:19:00.001-04:00

Irene has exhausted me!!!

Five more hours sealing windows and now the boat is ready.
Not so sure about the house – too many trees – will sharpen chain saw – generator ready.
I will think about installing storm shutters like we use in Florida. I would rather close up the house and stay in
Charlottesville and avoid listening to the “freight train” for 10-20 hours!!!!

2011-08-25T18:56:00.001-04:00

Crazy Two Days Preparing Irene

I decided the storm will be too close for comfort on the Rappahannock River,
so I rushed to strip the trawler of canvas and electronics and then moved it today to Yankee Point
Marina and had it hauled today.

2011-05-17T08:40:00.001-04:00

Stats from Trawler Trip Stuart, FL to Lancaster,VA

Miles traveled: 1088.26 ( note driving distance is 918 miles ),
engine hours 130.39, average speed 7.27 knots – 8.37 mph
Trip was 20 days total- 18 days under way, average of 60 miles per day.
We used 2 private docks, 10 anchorages and 5 marinas.

2011-05-06T20:44:00.001-04:00

Sometimes the bear gets ya….

Decisions, decisions – looked at the weather and decided to go up the bay today. Winds light in the anchorage in the morning, but by the turn at
Thimble Shoals at Hampton there was a good chop on the bay. It stayed Ok until the York river where it was a nasty 2-3 feet and I had my hands full
steering. Winds built to 15-20 knots and the ride improved a little after we cleared the York River and Mobjack Bay entrance. The good news is we had
a incoming tide all the way and made this run in record time. We were tied up at our home off the Rappahannock River by 2:30 pm. Underway by Mobjack Bay
we passed fellow MTOA members Ted & Nancy McCarley aboard Aloha Friday. I always tell people the toughest part of an ICW trip to Florida is the Chesapeake Bay
and Albemarle Sound and again it proved to be true. I’ll post complete stats for the trip in a few days but we are glad to me home in Virginia for the summer.

Today’s Stats: Location- Home Dock, Punches Cove, Lancaster, VA, distance traveled 63.12 nm, average speed 9.35 mph, 8.12 knots

2011-05-05T14:33:00.001-04:00

Hanging Out in Portsmouth

With bridge restrictions 8 am was as early as we could start. A chilly morning – 49 degrees and NW winds over 15 mph. We had a little surprise
at the Gilmerton Bridge which now is only on the half hour instead of on demand while they build a new bridge. The restrictions went into place over the winter.
The new bridge should be in place by October 2013.
We made quick stop for fuel at Ocean Marine paying $3.82 per gallon. With the North West wind we decided not to go to Hampton today across the harbor and
instead anchor at ICW MM zero by Hospital Point. We had quite a show ; a large barge made two 90 degree turns into Tidewater yachts Marina to replace
a broken piling – amazing to watch them take that barge in with feet to spare on a windy day. They used the spuds on the barge to help pivot the barge into the marina.
The whole operation going in, taking out the broken piling and putting in a new one and backing the work barge out took less than two hours.

Barge at Tidewater Yachts, Portsmouth, VA:

Today’s Stats: Location- Hospital Point, Portsmouth, VA, ICW MM 0, distance traveled 13.52 miles, average speed 4.72 mph, 4.10 knots

2011-05-04T15:44:00.001-04:00

Squall in Currituck Sound

Winds were light and it was still warm when we left Coinjock, NC just after 7. The radar indicated storms were still to our west so
we hoped to make the short trip to Great Bridge, VA before they arrived. About 9:30 just as we crossed into Virginia a squall with 40 knot winds
hit us. The wind shifted north and we had 4 foot rollers coming down the North River. For a time we could not see and the sailboat in front
of us still had a jib up and damaged it. After the squall passed we just had a cold drizzle to Great Bridge. We timed both bridges perfectly
and were tied up at Atlantic Yacht Basin Marina by noon. We will have to afternoon to catch-up and then go into town for pizza tonight. We plan
a short run to Hampton tomorrow and hopefully can go up the bay to our home on Friday. We are in warm clothes for the first time on the trip and
I have the heat running on the boat!!!! It went from high 60’s to high 50’s just like that!

Pungo River Sunset Monday Evening:

Today’s Stats: Location- Atlantic Yacht Marina, Great Bridge, VA ICW MM 12.1, distance traveled 36.59 miles, average speed 7.62 mph, 6.62 knots

2011-05-03T20:34:00.001-04:00

Albermarle Sound Now Behind Us

We started before 6 am hoping winds would be lighter earlier. We did not reach Albermarle Sound until noon and by then winds had increased to about 15 mph from
the South West which was behind us. The first part of the crossing was OK but in the middle a nasty cross-chop developed and the boat started to roll a little. All in all not
so bad – maybe a 6 out of 10. We are staying tonight at Midway Marina in Coinjock, NC just 50 miles from Norfolk. We will evaluate the weather tomorrow morning
and decide if we head further north.

Today’s Stats: Location- Midway Marina, Coinjock, NC ICW MM 49.7, distance traveled 79.47 miles, average speed 8.67 mph, 7.53 knots

2011-05-02T17:00:00.001-04:00

Trying to stay Ahead of the Weather

For the second trip in a row we bypassed a stay in Oriental, NC to make time in great weather. It was near calm today and we decided
to push on and hopefully be able to cross Albemarle Sound tomorrow. Looking ahead the forecast is for strong winds ( up to 20 knots ),
on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday’s forecast is no better than tomorrow ( SW winds 10-15 knots, waves 1-2 feet on the sound ) so
it did not seem worth it to try and wait. There was more boat traffic today, we passed 6 boats heading north and one south, all except one sailboats.
We are anchored tonight just at the bottom of the long Alligator-Pungo canal with 3 other sailboats. It is not the best anchorage, but the only one so
close to the canal so we can get an early start tomorrow.

Today’s Stats: Location-Pungo River, NC ICW MM 127.5, distance traveled 82.35 miles, average speed 9.07 mph, 7.88 knots

2011-05-01T16:56:00.001-04:00

Another Day heading East in North Carolina

We left Wrightsville beach before sunrise to beat the restricted bridge we had to open here. Both Punches and Monk 36 Prime Time traveling with us were able
to get under the next bridge, the Figure Eight which had 23 feet of clearance. It was then on to the Surf City bridge 18 miles up the ICW which only opens on
the hour. Even using the GPS we were 15 minutes early due to a current pushing us and that after slowing almost to idle!!. The next bridge Onslow Beach
at Camp LeJeune was timed perfectly and we were on our way. The day was again chilly in the low 70’s with a brisk East wind between 10 and 15 mph.
We anchored for the night in Spooner creek just above Morehead City, NC in the middle of an upscale residential development. For now we are the on
boat here. The forecast is looking like we may have to push on and cross the Albemarle Sound before the next front comes through Wednesday/Thursday.

Today’s Stats: Location-Spooner Creek, NCICW MM 210.5, distance traveled 74.94 miles, average speed 8.08 mph, 7.02 knots

2011-04-30T16:46:00.001-04:00

First Time in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Today was again clear and crisp in the high 50’s at sunrise. We had favorable current until Southport, NC and then going up the Cape Fear River
the current was 2.5 knots against us. The good news is the wind was in the same direction so there was no chop on the water. There was a lot
of weekend boat traffic and a few very inconsiderate larger boats. On the Cape Fear River two large boats passed at the same time at full speed
both sides of us – that made for an interesting wake!!!!! Tonight we are anchored at Wrightsville beach, NC with about 10 other boats. We have never stopped
here before – the anchorage is nice in the middle of a very built-up area, but with lots of boat traffic.

Wrightsville Beach Anchorage:

Today’s Stats: Location-Wrightsville Beach, NC ICW MM 283.2, distance traveled 63.48 miles, average speed 8.30 mph, 7.21 knots

2011-04-29T19:55:00.001-04:00

We ducked the bad weather

Central South Carolina on the coast did not get any bad weather yesterday, not even rain. Today it was cooler than any day since leaving Virginia last fall – only 59 degrees.
We had a very favorable tide and current as we made our way through the beautiful Waccamaw River and then on to the over developed area of Myrtle Beach.
It was time to buy diesel again – we stopped at Osprey Marina and put in 116 gallons at $3.69 per gallon – that worked out to 2.58 gph since the last fill and about
3.22 mpg. Traffic on the ICW was light, two power boats passed us and we passed 2 sailboats.
Tonight thanks to our Friends Chris & Frank Erwin we have courtesy dockage in Little River, SC.

Today’s Stats: Location-Coquina Yacht Club, Little River, SC ICW MM 345.9, distance traveled 60.06 miles, average speed 9.24mph, 8.03 knots

2011-04-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

Mini Monk Trawler Rendezvous in Georgetown, SC

We are waiting for the line of storms now to the west of us. We have three Monk 36 trawlers at the marina:
Punches #73 Joe & Sandra Urban, The Cooper # 91 Rusty & Betty Hughes & Prime Time #203 Dale & Renie Lauermann.
Is that a record for Monks in one place by coincidence? We are enjoying the shopping and restaurants of Georgetown,
including a great fresh breakfast at Thomas Café.
Below: Monk 36 Trawlers at Georgetown, SC: left to right: Punches, Prime Time ( behind dark hull boat ) and the Cooper.

Today’s Stats: Location-Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC ICW MM 403, lay day.

2011-04-27T22:08:00.001-04:00

Short run to Georgetown, SC

The wind was just starting to pick-up when we left the dock in McClellanville, SC. For about 2 hours we had good shelter in the ICW,
but when we reached the open waters of Winyah Bay the strong south wind hit the outgoing tide and created 2 foot waves.
That lasted about 30 minutes and the we made to turn into Georgetown. It was still windy when we tied up in our slip where
we will take a lay day until the stormy weather passes through.
The marina filled up with boats also seeking shelter from the same weather coming.

We are now “easting”; slowing making the curve along the Carolina coast which is as much East as it is North.
Georgetown, SC is a delightful town and the local Piggly Wiggly market was happy to pick us up and take us back from our marina for grocery shopping.
My new shower and AC sump pump arrived today, I installed it and Sandra is happy we can run the A/C in the main salon again especially in the
muggy weather we have been having for about a week-more summer-like than April even for South Carolina.

Today’s Stats: Location-Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC ICW MM 403, distance traveled 27.81 miles, average speed 7.94 mph, 6.90 knots

2011-04-26T19:12:00.001-04:00

First Bad Weather of the Trip

The day started great with calm winds but cloudy skis. There was some wind and chop crossing Charleston harbor but just afterwards a large
squall line and rain hit us for a couple of hours. We tried to anchor in Graham Creek but the wind and tide made impossible to set the anchor so we
went on another 9 miles to a dock at Leland Oil Company in the historic town of McClellanville, SC. The town is quaint with nice older homes and
a tiny downtown. I walked there, got lost ( yes!! ) and a local drove me back to the dock where I shared a beer with the very friendly residents here.
below is a local church and real estate office in town.

Today’s Stats: Location-McClellanville, SC, ICW MM 430, distance traveled 68.53 miles, average speed 8.40 mph, 7.3 knots

2011-04-25T19:26:00.001-04:00

long Day on the Water

The great weather should hold until Thursday morning ( we hope!!). Today we left at sunrise and ran the boat 10 hours taking us past
Hilton Head, across Port Royall Sound, past Beaufort, SC where a barge had a bridge channel blocked but there is enough water
to use another span opening and then the 10 mile run down the Coosaw River. Winds did pick up in the Coosaw and we had some chop
for the first time today. There was a little more traffic on the ICW today, we passed a total of 7 cruising boats both north and southbound.

Tonight we are anchored in Steamboat Creek about 30 miles south of Charleston, SC. We are still on-track to make Georgetown, SC on
Wednesday morning ahead of the cold front and possible bad weather.

Today’s Stats: Location-Steamboat Creek, SC, ICW MM 496, distance traveled 87.23 miles, average speed 8.73 mph, 7.58 knots

2011-04-24T20:55:00.001-04:00

First marina since leaving Stuart

Happy Easter !!!! Great weather, calm winds – sounding like a broken record. Today we made our way through more marsh grass and sounds in Georgia.
Once again very light boat traffic, we passed 2 boats northbound and two boats south bound. The day started on low tide so we had a favorable
current most of the way and good water under the boat as we passed through some of the shallower sections of the ICW in Georgia ( without
maintenance or dredging for over 10 years now ). Tonight we are at Thunderbolt Marina near Savannah, GA. We met up with follow Monk trawler owners
Dale & Renie Lauermann from Maryland for dinner. Sandra had time to do laundry and I finally got the boat cleaned up. We are looking at a cold
front coming through Wed to Thursday and will try to make it to Georgetown, SC before it arrives.

Today’s Stats: Location-Thunderbolt Marina, GA, ICW MM 583, distance traveled 62.60miles, average speed 8.71 mph, 7.58 knots

2011-04-23T16:55:00.001-04:00

Today the Current was With Us

Another perfect day for cruising in a trawler. Calm winds and 70 degrees as we left Cumberland Island, Georgia. We had to cross
the infamous St Andrews Sound where you touch the ocean at the inlet; but wind and tide were in the same direction and on a scale of 10
the crossing was an 8!! One again we saw almost no traffic on the ICW – we heard many sailboats offshore since conditions were favorable to
travel up the coast on the ocean side. We passed 3 boats going south and only 1 sailboat going north. Tonight we are alone in our secluded anchorage
in the sea grass of Georgia; winds have picked up to a little over 10 MPH but we are snug and enjoying the quiet. We will head for Thunderbolt near Savannah tomorrow.

Today’s Stats: Location-New Teakettle Creek, GA, ICW MM 646, distance traveled 66.53 miles, average speed 8.87 mph, 7.71 knots

2011-04-22T17:01:00.001-04:00

Great day on Cumberland Island

We took the dinghy ashore this morning to explore Cumberland Island. The place is magic, the towering live oaks covered with Spanish moss, the sound or birds and the ocean.
Just a few minutes into our walk along the river we saw a wild horse. Later along the beach Sandra enjoyed collecting shells while we looked at all the stranded cannonball jellyfish. there
were also some horses along the beach. All in all a great day on one of the finest beaches on the east coast of the US!!

Today’s Stats: Location-Cumberland Island, GA, ICW MM 711, distance traveled 0 – Lay day.

2011-04-21T15:59:00.001-04:00

Into Georgia Today

The current gives and it takes away – today it was on the take side so the day’s trip was a little slower. We topped up our fuel at
Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach, FL at $3.97 per gallon and we took 111 gallons. That should take us easily into South Carolina
where prices may be a little better but who knows in a week or so? This is the highest I have ever paid for boat fuel. We had more
boat traffic and one boat in particular “All Fired Up” waked everyone behind me.
I had slowed down to idle when he reached me, but he came by digging a large hole and throwing a big wake. I yelled and he looked behind
his boat and said ( really!! ) I am not throwing a wake.
I yelled back he is responsible if he rolls me and he finally slowed down – the behavior of some boaters is crazy!!!
We crossed into Georgia today and will take a day off tomorrow to tour the beach of Cumberland Island a favorite stop for us.

Today’s Stats: Location-Cumberland Island, GA, ICW MM 711, distance traveled 56.77miles, average speed 8.11 mph, 7.05 knots

2011-04-20T15:42:00.001-04:00

Short Day’s Run

We had a very short run today so we decided to sleep in a little. The weather continues to be very good ( fingers crossed ) and
for most of the morning the current was with us. We did not pass any boats today and saw only one other cruising boat, a sailboat
going south. Pine Island where we are anchored tonight 10 miles above St Augustine, FL is very peaceful with no development visible. Tomorrow will be our last day
in Florida as we cross into Georgia. I checked our fuel and we will top up tomorrow, trying to only buy fuel at the places with the best prices.

Today’s Stats: Location- Pine Island, FL, ICW MM 765, distance traveled 37.48 miles, average speed 8.52 mph, 7.4 knots

2011-04-19T21:37:00.001-04:00

A Trawler Party In Palm Coast

The day started with a pleasant surprise – the Titusville, FL swing bridge is gone and a high rise bridge has opened to replace it.
One less bridge to deal with on the ICW. It was another day of great weather and light ICW traffic – we were passed by just one high speed boat and we passed
4 other boats. Sandra and I saw an eagle along the ICW and many more birds in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. When we reached our planned stop at Daytona Beach to anchor there were too many boats already there even at 1:30 in the afternoon so we decided to press on to Palm Coast where fellow MTOA members Phil & Sarah Lowe graciously offered a neighbors dock for the night. We had a nice dinner hosted by the Lowes and shared by other trawler owners, the Lowe’s friends and neighbors and great fried fish prepared by Sarah’s brother.

Today’s Stats: Location- Palm Coast, FL, ICW MM 801, distance traveled 85.12 miles, average speed 8.51 mph, 7.4 knots

2011-04-18T15:44:00.001-04:00

Is the Indian River Straight or what?

Today was day 2 on the Indian River – basically you are heading due north. The weather is great and I was surprised how
little boat traffic we saw; we passed one trawler and 5 or 6 sailboats. One large fast boat passed us and another small one
really rolled us – amazing how a small boat can create a large wake!! With light winds from the SE we have anchored near
the Kennedy Space Center in the lee of the causeway. Fish are feeding around us. Today we saw two or three osprey nests and all had
chicks in them – I guess the Florida birds get and early start with breeding! We plan to get to Daytona Beach tomorrow.

Today’s Stats: Location- NASA Causeway, Cape Kennedy, FL, ICW MM 885, distance traveled 62.67miles, average speed 8.95 mph, 7.79 knots

2011-04-17T15:48:00.001-04:00

Underway North!!!

We cast off the dock lines from our condo in Stuart, Florida and started the 3 week trip back to Virginia.
This just 3 days after we wrapped-up co-chairing a very successful Marine Trawler Owners Association
rendezvous at the Hutchinson island Marriott ( 51 boats, 177 members attending ).
The day started foggy but much cooler than the low 90’s we have had recently, reaching just the high 70’s. Along the way we saw a few dolphins and a large loggerhead turtle just below Vero Beach.
Tonight we are at anchor just above Vero Beach and there is a sailboat and another trawler with us.

Today’s Stats: Location- Pine Island, Wabasso Beach, FL, ICW MM 946, distance traveled 50.49 miles, average speed 8.42 mph, 7.32 knots

2011-04-09T12:20:00.001-04:00

Motor Kayaking at Ft Pierce

Sandra & I along with friends Dennis & Suzi Robinett decided to spend a day exploring the inlet and
mangroves near Ft Pierce, Florida. A neat way to travel, a kayak with a trolling motor – we could cover
more ground and also deal with going into the wind, but still paddle in the skinny water thru the mangroves.

Check out the guides site: http://www.motorizedkayakadventures.com/