Florida bound

40dad.....skipping the small talk, I love the look of your boat! I could retire on that just fine! 40' will be my next stepping stone. Merry Christmas, enjoy Fl and be safe.
 
No......we travel with our dogs so where we stop for food, fuel and pit stops, and what we can combine has an influence on the total elapsed time. We have found that the following is the best route to the beach from Montgomery:

As you approach Montgomery on the north side of town, take I-85 east toward Atlanta, go 9 miles to the Taylor Road exit (#9), exit to the right. Follow Old Taylor Road until it dead ends into hiway 231; turn left and stay on 231 to Troy,AL. At Troy, turn right (at Country's Barbecue) onto AL hiway 167, Stay on 167, at Enterprise, take the by pass by following 167, but you will turn left as soon as you get to the stoplight in Enterprise. Follow 167 all the way to Esto, FL where AL 167 changes to FL-79. Stay on 79 all the way to PCB. It dead ends at Back Beach Road (at the "Y"), turn left on Back Beach and go to the marina.

This route is all 4 lane or very good 2 lane, minimum turns, and it is safe at any time of the day or nite. You are never far from a town in case you have a problem.


And between us, Vic is a service writer; try to work thru Roland and build a relationship with him.

Frank, this route was great. I think it shaved about 20 miles off atleast vs. taking 231 the whole way from Montgomery. Btw, I also re-did all my lines while there so they could be adjusted more easily. if you get a chance to walk by her next time your down, would appreciate a quick look to make sure she hasn't floated out into the bay or is now sitting on the dock. Did the 60DA a few boats down from me head south for the winter? Saw him arrive first day we were down over Christmas then he left and had not returned. Also, the high winds that came thru the beach the day after Christmas peeled the starboard canvas and wind screen off the other 480DB a couple of boats down from me. I put everything back together but the owner probably should give it good look ever when he gets a chance. i think you told me you knew him if i remember right.

Satellite Office
Re: Florida bound

One of the best threads I have read. Thank you for sharing and great input from all!
Thanks Satellite. glad you enjoyed it.
 
Hi 40dad,

Saw your boat today, we keep our little Scout in dry stack at TIM. Yours is still floating and looking fine. We're looking for a Dancer in the 28 -32 range.

We spent a lot of time on Barkley and Kentucky lakes, lived in Mayfield after graduating from WKU and learned to sail there. Used to spend some vacations there but now we have a house in PCB. Try to get down here about once a month. Maybe we'll run into each other at TIM before you head back.
 
Tim,

I didn't mention it because the boat is fine, but I did check your lines on 1/7/13. The weather/winds moderated and I spent some time at the marina on Monday after the guys came back. The lines were good and canvas in place, all but the panels Shaun had taken down while he worked on your interface issue. In fact, I spent about 30 minutes on your bridge visiting with Shaun......you have a beautiful boat and it always gets comments from the locals.

We are doing an addition on our house so I was a carpenter this trip instead of a boat driver. Sorry we missed you again. Don't know your return plan, but get ready for pandemonium during Spring Break. We've enjoyed no lines in restaurants, but everything will be open and full of loud kids beginning about 3/1 and running thru the 2nd week of April. The time from April 15 to Memorial day is golden........the later the better, because summer weather patters return and the water is warmer.

Here is the college spring break schedule so you can see how many students are out of school during what week.

http://www.tripsmarter.com/travelinfo/panama-city-beach/spring-break-college-university-dates

I would (and do) avoid the beach altogether during Thunder Beach bike week........5/1- 5/6. The marina will be quiet, but all you can hear everwhere are Harley Davidsons.....from dawn until 3-4AM. There are about 65,000 of them that show up the first week of May so the streets can be gridlocked in spots like Pier Park, Front Beach Road and St. Andrews. If we go then, we'll be anchored out somewhere for the weekend instead of at the house.
 
Hi 40dad,

Saw your boat today, we keep our little Scout in dry stack at TIM. Yours is still floating and looking fine. We're looking for a Dancer in the 28 -32 range.

We spent a lot of time on Barkley and Kentucky lakes, lived in Mayfield after graduating from WKU and learned to sail there. Used to spend some vacations there but now we have a house in PCB. Try to get down here about once a month. Maybe we'll run into each other at TIM before you head back.

Hey there Bud, if I'd known you where dropping by I would have left a rag and some wax out for you. We were coming down this weekend but work got in the way so it'll be Feb now. Anxious to get back.

So you lived right smack in the middle of gods country and got up and left, huh? well, I guess you didn't pick a bad no. 2 spot for a vacation home. Good luck with the new boat search. You ought to buy back in TN/KY and do the trip to PC.
 
Tim,

I didn't mention it because the boat is fine, but I did check your lines on 1/7/13. The weather/winds moderated and I spent some time at the marina on Monday after the guys came back. The lines were good and canvas in place, all but the panels Shaun had taken down while he worked on your interface issue. In fact, I spent about 30 minutes on your bridge visiting with Shaun......you have a beautiful boat and it always gets comments from the locals.

We are doing an addition on our house so I was a carpenter this trip instead of a boat driver. Sorry we missed you again. Don't know your return plan, but get ready for pandemonium during Spring Break. We've enjoyed no lines in restaurants, but everything will be open and full of loud kids beginning about 3/1 and running thru the 2nd week of April. The time from April 15 to Memorial day is golden........the later the better, because summer weather patters return and the water is warmer.

Here is the college spring break schedule so you can see how many students are out of school during what week.

http://www.tripsmarter.com/travelinfo/panama-city-beach/spring-break-college-university-dates

I would (and do) avoid the beach altogether during Thunder Beach bike week........5/1- 5/6. The marina will be quiet, but all you can hear everwhere are Harley Davidsons.....from dawn until 3-4AM. There are about 65,000 of them that show up the first week of May so the streets can be gridlocked in spots like Pier Park, Front Beach Road and St. Andrews. If we go then, we'll be anchored out somewhere for the weekend instead of at the house.

Thanks for checking on her Frank (again). On the last trip down, we had one night where the tide had risen (seemed much higher than what I've seen so far but there was a full moon that night) and the swim platform was nearly level with walkway putting slack in the lines, so I re-tied tighter and left it. It's been on my mind alot.

I need to give Shawn a call. Haven't heard if he had success or not getting the auto pilot to interface with the mfd.

Thanks for the compliment, we did get the topsides completely waxed before we left. As far as locals go, are you sure there are locals other than Bathhouse? (our nickname for the cat). Two weeks spent on the boat and we've seen next to nobody! Did have an "interesting" experience with the guy manning the fuel dock over the Christmas holidays. Pulled up, tied off all my lines, put in my additives, and he handed me the fuel hoses. Ok, I don't mind doing everything myself. Asked him if TIM gave any fuel discounts (slip renters, cash, boat us, etc). He said nope. So I bought 296 gallons of diesel. He then rang me up and gave me a bill for $270 for 296 gallons of diesel. Now I'm really liking Treasure Islands customer appreciation efforts. When my morals kick back in, I go back over to the register to tell him he was off by a thousand bucks, I see the note saying they do accept Boat US so I asked him when he was re-adding the bill to apply the 10 cents/gallon off. He said he couldn't because there was a 300 gallon min purchase. I just decided to smile about it and quietly leave.

We just realized the other day that with both kids in college, we don't have a spring break schedule anymore. We can come and go any time in March or April but I had planned on a week in March and a 4-day long weekend in April. Might switch that now. Altho my son did tell me he and 3-4 friends are now coming down to PCB for spring break---even suggesting they could stay on the boat. Now there's a great idea. I love the boy but not that much.
 
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Tim,

I am just finding this thread. Good read and Great Pics. Thanks for the posts.
 
Tim,

The marina does give several types of discount depending upon the affiliations you have. Its hard to believe on a 296 gals of fuel that NBOA, BOAT/US, SeaTOW, etc doesn't help. You might call the dockmaster, Geroge, ext 39 and just ask him about it.

Shaun wasn't done, but was having difficulty following the wiring the morning I was there.........he's isn't a give up kind of guy, so I'd bet he has it figured out.


And, on pumping your own fuel, given the guys they usually have on the dock, I'm going to pump my own anyway. But there is a story behind why they don't do it for customers any longer....on one holiday weekend several years ago, the same guy filled a gas boat with diesel, filled a water tank with gas, and put water in a diesel tank while trying to hook up the pump out nozzle to the deck plate. They later figured out the guy couldn't read or write. So, now we all do it ourselves. Bob, the night guy is the only one I'd trust and he is a good guy to have around.
 
Tim,
Shaun wasn't done, but was having difficulty following the wiring the morning I was there.........he's isn't a give up kind of guy, so I'd bet he has it figured out.

And, on pumping your own fuel, given the guys they usually have on the dock, I'm going to pump my own anyway. But there is a story behind why they don't do it for customers any longer....on one holiday weekend several years ago, the same guy filled a gas boat with diesel, filled a water tank with gas, and put water in a diesel tank while trying to hook up the pump out nozzle to the deck plate. They later figured out the guy couldn't read or write. So, now we all do it ourselves. Bob, the night guy is the only one I'd trust and he is a good guy to have around.

I'm embarassed to hear you saw the helm wiring. Its one thing I still need to work on although its better than it was. The PO seemed content with just running wires and cables and not combing or bundling anything. No drip loops, stress reliefs or labels. It's still on my 'it bugs me' list of things to take care of.

Bob's the guy who sent us to the Boatyard and Little Black Dress Night but neglected to tell us ladies drink free. so, he's on a different list of mine.
 

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