Recent posts

#21

TSBB General Talk / Re: Cedar Key and CB

Last post by Chris Muthig - May 06, 2026, 07:54 AM

I got him a shirt that said, "But did we sink?" for his birthday last year.

#22

Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Cedar Key Small Boat Meet ...

Last post by Captain Kidd - May 05, 2026, 11:29 PM

It really is a great joy sailing in a boat that you yourself have built. You've now experienced that joy for yourself. You are going to love your Scamp! I may have said it before, but it was on my short list of possible builds.  I even saw the ad for the hull you purchased and just finished. So glad you got it. Oh, and BTW, here's my wallpaper on my phone:

You cannot view this attachment.

#23

Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Cedar Key Small Boat Meet ...

Last post by Captain Kidd - May 05, 2026, 11:14 PM

It can get very busy on a little ship!

#24

Tales and Trip Reports / Re: Cedar Key Small Boat Meet ...

Last post by Captain Kidd - May 05, 2026, 11:07 PM

I scanned those pics of the dinner for you but obviously missed. "Now I see" said the blind man.

#25

Tales and Trip Reports / Cedar Key Small Boat Meet 2K26...

Last post by Charles Brennan - May 05, 2026, 10:35 PM

Remember the decked canoe, last seen on top of a car, back at Shell Mound camp ground? 
You cannot view this attachment.

This is Brian, from Detroit, who came all the way down here, to participate in the CKSBM.
You cannot view this attachment.

Here he is again, later on, putting the boat through her paces.
You cannot view this attachment.

The Capri14.2 did a lot of sailing out in the bay, before finally arriving at Atsena Otie.
You cannot view this attachment.
(Suspect they really only came ashore, for a pee break.) 

Guy told me what this boat was, but I forgot. 
You cannot view this attachment.

Not so many boats on Sunday as in years past, but a lot of the WCTSS folk live in southwest Florida and Orlando, and need most of Sunday to get back home in time, to go to work.
You cannot view this attachment.

But there was still a fair representation of boats.
You cannot view this attachment.
Most of the afternoon, different people kept coming over to admire the Irish Pennant. 
Two most common favorable comments:
"Like the colors."
"Like the name."

This boat was designed and built by a Cedar Key local, (yes, I forgot his name!)    which explains why her name is Clam Girl.
You cannot view this attachment.

I was struck by the lee board levers.
You cannot view this attachment.

And the well laid out, carbon fiber mast and rigging.
You cannot view this attachment.

Rob Hazzard's Coquina.
You cannot view this attachment.

Rob (with his back to the camera) getting ready to go out.
You cannot view this attachment.

I got ready to quickly head out; all I had to do was to pull my beach stake, hop aboard, pull the boat out towards my stern anchor and when the anchor pulled free, simply sail off.
Looked like a Hero. 
If anybody had been there, left to see it. 
I didn't care, I was exulting too much, in the sheer joy of sailing a responsive, lively boat, even in light winds.   
Been missing that. 
For a coupla years, now. 

Forgot the type of boat, but it turns out the guy lives in the same town (Newberry) that I do!! 
You cannot view this attachment.

Here he is, again.
You cannot view this attachment.

Rob, ghosting by in his Coquina.
You cannot view this attachment.

A pic taken by someone else, on Friday.
You cannot view this attachment.
Notice the sky on Friday, versus Sunday, in the pic above?? 

The winds started dying off in the late afternoon and I finally dropped the sail and motored back to the ramp.
I mean, right ONTO the ramp. 
Guy offered to hold my hull, while I went to get the truck and I took him up on it, unusual for me! 
His wife and some other girl on a bike, both commented on the SCAMP's colors.
(Told my wife back at home, that she may have made that boat into a Chick Magnet, with her paint scheme.) 
This ramp is a cinch, if you don't have to tie off to the floating docks! 
Wow!!    Just have to BUILD the right boat, for the right conditions!! 

Here's a pic someone took of me, out in the bay.
Man!!    NOBODY ever took pics of my boat, when it was just a Classic Plastic!! 
Alluva sudden-like, I'm photogenic!! 
Wife asked me what I was looking up at. 
You cannot view this attachment.
Told her I was thanking God, for my new boat and for the wonderful day; it was very nearly, a religious experience. 
This is going to be a fun boat, people. 

Charles Brennan

#26

Tales and Trip Reports / Cedar Key Small Boat Meet 2K26...

Last post by Charles Brennan - May 05, 2026, 09:55 PM

Clear, Blue skies. What a difference, a day makes!! 
My own humble boat, dwarfed by that monster 14-foot Catalina! 
You cannot view this attachment.

The pic that Dale saw on Facebook.
You cannot view this attachment.
(See my black rubber bungee cord, holding up the white rudder?!?) 

OK, pucker-time, Charles!!    Time to face the Gulf-side ramp for launching! 
It's an arduous ramp for a single-hander. 
You have to launch, quickly board the boat from the trailer, then motor around the ramp to a dock and tie off, using every fender you own, all while the on-coming waves beat your hull against the floating docks. 
Run quickly up the dock to your tow vehicle, drive off and park it and run back to the dock, untie and thread your way through fishing boats into the open bay and then raise your rig. 
Done it that way several times on Urchin except, I wasn't on Urchin, any more; I was on a MUCH smaller, lighter, boat. 
I had purposely built features on the SCAMP just for this particular ramp, such as a stainless steel rub strip under the nose and more stainless steel rub strips for the skegs.
I simply dragged the hull far enough up on the concrete, that any errant power boat loading wakes, would not let it drift off and calmly walked back to the truck and drove off, to park it. 
On my return, I pushed the hull far enough into the water to float, but then ground out again once under my weight, and hopped aboard.
Then I put the trolling motor in reverse and rocked the boat side to side a little, "walking" the hull back into deeper water, just like I do with kayaks, when launching from land.
Worked like a charm. 
After a decade of trepidation, I'm no longer afraid of that ramp. 

Got out into the bay and raised sails and started sailing and noticed the boat heeling a little more than I remembered. 
You cannot view this attachment.
DOHHH!!!! 
Wasn't at a dock to fill the ballast tank, now was I?!? 
Filled the ballast tank, with my bilge pump and then noticed my centerboard wasn't down.
Durn!!    I THOUGHT I fixed that!! 
Tried pushing down on it with the centerboard cover.
Didn't move.  Seemed to be jammed. 
Getting my head out of the cockpit, I suddenly realized I had drifted aground, while futzing with the water ballast and the centerboard was only doing exactly what it was designed to do.
Looked back at the rudder and saw the quick release clam cleat had also done what it was designed to do, on the rudder blade kick-up.
EVERYTHING aboard, was working correctly, except ME!! 
DOHHH!!!! 
Took the opportunity to practice tacking off a lee shore with the rudder blade up and only the skegs, for lateral resistance.
(Wasn't ABOUT to use the trolling motor, that close to oyster bars.) 
Worked reasonably well.

First good test of the tiller pilot; exulted in how well everything was working.  Almost like it had been BUILT that way!! 
You cannot view this attachment.

Very pleased with the rigging and how well the sail handles.
You cannot view this attachment.

And this was bit of a jolt: 
You cannot view this attachment.
Long-time readers of my posts, have seen the trope of: "Here she comes,  . . . . . .

 . . . . here she is, . . . . . .
You cannot view this attachment.

 . . . . and there she goes . . . . ."  Where other boats come up to me and then pass me by.
You cannot view this attachment.
Didn't happen this time;    was totally shocked that the SCAMP stayed right there with him!! 

Was so excited to go to the CKSBM, I had even popped for some new Sperries!! 
You cannot view this attachment.

Dropped the sail and motored in the last 100 feet, since I just don't know this boat well enough, yet. 
You cannot view this attachment.

I've always been struck, by the way boat builders seem to caress the boats they've built, when having their picture taken.
You cannot view this attachment.

Guy took a pic of me standing by the boat, right after I landed.
You cannot view this attachment.
And now, who's caressing a hull they built?!? 

The wind was light enough, that I raised the sail again for a pic, annnnnnd . . . . .  there it is:
You cannot view this attachment.
The mental image in my head, the one that had sustained me for the past 28 months, now standing there right before me in the flesh, or at least, standing there in the Okoume and epoxy, as it were.
Any guesses, as to the new smart phone home screen? 

But enough about me!! 
This guy is about as relaxed a sailor as I've ever seen, at a CKSBM weekend. 
You cannot view this attachment.

This Norseboat was zipping back and forth out there.
You cannot view this attachment.

And the Flying Scot finally got un-lashed enough, to make it to the island.
You cannot view this attachment.
He's shown here, trying to figure out how to sail off a lee shore.

Simple!!    Just walk it out past the sand bar and launch! 
You cannot view this attachment.

They're very egalitarian at the CKSBM and power boats are as welcome, as canoes or sailboats.
You cannot view this attachment.

This amazing little power boat was built at the Crystal River Boat Builders Works, a facility where guys can work on and build their boats.
You cannot view this attachment.

The most amazing thing, is that it is air-conditioned!! 
You cannot view this attachment.
I would say it's a cool little boat, but that would be redundant! 

Charles Brennan

#27

Tales and Trip Reports / Cedar Key Small Boat Meet 2K26...

Last post by Charles Brennan - May 05, 2026, 09:22 PM

"Those whom the gods would destroy, they first raise up."
       ---Euripides

Three years ago, I realized I had aged out of my beloved Windrose 18 sloop, Urchin, and was no longer able to safely handle or operate her as I had, for nearly 5 decades. 
I embarked on a (desperate) race against Time, to build/acquire a boat I could handle in those remaining years allotted to me. 
For I loved nothing so much as feeling a hull moving beneath me, powered solely by the elements around me and seeing all the wonders of Nature, hidden from most land-dwellers. 
Like Cap'n Kidd, one of my favorite Bible verses is:
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:23-24
It has always been my go-to rationalization, for skipping out on Mass and going fishing, or sailing!! 
28 months in a row, I worked diligently towards that goal, all while dreaming of a small boat resting on a white sandy beach, while I contemplated in which general direction I would choose, to get out of sight of land for a while.

The hard work finally paid off (as it usually does) and I was able to make it to the 41st annual Cedar Key Small Boat Meet.
I was so Happy to see everyone again and so Proud, to be able to show off my Shiny New Boat to everybody! 
A proper sailboat this year, not an RIB or kayak, like in the past several years, previously.
In all my new-found joy I had forgotten, that Brennan is eternally damn'ed by the gods. 
Who decided of all days, that today was the day to Rain On My Parade, and visit rains and general wetness, down upon me. 
Rain, you say?    Nay, a DELUGE of a gully-washing, possum-pounding, frog-strangler of a rain storm. 

I mean, I KNEW it was coming; wasn't like the satellites hadn't already warned us. 
You cannot view this attachment.
But (even after 10 years) I was still coming to terms with north central Florida rain, versus south Florida rain.
Down in south Florida the rain is much gentler, and while it might rain for 48 hours straight, you might only get a total of 2 inches dribbed and drabbed out, a little at a time
Up here in north central Florida, it comes down ALL AT ONCE, IN BUCKETS and you might get 6 inches in 6 hours!! 

But early Saturday morning, when I arrived, the weather had not quite gotten there, yet.
There were signs:
You cannot view this attachment.
Absolutely NOBODY    over at Atseno Otie key on that white strip of beach in the center of the pic.

Another sign:
You cannot view this attachment.
While I don't mind 1 to 2 foot seas in the bay, I draw the line at 1 to 2 foot seas, at the RAMP!! 

This guy in a Flying Scott (turns out, he's from Gainesville!) was lashing down the ratchet straps on his hull.
Think about that for a minute: The boat is already on the hard, already on a trailer and he STILL wants it lashed down, more securely!   
You cannot view this attachment.

And the final clincher:
You cannot view this attachment.
Dan Roeder, (seated) administrator of the WCTSS (West Coast Trailer Sailor Squadron), bringing his Wayfarer back in, after having over nighted at Atseno Otie Key and STRONGLY recommending that nobody try going out, today.
He asked if I was coming to the WCTSS dinner that evening at 6 pm and I assured him, that I was.  He said the new plan was for everybody to meet up and sail, on Sunday.
Driving clear back to Gainesville and coming back to Cedar Key for the dinner, then driving home again for the night, only to return the next morning, was a lot of (currently) expensive fuel and time, on the road.
I just needed to figure out what to do with myself for the 8 or 10 hours I had PLANNED to be showing off my new boat, to everybody.

Thanks to Ed Combs, I had recently learned about Shell Mound County park, 6 miles to the north, which also has a boat ramp.
You cannot view this attachment.
Fair Warning for Tourists:
Any time the state of Florida has to TELL you that it is a boat ramp by using a sign, it's because you might not be able to tell it was a boat ramp, otherwise. 

But, it did have a dock:
You cannot view this attachment.

They had even splurged for a CLEAT!! 
You cannot view this attachment.
I tried poking around the waters with a stick and determined that anyone in kayaks, canoes, and air-boats, would have no problems whatever, launching and using the surrounding waters.
Guy with a brand new boat and some residual PTSD, from trashing a trolling motor prop on some oyster bars, 2 weeks ago; uhhh  . . . . .  not so much. 
Hard pass. 

Besides a ramp, they also have a camp ground and I rented a tent space (no power or water for tent spaces, although other campsites there have them) to house myself and my boat, for the night.
You cannot view this attachment.

Nice area.
You cannot view this attachment.
Check the decked canoe on a roof top; more about that guy, later.

A decent camp site and right across the way from the rest rooms (precious, to elderly males!)    and which even had a clean shower.
I would rate the amenities as being right on a par with the Pensacola Shipyard Marine Complex we used to use, on the BEER cruises.
You cannot view this attachment.

I went back into town at Cedar Key and did a little exploring that I usually don't have the time to do, on CKSBM weekends and got something for lunch.
I had brought a sandwich and snacks with me, but figured I would need them on Sunday and nothing local opens up on Sundays, before I would already be leaving the ramp.
Swung by the ramp and verified that wind speeds had increased from 10 knots when I first saw Dan, to over 16 knots in only an hour or so, and with the brunt of the front still a few hours away.
You cannot view this attachment.
No sailing today, people. 

All snugged in, to wait out the weather.
After some thought, I backed away a little, out from under the trees! 
You cannot view this attachment.

Took a nap, awoke and read a book on my phone and then took another nap, pacing myself, so that my naps didn't overlap! 
I needn't have worried; Nature's Alarm Clock, roused me in full force.
Whoa!! 
You cannot view this attachment.
Yeah, it was rough where I was and even more violent, at Cedar Key and Atsena Otie.
Good call, Dan. 

Reminded me of a favorite cartoon, taken from Rudder magazine and taped to a wall, that  I had first seen as a boy, during a trip to a Marine Chandlery with my Dad.
You cannot view this attachment.
But as with all Florida weather: Don't like it?    Wait a few hours.

I dumped all the water that had accumulated in my boat cover (before the cover split!)    and drove back to Cedar Key.
This guy was prepping his Catalina Capri 14.2 ahead of time, for sailing on Sunday.
You cannot view this attachment.
He was concerned about his rudder blade not staying up during launch, so I gave him a spare bungee cord to hold it in place.

Dinner time!! 
You cannot view this attachment.
Dan Roeder at bottom right, and WCTSS Chairman Emeritus Ron Hoddinot at left, in the khaki baseball cap and black polo shirt.
I was introduced to  a whole lot of other people there and promptly forgot all their names! 

I even showed up in one of the pics! 
You cannot view this attachment.
Dark blue tee-shirt, top center of pic, wondering if anyone would notice if I sneaked over and got some seconds, on dessert.
(Don't let that hands-folded politely, innocent expression, fool you!) 
Guy at far right is Rob Hazzard, (and a former SCAMP owner) in the blue Wooden Boat ball cap and olive tee-shirt.
See? I remembered SOME names!! 
In years past they had guest speakers, such as a Smithsonian Institute scholar who gave a presentation on Chapelle's "Small Boats and Sailing Craft" one year, when I was there.
I wasn't there the year they had a guest speaker, introduced as: "An Adventurer from Texas" Charlie Jones, who spoke about sailing from Texas to Florida and on to the Bahamas, in his refurbished sailboat, Tehani.
Since the last hurricane, they hadn't had guest speakers, because they were never sure which venue they might be able to use and worried they might not be able to accommodate guest speakers, properly.
Nobody noticed me glomming onto dessert seconds. 
Or thirds. 

Charles Brennan

#28

TSBB General Talk / Re: Cedar Key and CB

Last post by Charles Brennan - May 05, 2026, 08:57 PM

Timm, That one made me laugh, REALLY HARD!! 

Thanks,
Charles Brennan

#29

TSBB General Talk / Re: Cedar Key and CB

Last post by Timm R Oday25 - May 05, 2026, 08:48 PM

We all now know he went . The real question is " Did he come back?"

#30

Tales and Trip Reports / Re: SCAMP Sail on Lake Weir . ...

Last post by Riley Smith - May 05, 2026, 12:12 PM

CB that window down rule needs to be priority one 

PS. My truck has a positive traction switch I have only used a couple of time but Sunday was once I did. That ramp was SLICK and the tide was very low forcing me to back WAY down. All was well though and nary tire spin.