11/25/2007 11:42:12 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Clarencio, the intracoastal "waterway" from just east of New Orleans to just west of Florida goes through Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay; it is NOT a sheltered canal in that area. It's several miles wide and it can and does get rough. It's NOT a place you want to get caught in a flat-water boat; particularly an expensive, slow, low freeboard houseboat. I've been through there twice (in a sailboat) and got beat up both times. Were I to try it in my houseboat I'd be VERY careful.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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11/25/2007 12:18:03 PM
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clarencio5
Admiral
Posts: 229
Joined: 09/03/2006
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I guess I was just lucky then because the first time I did it was
in my 43 ft. steel hulled flat bottomed "Drifter" Houseboat that
drew only 8 inches of water.
I was never far from land if a big storm would have come. We
also stopped at Dog or Dauphin ??Island off mobile bay.
I was there 3 more times when I was delivering boats for other
people to that area and
never had bad weather. As compared to going from Carabelle
Fla to Cedar Keys fla.where you are many miles from
land I think this area is a piece of cake.
But like I said, maybe I was just lucky??
Clarencio
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11/25/2007 04:50:34 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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May be the time of year or time of day. Summertime a thunderstorm can come up on you pretty fast, and if you're between ports the only "shelter" might be the beach. Around here I run in the early morning when it's quiet, and plan to be in port by noon or maybe 1400 at the latest.
Met a fellow a year or so ago that made the trip from New Orleans to all the way to Tampa Bay in a 35' Catamaran Cruiser. No signs of damage to the boat.. So luck must have a lot to do with it.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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11/25/2007 04:55:01 PM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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Ahh, I see your point Clarencio. We draw 24"-27"., and did have that nifty forward looking sonar, guess we could have hugged shore.
Wonder what dangers Zone man would have found for us on that route?
Wife would have still had to be medicated I'm pretty sure.
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11/26/2007 06:20:01 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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"Hugging the shore" can be bad news if the wind comes up from the wrong direction. One night I anchored in the lee of one of the islands, thinking it was a good spot.... During the night the wind shifted, and made for a pretty exciting couple hours till we found another spot.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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11/28/2007 12:21:07 PM
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clarencio5
Admiral
Posts: 229
Joined: 09/03/2006
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Ted, Banana and et al
Sweet Lindee put together the entire story of mine, "Gullibles
Travel's" all 11 chapts.
It is all on www.houseboatmagazine.com Scroll down and
you will see Gullibles Travels 4 times. Each section includes
2 or 3 chapts. A few of you asked to be informed when it
showed up. Please pass this info on.
Ted, I don't think it is as exciting as yours was but it was a fun
three months for us and we learned a lot of lessons about
houseboating on the rivers. Also I am glad we did not have a
charachter on board like you did.. Let me know what you
think?
Clarence
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11/28/2007 07:56:08 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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I've heard it was an interesting read.... Thanks for the lead!
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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11/28/2007 08:16:30 PM
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Amelia
Admiral
Posts: 522
Joined: 02/03/2007
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It WAS a fun read. Like so many trips, I found myself wishing I could have tagged along, and occasionally being very glad I hadn't. Even though I've flown a little airplane across that section of Gulf that gave Clarence and family such a bad ride several times, and found it smooth as glass every time, I don't think I'd'a had the nerve to cross it in a houseboat. (I'd have been way out of luck if my engine had ever quit, but God looks after fools and old ladies with cute fly-toys.) Has anybody ever done that trip hugging the coastline? I know there are some very pretty rivers along that part of Florida.
Also would love to hear 'the rest of the story', a brief synopsis of 'what happened next.' Did the kids grow up to be houseboaters? Did the Lil Hobo continue to provide Clarencio's family with adventure tales for years thereafter?
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Amelia
Edenton, NC
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12/02/2007 10:09:57 AM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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Here is what I would want to cruise in the oceans.
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