Fishing From A Sailboat

The past couple weekends the summer flounder have been biting very well. We decided to sail on out to the channel and try our luck at a few of these good tasting flatties. We left and headed to the area that had the best write ups in the local fishing news. However, there were so many boats and large vessels moving around, I couldn't believe there would be good fishing with so much activity going on. We gave it a try for an hour or so and moved away from the congestion to a spot where we caught a bunch of fluke.


Once we got to an area that had less traffic we were able to get some strikes on our baits. The first mate "Blue" caught the first two fish and some nice fish he caught. We fished on a drift that took us almost two miles. It was busy with hits and fish along this great drift.


We called it a day and went back to the mooring a couple of happy sailing fishermen.

July 3rd and 4th

This holiday weekend started with some great thoughts of sailing everyday, however, mother nature had other ideas. I had to tend bar on Saturday, so that wasn't mother nature's fault, but it started everything in the wrong direction. The weather channel changed it's weekend forecast to rain on Sunday. How dare they do that to me! We still made an attempt to go sailing. We got down to the boat yard around 10:00am and it was raining pretty hard. I suggested we take a ride to Fair Haven to look at another boat I have been eyeing. We got to Fair Haven and the rain had stopped, it even looked like it was beginning to clear. As we stood next to the boat Gary said that this looks a lot bigger than your boat. I said' "Yessssss". It was another ODay, but this one has something called sail drive. It looks like the bottom of an outboard sticking out the bottom of the hull. I need to do some research before I do anything further regarding this boat.

We then drove back to Keyport and stood at the top of the boat ramp looking out at Lil Provo. It was then I noticed one of the guys I had met at the yard standing on his boat in the pouring rain looking around. I immediately noticed he had a white dinghy, not the red one he usually uses. While we stood under the make lift gate of my truck, blocking us from the rain, we watched him come back to shore. When he arrived to the boat ramp he was screaming and yelling about someone had stolen his hand made dinghy last night. We hate to hear things like this! We stood around a little while longer hoping for the rain to stop, but it didn't so we headed home.

Monday was suppose to me a great day. We packed up and left early on Monday and got down to the boat to find the mooring field sitting in a big bowl of pea soup. There was fog, heavy fog! By the time we got the dinghy in the water and loaded up, the fog had begun to thin out. We went a couple miles out and baited some hooks and threw them over the side. We had a great time catching Fluke. We only had two keepers, but it was a fun day fishing. Later on, the sun came up, but the wind stayed at a low breeze. We finished up our day around 2:00 and headed home to take care of our picnic appointments. It turned out to be a really fun day.

Fathers Day in Keyport Harbor NJ

Sailing on Fathers Day was a blast. I knew I had the typical Dad obligations all day and had to get to the boat early so I could be home by noon. Arrived about 8:30am to the boat yard, another 15 minutes and I was pulling the dinghy up along side Lil Provo. It amazes me how dirty a boat gets just sitting there! I placed my daily supplies on board and climbed into the cockpit to stow the gear.

The harbor was like glass with no wind present at all. I gave a couple pumps to the gas bulb and started the motor, ran to the front to drop the mooring line and back to the cockpit to put the motor into gear. I motored on out into the bay where there was a great breeze for sailing. I opened the sails and let the wind take over. I hate the sound of a motor running lately. There is nothing to compare to doing six knots with only the sound of the water splashing against the hull. After a couple hours, I headed back to the harbor so I could secure Lil Provo and head home for Fathers day.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend was the best weekend we had so far this year. The days were like summer days and the winds were moving good, as were the fish. We did run into some problems on Thursday which was our first day out. The bilge pump float died again and the boat yard chopped my look off of the cabin so they could get in and get my boom. They would usually just put her on the water without it and leave that up to me, but this year they had a new sail for me and wanted to make sure it fit. Now I have a newer jib and a newer main. They both work great! I went to West Marine and picked up a float for the pump and got that working fine. The boat was very good this weekend and it was a lot of fun. So much fun I didn't have time to take too many pictures, but what would a post be without pictures.



Next weekend we plan of have a real good time!

Lil Provo is finally ready

It has been a tough few weeks.  We have had so much rain and there is never a nice day when I am off.  It seems to take for ever to get the boat done this year.  Well, after weeks of squeezing in a little work between the raining, Lil Provo is ready.  I finished the bottom paint and the deck repair.  On Sunday we brought her down to the boat year where they will raise the mast and place her on her morring sometime today.  On Wednesday evening we will delivery the dinghy and on Thursday, I will go out sailing.  She looked pretty good when I towned her down there yesterday.  The trailer had the bnew axle and leaf springs in and I shouldn't have to worry about that stuff for years.  Here is a quick video of her on Sunday.

Weather is breaking, Boat is coming along

The spring has finally gotten here.  It is only weeks now until the boat goes into the water.  Last night we installed a new axle, leaf springs, and hardware under our trailer.  I increased the load capacity of the trailer at the same time.  Traveling home this winter taught me a lesson and I will not have to worry about the trailer being over loaded again.  We began the fiberglassing on the deck where a life line pole had broken the fiberglass under it's mount during the accident last September.  It is only a six by six section and I only need to add a couple more layers of cloth to bring it up to the level of the rest of the deck.  I can then remount the life line support pole.

We have cleared out most of the interior and will be staining the sliding door that divides the salon area from the front V birth and head. I have some redwood that I would like to add a small shelf area for more storage.  I need to also mount my fire extinguisher and organize my cockpit compartment.  I have been sliding the fishing poles down one of the settees for years now, but I will try to find someplace I can mount them out of the way.   The bottom of the boat still needs to be touched up and will have to look into getting some paint this week.  I will also need to paint the area of deck that was repaired.  I think I still have some of the gray non slip paint in the basement.

The mast needs some attention.  I need to put a hole in it so I can run the wires out for the anchor light and antenna.  This will allow the wires to hang out instead of mounting the mast and finding out you can't get to the wires to plug them in.  I will give all deck plates a coating of silicone to minimize any water passing by.  Need to purchase a new antenna and Windex to replace those lost in the September accident.  I am getting a new or used mainsheet.  Something in better condition than what I have.  The sailmaker recommended replacing the original sail and keep it for a backup.  I have a newer jib now as the original was ruined in the accident as well.

Yes, there seems to be lots to do, but working evenings and weekends, this will all be done and ready by the 21st.  Once I get her all done and I have some time, I'll add pictures to these posts. I'll be back soon!

Starting that preparation for the coming season

After having the boat repaired from the accident she had in September when she dragged the mooring during a storm, I brought her home as noted in my last blog.  On that trip the axle started to bend due to rust.  I have now ordered a new axle and expect that any day now.  I am also buying new leaf springs so I won't have to worry about the suspension for years to come. 

I just brought my mainsail to the sail maker and was told to use it as a spare.  The sail is the original and someone before me had holes at the ends of the battens which they repaired, but had to shorten the battens to stop the wear.  So now I am in search of a sail.  I will check with the boat yard first to see if they have one and if they don't, I'll have to but a new one.  The jib will be in better shape than the old one as after the accident I bought a replacement from the yard that was in very good condition.  Now all I will have left will be to replace the running rigging.

 I have been cleaning the water stains on the outside off and will wax the hull after I complete this task.  The interior will be stripped out and everything cleaned when we get some good weather.  That has been hard to find lately.  The is a spot on the deck where a pole for the life line was knocked over during the accident and I will fiberglass that once I know we will have a few good days of fair weather.

Thats it for now.  I'll keep the blog posted on upcoming events.