Last Skater boating trip, before Ft Myers Offshore season starts

Frankie and I enjoyed our last day of boating in the Skater, before I get her on the trailer and do a bit of cleaning and maintenance, in the next week or two. Five weeks from today, the Ft. Myers Offshore season starts, I can not wait! The boat has been used regularly and kept on the lift, since this time last year.

Today we went down the Myakka River, down Charlotte Harbor, and beached up in a very quite spot on Cayo Costa island.

Air temp 88
Humidity 63%
Wind WNW 9mph
Seas 2ft
Gulf water temp 86

For us it was a round trip of 51.1miles, and I burned 21.4 gallons of 93 octane, that's an average of 2.388MPG.


click here for all 34 pictures


overview



close to shore



transom




from the port side



looking south



down the beach



click here for all 34 pictures

hay frank nice pics looks like you and franky had fun im looking forward to this winter boating

Who has a better life than Frank

Jim,

Yes, it was a great day.

Ft Myers Offshore, season opener Oct 29, will you be here by then with the boat?

If not, you are welcome to come with us.

FYI: second grandchild born almost 2 weeks ago. All are healthy and happy!

Larry,

Definately, been blessed.

Soon you will be out in that yellow monster! I am going to need to see that one, in person!

Come along and ride in my cockpit for the start

Here is one more video clip from the Jan 2011 Useppa Island event. I hope these
help to get you pumped up for the FMO season start on Oct 29, just 3 weeks from today.

Be sure to watch in full screen.

Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/JpPCaTfPx0g?hd=1

She is on the trailer, and enjoying some serious cleaning and detailing. I also have to
service the lower units, replace my indicator cables, and give everything a 'once over'.

Looking forward to the thanksgiving event.

Frank ,

I heard that the salt on the Gulf side is the worst around ? Infact Merc used to do salt water testing back in the day

Yes, high salt content.

When I was first here, I would see the Merc test boats with
the drivers wearing racing jackets and helmets all the time.

The 'secret' location is not to far from me, abandoned now.

The static test location, with stuff sitting on benches and
tables, is also local.

I am 25 miles by water up the harbor, from the Gulf. The
river behind by house, runs into the harbor and is fresh
water, so I get a nice 'flush; as I come back to my lift.

That's convenient having a fresh waterflush back to the dock!

We stayed at Boca Grand on the intercostal waterway for vacation a few times. I would always be so envious of those kid driving boats all day! I'm sure the we're sick of boats by the end of the day.

Yes, looks like fun and games, but like everything else
after all day, evey day, in all weather, it gets old.