Up, Up And Away - Glorious Flybridge Views!

No, we're not going up, up and away in a beautiful balloon. Better yet, we are going to see the world from an ever better vantage point - up on the flybridge of a boat.

 For the first part of our boating lives, we always had express style cruisers. These vessels were styled with sleek and low to the waterline profiles and built to go fast when under way. The looks were good and the performance was adequate, but those sleek lines meant compromising living space.

Our old 'Boogaboo III', with a classic express style hull.

 When we were looking to move up to what would be our current boat, more living space was the top priority on the list. To be honest, my mind was pretty much made up on the style of boat I felt would be best, that of a sedan bridge. The benefit of the sedan style is that one gets expanded living space, with direct cabin access from the cockpit, as well as a flybridge helm.

 When we originally took the new toy, 'Boogaboo IV', for it's sea trial on Lake St. Clair, it would be the very first time that I had piloted a bridge boat. It was a whole new world! After getting used to the fact that the pitch and roll of the boat was a little more evident up top, I found the commanding view amazing.

 After having the boat for that first year (only a half season, as we took possession of it in late July), I had come to the conclusion that driving from way up on high was the best way to fly :-) I mean seriously, when compared to a cramped helm of our older express boats, the ability to see all around literally gave us a whole new perspective. And a much higher one, too!

A way up high flybridge. I love it!

 I'll never forget the first time we drove it home along the Severn River after the voyage from Michigan, through Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Now that we were back to more familiar waters, Anchor Girl was all of the sudden noticing buildings along the shoreline that, at this point, were brand new to her. At one spot, she actually asked me about a couple of the cottages along the shoreline when I told her they had been there every other time we had previously ventured this way, only she had never noticed them on the old boat. That was funny.

 If you ever get tired of the confined helm view found in many express style boats, then the cure just might be moving to a Sedan Bridge. Climb up to the flybridge to survey all that lies around you. You’ll feel like you have truly made it to the top :-)

A Mother Of A Day ;-) Snow At The Marina!

Mother's Day at the boat (and probably everywhere else, too) was an interesting experience. After coming through our never ending winter this year, we had all thought that the newly discovered Spring-like conditions were here to stay. Well, no such luck. . .

 On Mother's Day, we woke up to cool, cloudy and windy conditions. No problem, as we were snugly tied to the dock at the marina, and snugly warm inside the boat, with the heat keeping is comfy & cozy. The interesting part came around 11:00 in the morning when the first bit of snow hit. By around 2:00, it was a full on snow storm! With the wind howling in from the west, there were times it was difficult to see many of the other boats in the marina!

 The snow was actually starting to accumulate on the side curtains.

 Thankfully, those conditions have passed and we went on to a beauty week, with the long term weather looking a lot more like, well - SPRING!

 Happy voyages!!

We're Floating Again! Boating Season Has Begun :-)

I am very pleased to say that at long last, Boogaboo IV is once again floating! Here's to another great season on the water! It couldn't have come at a better time, my friends. . . .

 Before it was time to float, it was time to polish. Here, Anchor Girl & I enjoy our first dinner of the year - a little dry, but just nice;

I couldn't have done it without Anchor Girl's hard work and help. So much so, that we were able to get more than I was hoping for polished in only a few days;

Thumbs up to the guys  for coming in on a Saturday morning to get us launched!

Wevvy took advantage of the weather on Sunday getting a super shine on Docked Wages

 

At last! Our beautiful floating home is welcoming us once more :-)

Our Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge

Canada Day Mini Cruise to The Waubic

This past Canada Day long weekend, we headed up the Severn River to The Waubic for a couple of nights. As expected, I have a bunch of pictures, videos and stories to share with you sometime in the future, as time allows. For now, here's a couple of quick pics;

Looking form the river, towards The Waubic restaurant;

This is what it's all about - Anchor Girl relaxes on the swim platform. They had a live band (a bunch of old guys doing some Chicago jazz) which was a surprise - and kept the toes tapping;

Here's a video clip of us heading through the rocky & picturesque McDonald Cut on the way back home;

Shrink Wrap Off Boogaboo

This past weekend I took advantage of both three days off and cooperating weather to remove the shrink wrap from the boat and polish the hull sides. Anchor Girl joined me on Saturday to clean the boat and help get Boogaboo ready for relaunch, which happens this Friday :-)

 All in all, I was able to get almost everything done that was needed for the big splash. With any luck, we won't have to deal with the high winds - and snow - that I experienced for last year's launch.

 Here's a video I put together form the weekend's work;

Last Boating Pics of 2011

Here's a few pics from the 2011 season I wanted to share before we start the 2012 year, which will happen in a very short while. You may have noticed that I've posted little or no photos from last year at Everglades Marina. If so, you are correct in that observation.

 Returning to more happy thoughts, here's a bunch from the few weekends we had at the end of the season, up at Lagoon.

 First few I took looking around from the flybridge;

 See the rising full moon? I got a couple of good nighttime shots from this vantage point one other evening (shown a bit lower down this page);

Here comes Bill & Joan;

Same boat, different evening;

Yet another wonderful sunset I was able to witness. Hopefully we'll get down to the beach this summer to capture some sunsets over the lake;

I took these next three tripod shots with a very long exposure setting (15 seconds) on the camera;

Great shot of the moon, mist and jet con trail over the lights that are reflecting on the still water;

A misty Boogaboo;

Getting late in the season, with everyone in sweaters and jackets;

Poker Stix (Sticks?) coming back into the slip;

A foot warming fire ;-)

These next few are taken at the fire pit, looking across the lawn towards the river;

Anchor Girl & Jason starting a fire;

Back at the boat on a still evening;

 Jimmy, coming back from an afternoon fishing trip;

Sparkly wheels & a shiny boat. Looking forward to our first full year here;

More Georgian Bay by Boat

Here's a few (dozen) more pictures & videos from our 2011 Georgian Bay jaunt. Fear not, these are almost the last ones from that there period of Boogaboo's history. That said, there is some new destinations coming up from up on The Bay that I'm sure most of you haven't seen or been to, so it's all good.

 If you recall the last post of our 2011 summer holidays selection, you will remember that the Boogaboo crew was just pulling away from the docks at Killbear Marina.
 As you can see, we were greeted by a very pleasant, sunny morning with nice conditions for doing some traveling;

I thought it would be nice to head a bit farther north, as we had never been this far & my wanderlust drew Boogaboo upward. And, like I said, it was a loverly day for cruising;

Look at that, yet more rocks and trees ;-)
 I'm only funin' with ya. I love the scenery up here and wanted to share lots of photos of same;

Looking off to the starboard side of the boat, this set of buoys marks to west side of  'Canoe Channel'.  Although narrow, it looks like we might have been able to pass through safely but the chart has an advisory for this spot that vessels over 40' shouldn't attempt it.
 Probably just as well that we didn't attempt it. As you'll see in an upcoming video that we had a narrow enough passage a couple of days after this was taken;

Looking north again towards 'Regatta Bay' and the Snug Harbour lighthouse;

A look back over the shoulder to see our trailing path.
 Please remember to click on ANY of the photos to get a full sized view for ALL the photos;

The Snug Harbour lighthouse comes more into view. Check out the jagged, rocky ledges. Beautiful;

Take note of the black stripe painted on the 'front' side of the building. This is done purposely as the entire building acts as a range marker for vessels heading in from the big part of The Bay;

Here's a video from our passing of the lighthouse;


 This was a pretty common site - a cormorant sunning itself, wings spread on the rocks. It's a shame that these goofy animals seem to be taking over Georgian Bay just as they have Lake Simcoe;

We spotted this sign, all by itself on a rock at the top end of Franklin Island. I'm sure some guy would love to have that old Shell sign for his garage. Or Ebay;

Again we are witness to one of my appendages, indicating some sort of milestone on our boating travels. This time it signifies not only the turnaround point of our adventure, but the farthest north we have so far ventured on Georgian Bay;

I had to capture the spot on my chart plotter. This will continue to act as inspiration for me to go past this point ;-)

On our way back south, we encountered this little curiosity - a dear swimming across the Small Craft channel between the mainland & Franklin Island;

Here she is coming ashore on one of the tiny channel islands;

A quick jaunt across & she was back in the water, heading towards Franklin Island in the background;

 And wouldn't you know it - I caught this neat little event on video;

One of the mini lighthouses on the bay. This one is no longer in service, but still makes for a good day beacon and a nice pic;

Crossing Parry Sound (the body of water), I filmed the captain being really serious as Boogaboo IV blasted across the waves;


Back in Parry Sound, we spotted this vessel coming into port & I thought it was a great  lakes fishing boat It was similar in style to what we encountered the summer before in Lake Huron when we brought Boogaboo IV home from the US of A.
 Turns out it is a scientific research vessel. Better that than having to worry about more errant fishing nets on the open water;

I was playing around with the camera and grabbed a couple of cool shots of one of the float planes coming in for a landing behind our slip at Big Sound Marina;

There is always lots of float plane activity at Parry Sound, as it is a good spot for the locals to pop in for fuel, food & whatever else they may need - just like us boaters;

Yea, it was a classic, hot summer evening when I took this shot. The view of the A/C water coming out of the side reminds me of how warm it was outside & how comfortable it was inside the boat;

A nice shot of the sun glittering off the side of the boat;

I wasn't sure what view looked better (sideways or topways), so I'm sharing both.
 SWEET SUMMERTIME;

Anchor Girl relaxing and taking in a beautiful summer evening;

Check out the sharp angle of this guy coming in for a landing;

Yep, more video. This time it's the planes coming & going;

Ahhhh - Summertime :-)

Ice cold beer on a hot summer evening on the boat. It don't get any better, my friends;

Yes it is;

Morning comes & it's time to head out. The very lovely Anchor Girl tends to the lines & fenders as we leave the gas docks for a pump out.
 On our way back south and back to Henry's;

As it was such a beautiful and calm day, I decided to take the long way around, through Parry Sound (yes, the body of water), around Parry Island and through this gorgeous slice of heaven known as 'Long Sault' (pronounced Long Soo);

The water is incredibly clear through here. Not sure if that's a good thing though, as you can see ALL the rocks and some of them look like they aren't as deep as the charts would suggest;

 

 Yes, it was this tight;

After clearing Long Sault, we pass to the south west of Parry Island and continue southbound on the main small craft route;

We enjoyed a wonderful sunset evening, secured at Henrys for a few nights.

One last look at the 2011 Georgian Bay adventure coming up. . . .