Chillin in Key Largo…anchor drag blues…toilet seat pass

2/25/16
Tarpon Basin, Key Largo FL
Posted by Bill

After arriving 2 days ago, we ventured into Key Largo by dinghy. There is a nice public dinghy dock, with trash drop off, and a short walk to stores, restaurants and bars. The first order of business for us was to get a new hose for the anchor wash down. We bought a new one in Beaufort SC in November, but when I plugged it in to the wash down system I found that there were dozens of holes (or cuts as it turned out) in the hose, resulting in a salt water shower that covered the entire boat! We really need the anchor wash down as it is used to hose off the anchor chain and anchor when we pull the anchor up. Otherwise, the crap on the chain goes into the anchor locker, eventually finding it’s way into the bilge and stinking up the boat. We hit a hardware store just across the street from the dinghy dock, bought the hose, and then proceeded to happy hour a couple of doors down at D-Hookers. Great wings, and stiff drinks!!!! Here is the gang:
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Everyone came over to our boat for a nightcap when we returned, and we enjoyed a great evening at anchor until a short sprinkle chased everyone home.

The next day, after breakfast in the cockpit, we went ashore again and walked to several stores about a mile away, and then worked our way back as we checked out the bars we came across, hit happy hour at a couple of them, and beat it back to the boat to ride out an impending storm front. Around 9 PM it started and around 11 or so, the wind shifted. The winds picked up into the mid 20’s after midnight and I checked the anchor about every hour. When the wind shifts, the anchor will pull out of the sea bed and reset most of the time, but you have to keep an eye on it to make sure that it did set properly. We held fine until my 5 AM check, and I noticed that we had dragged about 500 feet toward shore. The anchor had reset, but it looked like I didn’t have enough chain out (scope) to take the winds we were getting. I started the engine and let out more chain, and we were sitting nice and tight in the sea bed. This is the first time we have dragged like that since we left the Great Lakes. Today we are planning to move up into the next basin, Blackwater Sound, and anchor next to a really great bar called Gilberts. It is very well known and regarded as a great place to eat and party.

As promised, here are some pictures from Toilet Seat Pass that we checked out a couple of days ago:
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3 thoughts on “Chillin in Key Largo…anchor drag blues…toilet seat pass

  1. Hayden

    Fun Fun Fun times, get up to Biscayne Bay and hang there for a fast run to Bimini or to Gun Cay/Cat Cay cut. Cant wait for our music man to get here, bring that team with you…
    Hayden

    Reply
    1. bwehmer Post author

      Hey Deb! We are working our way to you guys as well. Perhaps we’ll see you in dinner key! It would be nice to see you!!

      Reply

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