The Journey Begins - Clearwater Beach to Titusville Marina Shake Down Cruise

[RDJackso]

After a little over three months of locating the right boat, surveys, haul outs, bottom painting, generator top end overhaul, engine cooling system flush and price negotiations...we own the boat, a 2001 36' Heritage East Sundeck.

The boat came equipped with a Cummins 6BT5.9M, Northern Lights 8kw generator, two 16 BTU A/C units, newer Garmin (8610) MFD, fresh water vacuflush toilets, 160 gallons fresh water, 420 gallons fuel, blah, blah, blah. The usual features in a package that should lend itself well to Intracoastal cruising, with the possible occasional Bahama run.

We had been searching for the right boat for a little over 2 years after motor-homing for twenty-five years and part time boating in a 25' Atlas Acadia. We started out looking in the 50K range and soon learned that we would have to up the ante if we wanted a boat that met our expectations/requirements, which were pretty simple really...no rotted out project boats. Which is not to suggest that any boat is not a project boat. Nobody said it was easy, and damned if it ain't.

This boat showed well, inside and out. Just the right amount of patina, if you will. Translation, not water stained to the point that a guy couldn't stand show his new boat to friends and family.

Still, there were issues that were identified during the survey that needed to be addressed and if I'm being honest, I actually thought I might expire before the deal was done. Not that I'm in poor health mind you, but Christ...what a grind. But the owner was a straight up guy and fixed all of the major issues.

We finally took possession of the boat on 11/20/25 and started loading a motor-homes worth junk aboard, packing said junk away, all in the spirit of making Miss Grace our own.

So here we are, fixin' to shove off from Clearwater Beach heading down to Ft Meyers, across Okeechobee to the AICW and up to Titusville to our slip in the Titusville Municipal Marina in what can only be called a leap of faith, or in nautical terms, our maiden voyage/shakedown cruise. And don't you know it's starting out with it's own drama? Yeah, the owner left us with a blackwater tank that was 3/4 full and two nearly empty fuel tanks. No big deal, right? Well if that's what you think, you haven't been hanging out in Clearwater after the hurricanes decimated everything. Thanks to a few dock mates local knowledge we are headed to Madeira Beach, which fortunately has both diesel and pumpouts. Life is good.

Sometimes I think I might enjoy posting about our travels, but I can see now how much work it really is and I understand why people burn out and quit sharing the details of their journey. This is my first post...well, not really my first if you count the incessant whining I was doing before we actually closed on this boat (thanks for listeneing Slogoesit, and others). We'll see how it goes, hopeing for the best, while palnning for the worst... On the other hand, what is life without adventure? I'll tell you what it is...Bonanza re-runs.

 

[ksanders]

Please post about your adventures. Many of us love reading about folks adventures!

 

[Comodave]

Yes, I certainly do also. Maybe some photos of your new baby too.

 

[RDJackso]

For some reason, I am experiencing difficulties when I try to upload pictures from my photos library with my MacBook. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[mvweebles]

For some reason, I am experiencing difficulties when I try to upload pictures from my photos library with my MacBook. Anybody have any suggestions?

Not sure it's relevant to a Mac, but on a PC, I've had the easiest time with simply copying the picture (CTRL C on a PC) from its location and pasting it (CTRL V) directly into the message. I cannot import directly from the cloud pictures location - the picture must be in a file.

Peter

 

[Frosty]

I don't use "Photos," but I don't have any trouble uploading an image from a Mac if it's just a photo in a file (jpg, png, etc). So if you don't find a better way, you could probably export from Photos and go that way. (But maybe there is a direct way.)

 

[RDJackso]

I will give it the old college try as soon as I come up for air!

We are heading out from Englewood, FL (Chadwick Cove Marina, nice stop, very friendly staff and other boaters) making our way to Sanibel Island, where we plan to stay through Thanksgiving, Departing Friday making our way across Okeechobee.

This boat is running like a fine Swiss watch, which helps the Admiral stay calm as the maiden voyage/shakedown cruise can be...shall I just say, problematic?

Not that we haven't had issues, Garmin and Starlink come to mind, and I am sure everyone (well many of you, anyway) out there has had to deal with the nerds at both of those outfits.

More later. I feel like I am drinking our of a fire hose right now, so I will take a breath and get moving.

 

[RDJackso]

So...here is a hot tip (and a rookie mistake made by many I'm sure), don't discount the tide charts when leaving Chadwick Cove Marina (or any other marina), and pay strict attention to your departure course.

They say there are three types of boaters. Those that have run aground, those that are going to run aground, and liars. Well, I won't lie to you, Lemon Bay got my cherry!

The Admiral tells me (frequently) that things happen for a reason, and by God they do. Because while we were being pulled off the sand bar, a stones throw from the Chadwick Cove Marina, a 2-1/2' hose clamp let loose (broke in two) at the bottom of our heat exchanger and dumped all of our coolant into the bilge.

We got her shut down at the first note of the overheat alarm, but it took 4 new clamps, almost 6 gallons of coolant and about 12 hours of burping the cooling system to bring things under control. Oh, and thank God for marine absorbent pads. Buy them by the case, because you just never know.

Short story long, had we been underway in the middle of the west coast ICW, the whole affair have been just that much more complicated.

Here is another hot tip, purchase the Boat US Gold tow package, you will not regret it. Not only did Captain Zack pull us off the bar, but he ran to the local Auto Zone, bought repair parts and coolant and brought it all back to us. Of course I had to reimburse him for the parts, and I tossed in a dead Benjamin and made a friend in the process. No additional charge under the gold plan.

By the time we got her all but back together it was mid afternoon, too late to make the Sanibel run, so we anchored out in Lemon Bay for the night where the burping began. That took a while, I think four runs to 190*, wait for cool down, burp the coolant tank, then do it all over until the temp remained a constant 180*.

Did I mention that we have our year old Aussie with us?

She had not been willing to use her grass pad, but she finally gave in at about 10:30 PM. I kept telling her to go pee on the grass, and she looked at me the way dogs do, like she was asking me...'are you sure? You've been telling me I have to pee in the yard since I was a puppy and now, all of a sudden it's okay to pee on your new boat? WTF?' I'm telling you the look on this dog's face when she was letting this epic pee loose was absolutely priceless. I can imagine the relief, and she was plenty energetic after the fact. Small victories for pet parents.

She has yet to poop on the grass, but we will keep working on it and I am sure when she finally reaches the point where it's now or never, she will use the grass pad! This dog is so smart, she's almost human. Maybe smarter than human...certainly smarter than me. I mean, she never bought a boat, let alone three, in her lifetime.

So at first light we were under way to Sanibel. The boat ran a constant 180* the whole trip and never made a fuss.

The Admiral was anxious to do laundry, but of course the laundry facility here at the Sanibel Marina is still under construction from the last hurricane, whose name I can't remember, so hopefully we will have better luck in Labelle, which is our next stop as we make our way to Lake Okeechobee and cross over to the east coast. Apologies for the run-on sentence.

Meanwhile, we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Sanibel with a pork chop breakfast bar b que, hash browns, a couple of eggs and toast. And since it's Thanksgiving, maybe a bloody Mary for the Captain and a mimosa for the Admiral.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone following this (mis) adventure!

 

[RDJackso]

Not sure it's relevant to a Mac, but on a PC, I've had the easiest time with simply copying the picture (CTRL C on a PC) from its location and pasting it (CTRL V) directly into the message. I cannot import directly from the cloud pictures location - the picture must be in a file.

Peter

Thanks Peter, I'll try a copy and paste for the group.

Well, what do you kn

ow! It worked.

 

[RDJackso]

 

[Frosty]

There's your Aussie!

 

[Comodave]

How does the dog like the boat? Our older lab absolutely loves the boat. Our puppy not so much.

 

[Cigatoo]

After a little over three months of locating the right boat, surveys, haul outs, bottom painting, generator top end overhaul, engine cooling system flush and price negotiations...we own the boat, a 2001 36' Heritage East Sundeck.

The boat came equipped with a Cummins 6BT5.9M, Northern Lights 8kw generator, two 16 BTU A/C units, newer Garmin (8610) MFD, fresh water vacuflush toilets, 160 gallons fresh water, 420 gallons fuel, blah, blah, blah. The usual features in a package that should lend itself well to Intracoastal cruising, with the possible occasional Bahama run.

We had been searching for the right boat for a little over 2 years after motor-homing for twenty-five years and part time boating in a 25' Atlas Acadia. We started out looking in the 50K range and soon learned that we would have to up the ante if we wanted a boat that met our expectations/requirements, which were pretty simple really...no rotted out project boats. Which is not to suggest that any boat is not a project boat. Nobody said it was easy, and damned if it ain't.

This boat showed well, inside and out. Just the right amount of patina, if you will. Translation, not water stained to the point that a guy couldn't stand show his new boat to friends and family.

Still, there were issues that were identified during the survey that needed to be addressed and if I'm being honest, I actually thought I might expire before the deal was done. Not that I'm in poor health mind you, but Christ...what a grind. But the owner was a straight up guy and fixed all of the major issues.

We finally took possession of the boat on 11/20/25 and started loading a motor-homes worth junk aboard, packing said junk away, all in the spirit of making Miss Grace our own.

So here we are, fixin' to shove off from Clearwater Beach heading down to Ft Meyers, across Okeechobee to the AICW and up to Titusville to our slip in the Titusville Municipal Marina in what can only be called a leap of faith, or in nautical terms, our maiden voyage/shakedown cruise. And don't you know it's starting out with it's own drama? Yeah, the owner left us with a blackwater tank that was 3/4 full and two nearly empty fuel tanks. No big deal, right? Well if that's what you think, you haven't been hanging out in Clearwater after the hurricanes decimated everything. Thanks to a few dock mates local knowledge we are headed to Madeira Beach, which fortunately has both diesel and pumpouts. Life is good.

Sometimes I think I might enjoy posting about our travels, but I can see now how much work it really is and I understand why people burn out and quit sharing the details of their journey. This is my first post...well, not really my first if you count the incessant whining I was doing before we actually closed on this boat (thanks for listeneing Slogoesit, and others). We'll see how it goes, hopeing for the best, while palnning for the worst... On the other hand, what is life without adventure? I'll tell you what it is...Bonanza re-runs.

You are an entertaining writer. If you have the time it would be great to hear about your trip. A good boating story is always appreciated in the cold dark months up north.
Good luck and safe travels!

 

[nwh10]

You tell a great story! lol about your dog not being convinced that it's OK to pee on your new boat! Glad the mishaps worked out as well as they did.

 

[TBill36]

I usually don't like aft cabins because going up and down a ladder to a skinny dive platform is a PIA. But those stairs would be a game changer for me. First time I've seen them. Can't believe more boats aren't like that.
One other note that I found out the hard way on the OWW. Most of the bridge clearance boards indicate the clearance at the center of the bridge unlike the ICW where they indicate the side with additional clearance in the center that often adds 4 ft.

 

[psneeld]

I usually don't like aft cabins because going up and down a ladder to a skinny dive platform is a PIA. But those stairs would be a game changer for me. First time I've seen them. Can't believe more boats aren't like that.
One other note that I found out the hard way on the OWW. Most of the bridge clearance boards indicate the clearance at the center of the bridge unlike the ICW where they indicate the side with additional clearance in the center that often adds 4 ft.

Not quite sure what you mean by different clearances on the OCC. I believe they meet the USCG standard throughout the nation.

Google search tended to agree....

Yes, bridge clearances on the Okeechobee Waterway are standard navigational clearances established by the Coast Guard. These clearances are generally favorable for bridge permits and are based on the reasonable needs of navigation. However, specific clearances may vary depending on the character of the waterway and topography at the proposed location. For detailed bridge clearance information, you can refer to the Okeechobee Waterway Bridge Schedule and Restrictions.

Where did you hear it was different?

 

[slowgoesit]

Rick, keep it up. Lots of people have cool (and not so cool) experiences, but few are able to articulate them in a manner that is both informative and humorous. . . . See you tomorrow! Scot

 

[RDJackso]

How does the dog like the boat? Our older lab absolutely loves the boat. Our puppy not so much.

Gracie is pretty much happy to be wherever we are' although she did have a momentary bout of sea sickness.

At least we think it was sea sickness, this dog has a pretty sensitive stomach and will pretty much cack on command. She has been getting a little raw pumpkin with here morning meal for the past couple months and that has helped.

But I digress...to answer your question, she seems to enjoy the boat. Sometimes there will be some random and unfamiliar noise that will cause her to get the big eye, and she definitely is not a huge fan of the salon when underway with the genset running in addition to the Cummins 6BT. But she is getting more comfortable every day.

She is only a year old, so she has lots of time to learn to love boating.

 

[RDJackso]

Rick, keep it up. Lots of people have cool (and not so cool) experiences, but few are able to articulate them in a manner that is both informative and humorous. . . . See you tomorrow! Scot

We decided to sit out the passage of this little frontal system that crossed the state yesterday, as it has served to churn the passage between Sanibel and Ft Meyers.

Forecasted 4'to 6' seas with occasional 9 footers was more than any of us wanted. I'm on the fly-bridge looking at the inlet to the marina, which is normally narrow but now (also) shoaled along the south edge, which narrows the gap even more. The waves are rollers coming into the marina. I'm not sure I even have the horse power to bridge that gap without making a spectacle of myself.

We all agreed caution was warranted, as none of us wanted to make headlines! Well Gracie might, because she loves attention. The Admiral and I both tend to prefer a path below the radar so we revoked her voting privileges. Dopey mutt.

We are new to this, but not idiots. Wait...that sounds like a contradiction in terms...we bought a boat!

In any event, forecasts for tomorrow are calling for blustery weather but lighter seas than today, so we are planning to cast off around 7AM to start the journey your way with a planned arrival on Sunday after an overnight at LaBelle Yacht Club (I think Yacht Club might be an owners overestimation of the facility, but what do I know?). Dammit, another run-on sentence. I hate when that happens!

Unless you think the run from Sanibel to Moore Haven is doable in one day...we can reconsider the yacht club stop, but it looks a little iffy to me, on paper anyway. But you have all the local knowledge.

Thoughts?

 

[TBill36]

Not quite sure what you mean by different clearances on the OCC. I believe they meet the USCG standard throughout the nation.

Google search tended to agree....

Yes, bridge clearances on the Okeechobee Waterway are standard navigational clearances established by the Coast Guard. These clearances are generally favorable for bridge permits and are based on the reasonable needs of navigation. However, specific clearances may vary depending on the character of the waterway and topography at the proposed location. For detailed bridge clearance information, you can refer to the Okeechobee Waterway Bridge Schedule and Restrictions.

Where did you hear it was different?

I heard that it was different when my outriggers hit the bridge.

 

[RDJackso]

Rick, keep it up. Lots of people have cool (and not so cool) experiences, but few are able to articulate them in a manner that is both informative and humorous. . . . See you tomorrow! Scot

We pulled into LaBelle at about 2:00PM this afternoon. We had time to do laundry and make a burner run (via UBER) to Wallyworld to gather up a few provisions.

I have to say, after talking S#!^ about the chances of finding good slips in LaBelle, this place is nice.Easy wide back in slips, nice showers, laundry room, a Jammin' little Tiki Bar, onsite restaurant, rooms if you've had enough of living on the boat for awhile.

The fellow that runs the place, Joe, is a stand up guy whose word you can pretty much take to the bank. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the place and would definitely stay again.

Any how, we should see you tomorrow before noon.

 

[psneeld]

I heard that it was different when my outriggers hit the bridge.

What bridge? I am sure others would like to know and if true I might contact the USCG as I have experience in the bridge regulation area.

 

[TBill36]

It was at least 7 or 8 years ago. I tried looking into it at the time and got nowhere. I remember something about the background of the signs that had something to do with height being green in the OCW and blue in the ICW, but I can’t remember the details. Pretty sure the ICW has signs that say X’ additional in the center on some of the bridges with a blue background. That’s it. Too old, haven’t been through the OCW in years, and crs.

 

[Frosty]

We pulled into LaBelle at about 2:00PM this afternoon. We had time to do laundry and make a burner run (via UBER) to Wallyworld to gather up a few provisions.

I'm curious: What is a "burner run." I mean I see you got some provisions, but what makes it a burner run?

 

[RDJackso]

I'm curious: What is a "burner run." I mean I see you got some provisions, but what makes it a burner run?

Just the sense of urgency and speed. You know, kick in the afterburners and get it done...

Not that I have any actual experience with afterburners (I was a lowly helicopter pilot during one of the south east Asia skirmishes that we lost), but I always wanted to try it.

Now I am relegated to slow boats and old, but fast, cars! Too which I am well suited.

 

[Frosty]

Gotcha, thanks. I was wondering if you used a burner phone for Uber or something like that. Now I know.

 

[RDJackso]

Rumor has it that the Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston is not exactly first rate.

Some marina's are like fine aged wine I think. Roland Martin is one of those. They are located directly behind the Clewiston Lock, which is open at both ends this time of year.

The marina consists of a single long T dock with decking that is showing it's age, and you will have to back in if you are longer that 36', as the channel is narrow and lined with rip rap that tapers to a 15* slope below water level on the east side. Dockside power and water are available at each slip, and diesel and gasoline are available. I didn't see any pump out station, they don't list one on their website, and I didn't ask.

They have a nice store, Tiki Bar with a simple but good menu and a restaurant. Everything but the Tiki Bar opens at 5:30 AM, so if you are like us, and tend toward early departures, you will be accommodated with a hearty breakfast, if that's your thing.

The marina is surrounded with large open grass areas that allow ample space to exercise your dog, if you have one, and the marina is very pet friendly, even the store where dog biscuits are at the ready. Likewise the Tiki bar (pet friendly but no biscuits).

For us, it was the perfect place to stay, making a days run across Okeechobee to Stuart possible.

As a bonus, we got to tour Muirgen in Moore Haven as we passed through. WOW, what a machine. When I die and get to heaven, I want an engine room like Scot's. I am defiantly jealous.

 

[Frosty]

Really enjoying your narrative. Thanks for taking the time! I mean, I watch youtube videos (as most do nowadays), but there is something about a well-written narrative that's just so enjoyable

When I die and get to heaven, I want an engine room like Scot's. I am defiantly jealous.

Your typo made me laugh at the thought of being "defiantly" jealous. "Well that's a great engine room, but I mean who really needs a palace like that anyway."

 

[slowgoesit]

Rick, glad you folks made it to Clewiston, you'll have to let us know how your crossing of Okeechobee goes!

 

[RDJackso]

Really enjoying your narrative. Thanks for taking the time! I mean, I watch youtube videos (as most do nowadays), but there is something about a well-written narrative that's just so enjoyable


Your typo made me laugh at the thought of being "defiantly" jealous. "Well that's a great engine room, but I mean who really needs a palace like that anyway."