Safe for Hurricane Season - a short update.

...Well, maybe not safe, but a little more secure than at our dock. We've taken Bay Breeze to Snead Island Boat Works in Palmetto to be hauled and strapped down in their storage yard until December. While we are in Maine aboard AQUAVIT for the summer, we will be a little less worried about Bay Breeze. This highly respected, top shelf, historic boat buildling and storage facility on the Manatee River near Bradenton has a big crew of service techs. While in storage, we've asked them to do a few projects including changing out our holding tank plumbing and propane gas system. And, we've ordered a new set of sails from Doyle. We should be ready to launch and cruise south toward the Keys in December.

It was a rocky, breezy sail from Sailors Wharf Boatyard in St. Pete. This yard has been our go-to place for repairs and maintenance while on our crusing excursions for the past 10 years. But now, sadly, they have succumbed to the market forces and sold out to high-rise developers. In fact, four of the five boatyards on Salt Creek have sold, with the City of St. Pete abandoning marine services and local jobs and boat owners. It's a big loss for all of us, but a gain for tax base and profiteers.

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Thanks for reading! Next blog, Rockland, Maine

Marvin and Lee

www.shellpointer.com