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n/a
148 Posts |
 Posted - 09/14/2005 : 1:52:41 PM
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THE SUMMER IS COMING TO AN ABRUPT END IN THE CHICAGO LAND AREA SOON,SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT WHILE WE CAN.THIS WEEKEND PAST TO MY SURPRISE I WAS GIVEN A 4 DAY HOLIDAY FROM WORK.WITH THE WEATHER PROJECTED TO BE IN THE 90 PLUS RANGE, MY WIFE SISTER AND I DECIDED TO GO FOR A CRUISE.
A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE REFRESHMENT STORE AND THE GAS STATION AND WE WERE READY TO GO.OUR FIRST DAY OF OUR SUMMER VACATION WAS AW SUM, WE ARRIVED AT THE DRESDEN ISLE LOCK AND DAM AT ABOUT NOON. I CALLED THE LOCK MASTER AND IN WE WENT.ANY ONE USING THE LOCK SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY KNOWS THAT IS RARE. WE WERE THE ONLY BOAT IN THE CHAMBER.IT MAKES 28 FEET SEEM VERY SMALL. WE GAVE THE LOCK MASTER A HAM SANDWICH AND A BOTTLE OF POP AND DOWN WE WENT,28 FEET WHEN THE DOORS OPENED IT WAS LIKE DRIVING INTO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE.
WE PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL ON OUR 30 MILE TREK TO OUR FIRST OVER NIGHT STAY THE SPRING BROOK MARINA,STOPPING ALONG THE WAY TO TAKE A DIP IN THE 82 DEGREE WATER.
SPRING BROOK IS THE LARGEST CARVER DEALER IN THE MIDWEST.EVERYTHING FROM 25 FT COMMAND BRIDGE TO 50 FT MEGA YACHTS. WE TOURED SOME OF THE LARGER BOATS AND FOUND THEM VERY IMPRESSIVE.THEY HAD A 33 FT MARINER 1979 VINTAGE THERE I WAS REALLY INTO FOR 30,000 BUT NEGOTIABLE.
AT 7:30 PM WE WENT UP TO THE RESTAURANT FOR DINNER,WE FOUND A VERY FRIENDLY FAMILY OWNED OPERATION MOM AND DAD AND 5 KIDS.THE FOOD WAS TO DIE FOR.
AFTER DINNER WE BUMMED A RIDE ON A 21 FOOT MARYA TO A BAR CALLED BOONDOCKS ABOUT 2 MILES BACK UP RIVER.THEY HAD A ROCKIN JUKE BOX AND CHEAP DRINKS. AT CLOSING TIME WE BID OUR ADO AND HEADED BACK TO IT TAKES TIME.
AN EARLY WAKE UP AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY ABOUT NOON. OUR NEXT STOP WAS TO BE STARVED ROCK YACHT CLUB.ONE MORE LOCK AND DAM AND 30 MILES WE FOUND OURSELVES JUST IN TIME FOR HAPPY HOUR, HALF PRICE DRINKS.
LATER IN THE EVENING AROUND 6 PM THE CLUB WAS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL STEAK AND LOBSTER FEST.THEY GAVE YOU A POUND AND A HALF RIB EYE RAW OR A 1 POUND LOBSTER TAIL ON A STICK WITH A STRING TIED TO IT.IT WAS A COOK YOUR OWN OUT SIDE PARTY.THEY ALSO HAD A TABLE SET UP WITH BAKED POTATOES ,GREEN BEANS IN MUSHROOM SAUCE AND DESERTS.AFTER DINNER THERE WAS A D.J. SET UP, HE PLAYED EVERY THING FROM FRANK SINATRA TO RED NECK YACHT CLUB.BEER AND WINE WERE INCLUDED WITH THE PRICE OF THE TICKET.ALONG WITH OVER 100 OTHER PARTIERS WE ALL DRANK AND DANCED TILL 1:00 AM.
THIS WAS BY FAR ONE OF OUR MOST FUN ADVENTURES TO DATE.BUT AS THEY SAY ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.
9:00 AM CAME VERY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING A QUICK GOOD BY TO SOME OF THE FELLOW BOATERS ONE DOCK AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY. WITH A 65 MILE DRIVE HOME WITH 2 LOCKS ON THE WAY WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO REST.
THE FIRST LOCK WAS NOT TO BAD WE ONLY HAD A 40 MINUTE WAIT TO GET IN, THE SECOND LOCK WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.WITH 3 MILES TO GO ONCE WE GOT THRU THE LOCK WE HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR A DOUBLE BARGE TO GET THRU. ALMOST OUT OF FOOD BEER AND WATER WE FINALLY GOT IN. 30 MINUTES LATER WE HAD GONE BACK UP 28 FEET , THE DOORS OPENED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY ONCE AGAIN.APPROACHING SUNSET IT WAS TIME TO PUT THE BOAT ON PLANE AND GET HOME. 10 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES IS WHAT IT TOOK TO TRAVEL OUR 65 MILES HOME,AS MUCH AS WE LOVE BOATING IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HOME
I HOPE SOME OF YOU ENJOYED MY STORY OF OUR WEEKEND TRIP, IF YOU HAVE ANY STORIES TO TELL I WOULD LOVE TO READ THEM.
I WILL BE POSTING PICS ON THE WEB SITE SOON, THAT TAKES A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIEND
BOAT ON FRANK
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Rob
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2005 : 2:18:23 PM
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| Just wondering what it cost for fuel?? |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2005 : 3:49:59 PM
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I BUY FUEL IN 5 GALLON CANS FROM THE LOCAL GAS STATION BECAUSE FUEL ON THE RIVER IS 75 CENTS A GALLON MORE.WE RAN THE WHOLE TRIP AT 1800 RPM EXCEPT FOR THE LAST 3 MILES. IF YOU USE THE FUEL GAGE AS A BASE FOR MEASUREMENT WE USED ABOUT 120 GALLONS @2.75 PER GALLON. THE BOAT AT 1800 RP M'S GETS AROUND 2 MILES PER GALLON PER MOTOR. I FIGURE IT COST ABOUT 330.00 DOLLARS FOR GAS.MOORING WAS 1 DOLLAR PER FOOT PER NIGHT, THAT INCLUDED WATER ELECTRIC AND CABLE T.V.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH GAS WE USED UNTIL I FILL UP AGAIN,AND THAT WILL NOT BE TILL NEXT YEAR.120 GALLONS IS A PRETTY GOOD GUESS. THE BOAT HAS 2- 75 GALLON TANKS ONE ON EACH SIDE.
FRANK |
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Rob
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2005 : 10:35:14 PM
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| I do the same every time i go down to the boat i fill 2 cans of gas...Frank what speed do you get at 1800? |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2005 : 10:12:50 AM
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at 1800 rpm the boat gets up to8.5 mph.
with the remaneing gas i have left for the year i plan on doing a rpm = speed chart for the local prop builder to see if he can do ant thing with my props to get better gas milage and still get the boat on plane when i need it.
i keep my boat in front of my house on the kankakee river ,i have 22 5 gallon cans that is all i can fit in my truck at one time. i always fill up in the cool of the night and take the back country roads home,mostly in the shade.i have developed a way to siphon the gas faster than you can pour it. i use a 1 3/4 inch hose in the large end of the can it fits snug and has very little air leakage the other end fits in the boat with room to spare for air to escape than i use a 5/8 inch hose over the vent and one hardy blow and the siphon starts. it takes about 60 seconds to drain 5 gallons.
frank |
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Rob
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2005 : 4:50:22 PM
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| I getting the same (I think) will check when i take the boat out again. I have a 351 ford single engine. I know i can not get my boat on plan to heavy.. |
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LAST HOORAY
