Summer 2013

As summer 2013 comes to a close I must say the season went off without much trouble. Which in boating is surprising . After some tweaking of certain systems onboard the boat ran flawlessly all summer . Had the props scanned and adjusted over the winter but didnt notice any difference in either performance or economy. Removed the factory ice maker from the cockpit and installed an Ac/Dc fridge in its place . We made a few overnight trips to Fire Island and enjoyed every minute as usual. Our long trip was planned for the beginning of August. We departed the south shore of Long Island on Thursday night with a planned stop at a friends marina 15miles East of Robert Moses bridge to meet a few other members and stay the night .we left on time in the Am and headed East to Riverhead. There we spent the day at Atlantis marine world and dinner at the Restaurant nearby.
Again departing in the Am for Shelter Island with 4 other boats we where heading through the Shinnecock lochs. And into Great Peconic Bay. Finally some deep water!  It was reassuring to see 60' of water under the boat and not the usual 3' I was accustom to in the Great South Bay. We met up with more me,bers already anchored in Coecles Harbor just south of Shelter. A well protected anchorage. The other boats had spent the night and where awaiting our arrival. As we tied up in the raft one at a time folks kept walking from boat to boat assisting in the smooth tie up. We spent two night here and the raft grew to 22-24 boats and families. We had arrainged to rent Taylors Island for the day of our feast" feast of the East" was the official name we voted on and what a feast it was..we learned the history of the island and really enjoyed the sunset . The following day we broke off and headed to Block Island RI. A beautiful trip east past Montauk point and some very nice picture opportunities of both the landscape and the boats. As we approached Block Island we had a helicopter take aerial photos of our arrival into port . Some boats where more comfy at slips (Champains marina) others rafter again in a group of 6 or so. We spent 8 days there in paradise no wonder the refer to Block as the Carribean of the northeast! Great weather and friends you can't beat it. Sunday morning we departed Block with a stop in Montauk for gas aft filling up it was time to say our goodbyes for now to our boating buddies as we where headed in different directions, us from Long Island others from Conn,upper New York, New Jersey . The seas where 1'-2' with very little wind as rounded Montauk Point and set a course west to Fore Island inlet. We reached the Great South Bay 6 hours later, backed into our slip and where happy to be home . This was by far the longest overnight boat trip for us and we learned a ton about this type of boating, power management, water management, waste disposal etc. all in all it was a fantastic trip and I thank my friend Alex for putting it all together and watching over us all . So as we come to a close, I'm hoping for one last good weekend of weather to head to fire island to enjoy the very last minutes of the season aboard
"Mirage'"

Heading home.

Our first look at "Mirage"

April, 2012 .

After looking nearby for a new boat we decided to expand our area of focus,
We found two in Boston Mass. We called the broker and jumped in the car the next morning, took the ferry from Orient point to Conn and a two hour road trip to Boston,
She was stored inside for the winter, covered with plastic and a little dusty

We looked ,and looked ,and looked. And after a few minutes we know this was the one, we didnt even bother to really ask about the other boat they had at a different location.
So after three trips to Boston including an inspection, and sea trial it was time to take her to her new home.

Mother's Day weekend,
I had hired a Captain to transport her from Boston to Newport RI. Cutting some of the trip down for me as time was not on my side. I had rented a car and put together a great crew to make the journey with me.
My crew and I had set out after breakfast and received a call from the captain that he too had shoved off from Boston we left from Long Island.
We packed safety gear, charts, lights, extra GPS and food.  After arriving in Rhode Island excited that the captain was 30 mins out . Anxiously waiting on the docks of Newport I saw her  make the turn into the harbor. What a site! She looked beautiful glistening in the sunlight my friends and my dad all
Said the same thing " is that it? " after docking her the captain disembarked and said she runs good and very comfortable. I asked about the weather and he said its not bad at all out there.
Well after refueling ,and a bathroom stop we pushed off the dock and headed for Long Island.
Excitement was almost too much for me I couldn't contain myself with my new vessel ,the guys where all over her looking in every door, opening etc.
as we made the turn out to Block Island sound the wind was kicking, the waves where choppy and the boat was a movin!!! After a few laughs we settled down and realized this was going to be a bit uncomfortable .
We set a course to take us just off Montauk Point between Block Island . It took a lot longer than I had planned and after a few hours of getting kicked around I decided to duck into Shinnecock Inlet for fuel and a break. After fuel and a bite to eat I wanted to stay inside to give the crew a break even if it meant a longer trip. So I headed West through Shinnecock, after 45mins we came to a dead stop! We had run out of water and run aground! Luckily for me a tow boat had passed me 20 mins prior and after hailing him on the radio he knew exactly who we where and where we had stopped.
He pulled us off the sandbar and after a quick check of all systems we where back in business only to have him raise me on the radio again to say" I wouldn't go any furthur" when I asked why not ? His reply was "there's no water I front of you " you'll have to go back to Shinnecock Inlet and back to the ocean. Well not tonight I said. By this time the sun had went to sleep and I wasn't about to travel in the ocean at night  so I found a marina in Southhampton and backed her into an open slip tied her up plugged her in and left my cell number with the boater next to me. I told the boater " I'll be back for her tomorrow ! No problem he said. So I called the wife for a ride.
Sunday, Mother's Day
After breakfast We drove out to the Marina it was a nice looking day and fired the boat up, untied and pulled out. The wife got in her car and was to meet us at our dock three hours later. But not before the marina watchman stopped her and handed her a nice size bill for leaving the boat there.
So out  to the Atlantic we went and after 20 mins we set the autopilot and kicked back, My son and I were enjoying the ride a whole lot more this morning than we did the day before! He took the wheel for a while and took us to the Fire Island Inlet where I took over. Through the Great South Bay and headed for home. This was only the second time docking a bridge boat for me  so you can imagine how I felt it wasn't pretty but we got it done.
30 mins later the wife and kids showed up and even some family members. Everyone was excited to see the boat for the first time. We had been talking about it for weeks now and finally she's ours!!