The Cannons Marina Grady White Club traveled over two weeks and 1000 nautical miles and have the pictures to prove it!

A big thanks to Terry Griffin for his fine reporting and to Mike Seery for his photojournalism.

The trip was reported to be a “blast” and the Club are busy planning the next event, so stay tuned for some more boating adventures.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

The Suncoast Grady White Boat Club home from the Bahamas!

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

The Suncoast Grady White Boat Club home from the Bahamas!

Cannons Grady White Club, More Adventures in the Bahamas

Another quiet day on Green Turtle. The Neumans went dump diving, checking out the local dump and the chickens that reside there.

Kathy wanted to take some of the chicks home, but apparently Al decided they wouldn’t do too well on the boat.

The Griffins, Mike Seery and John Pock went to town for a lunch of cracked conch and other seafoods. Lyons and Gaults went beaching and snorkeling.

The day ended with drinks at the Green Turtle Club, dinner and drinks at the Bluff House, drinks at Green Turtle Club and off to bed.

Saturday – Day 8

Saturday dawned bright, hangovers be damned, check out was timed to the Island beat. Slow. We got it done and headed south for Marsh Harbour.

The seas were moderately bumpy. The armada sailed under the lead of Capt. Seery, all waypoints were reached.

The water was iridescent, a turquoise color that one has to see to believe. The white sand bottom was fifteen feet below our hulls, and yet seemed touchable.

The occasional conch or other shell fish dotted the pristine scene as we traveled at 32 miles per hour, seemingly gliding above a wonderland of Bahamian sea bottom. We pulled into the Boat Harbour Marina with a brisk wind sending our small craft in every direction.

Ali Schulze, Mike, Debbie & Bob Lyons

The dock master, assisted by dock-hand and former Sarasota trial lawyer Bob Lyons, who had arrived ahead of our group,  worked overtime to get us berthed, and seemed ecstatic that we got lashed to the docks without damage to any of the really expensive boats moored next to our assigned slips.

We were assured by Bob Gault that he had completed the most important task assigned to him during the trip.

He found a conch shell for Lucile Miller. We all felt that we could now go home safely to Cannons Marina.

It was dinner time at Marsh Harbour. We were told about a wonderful restaurant about a ten minute walk from the hotel.

We started walking, but we’d spent a little time at the pool bar before setting out for dinner and thus, as it turned  out, no one could remember the name of the restaurant.

We walked and stopped and had a drink in several places, none of them the recommended restaurant.

Finally, Debbie Lyons saw a sign that looked familiar, and we hustled in, to find that we were  indeed in the right place. It turned out to be a grand restaurant, good food and tropical drinks to die for. Two, who shall remain nameless, almost did.

Home to bed. A great day ended. More adventures planned.

by Florida Author, Terry Griffin and Photo by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Suncoast Grady Club Explores Bahamas

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Suncoast Grady Club Explores Bahamas

The Suncoast Grady White club  has a quiet day in Paradise.Some went fishing, some went swimming, some drove our little carts into New Plymouth for lunch and we all took naps.

Dinner at Green Turtle Club was wonderful, fresh seafood, most of it caught earlier that day. Not much to report today.

1st Row: L- R Debbie Lyons, Bob Lyons, Mike Lyons , Ali Schulze, Jean Griffin, Terry Griffin,John Pock, Shannon Gault and Bob Gault, 2nd Row:Cathy Neuman, Scott Neuman, Al Neuman and the group Photographer - Mike Seery!

Scott Neuman will leave by air today, back to his home in Colorado, and Mike Lyons and Ali Schulze will fly out tomorrow, back to school at Florida State.

The rest of us will move on to Marsh Harbour.

So far, we’ve traveled about 450 miles since leaving Cannons Marina on Longboat Key.

By the time we return home, we will have put approximately 1,000 miles on the boats, some of those miles better than others!

by Florida Author, Terry Griffin and Photo by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

The Suncoast Grady White Club, A Quiet Day in Paradise.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

The Suncoast Grady White Club, A Quiet Day in Paradise.

The Neumans rented a car and drove to Freeport for a little sightseeing.

The rest of the crews lounged around the pool or took naps or hung out on the beach with pool drinks in hand.

A planning session was held at 5:00 p.m., with the captains arriving at a consensus as to the best waypoints to program into the GPS systems.

Then, as the sun sank over the proverbial yardarm, whatever that is, the crews fell into some tropical drink, a little dinner on the patio overlooking the yacht basin, and then to bed. A quiet day on a beautiful island.

Day 5 – Wednesday

L-R Captains': Neuman, Pock, Lyons, Griffin

At 10:30 am, the little armada headed out of Old Bahama Bay, threaded our way through the rocks that jut north from the tip of Grand Bahama Island and came onto the Little Bahama Bank, headed for Green Turtle Cay, 93 nautical miles away.

It was one of those days about which poets wax -  eloquent.

The green water was as clear as bath water BEFORE you get in it. We were running generally over 9 – 12 feet of water, the bottom visible all the way.

The sky above was clear, the sun hot, and cumulus clouds defined the horizon. The Bank was a little bumpy, about like Sarasota Bay with a 5 knot wind. Moving at 32 mph, we hardly felt it.

Grady White Boat: Pharmasea

Soon, the radars were picking up signs of land and we began to see other islands as we moved further onto the Bank.

We ate lunch underway, enjoying the cruise and the sights.

After about two hours of running, we came into the Sea of Abaco.

The wind had picked up and the chop got choppier, the ride a little rougher. We pulled into White Sound at Green Turtle Key about two o’clock.

We again moored stern to at docks built for much bigger boats. I think we scared some of the large yacht captains out of their flip-flops.

They came running to the rails of their boats, large fenders in hand, protecting their employers’ investments.

They had nothing to fear. After the mooring action at Stuart, we had become old pros.

We checked into the hotel and found, much to our chagrin, that two free rum punches were included in the price of the room. The stampede to the bar was rather restrained as befits Grady-White people, but at least one Bahamian was heard to threaten to sue over his trampling.

Lunch at Cabbage Key: L-R, Jean Griffin, Guest, Captain Mike Seery

The only hitch came when word was passed to Griffin that he had not registered.

He was sure he had, since he had two free rum punch tickets. Alas, he had used the tickets shortly after the stampede to settle his nerves and was afraid he could not prove that he belonged in the hotel.

However, thanks to the intervention of Captain Mike Seery, it was determined that the confusion arose when the dockmaster mistook the logo on Recess for its name and had registed it into slip 25 as the Grady White.

Captain Bob Gault, Jean and Captain Terry Griffin

Bob and Shannon Gault met us at the dock as we arrived. They’d flown over [WHAT?} on Monday and were staying the week.

They joined, maybe even precipitated, the afore mentioned stampede to the bar.

Some time later in the evening all thirteen of us went across White Sound to the Bluff House for dinner.

When we returned to the Green Turtle Club, the Gully Rooster band was playing.

It is apparently a very popular group in these precincts, but about the nicest thing your erstwhile reporter can say about it was that it was loud. No problem. We headed for bed. A glorious day behind us.

by Florida Author,  Terry Griffin and Photos by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Grady White Club, Cruises Bahama Islands.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Grady White Club, Cruises Bahama Islands.

0645 -The Suncoast Grady White Club from Cannons Marina loosened the lines and headed to the inlet. The sun was peeking over the trees lining the Manatee Pocket.  We followed several large sport fishermen through the pass and out into the broad Atlantic for the 67 nautical mile trip to West End, Bahamas.

The seas were forecast at 2 to 4 feet. I think we were on the high side of that forecast and maybe higher. It was a rough crossing, but the Gradys’ never faltered.

As we crossed the Gulf Stream, the wind seemed to pick up and the ocean got choppier. It took us five and a half hours to make the 67 nautical miles, but we kept plugging along, bows trimmed down, at about 17 knots.

The consensus of the crews was “Glad we had the Gradys.” The only hiccup in the crossing was Griffin’s inability to read his GPS correctly, so Pharmasea who was following Recess, got to practice some heavy weather seamanship. Seery finally convinced Griffin that he needed to reset his GPS. That fixed the problem, but Griffin was heard to grumble that it wasn’t his fault if the dumb autopilot couldn’t follow a course [sounds like an excuse?]!

We sailed into the marina at Old Bahama Bay at West Inn. The green clear water made the trip worthwhile. We moored the boats without incident and cleared customs.

The custom officers were cordial and quick to get us cleared. Lunch on the veranda overlooking the boat basin included Conch fritters and other great seafoods.

Pina Colladas were consumed as enegy giving drinks and Captain Bob Lyons and his crew headed into the village after cleaning up the boat. Captain Al Neuman and his crew rented bicycles and rode up the coast Captain Terry Griffin and his crew (The Lovely,  Jean) took naps, as did Mike and John.

Dinner on the veranda overlooking the basin was pleasant until it started raining.

The roof leaked a bit, so we moved into the bar for a little fellowship. It was a quiet evening among friends.

It don’t get no better than that.

by Florida Author,  Terry Griffin and Photos by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Suncoast Grady White Boat Club Arrived in Bahamas!

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Suncoast Grady White Boat Club Arrived in Bahamas!

"Lyonhearted" in Florida Locks

0700 – Cannons Marina Grady White Club: All the lines are loose and Pharmasea, Lyonhearted, Grady Lady and Recess head east on the Calloosahatchee River.

We’d heard that the locks were on a different schedule, opening on the odd hour rather than on demand.

We made the first lock at Ortona shortly before its scheduled opening at 9. Quite an experience locking through, but we all made it with a minimum of fuss.

The next lock was near Labelle, and we caught this one just as it prepared to open. Timing is everything. We locked through and then continued east toward the Moore Haven lock, hoping to time it’s opening. As it happened, the lock is permanently open, at least for the short term future, so we simply idled through.

The next hurdle was Lake Okeechobee. With Al Neuman aboard Grady Lady in the lead, the crossing was without problem except for Capt. Griffin’s insistence that we were going the wrong way.

After a short stop in mid-lake the issue was cleard up when somebody pointed out that Captain T. Griffin had his chart UPSIDE DOWN!

The Myakka lock on the east side of the lake was open with boats motoring though at idle speed. Our final hurdle was the St. Lucie Lock which was to open at 3:00 p.m and not again until 7:00. We pushed on and arrived at the lock with time to spare.

Suncoast Grady White Club in Florida Locks

This is the largest lock in terms of the lift and we were actually let down a little over nine feet. From there we went on to Pirate’s Cove Marina for a little fun time of docking stern-to with a heavy wind and current working at cross purposes.

With luck we all were moored without banging into other boats, but it was a close thing.

The tired mariners had dinner in the hotel restaurant overlooking the Manatee Pocket. Al and Cathy Neuman son, Scott joined us here for our trip tomorrow to the Bahama Islands!

by Florida Author,  Terry Griffin and Photos by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Grady White Boat Club, Across The Florida Locks: Day 2.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Grady White Boat Club, Across The Florida Locks: Day 2.

Terry and Jean Griffin aboard "Recess"

The intrepid cruisers of the Sun Coast Grady White Club, Cannons Marina’s Grady White Boat Club,  began to gather at marker 33 shortly after nine on a golden spring morning.

Bob and Debbie Lyons aboard Lyonhearted and Terry and Jean Griffin in Recess were joined by Rex and Theresa Nelson aboard Hailey II, which was going as far as Ft. Myers.

Al and Cathy Neuman aboard "Grady Lady"

The ten o’clock rendezvous at the New Pass Bridge with Mike Seery and John Pock aboard Pharmasea and Al and Cathy Neuman in Grady Lady were on time.

We headed out into the Gulf for a bumpy ride (small bumps) to Boca Grande Pass and on to Cabbage Key for lunch.  Once back aboard, the armada sailed into Ft. Myers late in the afternoon, refueled and settled in for the night.

Bob and Debbie Lynons aboard "Lyonhearted"

Bob and Debbie’s son, Mike and his girlfriend Allie joined us in Ft. Myers for the trip to the Bahamas.

Laura and Bill and their teen-aged daughter and a friend drove down and joined us for dinner  at Pincer’s Restaurant overlooking the river.

It is rumored that a bit of alcohol was consumed, but your faithful reporter cannot confirm that. It was back to the Holiday Inn for a good night’s sleep before crossing the Florida Locks!

by Florida Author Terry Griffin and Photos by Mike Seery

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Grady White Boat Club, Bahamas or Bust, Day 1.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina: Grady White Boat Club, Bahamas or Bust, Day 1.

Tonight, the group plans on overnighting in Fort Myers before  leaving early tomorrow for Port St. Lucie, Florida. They will navigate Florida via the Caloosahatchee River, Lake Okeechobee and then into Port St. Lucie for the night. The group will then head south to the Bahama Islands the next morning.

This trip is destined to be a great adventure for the Cannons Marina Grady White Boat Club. So stay connected to our blog as our guest writer, Terry Griffin and group photographer, Mike Seery journal the exciting details about this boating adventure!

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina Grady White Boat Club: The Islands Of The Bahamas or Bust!

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Cannons Marina Grady White Boat Club: The Islands Of The Bahamas or Bust!

Just a short cruise from the docks of Longboat Key’s Cannons Marina here on the west coast of Florida lies an abundance of day, evening and weekend adventures. Cannons is THE place for new Grady White and Scout boats, used boats and the best boat rentals, so finding the right craft to meet your needs will be a snap.

If you’re looking to enjoy a day on the beautiful and tranquil waters of Sarasota Bay, include a beach picnic in your plans. Nose your boat up to the sandbar on the east side of Greer Island (it’s really just a sand spit) on the very north end of Longboat Key; keep an eye on which way the tide is moving (Cannons will gladly provide you a local tide chart), secure your boat, spread out your blankets, slather on the sun screen and break out the grub. Bon appetite!

Now for an evening cruise, maybe just you and your honey, there’s nothing like a Longboat sunset. Whether you beach your boat and tickle the sand with your toes or enjoy a gentle drift in the Gulf waters, watching our shimmering sunsets light up the western sky is the best way to set a romantic tone for the rest of the evening. The elusive green flash really happens, but only very occasionally. Watch for it. And if you see it, hoot, holler and do the Flash Dance.

For a weekend getaway there are literally endless possibilities. To the north lies Anna Maria Island, Tampa Bay and the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. They’re all conveniently close and have marinas to accommodate you as well as great restaurants and entertainment. To the south lies Sarasota, the cultural hub of Florida, with its laid back attitude, a burgeoning nightlife and several good anchorages.

Happy and safe boating!

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Are you on Spring Break and want to experience our local waters? We have boat rentals available in every size and for every budget.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Are you on Spring Break and want to experience our local waters? We have boat rentals available in every size and for every budget.

Matt Royal, Longboat Key author Terry Griffin’s fictitious, fun-loving protagonist in each of his three novels, Murder Key, Longboat Blues and his latest and best selling, Blood Island, captains his Grady-White for the same reasons Griffin owns the identical boat – reliability, comfort and Yamaha-induced speed. And both bought their boats and motors at Cannons Marina, a bona fide family-owned marina on the very authentic island of Longboat Key Florida.

“Grady Whites are the Mercedes of boats,” says Griffin. “They’re comfy on the water, they never let you down and no matter how long that boat sits (sometimes weeks due to his busy schedule) those twin Yamahas start right up. That’s especially important to a guy like Matt Royal because adventures literally fall on him and he has to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice.”

Griffin and Royal could buy their boats and motors anywhere, but they chose Cannons Marina for several reasons. “Well first, Cannons is literally within walking distance,” Terry says with a chuckle, “but really, I wouldn’t buy anywhere else. The sales team understood our needs, David Miller was fantastic to work with and the service department takes very good care of us.”

The Griffins regularly take trips to Egmont Key and Sarasota, have lunch at the Twin Dolphin, perhaps scout out the location for a new book or just enjoy the wonderful weather cruising the waters of Sarasota and Tampa Bay. Royal is more of a fisherman than his alter ego, which makes the 28-footer perfect for pulling in the day’s catch or chasing the bad guys at top speed.

In 2009 Terry and Jean plan trips to the Bahamas with the Suncoast Grady White Club, Cannons Marina’s Grady Club.

H. Terrell Griffin is the author of three novels, Murder Key, Longboat Blues and Blood Island. Each features his main character, Matt Royal. Terry, a former Army medic and retired attorney, splits his time between Maitland and Longboat Key, Florida. Blood Island was a Fiction & Literature: Mystery/Suspense finalist in The National Best Books 2008 awards. Visit his website at www.hterellgriffin.com.

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Florida Writer, Grady White Boats and Cannons Marina?

This post originated at Cannons Marina which offers used boats, and more!

Florida Writer, Grady White Boats and Cannons Marina?