You heard right!

Homeowners, public fishing piers, marinas, fish houses and fish camps will all be criminals if the State of Florida follows through with pending rules requiring permits for fish cleaning stations, or fillet tables as they’re also known.

Something stinks in Tallahassee.

To avoid conflicts with the new law, Manatee County has removed cleaning tables from public boat ramps. Our (your) tax dollars paid for their removal.

Are you serious?

The state has nothing better to do than create laws that make these old timey dock side conveniences illegal? Fillet tables have been around since, well, probably shortly after the Calusa Indians wanted a better way to clean their catch. And now they’re illegal?

Hey Governor Crist, you’re an avid fisherman. Does Carole really want you cleaning sheep head in the kitchen?

Look, fish carcasses feed birds and enrich the ecosystem. They’re not a problem. Never have been.

Call, write and email your representatives. Tell them to repeal this ridiculous law and stop wasting time and money. Heck, they could be balancing the budget, when they’re not out fishing.

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

Obscure State Rule Eliminates Fish Cleaning Stations – Come On Now

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

Obscure State Rule Eliminates Fish Cleaning Stations – Come On Now

Last year’s inaugural “Great Scallop Search” was a huge success and helped set a benchmark for the health of Sarasota Bay and its resurgent scallop population. This year’s Search will again collect vital research and volunteers are needed. To register, please call 941-953-5333.

Cannons Marina of Longboat Key will again field a team of scallop searchers. In 2008, Team Cannons Marina divers found 32 scallops (and a tiny shark) feeding on the small section of sandbar they were tasked to study. Not only did they collect valuable data, by all accounts they all had a lot of fun.

Local and regional scientists administer the Great Scallop Search, but it is local community volunteers who go overboard into the sea grass to count the budding scallop population in Sarasota Bay.

Register now for the event.

Food and refreshments are generously sponsored by The Chiles Group, and free T-Shirts, provided by Mike Field from the Anna Maria Island Sun, will be provided!

Great Scallop Search
When:  August 8th am
Where: Sarasota Outboard Club City Island Park
To Register – Call 941-953-5333

Happy Scallop Hunting!

P.S. – Remember that harvesting scallops in Sarasota Bay is illegal.

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

Help Sarasota Bay and Mote Marine Laboratory. Volunteers are needed. Space is limited-so hurry!

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

Help Sarasota Bay and Mote Marine Laboratory. Volunteers are needed. Space is limited-so hurry!

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

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.

Admiral’s Circle membership is reserved for those top dealerships in the Grady White network that have achieved at least $2 million in retail sales for the model year, plus also have earned Grady White’s Customer Service Excellence award with customer satisfaction index scores of at least 9.5 on a 10-point scale as rated in actual customer surveys. These dealerships also must be Marine Industry Certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and sponsor a Grady White boat owners’ club. This is the tenth consecutive year that Cannons Marina has earned the honor.

“Cannons Marina recognizes the importance of strong customer relationships and real long term value,” said Joey Weller, Grady-White’s vice president of sales and marketing. “The superior product knowledge, customer skills and service excellence of Cannons Marina, plus Grady White’s 50-year heritage of quality, reliability, safety, and performance, deliver the ultimate boating experience enjoyed uniquely by Grady White customers.”

Established in 1959, Grady White manufactures 23 models of high quality center console, dual console, express and walkaround cuddy cabin sportfishing and coastal family boats, from 18 to 36 feet.

Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in boat sales, service and rentals.  Cannons features Grady-White boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Cannons Marina can be reached at 941-383-1311 or visit Cannons.com.

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

Grady White Boats Recognizes Cannons Marina.

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

Grady White Boats Recognizes Cannons Marina.

Yamaha Outboard Motors’ and Cannons Marina, has TWO ways to save sales event!

And now is the time to act because this deal will NOT last long!

So just what is the deal here at Cannons Marina?

Purchase a new eligible Yamaha Outboard Motor from us and you get to choose either option:

3 Year Yamaha Extended Service Contract, a value of up to $3,000,
 -OR-
Up to $2,000 credit towards purchase of goods/services from Cannons Marina

Waste no time, call us today at 941-383-1311 or just stop by to see us today!

Offer Valid from January 1, 2009 – March 31, 2009. See your authorized participating Yamaha Dealer today for details! Other restrictions and conditions apply. *PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Consumer benefit for purchasing an eligible Yamaha Outboard is choice of either a 36-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 36-month Yamaha Limited Warranty), or a credit based on M.S.R.P. towards the purchase of goods and/or services at the authorized participating dealer that sold the outboard, at no extra cost to consumer. NO BENEFIT SUBSTITUTIONS. Yamaha Outboard eligibility is new (unused not previously warranty registered) 2.5-350 hp four stroke, 150-300 hp HPDI two stroke, and 8-150 hp carbureted two stroke outboards only. To be eligible, outboards must also have been manufactured since April 2005. Promotion is only applicable from authorized participating Yamaha Outboard dealers in the U.S.A. sold to purchasing consumers residing in the U.S.A. Promotion is limited to available stock in dealer inventory that is sold, PDI completed, delivered and warranty registered on Y.M.B.S. by the dealer in accordance with Yamaha’s Promotion and warranty registration requirements during applicable dates. No model substitutions or rain checks will be allowed. Not redeemable for cash. Outboards sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, rental, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use are not eligible. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other Yamaha offer. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this Promotion at any time. Other restrictions and conditions apply. Remember to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

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

Yamaha Outboard Motor Sale at Florida Boat Dealer.

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

Yamaha Outboard Motor Sale at Florida Boat Dealer.

• Attracts and absorbs moisture from the air. Boaters will likely face more fuel contamination issues from water absorbed through their fuel tank vents.
• Dissolves some solid materials (and can loosen any corrosion), e.g., varnish or even oxidation in steel and aluminum tanks, commonly found in fuel tanks, thereby contaminating the fuel.
• Ethanol has been known to dissolve components of the fuel system itself (e.g., fiberglass fuel tanks). Modern fuel hoses are made to withstand the effects of ethanol exposure.

• Can react chemically with MTBE fuel blends, causing additional contamination.
• Fuel blends using as much as 10 percent ethanol are appropriate for use in all of Yamaha’s current outboard models. Yamaha does not recommend the use of fuels with higher concentrations of ethanol (e.g., E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol) or any other fuel blend that contains more than 10 percent ethanol.

Yamaha recommends boaters (as applicable) take the following steps to mitigate the potential impact of ethanol in motor fuel:

• Use fuel system components that are compatible with ethanol blends or replace those in use that are not compatible (e.g., fiberglass fuel tanks).
• Avoid co-mingling MTBE and ethanol-blended fuels. Boaters should be advised to use only one supplier for fuel purchases in the months ahead to ensure constancy during the industry changeover period from MTBE to ethanol blends.
• Install a Yamaha mini-10™ filter or 10-Micron filter (the smaller mini-10 is designed for smaller boats with engines 115hp and under). Both Yamaha products filter out contaminants and separate water from fuel.

• Carry spare filter cartridges in the event the filter element becomes clogged with contaminants while the outboard is in use.

• See Cannons Marina’s Five-Star Yamaha Service here…

NOTE: All Yamaha products, rigging, accessories and parts, including Yamalube lubricants and fuel stabilizers are compatible with fuel blends using up to 10 percent ethanol.

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

Ethanol fuel blends effects in the marine industry

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

Ethanol fuel blends effects in the marine industry