CRUISING ADVENTURES AND GUNK HOLING IN SMALL SAILBOATS 2

Article By Richard Frye

Part 2 of the series: Backpacking On The Water

The trip over to St. Simmons Island would be short and that would give me time to do some shopping and restocking of a few items I needed like bait shrimp, ice, bread, bananas, an onion, some canned goods, and a few other miscellaneous things. In all it would still take me about 4 hours to get to where I needed to be before noon. After brewing some coffee, and enough so I'd have an extra large cup, I made a breakfast sandwich and observed the sunrise. Sea birds were beginning to cry and soar about 50 to 100 yards from me and after cleaning up, putting things away and securing a cup in my gimble mounted Bar Bouy it was close to 6am. I weighed anchor and sailed out and around the island into open water on mailsail alone. Once clear of the land breezes and a half mile offshore, I set a course for the St. Simmons lighthouse that was barely visible when we got well out on the Atlantic side. As it was, the wind was almost dead on my stearn, but a steady 7 to 8 mph, and according to the latest weather report the winds would shift back to a SSW breeze that would put me on an easy reach and a run at times in a 10 to 12 mph wind but I could see a dark line on the horizon that didn't look too good. My heading did not have to be exact because I knew the area, but something told me that rough weather was on the way! The island was in sight and the sky was now clear with hardly a cloud in any direction except from the south, and that nasty dark line kept me looking back. Rain was predicted later on in the week but I wasn't concerned about that at the moment. With the squall heading my way, I felt the need to be in protected waters when it came down on top of me.

The sail across the sound was pleasant with hardly any chop, but a black line across the horizon was still behind me. As I neared the lighthouse I decided to head south and tuck into a creek till the storm blew over. I sailed a half mile inland and a bridge across a local road was to low for me to go under without lowering my mast, so I put out two anchors and prepared for the worst. The sail was furled and covered, and a sturdy cover was made fast over the boom in tent fashion. I was now facing dead into the wind with a small flat storm sail aloft to keep me pointed that way.

A half hour later the wind began to increase and the waves got higher in the narrow creek! Next came the rain. Blowing hard and pounding my little boat with huge drops of rain! The tiny cabin was doing its job well and I stayed dry, and so did my cockpit under the protection of my boom tent. I have to admit that it was a bit cramped, but in all...she was comfortable for sleeping if you weren't claustrophobic! I nestled down between my gear bags stretched out and tried to read but the boat pitched around violently and reading was impossible, plus it was now getting darker although it was barely 2pm. I opened an air vent that was installed when I built the cabin part and refreshed the stale air inside. No leaks were found to be had from the hard blowing rain anywhere. The hatch was sealed tight, and no water entered the air vent which made me feel better about sleeping while it was raining very hard. I did have thoughts about waking up after a miserable night as a soggy mess, but that wouldn't happen now and my mind was at ease. The storm raged around me for another 45 minutes and was then gone as quickly as it came.

With the storm gone, I decided to just stay where I was for the rest of the day, spend the night and have a quiet evening. My chart showed only 2.4 feet of water in this narrow creek at low tide, and it was one the way out! Having a small boat does have advantages and I raised the sides of the boom tent and made a nice awning but was still protected from the rain unless it began blow hard again. I set out two of the 4 Star traps I kept packed away for catching crabs, and used some left over chicken for bait. A couple of leg bones, and the little part of the wings that is not edible, mostly bones with a sufficient amount of meat and skin to attract a hungry crab! I placed the meat and bones in some bait cages I had made from 1/2" hardware cloth then wired the bait cage to the bottom and center of the trap. I preferred the pyramid shaped traps because they folded flat and stored easier than the box trap which had to be completely disassembled for storage and tool time to get back together. I still think the box trap is a little better but the pyramid shaped Star trap is still a good trap to carry with you because it stores flat.

Within a couple of hours I had caught six nice blue crabs and one huge stone crab, and a half a dozen small shrimp as well! When shrimp are in season and back in the creeks for breeding, I often catch more shrimp than I do crabs, and even had a couple of special homemade traps for shrimp as well but didn't have these with me on this trip. They are box traps constructed of 1/2" hardware cloth, about 4" high, and 2 feet long and 16" wide but can be made any size you want. Two of the smaller blue crabs were thrown back and I kept the shrimp for fish bait and dropped them in my old cooler. Now I had to get them cooked before dark but I still had plenty of daylight left. I dug out my single burner Coleman stove and pumped it full of air. The small stock pot I had would only hold three crabs at a time so I would need to cook them in two shifts or throw one back. It was roughly the size of a one gallon jug. These crabs were 6" or better so I elected to toss one of the blue crabs back then add some pinto beans and chopped onion to the meal. It dipped my pot over the side and filled it with sea water. Within a few minutes the water was boiling and I dropped the crabs in. Nothing like cooking crabs and shrimp in natural seawater. It seems to give a better flavor all the way around.

With the stove mounted in a wooden foldable box frame I didn't have to worry about it tipping over. One thing you don't want is a fire aboard any boat! So extreme care is taken when cooking with an open flame onboard. Next I got out my piece of 1/2" plywood that was used for a table in the cockpit that fit all the way across from one side to the other! This make shift table was stored under my sleeping area but could be set up on the beach as well by attaching the flat plywood ends that acted as legs on each end. There was a slot cut near the top that was about 5/8ths to 3/4ths of an inch wide and about a foot 14" long, and the top being slightly less in width slid into the slot to whatever distance you wanted, then locked in place with a line on each end that put pressure between the table and leg part by drawing the line tight through some holes in the table that were at variable measurements along the top. Pulling the line tight put the legs at an outward angle and gave it stability once the line was tied tight.

It was only 18 high when set up and kept pots, plates, pans and other things off the sand. This same table was set across the stern and with the tiller up, off or out of the way, it could be also be used for cleaning fish with the entrails, etc. being pushed overboard right off the stern and not into the cockpit, and then rinsed off, dried and put away. It was certainly a very handy item to have along in many situations.

After the water was boiling I dropped the crabs into the pot and ten minutes later I was allowing the hot red crabs to cool a bit before digging out the delicious meat, and these three crabs had a lot for one person. With some pinto beans, chopped onion, and a few saltine crackers on my plate, I was about to have a feast aboard my little ship! I took my time and enjoyed the surroundings now that the storm had passed and the sun was breaking through the clouds. I looked as if I would have a fairly clear night as the dark clouds moved on and away from me.

I had anchored about 100 feet away from the bridge, and people in a couple of cars waved as they passed by when I was looking that way. Otherwise the road was free of traffic. With a lot of daylight left I decided to put out a couple of hand lines and try my luck at catching a few fish and baited my two hand lines with a piece of shrimp on each hook, part of the few that I had caught in my cast net. Most of the time a quick cast in the shallow low tide would yield enough shrimp as to provided a meal for at least 2 people but there were times when I would only get two shrimp...and little ones at that! And there were those times when I would pull in nothing but mud shells, and trash of some sorts!

It wasn't long before I had a quick tug, tug, tug on one of the hand lines! A nice red drum or channel bass or spot tailed bass as the fish is often called was on and hooked good! I took him inside the cockpit and decided that was enough fishing for the afternoon. I had a limited amount of ice and space in my cooler for the 25" fish, and that was more than enough for several meals! The other hand line was baitless now! Crabs!.... After cleaning the fish, I filleted the meat and threw the waste over the sides for the crabs and other fish to enjoy. I blotted dry one of the fillets, and cut it across into 4 inch pieces. Then I salted it heavily then placed it in my little container filled with salt, and put another inch of salt on the remaining fillet chunks. It would keep for a very long time now. You just had to rinse the salt off and let it soak in fresh water for an hour or so then it could be prepared just about anyway you would normally cook your fish.

Salt curing fish has been around for thousands of years, and has worked well with other meats and perishable items as well. I once wrote an article titled "Preserving Fish Without A Freezer", and it was about using the same exact method to keep from wasting so much good food! I would be having this fish in another week or so with a wonderful side dish of my number one choice..Pinto Beans!

I opened the only can of ice cold Falstaff beer on my boat that someone had given me and enjoyed watching a beautiful sunset. The night was eventless, and the sky was clear, but it wasn't quiet! It sounded like a swarm of miniture attack helicopters outside my cabin. I had bug screen up but some how a few managed to get inside. I haven't figured that out yet, but I quickly smacked them with a fly swatter, lit a mosquito coil, and was able to rest while listening to the whirring of little buzz bombs outside. A sound that is all so familiar and very irritating in the south this time of the year! I also began to hear other sounds in the marsh that were unidentifiable. I needed to get some sleep as the tide would be coming in soon and I had plans to be leaving at first light.

A great nights sleep is what I'd call it, and I felt as though I had rested well! I awoke just before dawn to the cry of sea birds and a few cars whizzing across the bridge taking their owners to their jobs in town. The sun was peeking over the eastern horizon and my coffee was almost ready. I ate an orange and a peanut butter sandwich while waiting on my first cup of coffee. After finishing my breakfast, and putting things away, like taking down the boom tent, mooring sail, etc. and cleaned out the cockpit. I weighed anchor, cleaned the mud off them, and stowed them in their proper places. The Danforth on deck and lashed securely in the fitted wooden chocks. The Navy type anchor was stored in the lazarette.

The little outboard whirred into life on the second pull and I steered the sloop through the narrow creek for almost 30 minutes, and out into the bay. I cut the motor, pulled the mount up and tilted the motor forward to be completely out of the water. Next, was to hoist the mainsail and we were off in a gentle but steady breeze of about 7 knots as the mainsail filled and billowed. I'd set the jib later, but for now I was enjoying the peace and serenity of the water, wind and waves slapping against her hull. The winds were from the south and would pick up later in the day, and I still needed to pick up my supplies. So...I finally set the jib and noticed a slight increase in the wind. She heeled a little and away we went as I trimmed all sails and settled back on a reach that would last for at least 2 hours or more! Then I would change tacks and head straight to the docks by the County Police station, another 45 minutes to an hour away. I knew my boat would be safe there while I bought my badly needed supplies. I was wondering if they would let me spend the night? I mean...being such a little boat! How could they say no! Well...I guess they could say NO! I would get back late just before dark and ask, and they knew it would be very difficult to find a safe anchorage at night! I was ready to take the chance that they would allow me a mooring for the night and was willing to pay for it! Besides...I needed a little night life, and just down the board walk was a great place for an evening of relaxing entertainment!