Glad to see the Blog return Was just wondering where you guys might be. Glad to see you are where you belong - on your boat!! Tell Steve if he is in Calgary for any time on his way to Banff and wants to stop by give us a call!!
Great to hear about your adventures I was in Nassau in December too. Just a 5 day cruise before Christmas. I am still in Florida, returning May 18th.
You must never get bored as you are always taking on a new adventure.
Take care of yourselves and say "hi" to your kids for me.
Keeping our boat in Florida Hi Jeff:
Sorry for just responding to your email re storing a Canadian registered boat in Florida. When we are in the Bahamas, we don't check the travel blog email very often.
OUr boat is a Canadian documented boat, (federally registered) so I only know how it works for Canadian registered boats. If yours is still registered in Canada you could do the same as us.
We get a cruising permit, good for one year, at any US port of entry. Some examples are: Brunswick Geogia, Fernandina Beach Florida, Port Cannaveral Florida, West Palm/Lake Worth, Miami. If the boat is built in the US there is no cost for the Cruising permit, if it is built in outside the US, the cruising permit will cost $18.00 annually. To renew the one year permit permit after a year you have to leave the US eg go to Bahams. When you reenter you can re apply for another one year permit. If you don't do this, Florida will want you to register the boat in Florida. We avoid paying the Florida tax by going over to the Bahamas.
I think your father told me your boat is a Passport 40, so you could take it to Florida, apply for a one year cruising permit, on your Canadian registration, then take a short trip over to Bahamas, come back and reapply for a cruising permit. I would suggest ther first time crossing from West Palm to Port Lucaya. Its an easy run, (50 miles) to West End clear customs stay overnight then sail the 30 miles to Port Lucaya the next day.
We are currently visiting our daughter in Malaysia for the month of April then we will be back in Guelph May 1 for the summer. If you want some more info, you could drop by our house for a beer or something and we could go over more, or we can talk on the phone. We live at 109 McElderry Road, or our cell is 519 546 6587. Home phone is 519 265-5674. (Our home phone is disconnected until May 1)
Your father was very kind to us, and I would really like to help you if I can. Good luck and hopefully we can meet talk when we get back.
Say hi to your father for us. Doug
Information Hi Doug And Sharon
I'm John Hammill's son (your neighbour in Guelph). Dad sent me your blog.And I wanted to ask you some questions re your boat storage in Canveral.
I see your boat is Canadian (registered I assume). What type of permits do you use while in the USA. Cruising permt etc? How do you cover yourself (permits) while in storage. The customs info online is anything but clear.
Our boat is in Maryland near Annapolis ( 3 years now) and I paid the state tax and licensed it there also. Plus its registered in Canada. We have a friend that wants to bring his boat south and do a similar thing you do.
My wife and I would like to meet with you when you return to Guelph a pick your brains on your experinces.
Thanx.
Great to see you enjoying the boating life! Hi Sharon & Doug,
It is always a treat to read your blog and see those absolutely beautiful pictures that you post - especially on a gloomy, overcast day in the middle of January in Ontario! Looks like you are so enjoying your retirement and your months in the south. I may never have a boat, but a few months in the Bahamas would suit me fine when I eventually can retire.
That is very exciting news for Dawn and Paul! And means more travelling for the two of you.
All here is still quite routine. We look forward to seeing you in the summer when you get back to Guelph!
Seasons Greetings from Kitchener
We are sitting by the fireplace logs are burning with the Christmas tree lights twinkling
I loved your pictures and it sounds like a dream land...sun, sea, sand...while we are nesting inside
you two are basking in the beautiful sun.
I Look forward to reading your blog now that I have a laptop of my own.\
God Bless
Safe sailing, keep the wind at you back
Take care
Alberta
Gert in Florida Hi Doug and Sharon:
We love living in Florida found a great place in just two days and the price was low very low and fully furnished. We are in a retirement comunity in Lakeland with a pool, bingo and line dancing. I can't believe it is almost Xmas does not feel like xmas but we are not complaining. Wanted to wish you both a merry xmas and a happy new year. If you are every up near Clearwater or Tampa give us a call at 863-603-3409 and we will come and get you our place has two bedroom.
Take care and enjoy the weather.
Gertie & Guy
The weather down south is great!!! Looks like you are really doing well. The weather here in Naples has been the coldest ever for the past 2 weeks. I leave for Nassau in the morning. Travelling on Carnavel's Dream Boat. Only have 5 days but it will be good to get away.
Glad to hear all your family are well. Darlene and Peter are in their new house in Naples. Hayley is in U/of Miami. Larry and Laura are doing well in Ottawa. Keep the blogs coming.
And a Merry One To You Two! Hi Sharon&Doug! Glad to see that you are somewhere warmer than we. Think about you often and wonder where exactly you are...the blogs certainly make us jealous (especially Robin!) Had a busy summer. Rob is officially retired, so we took "Rock Lobstah" to ports on Lake Erie and returned it to a marina on the St.Claire River for winter storage. Hillary was married in September in Oakville, so it was necessary to be somewhere so we could available for wedding prep and festivities. Made it down to the Fort Lauderdale boat show in late Oct. and plan to charter a trawler in March break on the Florida Gulf side with neighbours. Hopefully, we will get south for a week or two before then...already have had enough snow! Enjoy your Christmas in the sun and make a toast or two remembering your chilly Canadian friends...Jane and Robin
Happy Holidays Glad to receive this blog - I was wondering where you were! Glad you are back at it for the winter. Enjoy your travels. We'll be home in Calgary for Christmas but hopefully heading somewhere warm in February or March. Toured through Egypt in October - that was plenty warm for awhile!!
Look forward to your updates!!
Barb and Bruce.
Merry Christmas! I am soooo jealous. This Canadian weather really sucks right now, I'd much rather be somewhere warm. Maybe at March break but I doubt it. Things will be pretty quiet around here this year with MEgan in Europe until April. Victoria is planning on doing her third year in Nantes France next year and Alex is doing a sort of mission trip to India this summer for three weeks. It isn't my choice of a place to visit but she is very excited.
Glad you Done Reach We loved hearing from you and about your crossing. Really hooted when we saw the GA Pig getting top billing. Very cold here so be glad you got over when you did. It was 19 degrees this am as we were steaming in the hot tub! see you soon... Mary & Christian / I Wanda
Belize, here we come. Hi folks, I just caught up with your adventures, I love the details - it gave me a chance to reminisce about our trip to Freeport. Your are real adventurers, I'm glad you returned home safely. We're getting ready for Belize on 5/8, we're taking an underwater camera this time to take our own pictures. Bob's till job hunting so this trip will be a nice
get away for us. Enjoy your summer! Nancy
2010 winter treated you well - safe journey home! Wonderful to hear and see what amazing time you had down south again this year. You write your blog so that we can almost see ourselves there! Have a safe trip home to those beautiful grandchildren. See you soon.
Fun in the Keys Thanks Mike and Jane. Have fun in the keys. Next year we arew going to spend more time in the keys so hopefully we can see you there , as well as at home.
Welcome home to the good weather Since we have had such an amazing spring and winter here, I hope your return does not see bad weather hit here. Hope to see you soon, we are off to the Keys until May 12, then back at Bayfield after that.
Bedlam goes in the long weekend if Doug wants to help with the mast, I know how he loves to do that.
Cheers guys, hope to see you soon.
When do you run your first marathon Hi Dave
It's good to here from you and i look forward to hearing all about your new parts! We should be back in May. See you then. We are currently in the Abacos
But, what about business? Doug: I hope you made some sales for Stevie! But if you are welcomed back, remember the Algoma Blackfly are deadly when they get into a thick beard! I have been off crutches now for two weeks, but the recovery has been too slow as you well know. Looking forward to hearing more of your trip soon. Regards Dave
Love you Blog We have been missing your reports and wondered if we had dropped off your list. We love them! So many memories from cruising the same places. Keep the reports coming and we'll see you soon in GA
I Hope they put back what they took out Hi Dave:
I hear you have had the big operation so we are hopeing you are getting in shape for the big marathon in Hamilton. Seriously hope you are doing well. Internet is really lousy here so we don't get to check email often.
Good luck with things, get well, and say hi to everyone.
Doug
Watching it snow.... I'm sitting here (supposed to be working) gazing out the snowy window remembering our vacation at Thanksgiving. It seems so long ago.... Hope all is well and you've recouperated after your company on the boat. We've booked our next trip - Belize in May. Bob is still job searching (7 mos), industry is beginning to pick up but its hard for an 'old' one to find quality work. Our snow total so far is 27" - 9" below the average. We think of you often, Nancy
52 degrees & you're complaining!! Hi Guys: Russell tells me you did a great job in Nassau! Or maybe Russell never did a good job!! But never mind Nassau, you are desperately need back at Centennial. Steve is up to his usual tricks and needs to be straighten out! He bought Trans Canada and moved Sam and the inventory into Norfinch Drive, but is only letting Sam approach his old customers. The salesforce will not be presenting it to the rest of the country. Like Yogi said "it's dejavu all over again" ie Younger.
February 9th is the big day. They start-up the chainsaw at around 10:00AM, the morphine follows and I hope to hallucinate that I'm in Freeport in a hot tub. Have a great time. Dave
Just retired, we've gone cruising for the next 10 months in our sailboat, About Time (Beneteau First 405). Our home port is Bronte, Oakville, Ontario. We live in Guelph, Ontario. ... full info
Don Manns
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All the Best
Doug & Sharon: Bob Argue dropped in last week and is heading south after the Holidays. Have a Great Christmas! Don & Leslie