Cabbage Key Boat Trip - Part 1

Join the crew as we take our first trip to Cabbage Key in Southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian.
The plan for this trip is to find an anchorage near Cabbage Key to stay the night and dinghy over to the restaurant for lunch. We get to see the lingering effects of the storm and a 3 boat raft up tow of damaged boats along the intracoastal waterway. We end up snagging a slip on arrival to Cabbage Key due to the help of the excellent dock master Jonathan. We tour the island a bit, look for the teenage mutant ninja turtles and check out the famous dollar bill room in the restaurant where past visitors sign and hang dollar bills from the walls and ceiling. We of course add one of our own!
Follow along on the adventures of “”Happy Ours”, our 2006 341 Meridian Sport bridge motor yacht as we travel the waters in and around Southwest Florida.
In part 2, we drop anchor for the night, dinghy to shore and run into mechanical troubles on our way back home the following day. Stay tuned!
Product links:
Magnetic Tablet Holder: amzn.to/3YPUy44

[@MrOpaulo]

This doesn't get any better. I'm with you guys, haven't spent a cent. Had a couple docking beers. Handled no lines yet enjoyed completely cruising with you lol

[@size-matters]

I like what Bridget has done with her hair. She is always smiling!

[@SkunkApeFLA10]

YOu have a beautiful lady and a beautiful boat. Living the good life my friend.😀

[@MrOpaulo]

You're my new breakfast channel. Looking forward to coffee with you in the morning! Great channel

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Welcome aboard!

[@scotthall3816]

Cheese burger 🍔😊 😋

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I was just there again today for a charter. 😁

[@gavin2465]

Docking like a boss. 👏🏻

[@doncritzer2798]

I just got new fire extinguishers, since you told me about the new rule of 12 years haha.

[@carboncopies706]

Cant believe this channel hasnt blown up

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thank you! We feel very fortunate we got to where we are!

[@captainjohn7551]

We made that destination a few weeks ago, it was a much busier day but the dock master did a great job fitting everyone in a spot. It would be great to have the bigger boat down here to overnight. Lots of winds lately, keeping us close to home.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We’ll be back!

[@billdoiron2942]

Good to see Matey back with the crew

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

More Matey in next video. Lol

[@craigc.7033]

Beautiful.

[@debbienorton1054]

Love your vids! So beautiful!! You 4 (fur babies included) are living life fully! Keep posting for us here in Central Alabama!

[@BreakfastDragon]

I wanted to see footage of your cheeseburger in paradise!

[@mikejones2083]

You are correct!! I use the magnets in the truck and on the boat THey work great!!

[@annamazzuchelli9404]

Boat is looking good.

[@SaltyKings]

Looks like a fun place! The magnetic holders for the tablet are genius for that spot on the flybridge, going to order a pair! Hope everyone is recovering well after Ian.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks we’re getting there. Boat is on the hard and hopefully being worked on this week.

[@martinacassidy9436]

Lucky you! Love it keep it up always 😊

[@ronschultz1977]

Nice video! Thanks for sharing.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks Ron!

[@americanrvtraveler2446]

In Jimmy Buffett's book, A Pirate Looks at Fifty, he wrote where he came up with the song "Cheese Burger in Paridise. It was not at Cabbage Key.

[@Prototheria]

3:40 Looks like Pop Yachts is getting some new inventory in!

[@jamesschulz5518]

Great videos as always! i agree Bridget’s hair looks great !! I hope to tow my boat down from jersey in the fall instead of letting it sit up here and use it down in sw Florida

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Great idea!

[@michaelhensley4102]

Love your videos, I plan to retire there next year so I always watch looking for new info on the area. Love the admirals hair, though she was your daughter at first.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

She’s loving that comment. Lol

[@havanashamrock]

New content!! Great we love cabbage key well keep an eye out for ya next time keep coming north some nice sandbars and dock n dines were outta Gasparilla now. I’m assuming the Meridian has crossover cooling for the shaft seals?

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We’ve boated out of Gaspirilla marina on Brigitt’s dads boat. Love Stump Pass! And yes, the meridian has shaft seal cooling.

[@mudbrats]

Great video! As a travelling boater to the cape coral area, i find it extremely helpful to see the approach and docking area of cabbage key. We are planning to take the 24’ Hurricane up from CC on Wednesday. What is the customary tip to offer the dock hand? ❤

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I guess it depends. I’d give more for larger boats and difficult docking if the dockhand got you in ok. Smaller boats less so. I’d say $10 is reasonable.

[@mudbrats]

@@AdventuresofHappyOurs awesome thanks! i didnt want to look like a cheap arse Canadian ❤️

[@denniscolleen]

Nice to see you guys back up and cruising after the hurricane. Hey, a question for you: when you run on 1 engine do you leave the other transmission in Neutral with the prop freewheeling or to you put it in Forward? I was thinking of doing same when we are going slow. I've got velvet drive transmissions, not sure how they like prop freewheeling. Thanks for your videos! They get me through the long winters up here on Georgian Bay in Ontario

[@Prototheria]

VD's can be back driven provided you're at or below hull speed. Just be sure to install a shaft collar before you do.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Check your transmission manual. Ours is ok to free wheel. They are Velvet Drives. 71c and 72c are ok to freewheel. Slow speeds are fine and don’t need shaft seal cooling at hull speeds.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Shaft collar?

[@Prototheria]

@@AdventuresofHappyOurs Odd... it doesn't appear like my comment went through. Here ya go again. A shaft collar goes on the prop shaft to prevent the shaft from being pulled out of the boat if it slips free of the coupler. I personally see it as a million to one odds of that happening, but it's a cheap way to mitigate one of the many "what if"s.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Ok got it! The PSS shaft seals have a stainless collar on the shaft that is secured with set screws. That would hopefully prevent that. I check the coupler bolts a couple times a year as we found them loose early last year or so.

[@eoedi1669]

Hi sorry for bothering you. It is the following: I had seen a video talking about the Mercuiser engine which was not above 3000 rpm when it was running, but if it was stopped it was above 3000 rpm. Could you tell me if you managed to overcome the same problem? And what is the procedure to be to make the same boat return to normal. I've already changed almost everything, even the electronic schematic of the other boat I put it in and I still wasn't successful, I don't know what to do anymore, please give me a tip!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I suppose you mean you can’t get your engine over 3000 rpm when it is in gear. It could be a fouled or bent prop bottom or running gear. Check all that first.

[@eoedi1669]

@@AdventuresofHappyOursYes, I wanted to say exactly that, bro I already changed the electrical circuit of another bar and nothing happened. thanks for the tip. By the way: I know it's asking a lot, but I'm new to the area of ​​nautical mechanics, could you give me your email? I will really need your help 😂 I am Angolan

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

@@eoedi1669 [e-mail]

[@brianbarry6909]

You need to stop running on one motor Your doing more harm then good to the motor your running and putting a lot of stress on the steering system

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

No it’s fine. I am running no more than 2000 rpm. I got this tip from a looper that ran his boat this way for most of the great loop with no problems.