My Whaler Boat

The Beagle floats gently off Picnic Island at the start of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Pictured is the old engine that came with the boat, a very loud 200hp 1994 Evinrude OceanPro. The engine had well earned its nickname of "Old Smoky". During one outing, the Coast Guard approached to investigate the fire. I had to explain it was the engine's "normal" exhaust. Last spring it was ungraded to a 250 HP Yamaha four-stroke. No noise, no smoke and no constant breakdowns. God I miss "Old Smoky".

How it began..

Contemplating an upcoming trek across Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway, I have been reading about prior mariners making this trip. There is little on the subject and that fact motivated this blog.

My interest in this trip was sparked about fifty years ago when as a third grader, my class read Robb White's classic children's book The Lion's Paw (1946).  The simple beautiful story about two runaway orphans, Penny and Nick, and their new found friend, Ben, on a journey from St. Lucie to Sanibel Island stuck in my mind.

  For years the book was out of print bu tstill on my mind. I finally found a copy at an antique bookstore in Atlantic City while working fighter's corners. The book sat on my shelf, next to my current nautical books unread and gathering dust for years.

The book gained new life at my house when my twin daughters were old enough to have the book read to them along with the promise to take them on the same journey as the Lions Paw.












After years of distractions  finally the trip is at hand, almost truncated before the start by planned work on the Moore Haven Lock. Fortunately the work has been delayed and the lock closing will not happen until after my family in my boat the Beagle make the voyage.