Knotline.com - Black Friday Sale

Time is running out!!! All in-stock Hunter Tervis Tumblers and Gill Gear is on sale for 2 More Days!!! Check out all the products here!

DESTINATION: Sarasota, FL

Sarasota, FL is rated #1 boating destination on Discoverboating.com


Away from the commercial marine traffic and urban bustle of Florida’s Tampa Bay is the easygoing amble of Sarasota, just a few nautical miles south along the state’s central west coast. But in and around Sarasota is as much about her barrier islands as it is the city proper. And when you talk about the “Sister Keys” as they’re called, then you’re really talking laid back.


The Gulf of Mexico offers normally placid waters near shore and the keys provide easy line-of-sight navigation. But beware your draft as many of these areas are shallow and shoal easily. Also keep in mind that this region marks the southern end of the world’s largest manatee population. At certain times of the year sea cows are everywhere and there are posted speed zones enforced year round.


Sarasota proper is a booming area with incredible population growth, but its most famous resident — John Ringling — is long gone. His legacy, however, lives on in Sarasota. The circus magnate’s 66-acres estate now houses the Florida’s official state art museum and the Circus museum. The Ringling School of Art and Design is one of the best in the world. (There’s also Ringling Boulevard, John Ringling Boulevard and John Ringling Parkway.)


For things on more of a marine theme, the non-profit Mote Marine Laboratory is a must. Once focused only on sharks, Mote now studies all facets of the marine environment, educates and operates a world-class aquarium that is open to the public. When you need to eat try Zorias, the Bijou Café or Selva Grill.


To see the sites, boaters can moor at Marina Jacks, right in the heart of downtown. It offers a full-service fuel dock, berths to 200 feet, good food and complete amenities. For a bit more exclusivity, try the Sarasota Yacht Club, which can accommodate transient yachts up to 120 feet.


Much of what’s happening around Sarasota is actually on the keys just offshore. The area’s tony shopping district, Armand Circle, is actually its own key. It’s adjacent to Lido Key, which offers great beaches.


Stretching for 11 miles, Longboat Key is actually only half in Sarasota County. Nonetheless, its Longboat Key Club and Resort is one of the country’s finest upscale escapes. For the local delicacy, eat at Moore's Stone Crab. Visiting captains can port into Cannons Marina, Florida’s oldest Grady-White dealer. Cannons has a complete ships store including bait, tackle, fuel, oil, beach and boating supplies. There’s also Longboat Key Moorings at ICW Marker 15.


Siesta Key is eight miles of beach and bay front property, with canals honeycombing through many neighborhoods, and some excellent shops.


The Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay and Anna Maria Bay surround the seven-mile long Anna Maria Island. Anna Maria Bayfront Park on the north end offers no facilities but a serene beach to experience. Holmes Beach is excellent for walking. Bradenton Beach and Coquina Beach on the south end have lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic areas with grills, lots of shady pine trees and concessions.

Black Friday is Starting Early!!!!

Black Friday is Starting Early and lasting all week for Knotline readers!

Right now all in-stock Hunter Tervis Tumbers and all the Gill Foul Weather gear is on sale at the Knotline store.

Sale starts today and ends on November 21st. Make sure you order fast because quantities are limited on some products.

Knotline Story Contest

Knotline story CONTEST!!!!

Send us your stories about your Hunter (sailing adventures, things you have done to modify your boat, etc...) We will publish as many as we can and will pick a winner to WIN an excellent prize!

Deadline for entry is November 27th

Send your Stories & Pictures HERE

Winterize Your Boat

Unfortunately, the boating season is winding down in many parts of the country and it is time to start thinking about protecting your valuable recreational asset. Winterizing a boat reminds me of the old commercial that says "pay me now or pay me later." The time and effort you spend now will have a definite effect on your boat's performance, or lack of it, and certainly save you time, effort and money come spring. You should remember that your insurance policy may not cover damage done by lack of maintenance or neglect.

The best place for your boat to be during the winter is out of the water, under cover, in a climate-controlled boat storage area. This, however, can be expensive. If don't have this option perhaps you should consider shrink-wrapping your boat. This, too, is a little expensive but provides a very protective cover. Short of these two items, make sure that your boat is well covered with a tarp or some other sturdy cover.

Your first step in winterizing should be to make a checklist of all items that need to be accomplished. Check the owner's manual of your boat and motor(s) for manufacturer's recommendations on winterization. If you are a new boat owner, perhaps you should employ the assistance of a friend with experience in winterizing or hire a professional to do the job. The following is a generic outline of areas which should be of concern to you, however, there are many resources on the Internet with more detailed and specific information.

To read the rest of this article go to DiscoverBoating.com

CLICK HERE to View the Complete Blog

Hunter Announces New 39 for 2010 Model Year

Company officials today announced the launching of their newest model, the Hunter 39. This new boat replaces the highly successful Hunter 38 retaining some of the boats most positive interior characteristics and marking major improvements in several key areas suggested by dealers and customers.

John Peterson, Hunter’s Director of Sales & Marketing said, “Our main goal was to build on our previous success by creating a more striking appearance and a better cockpit with dual helm stations. We also wanted to incorporate some exciting advancements in interiorappointments.” Peterson added, “The deck profile and hull shape represent a new direction for the company. The extended hull improves sailing performance and contributes to the sleeker look we’ve been developing.”

The new Hunter 39 hull is 25 inches longer than the previous model providing a longer
waterline and more spacious swim platform that improves boarding access from a dinghy. On deck, the new twin wheel configuration provides the helmsperson with the ultimate in comfort, control and visibility for every point of sail. Transom access from the cockpit is improved with a wide, unobstructed walkway between the wheels.

The centerpiece of the cockpit is a versatile table with features that enhance comfort and utility. It serves well as both a hand hold and foot brace but also contains drink holders and a deep storage bin. Fold out leaves expand serving capacity for mealtime gatherings. The compass is mounted at the aft end above a pivoting chart plotter bracket that holds an optional Raymarine E-Series MFD.

Other on-deck highlights include:
• Flush mounted deck hatches.
• Doubled Ended Mainsheet. Introduced previously on larger models, this new feature allows adjustment from either the cabin top or port helm station.
• Stainless Steel Traveler Arch. Provides the leverage of end-boom sheeting without the cockpit clutter.
• B & R rig by Selden. The B & R design with fractional sailplan is reliable, stable and easer to handle than conventional masthead rigs. Selden’s fanatical attention to detail ensures long term performance unmatched by any spar manufacturer.

Construction is the same modular method used on other Hunter models. The hull is balsa sandwich above the waterline with solid FRP below the waterline and two layers of Kevlar in the forward sections for extra impact resistance. The structural grid / pan is hand laminated in a single piece and fused to the hull with the interior components preassembled in place. The plywood cored deck is matched to the hull using an outward flange joint sealed with 3M 5200 and mechanically fastened with both screws and bolts.

Below decks, this new model retains the very popular (two stateroom / one head) layout of the
Hunter 38, however some new enhancements have been added to improve the function and
appearance.

• A new faux granite galley countertop material adds dramatic flair to the interior and is accented by a stout stainless steel keeper rail around the edges that functions well as a sturdy handhold.
• The cherry laminate woodwork is complimented by new beveled laminate flooring for a richer feel.
• Larger fixed deck ports in the salon and galley add volumes of natural light.
• The nav station has been redesigned to accommodate a cleaner chart plotter installation and more open table space.
• The head has new solid surface materials in the vanity counter and floor to improve the appearance and reduce maintenance.

The boat will be officially introduced to the public at the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, October 8-12.

Charis’ Excellent Adventure – Part Six: The East River and Beyond… Aug 15th – 21st, 2008

Charis’ Excellent Adventure – Part Six: The East River and Beyond… Aug 15th – 21st, 2008

The time had come to “turn left…” Charis was headed up the East River and through the infamous Hell Gate… and on to Long Island Sound!



Hell Gate is a narrow channel at the top of the East River, with a reputation for being difficult to transit, due to strong converging tidedriven currents and heavy commercial traffic. Its original name Hellegat came from a Dutch explorer in the 1600’s. Back then, many submerged rocks added to the complexity of a safe passage, but these have long since been blasted away by the Army Corps of Engineers. Our plan was to arrive at this point just in time to ride the favorable tail end of flood tide.

This meant leaving Liberty Landing Marina at “8 bells” ( 8 AM sharp, for those unfamiliar with the rhythm of a ship’s clock). But first, traveling with 4‐legged crewmembers means a morning walk before we leave. There is a large park adjacent to the marina, which was pretty much deserted at that hour of the morning, and afforded an unobstructed view of the sun rising over the city across the Hudson River.

We had thought that passing through Hell Gate would be the big excitement for the day, but it turned out that getting to the East River was by far the greater challenge. The Statue of Liberty ferries come in to refuel each morning at Liberty Landing Marina… the very same service dock where we needed to stop for a desperately overdue pump‐out! Hectic, to say the least, and another test of our docking skills, not to mention our trust in the ability of unknown dock crew to properly handle our docking lines.

Next came the crossing of New York Harbor – during peak Friday morning rush hour traffic. Heavy chop and ever heavier VHF radio traffic between ferry captains: routine greetings, announcements regarding their movements, and indulgent complaints concerning “slow moving nuisance traffic” – which turned out to be a couple of pleasure craft (sailboats) headed for the East River… that was us!

Once past all the traffic, the chop subsided and things calmed down, allowing us to focus on the sights along the East River: the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, tall ships at the South Street Seaport, the United Nations complex, and bridge after bridge after bridge…, each one just a little different than the one before.

Then came Hell Gate. We timed the tides perfectly, the current was negligible, and the “one little barge & tug” we met up with hardly bothered us at all. What was all the fuss about?
A few more bridges, a few more barges… passing directly under one of the active runways
into LaGuardia on a Friday morning was exciting…

… one last bridge and we were in the Sound.

We quickly noticed that some things were different here no more bridges, and the pleasure yachts – and their dinghies – got a lot bigger…… yes, that’s a motor yacht towing its “dinghy”: a 25‐foot center console sport boat. Some dinghy! What wasn’t different was the weather. The clouds had been threatening all day… and yet another storm was predicted for early evening, so we ducked into the first peaceful harbor we could find, which turned out to be Oyster Bay, on the northern shore of Long Island.

Again, our timing was good – we had just enough time to run the dogs ashore and get back to the boat before this storm bank arrived. Hard to describe the color green of these clouds – and this was about 5 PM.

Saturday brought brilliant blue skies and we decided to stretch our legs and explore the town. Oyster Bay was the summer home of Theodore Roosevelt, and the town was filled with historical references from that era. There’s also a waterfront park with the restored Nantucket lightship.

Here’s Bruce and one of the crew plotting the course for the following day.

Sunday was a momentous occasion for us on two counts, another beautiful day and we actually
sailed the boat… for the first time since leaving Lake Champlain we were not on a schedule and
were not being chased by storms.

We spent a restful night in a slip at the Brewers Yard in Branford, CT, on the north shore of the sound, and splurged on a big breakfast in the cockpit the next morning before heading on our way eastbound.

Another lovely afternoon sail brought us to the breakwater guarded by the twin lighthouses at Old Saybrook, CT, headed up the Connecticut River to our destination for the night: a mooring at Old Lyme Marina.

But first we had to pass through the Old Lyme drawbridge that carries the Amtrak rail line. According to the cruising guide, the bridge is “normally open” and only closes when rail traffic approaches, with “rarely a lengthy closing…” We hit one of those rare lengthy closings, waiting 45 minutes for the next opening. We did get to enjoy a beautiful sunset while we circled in the bay waiting for the bridge, but by the time we got through, and under the Rte 95 highway bridge behind it, the sun was down and the full moon was rising as we settled on our mooring for the night.

The next day brought us to familiar territory, past the lighthouse at Groton Long Point, up the Mystic River to the Mystic Shipyard. We bought and sailed our previous Hunter here over ten years before, and were delighted to return. This chapter ends with a visit with good friends Bob & Judy Chase, our mooring neighbors from Lake Champlain, who by happy coincidence were visiting in the area.


To be continued… The crew of s/v Charis: Pam & Bruce…, and Shadow & Shelby