East Lake Toho new arrival with questions

[Herschel]

I just signed my lease with the City of St. Cloud for a slip in the St. Cloud Marina. I saw several Mac 26X/M's in the marina. I have been storing my 26X on its trailer in Orlando for the last year. Before that I was at a slip on Lake Monroe in Sanford for five years with fuel and pump out services. I have a few questions, and I was wondering if someone on our forum could answer them. (1) Can we refuel on the water anywhere on the lake? (Non-ethanol preferably) and/or are there other sources of non-ethanol nearby, (2) Are there restaurants we can boat to and tie up while we eat? (If so, how's the food?) (3) Are the water levels around the marina sufficient to support docking with our rudders fully extended? (3) Is there a chart for Lake Toho on the our chart plotters? (I have the C-MAP NT+ w/East coast and Gulf C-cards) or paper charts? (4) Any idea about where to find pump out facilities for my holding tank short of hauling boat all the way back to Sanford and launching to marina pump out station? (5) Do we really have to take boat out each year for the "Spring Fling" event in April? and, finally, (6) Any really shallow areas we have to look out for when we have the board all the way down? Any other advice you have for a new comer would be appreciated!

[Keel_Hauled]

Welcome to Saint Cloud!

I used to have a slip in there for my , too. Odd, that Diana lady kept telling me there were no slips available-- must be she's still friends with my ex-wife
You can get fuel straight across the lake at the East Lake Fish Camp; just aim for the 2 trees that stick up above the rest on the north side of the lake (your almost heading for them when you exit the marina). There's a little place directly across from Sav-a-lot that has 1 little tiny gas pump on the side of the building that sells ethanol free fuel- pricey but the only game in town You can also get something to eat at the fish camp and tie up there, but it's a weedy mooring and a little tight for your If you want to go there, pull your rudders up before you try to tie off on the wall or you'll get em buried in the mud. The foods OK there but you're better off eating at Crabby Bill's IMHO. You'll never have a problem with the water levels in the marina as far as your rudders go but they will get slimy and discolored VERY quickly; I'd leave em up if I were you. The centerboard WILL bottom out so never enter the marina with it more than 1/2 way down !! There is a chart for the lake on your plotter; if not and you have a Garmin, see me and I'll give you a nice chart for all of Florida You can get a fair paper chart with depth indicators at any of the Saint Cloud boat repair shops (Advance Marine, Toho Marine, Precision Marine). I have no idea about pump out in Saint Cloud but there has to be something around, check the KOA campground on Narcoosee Road. For Spring Fling, your boat has to move; no question. As for shallow areas, I really have only had to worry about the channel out of the marina and anything close to the weeds. The area at Chisholm park where everyone anchors and parties is usually deep enough for full board unless you go too far in. I hope you enjoy the lake; I never get out there anymore as my ex-wife always calls the authorities and says I'm boating drunk-- hard to enjoy anything at all when you have cops cruising your boat all day (even if you show them there is no alcohol on board)

Phillip A. Green

[Herschel]

Phillip, thanks for the brief. All helpful info. Looks like I'll be number 4 at the marina (2X's and 2M's). If ever out that way, my boat is "American Spirit". Stop by for a chat.

[Keel_Hauled]

Herschel,

You wouldn't happen to have VHF on your boat would you ?

I just replaced my antenna and need to test it but that requires someone else at a given distance on VHF, too.... Can you help me ou ?

Phillip A. Green

[vizwhiz]

I never get out there anymore as my ex-wife always calls the authorities and says I'm boating drunk-

You have one of those too??

[Keel_Hauled]

You have one of those too??

Oh, man... You have NOOOO IDEA ! And you are the only one laughing, too!

I wonder if there's enough of us to form an old divorced guy sailing club ?

[Herschel]

Phillip, I do have a VHF, but I am not on the lake, yet. I hope to launch sometime this week. The PO, who did a lot of great mods on my boat, did leave me with two through-hull fittings for my speedometer and fathometer. I have spent a whole lot more time this week than I would have liked crawling in my "pizza oven" to spread 5200 sealant around both fittings to stop a periodic leak from ballast tank to bilge. Hence, the delay! Give me a call on Sunday. I hope to be out there. Do you get much VHF traffic on the lake?