Indiantown

Our first night on the waterway was at Indiantown. It didn't begin so auspiciously as I hit an alligator coming into the fairway of the marina,  Judging by his reaction, he didn't like it either.  This is a great place to explore and meet other cruisers.  It is a huge boat storage yard where snowbirds and loopers leave there boat for the hurricane season and head home.  They can either have the boat shrink wrapped or just strip anything that might fly away in a storm off the boat. There is also a large area where people can work on their boat and an accompanying RV park where they can live while they work.  Some projects are so vast, years are spent in Indiantown. Some people can only devote a vacation week or  ong weekends but we met one couple who had spent 2 years getting their boat cruise ready.  As we rode around the yard, we saw many of the boats we had seen over the course of our trip there in the yard or in the marina waiting for haulout.  We shared stories and drinks with several sets of cruisers and had a lovely evening.

This other 424 caught our eye right off.  She's in rough shape but we
know how great the design is so worth the effort.

All these boats are waiting to be hauled out for the season.  This
ramp is busy all day long for weeks in the spring and then again
when the weather cools down and hurricane threats are over.

There are about 10 rows that hold over 50 boats each in this one section alone.

Some boats are still in the dreaming phase.  Sadly, there are quite a few of those in the yard.

Some people just should not be allowed to paint.

Some stands waiting on customers.

The work area is very strictly controlled for polluting debris.

One of the cruisers headed for winter quarters.

Captain Dave checking out the boats.

Our view from the v-berth.  Sure beats snow!!!