crossing wakes??
 

I hope this question is not silly. I have a small boat to this board (25 Checkmate). I'm interested in joining a poker run this summer. Usually when I come up on a wake I try and cross it at an angel. When you guys start a poker run it looks like all the boats just go straight ahead though all the waves. How crazy does that get for smaller boats??

Thanks
Russ

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Frankly if you aren't one of the big dogs, just relax a little and let them eat, then follow up behind. On the bigger runs where a staggered start occurs they usually segregate the boats so the slower, smaller boats don't get run over. Running in the front of the pack can be a real blast but you have to be very aware of all the boats around you and just deal with the conditions accordingly, remember that these a usually big boats with big power and very experienced operators. On most runs there will always be a group that runs back a ways and hangs together for the company, just find your spot and enjoy.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: about that much!
Get a head start.....or a late start. Once the pack thins out you'll be fine.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

We ran a 28 checkmate last year at Smoke On The Water and it got N U T S ! ! ! ! ! We finally just hung back a little ways and had a much better ride.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Even in a larger boat it seems to get a little NUTS !

Seat time in your boat is the key----know what it's going to do before

it does it an you will be just fine----it's called reading the water.

Lucky Strike

Re: crossing wakes??
 

russ what state r u in

Re: crossing wakes??
 

dodsonartic1- I'm in New Jersey.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Although I personally have never experienced the "middle of the pack" in a Poker Run, in my 32 Fountain, ( you might be better off directing this question to the Skaters that run behind me ), logic would indicate that the slop is running almost directionally with your intended card-stop. Get ready for some side-to-side pitching, but it's mostly insignificant. Your boat will not capsize, nor toss any passengers, as long as you are staying within the constraints / limits of your hull, speed, and seat-time.

Of course, I would not know any of this from personal experience, because I am leading the way. When I get to the first card-stop, they are still peeling the cellophane off the deck. . . .

Re: crossing wakes??
 

The bigger, faster boats will be gone in no time, trim down and start plowing through the mess until it clears up. Poker runs usually do have a couple of starts. You'll know what group to be in, second or third possibly (if they have three starts). It's not a race anyways :rolleyes: just take your time, run with some other boats that run a speed your comfortable with and you'll be just fine. You should know how your boat will run in whatever the conditions are already, what trim is good, what speed is safe, even the biggest boats out there can't run WOT full trim in any condition. Do the poker run and have a good time, that's what it's all about, BTW, 25' is not small by any means, there are alot of smaller boats out there.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Russ, Hang back and like they said..."let the big dogs eat"!! Then get outside and run your run. We were the smallest boat in the Thunder On The Bay poker run a few years ago and we attempted to run up front for a bit.......Bad Move!! After this little bobble we went to the outside, and with alot of experience on the Chesapeake Bay cut some corners and came to the first stop in the midst of the pack!!! Then off to the next stop picked off a few more bigger names. Got to the lunch stop and was surprised how well we did!!! Here are a few pics.....we are the 25 AT you can't miss us....we're the small boat. :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

See us in the 2nd photo tied up with the Hustler!! Just don't let adreneline get the best of you at the beginning. My 1st Poker Run was NYC Poker Run 1999....I was thrown from the boat at 80+ MPH......4 days after I bought the AT!! So keep a level head you'll thank your self at the end of the day. :D

The last picture here is us getting passed on the way back by Insptech in a 40 ft Fountain!! :eek:

Re: crossing wakes??
 

[QUOTE=R Addiction]See us in the 2nd photo tied up with the Hustler!! Just don't let adreneline get the best of you at the beginning. My 1st Poker Run was NYC Poker Run 1999....I was thrown from the boat at 80+ MPH......4 days after I bought the AT!!
:eek: Give us a quick story if you got time about getting thrown from your boat,Smitty

Re: crossing wakes??
 

What do you think!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D This is in a 312 Formula........!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.vxi.cc/phantomchaos/images/P0001714.jpg

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Smitty, It wasn't my boat. It was my brothers Apache. We got caught up in all the ferry wakes and dropped into a huge hole...shot out the other side straight up and landed on the starboard side. Threw 4 people out, broken leg and jaw on one guy and a couple of knee injuries on the other 2 , I was knocked out and was on my way to the bottom, no PFD!! When one of the other guys leg ran across my t-shirt. He swam down and pulled me up not breathing. Spent 4 days in a medically induced coma and 6 1/2 months of therapy. Now it's just head aches and other small stuff. Just keep it safe and wear your PFD when your running hard. I got into Powerboat mag with this story. Got me a free t-shirt for it!! :rolleyes: :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Yeah baby!!!!!!! :D :D :drink: :drink: :evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......Apache. No wonder. I heard they really do suck on the BIG water. :evilb: :evilb: :evilb: :evilb: :D :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Hey Russ G. check the video on my website. Nothing like getting passed by a 170 MPH 36 Nortech on the right, then a 140 MPH 50 Nortech on the left, while the wife was driving.

Wife was going to turn away from Cyclone and I had to yell at her to stay straight, else the 50 Nortech would have driven right over us and made some bad hamburger.

Very cool to watch but I now shudder to think at what nearly happened. Unless you are running 95 MPH in a 42 Outerlimits (been there done that), stay the hell back!!! The Nortechs surprised us as we were headed back to Miami early and did not expect this.

Otherwise, have fun and stay safe.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Nort that can't be you driving - no fivehead!!! :evilb: :D :evilb:

Re: crossing wakes??
 

I'll let that go, but yep! It's ME!! :D :D :D What other fearless Formula owner would do Formula's "offshore" hull testing for them?

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Great pic, that's some messed up water!

Re: crossing wakes??
 

My 272 baja will keep up or beat alot of the boats i have run acrossed IN GOOD WATER but it gets downright ugly in true 3 footers let alone 5-6 ft wakes. Everyone ask why i don't go on any poker runs,the above pic tells it all!! I'm leaving my boat home and riding with mr and mrs patriyacht on their BT43 at SOTW!!!!!!! :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

looks like LOTO on a Saturday :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

:D :D :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

only calmer :p

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Cool video :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Russ
If your considering any of the NJPPC Runs JUST DO IT.
Its a great group, well organized and your boat is a good fit for Barnaget Bay. I did many of their runs in my 25' AT and never had any issues.
The advise above is good, stay back and let the real fast runners go until you feel comfortable.
You dont need to lead a Poker Run to have fun (thank god :D ), its all about the day, boating, friends, etc.
We will be doing all of NJPPC's runs this year Mechanically Permitting :drink:

Re: crossing wakes??
 

CBR....why was the wife turning away from Cyclone? Was the Playboy bunny runnin' naked? :eek: :D :D

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Remember one thing about a poker run...the last one in can still be the winner ! Better to be safe then sorry. Lifejackets are mandatory and helmets are optional

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Cyclone runs dry pipes that have to be heard to be believed....awesome! It just scared the hell out of her, hence she wanted to turn away from it and almost made us into hamburger under Jules 50 Nortech's props. Actually you can just hear me say "stay straight" at the begining of the video on my website.

Re: crossing wakes??
 

Thanks for the advice guys. Hanging back sounds good to me! I would reather be in the back than not do it at all.

That picture is awsome PhantomChaos !!

Nice video CBR.

The back door man,
Russ