Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Okay let's start by saying I am hardly ever offended by anything....I am an easy going guy who thinks everyone has a right to an opinion... But...In the latest issue of Powerboat Magazine which I received this week there is a letter in the back of the Magazine that just has me asking why? It is basicly about how he( the author) feels that anyone who attends a poker run with there boat and does not pay the entry fee is a theif.... He states that if you can't pay up the entry fee then to stay home.... Now I have run in a few Poker Runs in my area in the last few years....mainly the Manhasset Bay run in the Long Island Sound. Before ever actually entering the runs I would attend a few as a spectater from the water....running with the other boats for a bit and getting the feel for what goes on at these events and if it was safe for me to possibly enter one in my 25' boat in future events. Next I would then pull back in to the hosting marina, shut the boat down for the day of course, then more often then not run up a $500 plus bar and dinner tab with my friends who attended with me. I feel I may have not been an active participant in the event but at the least I was a spectater who did contribute just like a fan at a Yankee game.( And remember The Yankees would not exist without the spectators)....WHY and HOW am I a theif ?? What did I steal from the participants of the run ?? I did not have a chance of winning the best hand in the poker game...I did not cause anyone to not be able to run in the run...all that I did was make some extra money for the establishment who hosted the event which in turn will be happy to hoast again in the future to do the extra buisness they were able to generate. I also proved to my self it would be safe for me to enter in future events...which I do every year now. I also turned friends on to the sport who are now looking for boats of there own to enter in these great events. I apoligize for rambling on about this.....it just irked me that people (me at one time included) who actually help an event grow are being called thieves and leaches. And to the author of this letter who may read this thread...I apoligize for bringing this out in an open venue like OSO.....I probably should have just written a letter to the editor which I still might do. I am not picking a fight with you or anyone disagreeing with me on this topic....I just felt very strongly about this and would love some other opinions as to wether or not people agree with me on this one.... thanx for reading...........John.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Ill have to go read this article for I just got the magazine the other day. I never had equipment in my mind that was "good enough" to participate in a poker run for the fear of not being able to keep up or something breaking while I was running. Now that I have the 41 apache, I was thinking of seeing one and just poking around at one to see what happens and such before going all out and buying into one. So you are saying by doing this I would be called a thief? Thats not right, Its just spectator curiosity that might lead to me entering in a few of these now that I feel confident that I DO have the equipment to keep up and be a part of the pack not the last guy in past the inflatable from the 50' sea ray that came in last. LOL
Personally I feel that some of these poker run clubs should orgainize more "fun runs" for people to get the feel of a flat out poker run and they might have a little more success rather than just trying to make money on these runs (I think they make a profit from them correct?)

Reason I had a low confidence level wiht my previous boat is that I was at a local bar/restaruant on the water here and a few members of a boat club came in and more or less looked down their nose at me cause of the boat I was in compared to theirs, it was noticeably less $ than theirs. They refused to talk to me and a good friend of mine like we were not worth talking to cause of the boat I had. Well it was funny when I left and fired up with the dry pipes, they all came running over to see what was making the band having to stop playing and what had cam shafts so big they were stunned. Yeah too late buddy boy, Im outta here! (boat was a "sleeper")
Now that I have the apache im sure I have BOUGHT more respect out on the water from others but Ill be one to say up front, I never look down my nose at ANYONE if they have a different brand boat or an outboard or whatever. I remember how little that made me feel and I would NEVER do that to anyone else.
Ill read this article today but I get the jist of what you are saying.
Good post!
J

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Yeah I saw that too, really poor choices of words and it came off as elitest to boot. I don't have to defend myself for being on a lake when there is a poker run and not be entered in it, whatever. Case in point was Desert Storm, I had personal reasons for not being in the run and alot of it had to do with it being at the Nautical but thats my own personal beef. but yeah I can't believe they let that go to print, what a joke. And yet these guys can't figure out why we call it Powerjoke magazine sometimes.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

That's why after 15 years my subscription ran out :rolleyes:

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Well,,, at face value, I agree with the authors thoughts about freeloaders at the Poker Runs,,, I also understand your comments about going and watching and spending bucks at the hosting sponsers,,,, their are always two sides to every story,,,, My main thought is that all and I repeat ,,,, ALL poker runs are differant ,,, some small well organized ,,, some very large with lots going on,,, some are on (almost ) a closed course and some are on the Great Lakes and Oceons where there is lots of room,,,,, I have been to many of them , from the North to the South ,, to Texas and Ill,, New York to Canada ,,, and ,,, they are all differant ,,, Yes,, some people do steal from the event ,,, they take docks that were for paid entrents,,, the crash the door at the partys ,,, and they do not pay,,, hence the articul was written,,, others run with the pace boats and dont follow the rules set by the Organizer"s thus causing saftey issues,,,,
However there are others who show up and park there boats away from the event ,,, run at the end and stay out of the way,,, they ,,, I feel ,, understand the Cost of putting on this event and respect the fact that they are not involved ,, but ,, still want to see it and spend the day on the water and enjoy the sights,,,, Like I said ,,, always two sides,,,,,


RHC

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I think the author could have put his point across in a much better way. after reading that, i put the magazine down.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

All good points guys......and yes it could have been worded a little better....I do see an argument from the other side like RHC says...it was just to broad of an article and lumped everyone who doesn't pay as a Thief....and I always made sure to contribute in some way...that's why I took offence. Now because of the good times I had spectating I am a major contributer....entrance fees, photos, videos, food, alchohol, etc, etc. I would say they had a pretty good return on investment from the first few I attended.....

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Didnt read the article as I dropped Powerboat years ago .. After Bob Nordskog died.
I was getting my monthly issues on ski boats , jet skis, and everything BUT powerboats.
Personaly no into the Poker run scene, or any real organized events for that matter so no real comment on the freeloaders.
To be honest , the poker runs aalways looked like an ego contest to me :drink:

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I was wondering if this was going to come up as I thought the wording of the article was too strong myself. There are two sides and I see both but "Thief" is a little overboard. He compares tagging behind a poker run to stealing a Porsche, which is just assanine.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I agree that there are lots of "Ego's" at poker runs,,, but ,, take them out of the equation and there are lots of "cool" people to meet and get to spend the day with ,,, I am talking about boaters just like yourself ,, that,, enjoy the water and the good times ,,, at a different location with tour guides,,, and they take you to all the best spots,,, think about it,,, some Poker Runs are a great Value ,,, Ya never know until ya try it!!! :D

RHC

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I don't think are bigger EGO's in any other motorsport then boating :D

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I could not agree more but just remember the little guy that is intimidated to pull up in some much smaller less boat is probably just as cool of a guy as you are.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

And,,, :D He just might have the chick with him that likes to get nekid and show off her wares!!!!! :drink: :drink: :D

RHC

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I had this with me all the time, still was intimidated! :evilb:

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I also read the article, very poor choice of wording. I cannot believe someone approved that to go to press!!! He sounds like he thinks his poop don't stink!

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Guess you were well prepared to go "overboard" and not worry about drowning. :D
BTW, NICE personal floatation devices.

As being one of the organizers for the Chicago Poker Run last summer, and this July 21st and 22nd, I see both sides of the story. Personally, I think the author chose the wrong words to expless his feelings. :( I'm not in any way sticking up for what he wrote, but I can't even imagine someone honestly feeling like that, calling people thieves. I want to believe that he just chose the wrong words to express his point. I would hope anyway. :(
At our poker run, we encourage people to come and watch, whether by boat, or by the docks, and we had ALOT of spectators in the water and on land also.
All the participants that paid the entry fee were invited in the evening to a open bar and dinner at the main ball room of the casino. What was'nt right, was that there were just people coming into the room that were not part of the poker run, just trying to mingle with the poker runners and they were getting the same thing as the poker runners were. Well, that was our fault for not having someone at the door checking registerred participants. :mad: It'll be a little different this year. :rolleyes: Now those people you could call "thieves" :D

I too know the feeling of having a boat that you feel is'nt worthy enough of running a poker run. For several years after we sold our Cigarette, we had a 21ft Wellcrart Scarab I. It was'nt the greatest boat to run in lake Michigan, but what the heck, it was a blast to go skiing and tubibg behind. :D I can too remember being anchored out at a beach or with a bunch of other boats and hear the roar of those big engines in those big offshore boats going past us. All the people would just stop whatever they were doin and stop and watch all the hot rod boats come ripping past with the pipes rumbling and the rooster tails shooting toward the sky, and I can remember telling my wife, everytime that happened, we gotta get another big fast boat. :(

With this in mind, when we put together the 1st Chicago Poker run last summer, we tried to "cater' to the guy with the smaller or slower boats. We had a start that was 15-20 minutes ahead of the faster boats, for the 70 mph and slower boats, figuring that they would have cleaner water to run in and not having to be in and out of the bigger boats wakes, and we should all arrive at the 1st card stop about the same time. Worked out pretty well, some of the people in the slower boats just bragged about how cool it was watching the cats and the faster V's passing them off to the sides.
All in all, everyone had a great time, and there were absolutely no attitudes from anyone nomatter how big or fast their boat was. It was a great bunch of people getting together, and doing what they love to do.

Hope some of you people that feel a little intimidated by the bigger faster boats could attend our poker run this july. I'm sure we could change your outlook on poker runs. :cool:

Frank

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Thats the type of run that I would LOVE to be a part of. Its funny though how intimidation works like that on your well lack of ego when you have a smaller craft. My boat, twin engines and whole thing cost less than just one out of 3 engines in some of the boats down here and its just a mind crusher. Like I said now I just bought the new one and Ill be competitive but I BOUGHT into it not earned it. I am still the same person I was in my smaller boat. Thats what bothers me, but hopefully I will attend one or two this year and get more involved in it. I think I would like it. But I say again, I wont look down on anyone or turn my head just because someone has something slower or smaller than mine. Ill make that a point with me. I know what its like to be on the other side of the fence. Sounds like you have a great organization and best of luck to you in your quest this year on your run! Sounds like fun.
J

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I was offended. Comments like if you're not a participant "stay away, stay far away" just struck me as eletist and just plain wrong.

I fully understand the issues surrounding freeloading tag alongs. But what about those who just want to float around outside the harbor and enjoy the spectacle of all that hardware in one place? To assume everyone who isn't a participant is an interfeering cheapskate is just wrong. Not everyone wants to do poker runs.

His comments chiding boaters to stay away is enough to make me wonder who he thinks has ownership of public waters????

Most waterfront hotels, restaurants and lakes are open to the public. Should I alter my vacation plans so as not to be considered a freeloading, reckless, hanger on type because a poker run will be held on that particular weekend?

If his sentiments echo those of Poker Run promoters, I probably don't want to participate in nor sponsor poker runs.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I don't think his ideas are supported by the poker run organizers as a whole. I know at our run here in Knoxville we enjoy having the folks come by and take a look at all the boats. That is part of it in my opinion. What good is having it if you can't show it off.

As a smaller boat owner, I only participate in a couple of smaller events a year, and we enjoy ourselves very much at those events. I would love to visit some of the larger events one day, if for nothing than to admire all of the hardware that those events draw. I am an enthusiast, I love all powerboats, big and small. Does that mean I should pay a fee to sit outside the starting area to see and hear all the sites and sounds, or to walk the docks and check out some rides that I can only dream of owning?

I do understand the point the author was trying to convey regarding freeloaders as I would never run in an event without paying for the full experience, but I think he needs to go back to journalism school and learn how to get his message across without insulting people.

Besides, why pay for all the bling if nobody is there to look at it?

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Well, Well, Well,, now Fred,, :D first ya gots to put the boat lin the water ,,,, then ya gots to untie it from the dock,,, then,, Well u get the idea,,, :D :D ,,, I feel we are all in agreement here ,,, The author chose the wrong words ,,, and maybe expressed his views a little strong,,, maybe,,, like lots of people ,,, he does not have the experience over a broad range of poker runs,,, ----- it could be all of the above,,, but we all agree the article did not come across right!!

RHC

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Agree 100%. :crazy:

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

If you're not entered in the poker run, don't run with the pack!!! If you want to watch, that's all good.....stay off to the side. If you run with the poker runners, that is not cool and some people do that. Not that a poker run is a "race" but imagine if you showed up at a NASCAR event with your stuff, didn't enter the race but ran along with the others......WTF? That is where thief, cheap skate and other words would come from.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I agree with Phantom...... and Power Boat.

last year some yahoo was hanging out with the fleet at the Manhasset Bay Poker Run....After the fleet left and he had his one blast to compare his performance to the paid customers he proceeded to cross Long Island sound and head for the last check point. Somehow he stuffed his boat and had serious injuries.......

The point?...A week later the police contacted the Poker Run organizer seeking to assign liability to him........(speaking of WTF????)

This could have been disastrous to the event and the organizer, robbing even the paid...and insured...participants of the opportunity in future years.

Bottom line...you can't "run alongside" at a Nascar event....so don't try it at a Poker Run.

Otherwise....you're not only a moocher....you're a potential accident looking for a place to happen.

Sorry if I wasn't sensitive to your feelings.

T2x

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I agree with Phantom on this one.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I grew up with very little $ and never experienced boating until I bought my first boat about 10 years ago. It was an 80s 23' Wellcraft beater that I brought back to life with a new motor/drive/interior and airbrush job. I ended up reading a lot of reference material and launching it on a regular basis to get the experience. One of the things I did (shortly after finishing the boat) was join SCOPE for the year (I think it was 97 or 98) and hit their Long Beach to Newport Poker run. Although I made it to Newport and back, I didn't really participate because I only made one card stop and I purposely lagged behind so that I didn't interfere with any one else. However, I have to say that everyone went out of their way to make my time enjoyable. At no time did anyone make me feel intimidated or out of place. In fact, at the Yard House brunch afterwards, I ended up having drinks with several of the members and actually was a contender for the boat with the least horse power award (I believe I came in second). The attached picture is of me and a friend just finishing the trip back from Newport into Long Beach Harbor on that day.

Like everything else, I think it comes down to the people involved. Some are good, some are bad. I actually rejoined SCOPE again this year (with my new to me 35) based on the run I had with them 10 or so years ago.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I am glad everyone got what I was saying without thinking I was attacking the writer....and yes I think we are all in agreement that the article did not come across right...

Now to adress the topic of feeling intimidated because your boat is not as big, fast, or expensive as the other boats.....Yes I do feel intimidated some times. But you have to remember the whole idea of a poker run is the fun we are all getting from the day out on the water with people who enjoy the same thing we do. Remember the Best Hand Wins...not the fastest, biggest, or most expensive. Now anyone who is intimidated to run can run with me in any of the three NPBA events this year and watch how much fun we have even though I am most likly the smallest in the fleet.....

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

This Is The One Time That I Was Looked Down On For My Boat.

I Participated In A Poker Run In Texas Last Summer With A New To Me Scarab 21. As I Docked At A Local Bar Some Azz Says Pretty Loud, Who Has The Training Wheels. At This Point I Just Kept My Mouth Shut And Was Thinking About All The Time I Have Spent In Boats For The Last 23 Years And I Am Only 28.we Left For The Next Stop Together, He Could Not Keep Up With My "training Wheels" Scarab 21. He Also Broke Down. As For The Article, My First Poker Run Was As A Spectator And Now I Enter All That I Can.

One Free Ride At One Poker Run Has Meant A Lot Of Entry Fees At Others.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I do agree with this whole heartedly....stay on the side lines......but go home and calling them thieves is harsh.....

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Nascar is a poor analogy...... its open water, open river, whatever. The truth lays in the question "what is a poker run?"..... It is supposed to be a gathering of boats with select stops to collect cards and compare hands at a gathering and awarding prizes for the best hand. If you dont pay you dont get cards, you dont stop at the card stops, you dont eat lunch at the chosen locations, you dont attend the pre and post run parties.... in other words you dont participate other than running in free water at the same time as the entrants. I dont see the harm. Now dont make claims of potential distraction of poker run safety crews, danger to entrants, etc... Look at the videos of runs with 170mph skaters passing pontoon boats full of people, cruisers getting overtaken at closure speeds in the triple digits, and just general carelessness. Unfortunately what it has morphed into is a race where entrants get annoyed if you "compete" with them without paying.....

I think that the reason run like Jacksonville are so popular is because the venue is great, the parties are better and the cost is not ridiculous... Other organizations see fit to charge $500 to $750 for what??? What are they doing for us?? Dockage? Easy enough to get... Lunch? I can figure that out.... The run? Sure, organizing all of those boats is a feat but damn, once the green flag goes up the racers are gone....oops, I mean poker runners. I think that the popularity would drop if we started just organizing get togethers and runs that are free... An OSO run would be a good start. I do give credit to Stu Jones for his ability to pull things together in Key West and some of the other venues. Stu also is very cognizent of safety issues, something that PRA may not figure out until one of those pontoon boats gets run over and every employee gets sued personally. There is no excuse for some of the speeds that the runs endorse on public waterways, and we know that there is no way to close down the river or the ocean without monumental efforts. Ahh well, have fun!! I have to get ready for the FPC Daytona Run next weekend........

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I havn't had a chance to read the article yet, but if is a well organized event then there shouldn't be any so called THIEVES. We put on a event here in Northern Michigan called Boyne Thunder www.boynethunder.com and we feel the need for spectators, in fact most of our town pulls together to welcome all boaters and we find ways for spectators to have fun, carnivals, games, pub crawls, ect... because in the end everyone benefits, we raise alot of money for charity.
What most people don't realize is how many people it takes to put on a well organized Poke Run, there are literally hundreds involved behind the scenes that may or may not have a boat or the extra money to buy one, so they volunteer there time and these people want to come out and see the event that they put so many hours into...so now the weekend of the event comes around and alot of these peoples work is done and they can sit back and relax and become spectators, Not Thieves.
I think it is better to sit on the side line of the event and watch and learn and make sure you and your boat are ready, rather then just enter and not no what you are doing out there.
As for the dinners and party's we have a fair charge (considering the cost of the boats and that all of the money is going to charity) for spectators, NOT THIEVES to get in and look at he boats and talk to the owners.
Most of the boaters love people looking at there boats and talking about them, thats why alot of these paint jobs scream LOOK AT ME. And look at the engines and all of that chrome do you really think these guys spend thousands of dollars and put in hundreds of hours polishing because they don't have anything else to do? No they raise there hatches and love to show it off. I have lost volunteer boats that after helping, watching and talking to to poker runners are now participants. I do have a suggestion for people that love to watch these events, contact the organizers and see if there is anything they can do to help...You never know...someday you might be out there in the fastest boat leading the pack. But everyone has to start somewhere and no one should ever feel like a THIEF. Sorry for rambling on but THANKS, JB

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I also read the article and the only thing I agree with the author on is if you didn't enter in the poker run don't go out and try to mix it up with the pack when they are underway or try to mooch off the food/party tent. As far as "stay away,we don't want you in "our" water/area/etc-screw them!!! Sounds like another ELITIST crybaby that thinks they have the world by the balls!! I was on the smoke on the water poker run last year,paid my share of gas and entry fee to ride on someone else's boat. What I saw was a total cluster f--k of fast boats driving with total disregard for the local boaters and fisherman who had NOTHING to do with the poker run. In Mi we have a water way LAW that says your not supposed to be at a speed greater than what is required to maintain fwd motion and minimum wake within 100 ft of a moored vessel. I saw other poker runners driving by moored fishing boats within 30ft at 70-100mph when we first took off. These locals were waving but it wasn't with there whole hand! My boat runs into the low 90's but I don't blast by other boats at un-safe distances with the attitude they have no right to be there because they only have a 20 ft boat or a 12 foot boat! I told my wife this is just stupid/insane,someones going to kill someone or something bad is going to happen. Within 15 minutes of the run starting several people were dead as many of you have seen or heard. Unfortunate,definately,preventable-probably :( . I thought about going and watching the fast boats take off at another one-FROM A SAFE DISTANCE but some RICH,ELITIST power boater that spent a million dolars to satisfy his EGO will NEVER tell me I'm welcome or not welcome on my home waters-NO ONE OWNS THE WATERWAYS!!! I met ALOT of nice people and I definately met some SNOBS,Smitty

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Ive never participated in a poker run , I followed a couple with my boat so everyone would see how cool i was though, had my biggest gold chain on that day ..LOL JK
I would assume there would be an "At your own risk" disclaimer like when you buy a ski pass ?? I would not want to be liable for anyone's equipment failures or whatever if I was sponsoring an event..

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

I wanted to make a couple of other points, one being that for some people ( go ahead and include me on this one ) the Desert Storm was a rallying point for alot of my online and Havasu friends, I met/ hung out with no less than 4 OSO peeps and over a dozen of my bros from Hot Boat and that was my only reason for going. We rented Semper Fi's house which was totally kick butt and had an awesome time. We ate at Shugrues on Friday night and broiled up some filets and shrimp skewers on Sat night along with being on the water all day and lunches at Havasu Springs along with various stops along the water for cocktails with friends, the poker run was there and so were my friends but not for a minute did I ever feel obliged to enter as there was no value in it to me personally, during the 1 st group card stop #1 run we were down on the W side of the lake at a place called Black Meadow with about 50 boats from Hot Boat Online and I got some killer shots. Point is that a poker run where ever it is means different things to different people, if you are recieving some kind of residual benefit from a poker run ( meeting your friends in an off event site or being a spectator ) without kickin down 300 bones to Art and JD it doesn't make you a freeloader, it makes you a non participant and thats all, as for running in the pack yeah it's a bad idea for safety reasons, if you want to run behind or way outside well they can do it if they want but again probably best to stay away.
I enjoy being on the water and when I get through my suit with kachina I may even like my boat one day when I get it repaired but one thing I want to battle is the perception that we as powerboaters are better than evry other boater on the lake, I get it all the time guys sideways looks from people and inappropriate comments from folks who have no idea of what kind of guy I am, they see a big boat and I'm automatically an A hole when i'm not and I would love to see that change, comments like the one in the article only reinforce the perception the people have that we as powerboaters are arrogant spoiled pricks when we aren't ( except for Twin Step ) :drink:
Anyhow, poker runs can be whatever you want it to be as the saying goes "it's a free country" don't steal anything that doesn't belong to you from partys you aren't invited to and such and stay of the course if you are not a participant, other then that do whatever you want.

OK, I'm done now.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...hmentid=208783

This was a sad day, I remember when this happened.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

T2x, not sure I understand your argument. Do I understand correctly that if you run along with the pack without paying the fee, then you're dangerous and "an accident looking for a place to happen" but if on the other hand you do shell out a few hundred bucks, then this suddenly changes everything and you're a safe boater?

Don't think it works that way. There will always be both dangerous and safe people helming performance boats, whether they've paid the entry fee or not.

As with most things, it really depends on the attitude and intentions. If someone happens to be boating where a PR is taking place and wants to say hello, taste the atmosphere and check out some bad rigs while behaving responsibly, then I don't see a problem having this person run with the pack for a while. And chances are this type of person will come back the following year, pay the fee and participate fully. If however, someone makes it a point to raise hell, race against poker runners in an ego contest, then yeah, he should stay far away. However, I may be over optimistic or naive but I still believe that there are more responsible people of the first type who will go on to become regular poker runners. And if this article was to succeed in making all people who did not pay the fee stay away, I think it will have done more damage than good to poker runs in general in the long run.

BTW, I don't think NASCAR is a very good analogy. Remember, a poker run is NOT a race :rolleyes: If somebody tried to run along with the worlds race in KW, then that would be a fair comparison. But then, I guess there would be no discussion as everyone in unison would condemn that sort of behaviour.

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

Lets not forget the 2k it cost if not more to participate( hotel,gas,entry fee and breakage)...That's not a drop in the bucket for those of us who are trying to keep perf. boats in our lives. I always just hovered outside looking at the hardware a winning lottery ticket could give me. I don't even try to run with that HP out there..Doing lunch at their stop is OK as long as you don't try to raft off with the paid runners. I always stay clear of people who are snobs and feel their ego's are being tested. I'm not a freeloader just a powerboat enthusiast

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

The cost has gotten silly in comparison to what you get in return..... If you like oofshore boating then meet up with some buddies at a set time and run. Why the hell do we need some guy that doesnt even own a boat to coordinate a get together and then charge us 3 times what it should cost????

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

BINGO you hit the nail on the head DHLAW

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

On another note, I notice that there is a type of ocean boater that you never see on the water unless it IS some kind of organized event. Poker run, lunch run, overnight run, or a destination-type run. You don't ever see them out there alone. It's kinda funny. . . . maybe safety in numbers ?

Re: Power Boat Magazine....WTF!!!
 

DING DING DING DING we have a winner!
Agreed Brett. Once I get the apache, Ill see about having a fun run with some of the local to south Florida guys. I think one thing though about their fee's are they have to carry insurance for these things (but god only knows why????)
You get 5 friends together and you run from Palm beach inlet to lauderdale and then to shooters for lunch, no insurance fees necessary, but you get 60 boats to run from palm beach to lauderdale and have 2 stops on the way, then you need some kabillion dollar insurance policy? WTF is with that?
Boggles the mind.
J