Poker Runs and Drinking...
 

I'm not interested in indighting a club with regard to the scenario I'm about to describe so please don't ask. Attended my first poker run last year. It was based at a local watering hole on the lake. Basically people hung out, socialized, and drank for about two to three hours prior to the start. There was no discussion of drivers not drinking and it was pretty much a wide open start. It felt wrong. I didn't drink because my first priority is my crew and my crafts safey.

I recently read an article in one of the boating mags that emphasized the importance of no drinking until post the run and speed group starts. We were on an active lake with folks out there with their families and kids on tubes that were completely uninvolved in the run. I was scared for them. Some of the faster boats were easily runing 80+.

All that said we had a great time overall. Is this scenario commonplace on smaller lesser organized runs? I'm not sure if we'll go again. I we do we'll stay towards the back out of the fray. Appreciate your thoughts.

Any "well organized" event - regardless of size - will require some level of social responsibility. Whomever put on the event you attended obviously didn't know what liability they were opening themselves up for. The reality is quite sobering.

You don't have to attend a "big" event in order for it to be "well orgainzed" though. The club I belong to (the Rochester Offshore Powerboat Association) isn't big, but this year we'll have our 21st consecutive run here. From the very first event, we emphasized "safe high performance boating" and have a great reputation on the lake we run on because of it. For example, when we used to have a "radar run" after the events, local law enforcement actually ran the radar gun. Our safety record is perfect - and we aim to keep it that way. If you want to drink, have at it - but after the run. Oh, and folks still have a great time for some reason.

There are two common runs in our area. Jammin on the James and the American Cancer Society Run.

There are no questions asked - you have a drink and you're gone. The Captains always have different colored wrist bands so they are easily distinguished. I have never seen any violations - most people in this sport are smart enough to know that they can wait 2 hours before they have a drink.

Thanks for the replies
 

You're reinforcing my instinct here. I think part of the problem is that what I attended wasn't really a poker run per se. We met between ten and twelve to register, started the run around one, went to the first check point, docked and drank, then went to the next point, hung out, you get the idea. All total the "run" lasted about six hours and ended at another bar/restaruant.

So a poker run usually is mostly "boat" time? And then afterwards folks hang out?

My instinct is to not go on any more runs like the last one I attended.

Not allowed at Boyne Thunder!!! But after the run is over!!!!!! Good X's!!!!

Do it at a NJPPC run and you are gone.

[QUOTE=XX14;3385519]So a poker run usually is mostly "boat" time? And then afterwards folks hang out?
QUOTE]

A good Poker Run is mostly "fun" time. Yes, that does mean a good deal of it is in the boats running around, but there are other ways to have fun. Eating, swimming and talking with other great boaters is a big part of a good run. Sounds like the one you went to revolved around drinking. While that may be fun for some folks, somebody's going to eventually get hurt and it's going to get real ugly for the organizers.

I have never been to a event where people drank before the run.

Yeah, everyone is still bent from the night before:coolcowboy:

Go to the NJPPC website and read our 10 commandments this sums it up!
www.njppc.com

Zero alcohol before or during the run for our events. Captain and crew included. Sounds strict but one drunken crew member falls out or gets injured and no mnore insurance coverage after the ensuing lawyer free for all.

We've pulled people out from behind the wheel of their own boats on the Virginia poker runs in the past. It's no longer an issue. Captains get (example) red wristbands and passengers get (example) green wristbands. If you see someone with a red wristband and a drink; you are no longer driving.

what run, where & what year ??? spoke to some Texas folks yesterday for the holiday , mentioned the thread about drinking for 2 to 3 hours b4 there runs start and they mentioned in all there years of poker running NEVER B4 the run .. :drink: was this just a few boaters having a lil fun run ???:coolcowboy:

Our club as Sean has said doesnt let the passengers drink either. Some of our cats take 2 to operate and the passengers in a lot of cases are needed as spotters for a lot of our starts (1000 islands for sure).
PRA events ...its zero all round also.

Strong points. I like it.

Funny thing is there are people on OSO and people even looking at or reseponding to this thread who do the wrong thing and get hammered out in their boat before a poker run. A boat is just like a car if your going to be start the engines and move it you shouldnt be drinking just like a car. I am surprised more people dont get hurt out on the water because of drinking.

Read this recent thread, and the Performance Boats article if you can find it. There are some dangerous situations out there. No one loves boating more than I do. I have three boats. I do not drink while driving and my passengers are not allowed to get sloppy. I cut them off. If they get pissed so be it, they understand for next time or they don't come back. People, tragic situations become lawyer free-for-alls and enough of these and we will lose our freedoms.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ige-rocks.html

WOW :eek: oh do tell :lolhit:

I doubt anyone will roll themselves under the bus by responding to this thread saying they drink on poker runs.

I dont have a clue how many poker runs Ive attended in the past 10 years, but I have never been on one that hasnt had several drivers/passengers drinking before the last stop. This includes a few that "enforce" the zero tolerance, beer on the pier, water on the water kind of runs. You'd have to be in serious denial to not believe this. Check those plastic cups..........thats not kool aid. :eek:

(This doesnt mean I support it, just stating what Ive seen over the years.)

You guys hit the water WITHOUT drinking? :eek:


:drink:

+ 1 :eek:

Drinking and getting drunk are pretty different. A beer or two is not enough to really impair a 180 pound man.

Agree 200%

But if something happens, the whole topic turns to chit with the insurance company and the police. Better safe than sorry.
is the order of the day.

It protects everyone including the event sponsors.

Best way to get out of trouble is to stay out of trouble thats just my 2 cents worth:party-smiley-004:

The laws are getting more stringent as time goes on. If something bad happens and the person blows anything other than .00, It is most likely they will be written a ticket for "under the influence" or "While Impaired", these are subjective and can be written at any time. Then it is up to the driver to contest it.

From my understanding, the first thing the prosecuting Attorney will subpoena is the hold harmless and rules signed at the Poker Run, where it will CLEARLY state 0 tolerance to drinking and it is not a race... That is an entirely different thread, but you can bet that too will be included in the charges...

Celebrate at the end of the day... Not during, remember it your friends you will most likely kill first!

Save the drinking until you get home. Towing one of these boats on land is probably as dangerous as driving it on water.
ed

Laws, yes and also juries. Remember, the job of a plaintiff attorney is to profit from tragedy. Who else in our society really PROFITS from tragedy other than this scum? They increasingly influence juries to decide these accidents are actually premeditated crimes, in order to reap these enormous profits. If any of you plaintiff attys out there have any balls, call me on this.

Whether you like it or not, this "is what it is" as they say so all of us better be careful.

Boaters have lost many freedoms out on the water due to problem drinkers. It only has to happen once for you life, and those of many others, to be changed permanently.

Year after year, we read about accidents on everything from small fishing boats to pontoons to jet skis to poker run incidents. You don't even have to go fast to be deadly, many accidents happen under 30 mph. You don;t even have to drink to become a victim, ask the people run over or hit by those that did drink.

We've lost family, friends, people go to jail, lawsuits ruin family wealth. Many speed limits on lakes can be at least partially attributed to drinking. Innocent people out on the water are routinely checked out by the various patrols, looking for drinkers.

Boating life in general would be a lot more pleasant, and a lot cheaper in some areas, if not for drinkers. So because of those people, we all suffer. Virtually every state has tightened up their patrols looking for BUI's. If you think you are OK and haven't had that much, think again. It could be a very costly mistake. At worst, a life changing event for your family, and possibly the lives of others.

Why not mention the name of the run? Was in in Texas? :lolhit::lolhit::lolhit:

In addition to every other valid point made here: So many poker runs involve rafting off and putting big boats in small spaces. On a big catamaran, that can mean having one person on each "point" of the boat—scampering across slick or hot fiberglass with high-dollar graphics to get there—to fend off and push and attach lines and throw lines to people on the docks and hop up those docks, which are three feet above cat's gunwales, to tie off.

Not an exactly a great scenario for an under-the-influence, much less outright hammered, crew.

Tie it up, wash it off and head for the bar. I'm buying. Just ask my friends from New Jersey.

It was an organized run...
 

like I said I'm not asking to run down a club. I just asked because I was uncomfortable with it. I also said we had a great time. It's just too bad that the drinking seemed to become a sport. I'm also not at all sure Captains were drinking but my instinct was that the situation was unsafe. One of my biggest concerns was for the other folks on the lake that were uninvolved. I didn't say this run was in Texas and I don't have a hidden agenda other than to decide if we should participate again.

:food-smiley-007: Xtra butter pleez & a Lrg Milk Duds

Defusing now
 

Not interested in heated exchanges and my post was not at all intended that way. I do appreciate the advice I've received here.

just like people drive their cars and drink you think boating is any different

Yep :drink: