Boating to me is about quality not quantity. One mabye two friends and me. If I wanted a dance floor, kitchen, lounge etc. I would go to a nite club.

I stopped taking groups out. 4 or 5 max now, alot more relaxing and easier to manage.

"Are you going up to the islands this weekend?" - potential guest
"Yep, I'll meet you there!" - me

I don't have your guys size boats... But I love having people on board. They pitch in a few $$ for fuel and stock the cooler. 6-7 people is fun!

I Used to keep my passenger amount to 3-4 on my 24'. My 41 Avanti is comfortable with about 7-8 there's lots room in the cockpit to move around. I haven't had it on a poker run yet but I'd stick with around 6 people for safety. I agree though it's nice when friends pitch in for beer, fuel, etc.

How often do you run from cleveland to the islands? How long does it usually take you? I'm want to head up there this summer with my Avanti but I've never done the trip by boat.

My patience for big groups has dropped on my boat, nobody pitches for gas, I am lucky if they pick up a towel when we pull out.

If I am spending a few hundred a fill up and nobody is pitching, I better like you or you aren't going. Not paying extra in fuel to haul their ass around.

Actually I'm docked right now at Venetian in a SeaRay, which is in Sandusky. Working on the Gun to be wet end of Summer, maybe. So, it's a pretty short ride for me in a slow cruiser. 15-20 min to Kelly's and about 40 min to Put in Bay. I would think it would take you a better part of an hour+ to get up there running pretty good, 60mph??? The other guys can correct me on this. I've never run from Cleveland to PIB, nor do I want to on a regular basis, that's why I dock up in Sandusky. It's a great location with a lot of options.

I intend to make 1 run a year from Sandusky to Cleveland with the Gun just to do it. I wouldn't mind running up to Detroit/Lake St Clair with a faster boat.

Have a CABANA BOAT under the bridge for you friends. That way you can all hang out and when you want to go for a run you can ditch them.

Time to trade in your friends for some new ones.

Years ago I was putting my boat into its dry storage, and the guy next to me had his whole crew helping unload and wipe down the boat. I was like damn, my friends piled out at the boat ramp and took off for home.

I have a different group now, and we all pitch in and clean and unload each other's boats. It makes for a MUCH better time.

Amen to that.

On one of my trips to Havasu we got home late and just parked the boat beside the house, when i got home from work the next day there where my friends washing the boat. Now that was a great surprise.

It's nice when people don't take getting a ride for granted.