Key west poker run questions
 

Been boating since I was a kid, grew up around boats. Most of my boating experience is on a lil 8 mile lake. Ive been in the Chesapeake Bay and the hudson river, which is really my only offshore experience per say. I am planning to participate in this run for 2013. Im not a boating idiot, but looking to get a feel of what im in for... Boat only tops in lows 80's, so probably would like to cruise in the 55mph range. Ive been on FPC's website and noticed they do run different classes of boats.

I guess my main question or concern is the navigation part of the trip. My boat is equipped with a Garmin 182C gps, is this good enough? I havent really played with it too much, so im not familiar with how it works, as i dont need it in the lake i boat in. Im assuming Ill be boating with a group anyway, so most likely just follow everybody else, but i dont want to rely on that and rather fully prepared.

Next question would be spared parts. What have others brought in the past? I know not everything can be planned for. I was thinking basic things such as, belts, hoses, fluids, etc... obviously a bag of tools. Im not an expert, but I am mechanically inclined. Anything else I should bring.

I know safety is a huge a factor with these organized runs. Not sure whats required, im assuming the usual: PFD's, ropes, flare kit of some sort, and VHF radio?.. am i missing anything else?

Any info you guys/ or gals could give me would be great. Thanks in advance! I will also be down in Miami for boat show and I know the FPC has booth set up there, so also plan on talking with someone from there.

Thanks,
Curt

You will be fine. The GPS is you have is fine ofcourse the newer ones and bigger ones are easier to read cause its bigger. You will have a blast. Ive done that trip over 30x. Half of it without FPC. As far as spare parts go, your typical, belts, spare prop, impellor and so on. Its one of the best runs you can do. Awesome senery. Enjoy it. You have an awesome boat for it. Trust me it won't be your last. My best advise leave on the Tuesday run as there's a lot less boats than the Thursday and Friday run and you can spend almost a week in KW.

what lake? i also grew up on a little 8m lake in northern jersey. as far as the run, the hardest part is getting the boat to florida. the rest is easy. navigation is easy too especially on the thursday run. in your speed group there will be plenty of other boats to run with you wont even need your gps.

Get a better GPS. You'll be glad you did. I had the same one in the last boat. It sucks when the sun is on it.

Thanks everyone for the info.
Ryder I boat mostly on Lake Hopatcong
Redbud, does garmin make an update version of the one I have with better picture quality? I like the size of my current gps. Thanks again.

You will be fine. I did many runs with FPC and with a 32 Sunsation that ran 73 mph WFO I just followed the pack! You will be close to last to the lunch stop but then after the raft up you will be the first to leave and people didn't trample over your boat/deck for 2 hours.

GPS can be very handy in the keys. The channel markers can be a mile a part (it seems) but if you run in the high 70's you will be fine. On big poker runs there are always people around to help with parts/repairs. A guy named Kevin from Jacksonville helped me twice on two different runs and wouldn't even let me buy him a beer! Helps if you have the right parts and the tools to get the job done.

There is a company called NuShield that makes tinted plastic peel and stick covers for the gps units. I put one on my Garmin 2006C and it made a world of difference.

i grew up boating on lake hopatcong also, this is the boat i had there last. I sent you a PM

That would have been easier then buying a new boat just to get a Garmin 5212.

[QUOTE=Jupiter Sunsation;3862848] You will be close to last to the lunch stop but then after the raft up you will be the first to leave and people didn't trample over your boat/deck for 2 hours.

That itself is worth being last:lolhit:

OldSchool, Ill look into NuShield. Thanks for the info.

What fun would that be??? :D

www.nushield.com

On the homepage, there is a "quick order" section. Select Garmin and then your model number.....and presto!!!

Cheers, Craig :ernaehrung004:

Just get a new GPS, your's is pretty out of date, you'll be glad you did, especially if something happens. The new ones aren't just easier to read but give a bunch of information that the olds ones don't offer, info on marinas, navigational aids and so on. And know where you're going before you go. The first time we went down in 2005 my GPS blew up the night before. I thought I'd just follow someone down but when we hit the last cause way it was a free for all, boats took off in all different directions. We ended up following rooster tails all the way down, wasn't fun, and god help you if you miss a marker in a shallow area. So get a newer GPS and some charts just in case and you'll be fine. And learn how to read the charts if you don't already know. Now a days there are a lot of center consoles and slower boats than there was back then, you should be able to find someone that's been there and cruise with them at your cruise speed.

Probably the most disturbing thing I saw at Gilberts.... Beautiful high performance boats with shoe prints and shoe gravel scratches on them, some of them less than a year old :eekdrop:

Here is the only issue on a "one way" or destination Poker Run:

If you break down, you really need your own contingency plan; as in:
-Know where to go in case you have a break down.
-How to get your trailer to you or store the boat until you can get the trailer.
-How to get to the destination once you have the boat squared away.
-If you have women with you, you might want to send them on ahead to the destination (hotel/party/whatever).

For example, crb76, Cash Bar, Dreamer, and I broke an XR outside of Marathon a few years back. (Freak thing: hit a crab trap in which the cable went between the drive and prop, took out the anode, which tore out the drain plug; draining the drive at speed = not good on cone clutch.)
We limped into Marathon, rented a car at the airport, and drove back up to Gilbert's where we met someone who brought the truck and trailer there. He took the rental back up north, and we took the truck and trailer to pick up the boat and head down to Key West. That was a long night.

Stu and the FPC do a great job at providing you with some info on these logistics; as do most Poker Run organizers. However, realize that the majority of the boats and participants need to get to the destination.

Bring at least one full SWP and a couple impellers with you; and don't forget hydration. If you have a long idle in, your Poker Run is over, and there is nothing wrong with cracking a cold one (within reason/captain sober rules, etc.)

The smallest thing I've seen on the run in recent years is a 25AT (single HP500) and that crew hung out at the back of the 2nd back and had the time of their life.

This trip will be an experience you'll never forget. If possible spend an extra few days or week after the races and just explore your way back up through the keys.

As far as the 182c goes it will have all info on marinas, fuel, etc. Make sure you locate the most current data chip available for S.E. Florida. As far as the screen, I removed that worthless anti-glare with windex and paper towel. Much nicer now without it.

They must have changed the rules, in the past i was told 27' was minimum..
Nice they are including smaller boats!

Any GPS companies that let you know where the crab traps are??:eekdrop:
Hope i dont sound like an idiot, but have never looked a chart before, but im sure I could learn to read one... im assuming these are available online?? Rather start preparing now rather then later. Like i said in my first post, my main concern is the navigation. Once again I appreciate all the info.

Curt

I agree - get it figured out sooner rather then later. I pulled LV's Skater down last minute and we didn't have a clue how to read the channel markers and couldn't see his GPS because of the glare. There are some tricky turns and if we weren't taking it easy following a CC we would have been screwed. We caught up with a big group at Gilberts and the rest was smooth sailing. Other then dodging the crab pots........
It was a fun trip and hope to drag my AT down this November.

Its easy to know where the crab pots are...they are right where you need to drive!

How are you going to pull both boats down next year?

Sydwayz is right on in his posting.

Spare parts impellors belts small parts fluids and so on as well as a decent set of tools you will need.

Sending the girls ahead is a great idea if you break because after a long idle back they would be much happier getting to the final destination and let the crew fix what is needed. Much less stress

Tow vehicle contingency is a good idea with a spare set of keys accessible if need be so you have a person that can bring it down to you if need be. Also keep in mind to have proper towing / insurance rider and trailer towing if need be covered as well. Otherwise it makes a super long day just getting where you need to be.

A fully stocked cooler/food as well as duffle bag of spair clothes in the boat is a good idea.

While underway waypoints and channel markers in the gps are great as well as watch out for those darn crab pots as they are right where you need to be.

Know all of the fuel stops and marinas so you know where to go if you break while underway.

Otherwise its the best run out there in my opinion and you will enjoy it for sure.

If you have a good chartplotter it's pretty easy. Follow the ICW down all the way from Miami (should be a pretty straight line on your GPS running through the middle of biscayne bay). Once you're hooked on that, follow it all the way to the seven mile bridge or Bahia Honda, then cut out. Now you're in hawks channel on the outside and you can take that all the way to key west. But, after biscayne bay there are a lot of quick turns and the ICW gets very skinny, sometimes on a couple mile run you have to hit a set of markers that are only thirty feet wide or you're going to be stuck in 6 inches of water.

First things first, look at a chart. Not trying to be a wisea$$, but you shouldn't do a 160 mile (one way) poker run without knowing how to read a chart. Buy a chartbook for South FL and the lower keys and familiarize yourself with the route from Miami to Key West.

I was thinking the more girls I have on board, the more paddlers I would have, this way I could just steer.:whistle:
Tools and spare parts I think ill have pretty well covered, unless something major breaks, then ill refer back to sentence above.
Boat never leaves dock without a stocked cooler.
Back up plan for tow vehicle is good idea though.
Id imagine those narrow markers would make things interesting with a group of boats, good to know and be aware of. Thank you.

Im smart a$$ myself, no worries. I 100% agree though.

Dont forget the 55ft sportfishers going full plow speed thru those same tight channels,the lamebrain sailboats that anchor at either end of the same narrow channels and the idiot fishermen that will fish in the center of the same fuggin narrow channels. Makes the gulf side of the upper keys tons o fun on a busy weekend..Take the weekday run if at all possible

The heck with the sportfishers. At least they are predictable.

Let me tell you a story about a 43' Sunsation that had no idea WTF he was doing showboating outside of the markers, realized he was about to "blueprint" his hull on the featherbeds and cut directly in front of 3 boats at speed; forcing all of us to turn sideways in the channel to avoid each other (38 Cig, 37 AT, and 38PP). The PP (closest to Sunny) had to turn so violently to avoid collision that the driver was thrown far enough to pull the lanyard out.

Oh yeah, and he was a PR participant too.

I'm sure that you can down load some charts online. I just went to west marine and bought the nice mylar covered ones, that way if they get wet for some reason they're not ruined. And as someone mentioned above, have a back up plan if you break. Sometimes you don't have spare parts for things, like drives:) Depending on the size of your boat, not all marinas can get you out of the water because their launch ramp is too small or their travel lift doesn't have the capacity to lift your boat. So even if you have someone grab your tow vehicle and trailer, you still need to know where to get out. I hooked up with Lipship Performance when I first started boating in the Keys. He's my AAA of boat services. If anything breaks, I make a call, they come get the boat or drive down and fix it no matter where I am. I know not everyone has that luxury but even TNT does it for their customers. So check with the marina that you store your boat with, they may have a similar service. I also have phone numbers for car services in Miami and all through the Keys. You should do the same, that way if you break, you have a ride somewhere when you find a marina to pull into. Not many car rental places in the Keys and on big weekends like that one, they're usually booked up.