:Score-101010:Well put sir. ! I give props to the boys that ran

Oh Hi Dan!! lol I knew you would see it this way also... lol

Someone mentioned they were concerned for safety. Which, I do respect.

However, I don't see the "safety" topic come up much, when you see all these poker runs on inland lakes and rivers, where guys are clipping 100, 125, 150+ plus with a boat full of passengers in overcrowded areas.

I hardly think those who chose to go out and run their boats in this, were being "negligent". I'd rather be doing 50mph thru some swells on AJ's 33 Powerplay, than 150 in a 30ft cat on an overcrowded inland lake with pleasure boats tooling around everywhere.

I think he turned back also..

Correction: "schooled by 33' bravo boat".

I broke a starter so I was out before the big lake, not saying I would have ran in it. I have been in the 33pp many times, it runs the deep stuff well. There was also Hudaks 35 ciggy that ran the available stops.

I'm with you on this, that poker run was a proving factor of what I say all the time locally when Erie kicks up, all the big ballers stay at the boathouse, guys like Rob (36 Apache) Myself, Scott (Lake Effect) and even little Mark with his 26 foot Powerquest still go out and boat around, shows the "normal" people actually use the boat properly and every weekend, we have Jaws (55MTI) local, he goes out a couple times a season to PIB and back, that's it.... Why have it??

Nope! Sorry! Too rough for the half canopy driver and throttleman Gladiator, Kevins used to the Bay.
Pantera, you kick ass buddy, big thumbs up!

I can only take credit for being a passenger. That was my buddy's 28 foot Powerquest and he loves that stuff. He could care less how slow his little boat runs, he will go out when the big boys are turning around and smile the whole time.

I see boaters and crew running hard even in flat water conditions without life jackets at speeds way over 100 mph plus - a clip. I am lost at this totally especially in poker runs and fun runs. Hopefully everyone checks their lanyards and operation beforehand as well plus clips them however for being pulled ASAP if needed to. Wonder how many have never even tested to see if their KS is operating correctly.

Pete B, any pics of my 34DCB in the (green) staging area?

I was monitoring the forecasts saturday morning for a few buddys up there. I knew it was gonna be rough. I saw on facebook guys were claiming they turned back because it was 8's with the occasional 10ft'er. Not according to NOAA, and for what it is, NOAA is the one who sets the rules, takes the measurements, and gives the forecasts. Whether its great lakes, or off the coast. Can't say"well noaa isn't always right". While their forecast might not be, its hard to argue their recorded data, unless you have you're own weather buoy. Anyhow, There were no 10ft waves in the area. I'm guessing those who claimed they were 10's, were the same who claim they run 80mph thru 6's in their 32ft vee bottom.

lol so does my buddy in his 26 PQ, no matter the water he's out, even if its 20-25 mph haha

Guess Rob was close with his 4-6 estimate...

I do agree with the safety aspect!! I will give a big shout out to the USCG they were really watching the waters Saturday, the Heli did a real low fly over all of us and made visual contact with each boat to make sure we all ok! So great job shout out to the "Coasties"

I was there in 08 with my 28' profile, it may have been bigger water, I broke a power steering line and at some points would lose the horizon. Wave spacing and direction had a lot to do with how far we went before breaking.

Apache!!

https://youtu.be/JX9gpo8On2A


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JX9gpo8On2A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

There were larger than 4.8ft waves out there at times... not a lot, but some, and the biggest water seemed to be around the cement factory. after that I'd say 3.5-4' running down to Elk Harbor. The holes were harder to predict than any of the waves and we ended up with our nose in a few (hence the wall of water pic)... but we were able to reach a top speed of 65 on the day (trying to keep up with the 43 outerlimits that was kicking some serious ass... but I couldn't :lolhit: ). Saturday was the most fun I've had running my boat in the 5 seasons I've ran it. Saturday night was a blast as well, the floral shirts were hilarious!

Here is a shot from the last stop at Sommerset Pointe


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...709_145212.jpg

Well the keyboard critics have arrived but wait, they weren't there.

:champs:

Water was awesome and I felt very safe... The mouth of the channel was by far the worst. Once we got rolling like Adam said mostly 4-5 footers... I would do it again in a heartbeat...

Matt tried like hell to get me to go, wish I did ugh!!

Agreed. 4+ wide in the channel, big boys cruising on the left side leaving no room for anyone coming in from big pond. People turning around in the channel... I remember when we first got under under bridge (after big cruiser came in) and we are rounding staffords and the chop starts picking up... Im thinking to myself this was like a few years back when everyone was taking off in the channel. Then we can see the lake and from a distance it quickly reminded me of the donzi video.... just started seeing bows up in the air and I knew we were going to have some fun!

Here is some footage from just leaving the channel heading to the first card stop...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keAFWmxAZb0

Put together a little clip tonight... editing not nearly as nice as Fishers vid but I will do a better one... Just wanted to get some footage out there!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoaxIQXgZ80

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T5xfOaC2TY lots of awesome hardware

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmVNPf6jozU

And that is just in the coves! :champs:

It's always nastier by the cement factory!

AJ, do you know/remember what boats actually did the first part of the run? I've heard there were only 7-9 boats.

The new serious hardware in my opinion is built to handle this stuff but not the additional bling. Who wants to take a wave over the windshield of a new boat with the suede interiors, custom carpet and crazy electronics. I get it. This was for the all business boats. I love it and the pictures and videos have the truck console throttle men rethinking their skill!

33 Powerplay
35 Nordic Flame
36 Pantera
36 Apache
38 Cigarette
38 Powerquest
42 Mystic CC
43 Outlimits
50 Nortech

380 powerquest made it too...

Thats a heck of a parade of hardware! Thanks for sharing.

Anyone get any gps screenshots from the race back to the docks? :party-smiley-004:

A couple shots courtesy of Bob the Builder

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g4...25679373_o.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g4...78754710_o.jpg

The NOAA bouy you reference was in Little Traverse Bay and had some exposure to the NE winds but not as exposed as where the channel opens up into the lake. It was especially bad with 6ft + within a mile or so of the shoreline as the water piled up. Once clear of the coast and in deep water I would say seas were 4 to 6 ft until you made the turn and started down into Traverse Bay and seas became progressively less the farther south you got. I find no fault with anyone who chose to turn around. Captains decision whether for safety, concerns about the comfort of his crew, not wanting to beat the crap out of a new boat whatever. I can tell you that everyone had a blast on Saturday if they went out on the lake or not. There were fun runs on Thursday and Friday and of course the camaraderie of socializing with their boating friends and raising money for 2 very worthy charities. Boyne Thunder is at the top of my favourite events.

Bob

I think you hit the nail on the head. The more bling, the more domesticated the animal is (you may insert sissified for domesticated if you want) and the less likely it is to really run, in what it was designed to run in. Most of our boats will take more seas than most people have the balls to drive in. Check out the old Miami to Nassau races. I believe Don Aranow ran a 23' Formula in his first race, and a lot of 22' Donzi's in years after. I ran in the old Pier 33 poker runs from '92 through '97, saw lots of boats way bigger, faster & more expensive than my stinger, but I always ran my boat like there was no tomorrow. Did I have subsequent repairs? Hell yes, but they were worth the time when I was passing the "bigger & better" boats. I don't have any fancy hardware on my old girl, and I probably never will. Happy as it is, and run it hard when I can...

I was waiting...can't believe it took this long for the LOTO references :lolhit: