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Educate me on poker runs
So I'll start by saying I've never done one so please excuse the ignorance...My question is really is it like totally taboo to enter a poker run knowing you'll be one of if not the slowest boat?? I get that its not really about the speed but I get nervous entering against like 100+ mph big cats and vees...Just don't want to make a fool of myself if I enter one this year...been wanting to just looking for a little education on the do's and don'ts I guess
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I did Boyne Thunder (which had arguably been called the best poker run in the country) several times in a 22 foot 60 mph boat. Been treated great each time and have encounter zero little boat discrimination, if thats what you want to call it. Go for it!!!!
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I'm sure you are seeing all the pics from the really big and higher $$ poker runs and basing your idea of what they are on that.
Poker Runs generally group the boats by your capable top speed. Lots of big CC's doing the runs now and most of them top out in the 70's. You will be fine in your boat. |
Originally Posted by BBYSTWY
(Post 4622786)
So I'll start by saying I've never done one so please excuse the ignorance...My question is really is it like totally taboo to enter a poker run knowing you'll be one of if not the slowest boat?? I get that its not really about the speed but I get nervous entering against like 100+ mph big cats and vees...Just don't want to make a fool of myself if I enter one this year...been wanting to just looking for a little education on the do's and don'ts I guess
thanks |
Kinda..appreciate the feedback..and griff yes I see all these videos and such online..like the recent desert storm for instance and there's like million dollar skaters and DCBs and whatnot and I'm like ummmm I don't think I would fit in hahaha like I said never done one and always wanted to...need to do some searching to find some somewhat local to me...Southwest Michigan
thanks again for the feedback!! |
I looked up the boyne run you're talking about and it does look great!! My other concern is driving all the way up there and getting hit with rough water..I mean my boat is a 28 ft Nordic of all things...not the best in the rough lol but I guess that's the chance you take on lake Michigan lol
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As said above, most poker runs group boats by speed class the want to run in. 60-80 mph, 80-100, and 100+ as an example. The largest group is usually the 60-80 group. In my experience, its actually more enjoyable to cruise at a slower pace than your boat is capable of. Your passengers enjoy it more, it lasts longer, and you have lower chance of breaking things.
Rough water would be a bigger concern for me if I had your boat than than speed, but if it gets too rough, you can always turn back and start the party early. The dock parties without exception, are awesome. Do it. You will not regret it. |
yea totally agree...no way I would run balls out for that long...I don't think I could carry enough fuel for one thing hahaha...yea I've been researching that boyne run and it def looks like a blast...it says that entry fee is 725 bucks...is that pretty normal rate for Midwest poker runs??
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I'm not familiar with mid west runs, but I would say that is very much on the high end. In fact, that is the most expensive I've ever heard of.
However, Boyne has a reputation for being one of the best and certainly is not lacking for attendees.. |
I gotcha...I've heard that if you're a west Michigan offshore member you get a deal on entry fee so maybe I'll do some checking into that
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Originally Posted by BBYSTWY
(Post 4622808)
I gotcha...I've heard that if you're a west Michigan offshore member you get a deal on entry fee so maybe I'll do some checking into that
I know it might be a little bit of a haul for ya, but look into the Thunder Run and Lake Cumberland Poker Run. They are both on Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky which is a beautiful lake. Also, especially in the Thunder Run, I'd say 75% of the boats are like yours and mine. I have a 25ft Checkmate and won't hesitate to enter it. Also it's a $225-250 entry fee which includes a slip, a couple of t-shirts and a meal. I used to feel the same way as you, like the poker runs were only for the big boys, but these are a couple of great options for ya!! |
Since your close to WMO maybe try one of their fun runs, they should have a spring run coming up that will be very cost effective. Great way to see what its all about, learn about rafting off at stops, make some new friends. Our 1st poker run was Lake Cumberland fall run 6 years ago and it was amazing + a lot to take in at the same time. Do what makes you feel comfortable and NEVER feel you cannnot participate because you don't have the latest, greatest, biggest, fastest, etc..
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If I learned anything from boating it’s that you’ll never be the biggest, fastest, newest etc. there’s always someone that’s faster. So no sense in chasing your tail. Find some events and run what you have. I think you’ll be surprised on how many people have similar boats age, length, and speed. Dont forget it’s not a race. Go out and enjoy yourself safely. |
Duplicate.
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Your boat will be fine! Keep in mind the videos/pics are usually of the best hardware to showcase the event but there are plenty of regular boats there also. When I did FPC runs my 32 Sunsation was definitely in the slowest 1/3 of the group. There have been boats that ran 100 MPH FASTER than my boat's top end but it doesn't matter at the end of the day! :D
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Do it. You won't regret it. We started doing poker runs about 4 years ago with our 1998 36 Baja that tops out in the low 70s. We, by far, do not have the biggest, fastest or most expensive boat there but nobody cares. We have made some really great friends and look forward to it each year. We have done the Erie Poker Run which is put on by Elite. That one can get rough as the run is over lake Erie which can get very rough depending on the wind. We have also done the Ray Nuchereno Memorial Run, formally the Buffalo Poker Run. This one is nice for smaller boats as most of it is on the Niagara River. Even if Erie is rough, the river calms down. There have been Bajas and other makes like Velocity in the mid to upper 20 something size each year we've done this run. We also run in the 70 and under speed group. Like previously said, that group is normally the largest.
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Given your location join West Michigan Offshore. I dont think it even costs a $100 and the runs are cheap, like real cheap.
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Good topic. I was also wondering about tying off to someone else. Obviously if the boat is attended you ask first but what if it's not? Just throw your fenders over and tie up anyway? What happens to the poor SOB that is first in line and has to leave? I guess first there last to leave?
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Would say the speed of a boat is very irrelevant. There are some who like to say they were first to a stop. But what does that actually mean? Nothing! Most don’t actually pass out cards any more so you chance of getting a good card is the same as anyone at the end. Next will be looking at how the run is set up. Is it speed group start? (Very Dangerous if you ask me. It promotes each one of those boats in the group to go all out to be the first.) Is it just a start time and go as you pleas? Are the car stops numbered and do you have to fallow the order? How long is it mileage wise and time to cover the miles? Even taken all that into account being in the front makes no difference at all. We all know who’s fast and who’s not but does it really matter at the end of the day? As along as you have fun and make it back to the dock with no issues, wrecks, and alive it’s a win. We all love the fast stuff but a poker run is not the place to do that. Pick a run a go have fun. Most will treat you just like the big boys weather in a 20’ or a 50+’. |
typically with tying off during the runs, everybody kinda arrives together (especially in the same speed group) and leaves together. Therefore it is not much of a problem. It's easiest to tie along somebody you know but, if you know nobody, you can make friends pretty quick. General etiquette entails letting other runners tie off to you and you are not moving until everybody else is gone from your line. When tied to the outside, you just have to be respectful when crossing other peoples boats.
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Originally Posted by corey331
(Post 4622813)
I know it might be a little bit of a haul for ya, but look into the Thunder Run and Lake Cumberland Poker Run. They are both on Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky which is a beautiful lake. Also, especially in the Thunder Run, I'd say 75% of the boats are like yours and mine. I have a 25ft Checkmate and won't hesitate to enter it. Also it's a $225-250 entry fee which includes a slip, a couple of t-shirts and a meal. I used to feel the same way as you, like the poker runs were only for the big boys, but these are a couple of great options for ya!!
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Originally Posted by RollWithIt
(Post 4622842)
typically with tying off during the runs, everybody kinda arrives together (especially in the same speed group) and leaves together. Therefore it is not much of a problem. It's easiest to tie along somebody you know but, if you know nobody, you can make friends pretty quick. General etiquette entails letting other runners tie off to you and you are not moving until everybody else is gone from your line. When tied to the outside, you just have to be respectful when crossing other peoples boats.
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I have run for many years in a 28 and 29 foot Velocity. No problems and you will find many boats in that size range.
Padraig |
Originally Posted by JRider
(Post 4622838)
Given your location join West Michigan Offshore. I dont think it even costs a $100 and the runs are cheap, like real cheap.
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Sometimes, we don't even run the full "poker run". We enter, pay our fees, boat to a lunch spot, then just enjoy the lake and the camaraderie at the raft up and docks with the other boaters. There are so many great people that we've met because of attending poker runs.
You will be fine. |
Also check out the Performance Boat Club of Canada. They do a Lake St Clair run in the summer. Reasonably priced Less boats and $ Cdn. |
WOW this blew up today hahaha...thanks for all the advice guys!! I actually did join WMO this morning and plan to attend some of their fun runs and such this year...I feel it is a cost effective way to get my feet wet so to speak on the whole poker run/fun run scene
I had my boat at Cumberland last year just for a houseboat trip no poker run or anything and would LOVE to go back for those runs!! such a beautiful lake Thanks again for all the replies!! |
Even if you can't get in on a top run like Boyne Thunder, you could probably still have a great time as a Marshal Boat - I would think they could still use a couple (?) Great time, great water, great people. Definitely worth the trip.
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I think it depends on the run. One time I did one and the group I was in was the slowest so by the time we got to the lunch stop the faster boats were leaving so we kinda felt left out. That particular run seemed cater to who had the most money. I have done a few others that were much more enjoyable and everyone really looked out for each other and it was all about the fun of boating and not who had the most expensive boat or fastest.
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Being in the NE of the country, don't you guys have another 4-5 months of winter to go? :D
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hahahah it was 50 here today in Michigan....feels like 80 lol...hopefully spring is here to stay this time!!
So before I joined WMO I talked to the president on the phone and I gotta tell ya one of the coolest guys I've talked to...he assured me that in their club the my boats bigger than yours mentality is not an issue and its all about the sport not who has the most money...I plan to make Muskegon poker run with them to get my feet wet with all this assuming the boat is back together and tuned by then hahahaha Stewart |
leopa does some fun runs on the other side of the state from you,,, Thunderfest has the big guns, but the spring and fall runs are a blast and you would fit right in.. I am good luck on the fall run, I did it with Brian Orlandi one year and we were 1st to the 1st card stop, and I did it with Jeb Rider last year and we were 1st to the 1st card stop. I also won Boyne thunder one year and gotten second another year...Im just good luck all around :bunnydance:
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I only enter poker runs that have a charity benefactor. They are really fun fundraisers that easy to spend money on when a charity is involved. Ive participated in PR's and never left the dock. Its not a race. With the right fun loving generous group you could bring a bathtub and possibly still win. I find the high end-no charity runs are defiantly "our club" events.........
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Remember, its the big boats that get the publicity! They have tritoons running the desert storm poker at 35-45 mph. Go for it, I'm sure its a blast no matter where you're at.
Hoes love the water, it doesn't matter how fast you are:bunnydance: |
Yea that's kinda what I'm gathering...in that case I hope I don't get the publicity because if I do something really bad happened hahaha
Phragle...come on up to Muskegon june 15th..hop on my boat for some luck lol Stewart |
They are addicting, once you run your first one you will be wanting to run more. If you do enough of them you will find yourself buying a larger faster boat. I started out with a 22 foot with a 350, 4 boats later I have a 35 foot with twin big blocks
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lol I could def see that....last year was my first with a performance boat and I'm for sure hooked...I can see a poker/fun run doing nothing but strengthening the addiction...I know a bigger boat is on my horizon just need to find the right one and have the money haha
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At a poker run a few years ago, we partied too hard the night before - woke up late, needed fuel in the boat, and thus, missed our group's start, and had to start in the (last group) cruiser class. Nice slow 30mph ride to the first card stop, could barely stay on plane LOL. But we were boatin' and that's what matters.
Just get out there, get involved, and enjoy the day/weekend! ...and most importantly, meet some new people! |
ALL IN! you summed it up have fun because we all move at the same speed sitting at the bar after the run.
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Some of you guys should just bring a picture of your boat and save on towing and owning a truck expenses !
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