Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Doing a bed check to see who lives nearby . . . I boat out of Stuart, Florida, on the St. Lucie River. Anyone here from the same area? Stuart, Palm City, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie? Been here for 22 years, but there doesn't seem to be too many high performance boats in the area.

Harry
1978 35' Cigarette Mistress

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Harry, my dad keeps his 40Knowles custom in Stuart for the winters.
And you are right, I never see HPs when i'm down there.
I'm surprised. I'd at least think Shrimpers would be worth the trip for most guys.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I boat in Jupiter and occasionally up in Stuart.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I live near Lauderdale, but I work for Evinrude. I'm at the test center (under the big US1 bridge) about once per week. (I'll be there Thurs or Fri this week)
You're right. Not too much High Perf there. I have yet to be passed on the water on the river..... :cool:
My current demo runs 65 on the river... Not near that in the ocean.... :rolleyes:

TIM
262-385-4525

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Well guys, we'll have to organize a sandbar trip and then Shrimper's or the new place Finz . . . lots of dockage and the owner is a friend of a friend.

Stormrider, I am very friendly with a gentleman who used to build boats for Knowles, Peter Stolper. Peter builds a dynamite 38' express fisherman, let me know if your dad is in the market for a new boat! All composite construction, fast, dry, solid, impeccably built! He's rebuilding a 40' Whiticar for me as we speak.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Hey Harry
I live in PBG but my business is in Stuart. Stop by and say hi. I own Brandon Furniture right behind Boat US on US1.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Cig, my dad looked at the stopler.
There are hard feelings between knowles and him.
My father is actually selling his, looking to downsize.
He is finding it hard to find something of quality after having what he owns.

Bill believes my dads boat is the best riding boat he has ever built... which makes it even harder to sell. :(

I don't get down often, but if I do, I'll try to contact some of you.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Jack, I think you were looking to rent some space from us in my father's building in Palm City, before you opened the Stuart store. We are in the Sands Commerce Center, my father is attorney Steve Lewen, we are in the building next to FedEx on S.R.714. You have a beautiful boat there, we'll have to get together one day.

Stormrider, I know there are hard feelings between Bill and Peter . . . I feel that they both build great boats and its a shame that there is bad blood. Peter is doing a phenominal job on my Whiticar, a complete from the bottom up restoration. A brilliant engineer, insightful designer and a helluva a guy if you get to know him. The Stolper 38 really is a dynamite boat, if you haven't had a chance to run one I would highly recommend it. I can arrange it if you are interested. What size is your dad looking to move into? I know of a beautiful little 30' dayboat that is available.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I kept my 38 Cig flat deck at Martin Co. Marina during the winter months for4 or 5 yrs. We have a place out at Sailfish Point. I normally hung out at the sand bar just off Sailfish & used to go to Shrimpers quite a bit.
I've kept my 42' Post there for a few yrs & now I will be keeping my 50' Bertram at the Point.
Dave

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I'll tell you a little hi perf in Stuart story.
I was selling my Cig & had a guy fly in for a demo ride. After an ocean run, we had just passed Manatee Pocket & were headed up the river (25mph zone). The guy was driving. Just after we passed a water cop going the other way, the guy asked me if he could hit the throttles a bit, I said sure & off we went with a big rooster tail. About the time we were coming up on the new US1 bridge, I heard a strainge sound. I looked back & coming up on us was a Sheriffs Chopper with a sniper hanging out the window and about a dozen boats with little blue flashing lights way off in the distance.
Long story short, we were escorted back to sandsprit park where we were immediately handcuffed. "You can't run from the radio" I was told.
I asked for a cop I had met many years ago. (He had snuck up on me & a pair of hotties having a little "fun" on my dads boat in the middle of the night. We had been tied up over at the state park & the cops thought we were doing drugs. The cops rowed their scarab up & stormed into the cabin. Well, after alot of screaming by the girls, the embarassed cops went on their way).
When I asked if this particular police man was on duity, one of the cops asked why & how did I know him. I was about 3/4 of the way into the story & the cop burst out laughing! He was the cop that stayed on the scarab & he remembered me!!
Then he said "oh boy, this is a big mess". He told the other cops "I know this guy & he comes from a great family out at Sailfish". He then looked up at the chopper houvering, then looked at all the cop boats, cop cars & cop motorcycles and all the pleasureboats who had come to see the big drug bust.
Finally he said he was going to give me a safety check & give me a warning about going too fast on the river & we had a good laugh.
On the way back to my marina, the guy who was interested in buying my boat turned to me & asked (this was his first performance boat) "does this happen every time you go out on one of these?"
He didn't buy the boat LOL

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Dave:

Thats a great story - I had one not quite as wild, but I'll tell it anyway. About three years ago, we had a brand new 302 Scarab Sport with outboards, ran just about sixty. Dad, who's an attorney, and I were heading south in the intracoastal at about 45 or so. I decided to play a little and do a WOT run for a bit, trimmed out, etc. About three minute later, dad says, isn't that a cop behind you? I said so what and kept on hauling . . . never did see the blue lights, finally did and we stopped. Apparently I blew right through a manatee zone. The cop was livid, and told me he had already notified Jupiter Island police to stop me with their Contender. Next words out of his mouth were, "They took my ****ing Scarab away and gave me this piece of ****. Now I can't catch anyone!" Long story short, we had known him for years, and I skated with just a warning. From then on, he and I used to "race" home from the sandbar almost every weekend.

How long has your family been out in Sailfish? Did you ever go to school around here? Maybe our families paths have crossed, my dad did a bunch of legal work for people in Sailfish in the 80's.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I live in Boca, work in Palm Beach Gardens, and do side work on a cruiser at Port Salerno, right behind Shrimpers, a few weeks back on a saturday, about 4-5 Performance boats came and went during the day.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Rick, next time you are working on that cruiser... go behind Knowles boatworks and walk the docks... you see my dads boat, SEA REITER.

Harry, I just talked to my father and he told me that peter had sold Stopler.
And that this new owner turned the Co. into a mess and is trying to sell the molds back to bill? True?

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Harry
We have only had the vacation home at Sailfish for about 12 or 14 years. I usually get down twice a month or so during the winter months. My parents are in CT & go down only 4 or 5 times a year.
Perhaps our paths have crossed though. I have met lots of people from there & have quite a few local hangouts in town.
I'd love to see your Whiticar some time. I love those!
Dave

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Dave, we'll have to get together when your in town next. My father is an attorney in town and has been here since early 1980, his name is Steve Lewen.

We had family in Greenwich as well, last name Silverman. Harry and Bobbe, and their boys, Barry, Richie, Kenny and Jeffrey. Harry was a Manhattan captain of industry type, was the general partner in the Fountainbleau hotel in Miami Beach, owned Whelan Drugs, Plume and Attwood Brass and Copper, Black Starr and Gorham . . . and on and on and on.

I bought my Mistress from a young guy in Norwich last May, and stayed with friends from Palm City who split there time between here their main home in Farmington and a summer home in Old Saybrook right on the river.

My Whiticar is a 1959 40' Shearwater, named Anchor Too. The boat originally sat under a boathouse near Frazier Creek, on the Palm City side of the Roosevelt Bridge. I bought the boat at an estate auction some four and half years ago and I am almost finished with a total refit, including new 370B Cummins, electronic controls, nida-core soles and bulkheads, three air conditioners, etc. Maybe you remember the boat from its boathouse days, it was owned by Bill Laughon, the retired Naval sub commander, and owner of Anchor Real Estate on US1 at the foot of the bridge, where my friend Tom Grane has his Donzi dealership now.

Looking forward to meeting up with you one of these days on the water in Stuart.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

ttt . . . I Know more of you are out there!

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I dont live there but visit my mom as often as I can especially during the winter months, she lives in riverland mobile park off kanner hwy. Some years back I trailered down a formula for a few months and kept it at riverwatch. In 1996 I purchased my dream from phil at lip ship and kept it there at martin county for the winter and loved every second out on the water down there, I had gotten south as far as the waterway cafe in palm beach gardens and def know shrimpers and the hot dog guy that anchors at the tip of the manatee pocket. I look forward to bringing the cig back there as soon as I can for the winter the boating gets no better than that. I def had a lets say run in with the water cops there also I was out for a ride with a few friends and was asked to stop for a check of paperwork and led back to the dock, finally after about at least an hour was let go and there was no infraction,officer said he didnt see the sticker on the side of the boat giving me temp registration yea right. Other than that had great runs up and down the st lucie and cant wait to return.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Steve:

What Cig is yours? Where in New Jersey are you from? My family is originally from Linden and Elizabeth, spent summers in Deal and Long Branch . . . have friends and family in Westfield, Marlboro, Belmar, all over.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Harry, I have a 1995 top gun with very dated graphics for todays world sorry but I dont have pictures to post. I live in brick now but lived in belmar for a long time before moving. The boat was used a lot out of shark river and around the barneget bay area hopefully the weather will get better sometime soon and I can think about getting back out there again, had some down time but hopefully all resolved now.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Steve, my uncle, Mike Posnock, lives in Belmar, on the corner of 8th Avenue I think . . . about a block off the ocean on the same street as the 7-11. When is the last time you had the boat in Stuart? I don't really remember a TG in town . . .

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Harry the cig was last down there the winter of 96-97 when I purchased her and trust me I wish I could take it every winter. I was down quite often that year and the boat left there around easter. I will see how things go and would love to take it down again this year. When I lived in belmar I lived on 9th ave and C st that was 3 blocks from the beach and sure wish I still had it as there would be no way the boat would not be seeing fla every winter.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

ttt

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I live in Jupiter and have a 32 Sunsation Dominator named Go Time. Will occaisionally run outside from the Jupiter Inlet up your way. There is another 32 Sunsation in Jupiter (I saw his and bought mine 6 weeks later) and he runs up that way every once and a while as well. There are a coupleof go fast boats on the start of Jupiter Island on the west side of the ICW (38 TG and an older 35ish Formula) but they never seem to leave the lifts! The go fast crowd is deterred by manatee zones for sure.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Just moved to west palm area about 8 months ago, where do the performance boats go

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

I boat out of Jupiter also. My only story is leaving Prates Cove around midnight in a 30 ft formula captained by a local who really knows the waters. Well anyway it was low tide and at 12:15 am in front of Pecks lake The boat rapidly slowed and listed to port. If you know the area you know it was low tide and we just put his formula way up onto the sand bar. And 2 big blocks are not light. There was a few choice words .
Anyway about 2 hours later we got her floating again.
Also the air show was fun this weekend.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Hey Stuart people! I forgot about this thread. I started reading it & realized I posted to it last year.
Well, like I was saying, we hung up racing, sold the Outerlimits & I am back to fishing now. The latest rig is sitting out at Sailfish Point. It's a 50 Bertram. I'll be back on Dec. 9th for a few days. I'll also have 8 trips to Stuart planned over the winter so if any of you guys like to fish offshore, let me know. We could have an OSO fish outing :eek:
Dave

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Not a whole lot of them in WPB but there are a few. Peanut Island (just inside the inlet) is a big hangout spot on the weekends. Just up the ICW is Waterway Cafe. A great spot & Sunday nights is their big reggae party. Thurs, fri, sat are fun also.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Better hurry. Heard Catalfumo bought it. Condos are coming at Panama Hatties.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Deal fell apart on Hatties according to Palm Beach Post. But it is back on market with broker.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

ttt

My 20' Cigarette is done, and I'm using it, it's a little small to run when there are a lot of boats out, but its fun nonetheless. Jumpstarting this thread to see who's out there, we oughta do a lunch run or something!

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Is it all white? Did you go out last Sunday? Drop it in at the ramp?

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Stormrider:

That was me - all white with light blue cockpit interior and a very loud 482 with SM dry exhaust :evilb:

I put in Sunday at Sandsprit - right across from your dad's Knowles at the Boathouse.

Are you here with your boat for the winter?

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Unfortunately, no... I'm back in NY. :(
I saw you drop in, then run a few times b4 pulling out.
Sounded nice. The exhuast tips seemed kinda low to me, but I was kinda far away. The boat looked cool and classic! :cool: You should post pics.

And yea, thats my dads boat at the boathouse. That is a great place to keep a boat, its big inside there. No room for my dads boat, but it stays alot cleaner there than in NY, 3-4 miles from kennedy airport. Those plane exhuasts cover everything. :mad:

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

The exhausts are too low, they are the swept down style and exit too close to the waterline. The boat sounds like **** when not on plane.

I have a pair of taller risers and straight tails that I am going to swap out soon.

Pics of the boat will come as soon as the weather is nice again, it's been raining cats and dogs here all weekend.

Let me know next time you're here, I'll swing by and say hi.

Harry

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Harry, I'd like to get down again in March... just not sure if its gonna happen. If it does I'll let you know.
rob

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Hey guys. I don't mean to hijack your thread but we live on the West Coast of FLA(Tampa bay area) and have wanted to bring the boat over there for a long weekend. Thought of staying at SailFish Marina but trailer parking is an issue there. Any other suggestions for places with dockage? I know about the sandbar by Peanut Island but what is Shrimpers? Sucks about PH, condos are sucking up good real estate over here too, I worry 10 years from now there will be no ramps or waterfront restaurants.

If you are ever in the Tampa Bay area let me know. Nice day.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Mneal,

There is a boat ramp on the north side of Blue Heron Blvd bridge and Sailfish is on the south side. It is Phil Smith or Phil Foster park. Three words for you LOCK, LOCK, LOCK if you use that ramp/ parking lot. It is within a 3 minute walk to Sailfish but the area is very rough for leaving valuables like you truck overnight. A stand alone trailer would be real sketchy too. I have never used that ramp but have heard the stories (like stolen batteries out of a boat, but the boat itself was untouched!)

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Another jersey boy here gets to stuart a bit . Have used that ramp too. Heard the same from peeps there. My bud has a house on the river just north of the ramp so we take the truck back there and keep tha boat at his dock. Seen broken glass in the parking lot and that always scares me. Love shrimpers , Pirates Cove, Hit up Wahoos too. Party island by the inlet was great on a hot day but the locals don't really come out in 75-80 degree days (better than 24 here today) .The dock got trashed last year in all the storms and there is nothing left but the pilings at this point. I'd have to swim a cord out to the lift! Maybe get it done soon and I'll be back for a winter.

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

Hunster:

What part of Jersey are you from? My family is originally from the Linden/Elizabeth area, and had summer homes in Deal and Long Branch. They've been here in Stuart since 1980.

The ramp that you, Stormrider and I are talking about is Sandsprit Park at the mouth of the Manatee Pocket. The ramp the other members are talking about is in Riviera Beach, a northern suburb of West Palm Beach, and definitely NOT a great neighborhood. On the other hand, Sandsprit is in a pretty nice neighborhood, not too far from your friend's house, which from the pictures I am assuming is on the west side of the channel, on the old Bay Harbor Club property, off of Old St. Lucie Blvd. What's his name, I may know him . . .

Shrimpers and Pirates are definitely my hangouts, Wahoo's is no longer accessible by boat as they have torn out the docks, all but closed the bar, and are making room to build, yea you guessed it, more condos . . . . there is a cool new place called Finz which opened directly opposite Shrimpers and is owned by the same people as Bare Bones, just to the northwest of Shrimpers. "Party Island" as you called it is affectionately known to us locals as "the sandbar," and was packed the weekend that Stormrider saw me out. Seems that the football season shows the biggest loss of people on the water.

Let me know next time you're down, we'll have a gathering of performance boats!

Re: Anybody from Stuart, Florida?
 

just got home to pa from a two week stay in jensen beach looking to go back the end of march we have been going there for 10 years no boat this year but shopping for one