[QUOTE=jayboat]JM_

If you ever need a ride to the boat from the airport, please let me know...

Jay - I fly in Sunday. Do you do pickups in Ft Lauderdale too ? LOL I will spare you - dragging the inlaws along

Maybe someone in the Cape Coral / Ft Meyers area will jump in here and help you with this Jerry. I am down on Marco and out of the loop on this but have heard it's tight. Anyone ?
Bob

Within the Next 6 months Dean Clausen (Bravo Shop/Gulf X marine) should be done completing thier dry stack storage. I think they should have at least 30 spots. They are on Hurricane Bay right arcoss from Channel Mark bar and grill on San Carlos Blvd. Call 239-454-8008 for more info.

Ooooooh ...... Interesting .... Thanks !

Leopajm:

I would stay right where you are. I've seen your concept. You don't want any of the old forklifts at many of the other marinas handling your boat. I kept my fountain 35 at Fishtale for 3 years before I bought my marina. I was always pleased with the care they took while handling my boat.

Tom

Hello Tom,

I want to pick up on something you mentioned way back on one of the early posts in this thread. That is this idea of " poker cruises". I think of a cruise as a trip where we would overnight at a destination, say the Keys or Clearwater for example and come home a day or so later. Is this what you had in mind because I think there is support for this. Tell us your thoughts on this please.
Prior to my getting into higher perf boats 4 years ago I did a lot of cruising in my stock powered offshore boats. Been up and down the eastern seaboard, Tombiggby, over to New Orleans, Dry Tortugas and Bahamas 5 times. Requires a reliable well maintained boat and good navigation and safety equipment.
Bob

Just want to share some thoughts of future runs and invite your comments. To keep things interesting we need some new destinations. If all we do is cruise up and down Pine Island Sound we will soon grow tired of that. Tom had mentioned going to Naples. I think that is a good idea. Some of us including the OSO's in Naples can scout that out.
I would like to invite everyone down to Marco Island as well. It would be about the same distance as going to Burnt Store.
There is a new complex called the Esplanade that is similar to Rumrunners. If some wanted to stay overnight I can arrange for rooms and then take you on a tour thru some of the 10,000 islands down here and maybe go into Everglades City and have lunch at the Rod and Gun Club before heading back up to Ft Meyers.
Another thought for another time is that instead of going to a restaurant for lunch since so few places can handle our numbers we pack a lunch [ like the sailors do !! ] and beverage and have our own raft up in a sheltered cove off PI Sound. Crank up the tunes and the party is on !!
Your thoughts please .
Bob

I like it !!! Great ideas there Bob !!!

JM

Isn't that the truth!

Traveling, new spots and overnighters are always good. Of course what Tom references, reliable equipment, is very important. Not everybody has to participate in every activity. And every activity certainly will not be of interest to everybody.

With the broad range of equipment and people I anticipate larger groups for the afternoon fun runs but a much smaller participation in the overnight trips.

The trips for some of us would actaully work out better during the week. Most ports would be more accessible. I say this keeping in mind that there may as few as 2-4 boats.

Right on, brothers. You guys saved me a lot of typing with those last few posts. All that variety is why I moved to sw florida.

I've always felt that any boating day could ease into a boating night and it can be the best part of the day! My knowledge of these waters is a bit limited, but I've done lots of 3 day weekends and 7-day runs up and down the icw from okracoke and new bern to hilton head, also explored the california coast out of newport harbor for a couple of years (overnights to san diego and catalina) and I really enjoyed the boating scene around wrightsville beach.

I gotta hurry up and get another boat.