Guys, hate to say it but I can't make it. Been getting my boat ready for the season and I thought I'd be able to stitch up my captain's chair seams that were coming apart for another year and they are too far gone. Looks like I have to do a new interior which will be very cool but eats my fun run money. I'll see you all for the Memorial Day run in Kemah and Outlaw though!

That's to bad buddy you are going to miss a great time...maybe next year..or see you at the Outlaw....

Hey all,

Newbie here (to the forum, not boating!). Sorry for the late add-on, but we just traded our old Checkmate for a 30 Outlaw and we're thinking about tagging along on this trip. We've made the trip once, several years ago, in our express cruiser with Marine Max.

Is everyone staying at the Golden Nugget or will there be a good group at the Inn on the Bayou?

Addicted to HP. I am not sure the total amount of boats. Our party is staying at the Nugget. If your leaving from Clear Lake we are thinking about taking off around 7ish. Not sure how that works and I have not had any feedback. When you did the run before was it from Marine Max in Clear Lake? How long did it take?

knotty, when we made this run before, it was from Marine Max in Clear Lake. We stopped at the Galveston Yacht Basin to meet up with a couple more boats and top off the fuel tanks. If I remember correctly, it took us about 11 hours total to get to L'Auberge but you have to remember that it was a group of 34' - 60' express cruisers and sedans. The bigger boats in the group threw pretty big wakes so we had to drop off plane EVERY time we passed a barge or pretty much anything else. And, of course, even on plane we were usually only going about 22-24 knots. I could barely stay on plane at those speeds.

I think if we plan on about a 40mph cruise, we'd be looking at about an hour to get from Clear Lake (say, Sam's Boat/Endeavor) to Galveston Yacht Basin. If it was smooth enough to go offshore, I think we could make it from Galveston to Port Arthur in about 2 hours. More like 3+ hours if we're in the ditch. I'd say another hour to get all the way up into Beaumont. I'm not familiar with Port Arthur or Beaumont, but it might be nice to meet up with the boats that are splashing in Beaumont down in Port Arthur, if there's anywhere there to dock for some lunch? If we can all meet up in Port Arthur for lunch, I think we could leave Clear Lake at 8am instead of 7am and get there around 12:00-12:30, even using the ditch. If we have to go all the way up to Beaumont, we'll probably need to leave at 7am.

From Port Arthur to the Golden Nugget looks like maybe another 2 - 2.5 hours.

This is all just "back of the napkin" planning, of course. Others probably have much more experience running in groups of go-fast boats than I do (I have none!) so definitely don't take all this rambling as gospel. :)

Sounds good to me. My boat is currently at Endeavour but I am moving to Clear Lake Marine Centre on a lift. We can leave when ever. At this point no body else has confirmed and booked. Showtime has recently cancelled also due to a conflict. I have not made the run and I am new to the area. We are still going to go as planned. I have hotels booked and slip reserved. If it is just the two of us we can make better time and maybe leave later. I was out on sunday experimenting with trim and speed to find best cruise loaded down with 8 people. I think 40 mph will be around the top of my cruise. Especially if it gets bumpy.I am going to program in a route this weekend and figure total distance and fuel stops. I would prefer to go down the ditch but if the weather is nice offshore sounds fun.

Let us stay in contact and arrange this trip, even if we are the only two.

PS I am also going to make contact with a boat hauling company and put them on stand by incase we run into issues. I have a tendency to over prepare so the trip will go smooth.

This will be a great time.

Sounds good to me. We live on Taylor Lake so we're on the water all the time. We'll either be on the blue 30 Outlaw (no name yet) or on Black Diamond, a black Formula 34PC. Flag us down if you see us. We'll definitely be out there this weekend. Probably make a Galveston run. Still working on getting comfortable with the Outlaw.

Has everyone else really backed out? That would be a bummer.

Addicted to HP, where on Taylor Lake do you live? My parents are in Lake Point Forest and that is where me and my brother launch our Spectre's.

Hey Big Block,

We're on the north/east canal of Seabrook Island. I think we're back past your boat ramp.

Hey Guys,
If I remember correctly it's right at 130 miles from Kemah channel to the Nugget. That's going through Stingaree cut. Add 5 to 10 miles or so if you want to take the ship channel to Galveston.(I don't see a need to go remotely close to Galveston with no big cruisers going.JMO) Cruising 40 its a 3.5 hour trip with no need for fuel until Lake Charles. Fuel is available 5 minutes up Contra Band Bayou from Nugget at a place called Bowtie marina. There are a few good sand bars to hang out at along the way (Shell Island in Bridge City and Orange cut in Orange) but I don't think much will be happening on a Friday or early Saturday.
I'm just throwing a few things out there... carry on!
LF