Poker Run - still going on?

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Brk...

I think your baiting OD, but in case your not...

Its pretty simple!

You're right, I was kinda baiting him.

I saw the first post in this thread and shrugged. Then he was keeping the thread alive with this the-sky-is-falling theme so I decided to nudge it a bit.

The Poker Run stuff amuses me deeply. It's NOT a race, but if there is a speed limit in place turnout will somehow be affected. And the BEST Poker Runs apparently have lots of high performance boats running a speed that appears to be quite a fair bit above what most people would call "cruising speed" (see photo above). But, it's not a race.

Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the Poker Runs, they're fun, and I don't blame them for keeping distance from the speed-competitive aspect of it all.

For the record (and you already know this if you read my posts from last year) in my opinion the speed limit bill is a solution looking for a problem. I'm not stating this to re-open an argument, the outcome of all this has already been settled. I just want to make it clear where I stand on the issue.

In my own opinion Winnipesaukee is NOT what I would call a "boaters" lake. There are way too many rules and regulations that prevent it from being utilized optimally for what I deem to be "boating", not to mention that relatively speaking it's pretty small. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but the way I grew up a 4 boat raft was "a good start" and a 5 hour cruise would take you a relatively short distance from where you began in proportion to how far you could go.

Part of the problems in the lake come from the fact that a lot of people (again based only on my own opinions and observations) who would otherwise never consider "boating" feel a false sense of safety and security on this relatively small inland lake. I see behavior every day I'm on the lake in the summer that just astounds me. There is a high concentration of arrogance and stupidity across vessels and operators of all sizes and shapes. I would argue that at least 1/2 of the watercraft on the lake are not operated by "boaters", but by "people who happen to own a boat". More captains should experience being out in the middle of a body of water where you cannot see land in any direction and the seas are running 4'-5' and you're attempting to determine your location and progress based on reckoning skills and charts and calipers. Crossing The Broads (unless you're in a kayak perhaps) is not an accomplishment that earns you a spot at the big boys' table.

All of this leads to an ever growing list of things you can't do and places you can't go, etc. At the same time, left to their own devices many people seem incapable of conducting themselves properly, so what can you do...

Sorry if I got off a rant, boating is something akin to tradition to me and I get a little irritated when I see people trampling upon the sport. This is of course a long way from the theme of the Poker Runs that started this thread.

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

You're right, I was kinda baiting him.

I saw the first post in this thread and shrugged. Then he was keeping the thread alive with this the-sky-is-falling theme so I decided to nudge it a bit.

The Poker Run stuff amuses me deeply. It's NOT a race, but if there is a speed limit in place turnout will somehow be affected. And the BEST Poker Runs apparently have lots of high performance boats running a speed that appears to be quite a fair bit above what most people would call "cruising speed" (see photo above). But, it's not a race.

Hey Brk,

I think you and I agree on more then we disagree on. You have many very good and well thought out opinions. I enjoyed reading that.... Not so much of being baited but all in good fun...

I am in the middle of that photo.. Surprisingly enough that was cruising.. Around 55mph.. Those boats are so stable at that speed you could put a coke down walk away and it wouldn't have moved by the time you walk back. This particular run where the photo was taken is a destination poker run. You all start off at the same place in different heats depending on your "desired" speed. Faster in front obviously. I have friends whose boats are very capable of going well over 80 and could stay up with the front guys. They choose to go in the second heat because they would rather cruise. Now of course this looks like a race because it is on a river. We start way up in Richmond and end up in Norfolk where we stay overnight. There is a pace boat to make sure no one is getting too far out in front because as mentioned there are MP's helping them all the way down. Hundreds of people come out and watch from the shorelines and it is an incredible time.

Winni obviously can't be done in this method so they do the port to port run. Still very fun and works well in a lake situation.

Anyway.. good talking with ya.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

Hey Brk,

I think you and I agree on more then we disagree on. You have many very good and well thought out opinions. I enjoyed reading that.... Not so much of being baited but all in good fun...

I am in the middle of that photo..

Don't worry, we agree on plenty. Sorry to bait you along, sometimes one of my hobbies is being an antagonist

I know what you mean about the speed/stability thing of the offshore hulls. Last October I was on a business trip in the British Virgins Isles to visit one of my dealers working on a security project on the island. He had just gotten his 38' Sonic out from being overhauled and rebuilt. We went from Road Town/Tortola to Peters Island to Virgin Gorda and back in 3' swells at 60+MPH with hardly a bump. The only reason we moved so slow was because the engines were being broken in on this run.

[OCDACTIVE]

Beautiful Boat.. Love Sonics they are very similar to Active Thunders.

You know exactly what I mean then... They are beyond stable and are very much in control even at high speeds. I used to love going to the Naswa after the poker runs and seeing boats just like that. I realize now you were just egging me on but don't you think that when in a boat like that it is seriously feels very slow at 50 mph? It is like riding in a corvette on allegator alley in FL and only going 65... Just feels slow.

I think that if there was a way to attract the national poker run circuit it would be very beneficial to the economy. I mean the gas alone these take you know as well as I are incredibile. Plus if you have boats like that you have no problem putting money down on local hotels, resturants, bars etc.

As an example Check out the lunch stop!

[upthesaukee]

ODCACTIVE: I think if you edit your posts with photos, bringing the size of the photos down to 3x5 or so, the photos will still be looking good, and the thread will not require scrolling left and right to read.

Thanks

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

ODCACTIVE: I think if you edit your posts with photos, bringing the size of the photos down to 3x5 or so, the photos will still be looking good, and the thread will not require scrolling left and right to read.

Thanks

They actually fit fine on my screen.. sorry.. I also am not that great with computers.. It was a valient effort just to figure out how to get them on here..

[SIKSUKR]

You 2 need to get a room.