VOL 21#2 SPRING-SUMMER EDITION
SHOWCASING THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE
WINTER POKER RUN 2021
FPC’S Annual Migration to Marathon
SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN
37 Teams GO-ALL-THE-WAY to Paradise!
MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN
The Show Must Go On - in Key Largo!
11th TAMPA BAY POKER RUN
Downtown Tampa Venue Sees New Record Turnout!
Plus….
Those lovely FPC GIRLS
WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM
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A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle SPRING-SUMMER 2021
Vol. 21#2
EDITOR/PUBLISHER
Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com
CONTENTS 4 LETTER FROM PRESIDENT: STU JONES
News and views from Stu Jones on how a big start to 2021 may translate to a record year of attendance for FPC events.
OFFICE MANAGER
Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Lina Montes fpclina@gmail.com
6 WINTER POKER RUN
A roster of 27 FPC teams enjoyed a great start to 2021 with fair weather and following seas.
PHOTOGRAPHY
20 MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN
Jerry Wyszatycki Pete Boden Stu Jones
EVENT MANAGEMENT
Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com Megan Smith admin@flpowerboat.com
VIDEO PRODUCTION Stu Jones Ryan McCoy Joe Kotrady
DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO Florida Powerboat Club 1214 SW 6th St. Pompano Beach, FL 33069 Tel: 954.545-1414 Fax: 954.782-2452 www.FLPOWERBOAT.com
POMPANO OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday 10 AM - 5 PM
In this feature we see how FPC turned a cancelled Miami Boat Show into a weekend of fun in the sun for attendees, and boat sales for a handful of performance manufacturers.
54 SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN
Discover what made this Spring Fling to Key West different that is bigger November counterpart, as 37 teams enjoyed a March escape to paradise.
68 TAMPA BAY POKER RUN
Enjoy the highlights of this April 2021 rendezvous in Downtown Tampa that attracted a record attendance of 75 registered poker run teams and all the top manufacturers.
82 FPC 2021 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
You can't afford to miss another weekend escape to paradise with Members of the Florida Powerboat Club! All 2021 events listed here, so start planning now! ON THE COVER: Midnight Express made a strong showing at the 11th Annual Tampa Bay Poker Run! Pictured here David Landsman's new 43 Open and a sistership factory entry from Midnight Express co-owner Eric Glaser. FPC Girls Melissa, Lilly & Lauren on the Tampa Bay Poker Run. Photos by Pete Boden
FPC Pompano Beach Headquarters Traveling? Need to lighten the load? Enjoy the digital version of this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine on...
YouTube: Florida Powerboat Club https://www.youtube.com/user/FLpowerboatClub
https://www.facebook.com/flpowerboat Instagram @flpowerboat
All copyright laws apply. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher
SEE THE COMPLETE DIGITAL EDITION OF POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE AT WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 3
Letter
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Stu & Jackie Jones
I
n my wildest dreams I could not have imagined that FPC would kick off 2021 with a record-setting pace on not just one or two, but all six events that commenced this past January with the Winter Poker Run to Marathon. Perhaps the most newsworthy was the February Miami Boat Show Poker Run, where we staged a Poker Run Village-styled boat show at Gilberts in Key Largo, and saw event registration almost double in size to 100 teams, compared to a year earlier! But it didn’t slow down after that and in March the Spring Key West Poker Run reached almost 40 teams, followed by Tampa in April which tipped the scales setting its own all-time record of 75 registered teams! May took FPC to Alabama’s Orange Beach, where The Wharf hosted a 52 boat event, and as this issue of Powerboating in Paradise hits circulation, we are seeing at least two dozen teams on our event roster for the 30th celebration of the Bahamas Poker Run!
there appears to be no letting up. This fairs well for so many of us who’s lives and livelihoods rely on the marine trade and/or hospitality industry, and it has changed the whole dynamic of how we plan ahead for future poker runs and family outings in the Sunshine State. As we now get into the summer months, FPC is already seeing a record pace of registration for club events like Emerald Coast Powerboat Week ( now in Sept 2021) and particularly for the November Key West Poker Run, which is already at 100 preregistered teams at five months out! With the prospect of reaching 300 registered teams and a record number of sponsoring organizations, this Signature FPC poker run event may very well spike its previous records, so we just urge everyone to get on board now, while rooms and docking are still available! The FPC staff can assist you with everything you need, so start planning now and we’ll see you in the FALL! We hope you enjoy this issue of Powerboating in Paradise, which provides extensive coverage of our first four events in 2021! With so much content to share we may very well push this quarterly magazine back to 100+ pages and increase circulation for our next issue, and we invite all of our members and trade partners to consider advertising with us, at very attractive rates. Our next deadline and links to advertising rates can be found on Page 82 inside the back cover.
It’s no secret that powerboat club members from around the United States, Canada and Europe are ready to put the Covid chapter behind, and get on with life in general, and particularly with their boating lifestyles. And while the pandemic mapped out a devastating chapter in world history and brought tragedy to the lives of so many, it seems to have motivated so many fellow Americans to make some major changes in their lives and set their sites on a new lifestyle in the Sunshine State….and for so many, there is a boat included in the Florida Starter Kit! The pent up demand for residential real estate and recreational boats of every description, has put Florida’s economy on overdrive, and
4 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Have a safe summer and maybe we’ll see you on a poker run as the Jones family embarks on our annual Summer Poker Run Tour around the country! Sincerely
Stu Jones,
FPC President & Founder
Comments: stu@flpowerboat.com
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MIGRATION PATTERNS
IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT DOZENS OF BIRD SPECIES MIGRATE SOUTH TO FLORIDA EVERY FALL TO ENJOY THE WARM WELCOMING CLIMATE. LIKE CREATURES OF HABIT, A SMALL GROUP OF FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB MEMBERS HAVE MARKED OFF LATE JANUARY EVERY YEAR, FLYING SOUTH FROM SNOWBOUND STATES TO JOIN FPC FOR ITS SEASON STARTER TO MARATHON IN THE MIDDLE KEYS.
STORY: STU JONES
W
hile historical weather data might indicate that South Florida’s winter temperatures can ride a roller coaster at times, setting record lows in the 30’s to high’s well into the 80’s, it can certainly be a roll of the dice for boaters when planning a January poker run event from Miami the Florida Keys. But one thing can be certain, that no matter what hand Mother Nature deals FPC members in this game of chance, there’s a good likelihood Miami will be the warmest place in the United States. Targeting the third weekend of January, FPC kicked off the 2021 boating season with the Winter Poker Run to Marathon and there was enough interest from across thirteen states, to muster 27 poker run registered teams as crews from the mid-western to northern states to get on a plane and journey south. What came as a welcome surprise for everyone on Friday morning as the teams assembled at Haulover Marine Center in North Miami, was a weather forecast that combined single digit wind speeds with sunny skies and warm temperatures that would reach the high seventies, guaranteeing a fabulous trip ahead as the teams
6 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Team ON THE ROCKS-handed out poker card #1 embarked on the 100 mile trek from Miami to Marathon. Leading the charge, were a handful of FPC’s “New” members, and by that I am not referring to their membership status, but rather their geographic homeports….i.e. states that begin with the word “NEW”. John & Tracy Wittenberger from New Jersey, anxious to launch their Cigarette 39 center console which had made its Poker Run debut on the 2020 November Key West event. Then who can forget the Facebook-fanatic Michael Tandoi from Webster New York, who was ready for his second assault on the Florida Keys in his completely renovated 40’ Skater, Out of Control. Then there was Andrew & Daniel Rocco from New Hampshire in their new outboard cat, a 34’ Victory, which also navigated its maiden journey to the Keys just two months earlier on the Key West Poker Run. Rounding out the “New State” mix were Mark & Susan Munro (NJ) in their Wright Performance Cat, along John O’Loughlin (39 MTI), Dwayne Reith (34 MTI ) and Alex Tembellis (43 Black Thunder), all hailing from New York.
Mark and Eileen Fischer | FL | Team EILEEN'S WAY 36' Blackwater / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Scott Porta | FL | Team SLIPPERY WHEN WET | 43' Scarab PHOTOGRAPHY: JERRY WYSZATYCKI & STU JONES
There was no need to avoid the sometimes turbulent Haulover Inlet, as the boats throttled up and enjoyed smooth seas offshore, then diverted through government cut for a quick stop-and-go card pick up at Grove Harbour Marina. Of course Gilberts Key Largo was a no-brainer for lunch, and adding a new twist to the poker run course, the teams made a stop at Plantation Boat Mart in Tavernier for a bonus card! By late afternoon the boats where settled in at the Faro Blanco Resort & Marina in Marathon, where the staff was prepared and ready to greet the FPC members for their first 2021 outing! Rounding out a perfect day, the group assembled Friday evening at for a casual dinner at the Lighthouse Grill. Continuing the adventure Saturday and taking advantage of the smaller group size along with ideal boating conditions, FPC organizers pulled an Ace out of their weekend bag of tricks, by assembling a helicopter crew to rendezvous at Faro Blanco for
some great photos, then heading off to Key West for a lunch fun run. But not before spending a little camera time with the crew of a Russian Youtube channel called 808 Media, known for his amazing coverage of “all things cool in the world”. Stu & Jackie welcomed KIM, the show’s comical host aboard Project 1080 for a quick ride that showcased the Florida Powerboating lifestyle. As this article is being written, the views have racked up to 546,000, on this global channel that boasts 2.75 million viewers! Later Saturday, after returning from a fabulous 100 mile roundtrip to Key West, the poker run teams enjoyed a poolside Happy Hour Party, hosted by Nor-Tech Hi Performance Boats and attended by Nor-Tech’s very own Henrik Margard and Geoff Tomlinson! Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all of the participants for helping FPC to launch the 2021 season with a fantastic escape to paradise! Stu Jones
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 7
JACKIE JONES
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team PROJECT 1080HP | 38' Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 540 EFI
David Carey | MD | Team HARD EIGHTS | 37' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
8 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
SO BLESSED Crew
Eusebio & Carolina Verrier | FL | Team SO BLESSED | 32' Sonic / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
BEST
PAINT &
GRAPHICS
Dwayne Reith | NY | Team FLY MTI | 34 MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
BEST
CATAMARAN
AWARD
Andrew Rocco | NH | Team TIME CONSCIOUS | 34 Victory / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
10 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
TIME CONSCIOUS Crew
NAUTI NAUTI Crew
Daniel & Becky Cates | GA | Team NAUTI NAUTI | 33' Renegade /3-Mercury Racing 400R
Ricardo Chaves | AL | Team IN DEBT | 34' Fountain / 3-Mercury Verado 300 Sponsor
DAYS Crew
Bill & Tammy Day | KY | Team DAYS | 39' Fountain / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
12 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
ON THE ROCKS Crew
ON THE ROCKS Crew
SEXIEST CREW AWARD
John & Tracy Wittenberger SR | NJ | Team ON THE ROCKS | 39' Cigarette / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Sponsor
BEST CENTER CONSOLE
Hans Othar Blix | FL/Norway | Team 2TWENTY5 | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
Alex Tembelis | NY | Team MCMONSTER | 43' Black Thunder / 2-Mercury Racing Bulldogs
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 13
Thomas Taylor | FL | Team TBANK | 39' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
MYSTIC Crew
Simon Gregg | FL | Team MYSTIC | 38' Mystic / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Barry & Stephanie Henson | TN | Team JUST A SPLASH | 55' Neptunis
14 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
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Jamie Daniels-Team KANSAS
Brant & Jamie Daniels | KS | Team KANSAS | 32' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 900 SC
Robbie & Anjum Ullah | GA | Team DR PERFORMANCE | 32' Spectre / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
David Wilks | SC | Team DONZI | 38' Donzi / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
16 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
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Michael Tandoi Team OUT OF CONTROL BEST DRESSED CREW
Kevin & Melissa Welch | MA | TA DA PINS | 42' Cigarette
BEST PERFORMANCE V BOTTOM
Kevin & Melissa Welch-Team TA DA PINS BEST PERFORMANCE V BOTTOM
Craig & Paula Ackerman | GA | Team SEA YA | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
18 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
The Show
MUST GO ON ! IT WAS A SHOCK TO BOATERS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WHEN NMMA PULLED THE PLUG ON THE 79TH MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW ALONG WITH EIGHT OTHER NATIONAL SHOWS IN EARLY 2021. BUT FPC PULLED A LUCKY ACE FROM ITS SLEEVE, OFFERING UP A SUITABLE PLAN B FOR PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURERS, STAGING AN IMPROMPTU POKER RUN-THEMED BOAT SHOW AT GILBERTS RESORT IN KEY LARGO.
STORY: STU JONES It had not quite been a year since Covid-19 had hit the global news and this so-called Coronavirus was the talk-on-the-dock at the 2020 Miami Boat Show at Virginia Key. Fast forward one year, and with the 2021 Show cancelled, FPC organizers felt comfortable with managing a combined poker run and boat show format, in the open air venue that Gilberts Resort Key Largo offered. It was Florida Powerboat Club’s 26th year for this annual pilgrimage to the Florida Keys, a tradition that began in the early year as a manufacturer’s event that allowed Miami Boat Show exhibitors the chance to get their newest boats on the water, and hopefully close a few sales that were initiated at the Miami Beach Convention Center’s on-land display halls. At the height of its momentum, the event was headquartered at Islamorada’s Holiday Isle Resort (now the Post Card Inn) seeing as many as one hundred registered teams in peak years. But with the sale of that resort and a change in management, FPC was forced to move the event
20 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
to Key Largo, where it has share the venue between Marriott’s Playa Largo Resort & Spa and nearby Bakers Cay Resort, a Hilton branded property. But hosting a boat-show styled event would require a substantial footprint of docking, and to comply with CDC guidelines, an open air venue for catered functions and parties was a must. Gilberts Resort in Key Largo checked off both boxes, and a long-standing B to B relationship that was shared between FPC and the Gilberts management team, the plan was executed. Like all other Miami Boat Show Poker Runs that preceded the 2021 format, FPC offered a Thursday and a Friday departure, and with so many teams anxious to get out and play after several months of Covid lock-down, the Thursday run filled up quickly! Participants were offered a variety of lodging choices, including the headquarter Playa Largo Resort, which also provided docking facilities, along with a variety of other lodging choices.
Poker Run teams patiently funneled through Venetian Causeway lift bridge Thursday morning PHOTOGRAPHY: JERRY WYSZATYCKI More than a dozen luxury condos at the neighboring Mariners Club Resort provided the ideal setting for larger groups with five or six guests all staying under one roof, with the boat docked nearby in a protected marina. A handful of rooms were offered at Gilberts Resort, neighboring Anchorage Resort, and new to the mix was Marriott’s Key Largo Beachside Resort, a property that FPC frequented on a regular basis in the 1990’s. Two dedicated vans operated by FPC kept guests moving about frequently between the properties, allowing participants to visit the Poker Run Village/ Boat Show at Gilberts, without having to drive or Uber. But for simplicity and easy access, all of the docking in the back side of Gilberts provided transient docking for visitors who wanted to see the boats and have lunch at Gilberts. It was an ideal set up with a lot of planning! For the poker run format, most participants who made the run on
Thursday, had two full days to make fun runs in the Upper Keys, and FPC kept a Robinson R44 helicopter on site each morning, so that the photo and video crew could capture extensive content for the members and also for the exhibiting manufacturers and dealers that were conduction sea-trials through each day, using the open bay waters on the their doorstep. Leaving the docks, they could be on plane in about sixty seconds, making this Gilberts venue very appealing for accomplishing multiple sea trials throughout the day. Participants seemed to enjoy the casual format of the poker run, because they were able to bunch up in smaller groups, and do fun runs down to Islamorada, Marathon, and as far away as Key West. After all, cruising on the protected bay-side waters in the Keys, allows most powerboats to cruise comfortably at speed, and the 100-mile trek from Key Largo to Key West isn’t such a long haul when cruising at 80 to 100 mph! (Continue to page 34)
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 21
Thursday
Marissa Brad Hancock | GA | HAIL RAISER | 43' Midnight Express / 5-Mercury Racing 400R
Tom Archer | NJ | LAUGHING GIRAFFE | 41' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 1075
Sponsor
Chris & Quinn LaMorte | NJ | SKATER 36 | 36' Skater / 2-Mercury 700 SCI
Eric Glaser - MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - Sponsor Award
22 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Eric Glaser | FL | MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
TAPOCIK Crew
ON THE ROCKS Crew Bryan Tapocik | CA | TAPOCIK | 37' Outerlimits
John Wittenberger SR | NJ | ON THE ROCKS | 39' CigareIe / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Danny Ayala & Sam Nehme| FL | BROWARD MOTORSPORTS | 44' Concept / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
24 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
BEST PAINT & GRAPHICS
Concept factory member accepted BEST PAINT AWARD for Team BROWARD MOTORSPORTS
ALL SET Crew
Buddy Thomas | MA | ALL SET | 41' Outerlimits / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Joe & Amy Lee Celello | FL | DOUG WRIGHT | 39' Doug Wright / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Rick Townsend | FL | MIDNIGHT | 34' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 25
Sponsor
BEST CENTER CONSOLE
Jesse & Stephanie Neumann | MN | DIRTY MONEY | 50' Nor-Tech / 5-Mercury Racing 450R
STATEMENT Crew
Chris & Brie Andrisani | FL | STATEMENT | 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
Richard Davies | NY | DONE WRIGHT | 32' Doug Wright / 2-Mercury 400R
26 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
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Matt Borcina | NY | MC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Tom Stuart | MO | MTI 42' MTI V / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Ron Szolack | FL | CIGARETTE | 42' CIGARETTE / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
Howard Beindit | MI | TATONKA | 41' Apache
28 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
TATONKA Crew
PUNCH IT Crew
Top: David & Jenny Landsman | MD | GAME CHANGER | 43' Midnight Express / 5-Mercury Racing 450R Bottom: David Carey | MD | PUNCH IT | 37' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing 450R SEXIEST CREW AWARD
Shannon Hamilton | GA | LOW ALTITUDE | 50' Mystic
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 29
Marissa
Michael Tandoi | NY | OUT OF CONTROL | 40' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 860
Eusebio Verrier | FL | SO BLESSED | 32' Sonic / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Jorge Arellano | FL | Y2K30 | 35' DCB
Lane Christianson | TX | FAST LANE | 48' MTI / Mercury 1350
30 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
151 EXPRESS Crew
Jorge & Ann Arellano | FL | 151 EXPRESS | 32' Phantom / 2-Mercury Racing 600
PERFORMANCE EAST Crew
Travis Weeks | NC | PERFORMANCE EAST | 36' Statement / 2-Mercury Racing 450R Deeanna
John Cosker | FL | MYSTIC POWERBOATS | 42' Mystic / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Connor & Allye Toomey | MD | OUTTA LINE | 39' Outerlimits / 2-Mercury Racing 700 SCI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 31
NEVER ENUFF Crew
Chris & Shelby Mattingly | KY | NEVER ENUFF | 46' Outerlimits
Brian Hoar | VT | X RACER 2.0 | 36' Statement | 2-Mercury Racing 450R Sponsor
Eric Avila-CONCEPT BOATS-Sponsor Award
Eric Avila | FL | CONCEPT BOATS | 44' Concept / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
BIG SHOT || Crew
Ray & Kristine Gremaux | NY | BIG SHOT II | 42' Mystic / 4 Mercury Racing 450R
32 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
NOR-TECH || Crew
John Mehalik | FL | NOR-TECH | 46' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing 450R Deeanna
Joe Sabo | NJ | JMBTILE | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Pete Riveiro | FL | THE FIRM'S HOT SHEET | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Raymond Evans | NJ | JEFF'S BOYS | 35' Cigarette
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 33
Every night at Gilberts a different party format was offered, with live entertainment daily from top bands. Friday night’s party featured the very popular Taylor King Band, and Saturday night was reserved for the big poker run dinner party which opened with the magic show of the highly acclaimed Michael Trixx! Wow that was an EYE Popper for anyone who got a front row seat that that show! Throughout the evening, President’s Choice awards were presented, while all of the sponsors and show exhibitors were recognized for their support of this new event format. On the poker boards, over 80 teams played out their hands and winners were awarded in the top three categories. Congratulations to:
BEST POKER RUN DISPLAY - Legend Marine BEST CENTER CONSOLE - 50' Nor-Tech- Jesse Newman BEST PAIN & GRAPHICS - 4400 Concept - BROWARD MOTORSPORTS MOST OUTRAGEOUS BOAT - Pershing 70’ Stephen Rak - Team THE OFFICE BEST CAT - MTI 390X Factory Team BEST V-BOTTOM - Delaney Walker 52’ OL - Team STEALTH BOMBER BEST TEAM NAME - LAUGHING GIRAFFE - Tom Archer BEST DRESSED TEAM - Arellano Team - 151 EXPRESS SEXIEST CREW - David Carey - Team PUNCH IT 1ST PLACE - DAVID CAREY 2ND PLACE - RON PAUL 3RD PLACE - JESSE NEWMAN 4TH PLACE - STORM BARTLING 5TH PLACE - BYRAN TAPOCIK
34 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
BEST POKER RUN DISPLAY - Legend Marine
GILBERTS TEAM - Sponsor Award
NOR-TECH HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM - Presenting Sponsor Award
Stu Jones accepting Sponsor Award for MYCO TRAILERS
Nick Buis-STATEMENT! MARINE Sponsor Award
Ray Gremeaux - Accepting MYSTIC Powerboats Sponsor Award
PRESIDENTS CHOICE AWARD -BEST CATAMARAN
Sponsor
OAKDALE YACHT CREW - Sponsor Award
Tom Crowley | NY | OAKDALE YACHT | 38' Fountain / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
Playa Largo Resort docks John Herman | CT | TOTAL MARINE | 38' Fountain / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
Brad Carlson | MO | ACQUIRED TASTE, TOO | 32' Sunsation / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
36 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Derek Wachob | OK | BLACK DIAMOND | 52' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 1350HP
Tom Stuart | FL | MTI | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Blake Perrin | TX | HOT FOR TEACHER TOO | 33' Intrepid
Deeanna
Joseph Castellana JR | NY | AWESOME MOTORSPORTS | 38' Skater
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 37
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STEALTH BOMBER Crew
Delanie Walker | TN | STEALTH BOMBER | 50' Outerlimits
Bob Ladas | MA | MTI-V | 42' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Michael Friedman | FL | CRAZY HORSE | 41' Apache
Roger & Pam Anderson | TX | WILD HORSES | 39' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
40 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Joe Ballesteri | FL | Team EVERGLADES | 33' Everlades - FPC Safety Boat
Friday Sponsor
Myrich Coil | FL | MTI V | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER - Sponsor Award
Kendal
Tim Gallagher | FL | NIGHTHAWK | 41' | Cigarette / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Peter & Carolyn Fink | NE | LIL JET | 34' MTI Mercury Racing 450R
Tim Markou | NC | PANTERA FACTORY 360CC | 26' Pantera
42 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Chris Colson | NJ | FLUID FRIENDLY | 39' | Lavey Craft / 2-Mercury Racing 700
Ron & Deonee Paul | IL | STROKE THIS | 34' Sunsation / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Brant & Jamie Daniels | KS | KANSAS | 32' Skater / Mercury Racing 900 SC
Rusty Williams | MO | PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 43
Michael & Sarah Howe | FL | LIGHT SPEED 2.0 | 39' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
X-FACTOR Crew
Mike Boyle | NJ | XCAT | 34' Pilini / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Stephen Barker | NY | X-FACTOR | 42' Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 1100
Marissa Robert Lockyer | FL | MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
44 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe | GA | DIRTY MONEY | 36' Skater / 2-Mercury 700 SCI
Don Verkuylen | FL | ENOUGH SAID!! | 52' Outerlimits / 2-Mercury 1100/1350
Marisa, Kendall, Deeanna
Edward Ascione | MI | MIKE'S MORONS | 42' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Jason Bourne | MA | OUTERLIMITS | 50' Outerlimits / 2-Mercury Racing 1550
46 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
OUTERLIMITS Crew
David & Leanne Branton | FL | CIGARETTE | 59' Cigarette AMG / 5-Mercury Racing 450R
Kendall
Gino & Renea Gargiulo | FL | SUPER VELOCE | 52' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 1350 Turbo
Mike Dewitt | IN | FORT MYERS INVESTMENTS | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Don Goins | FL | BLUE HEAVEN | 34' Nor-Tech /3- Mercury Verado 300
48 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Craig & Paula Ackerman | GA | SEA YA 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Sponsor
4th place
John Cosker | FL | MYSTIC POWERBOATS | 42' Mystic / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Thomas "Guy" Wilson | VA | PIER PRESSURE | 34' Sunsation / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Daniel Munyan | FL | BAD BUSINESS | 36' Statement! / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
William Herter | FL | BLACK CAT | 36' Cayo Custom Boats / 2-Mercury Racing 300 V8
Yovan Sanchez | FL | CCB HYBRID CAT 26' Cayo Custom Boats | 2-Mercury Racing 300R V8
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 49
RIGHT TIME Crew
Storm Bartling | FL | RIGHT TIME | 38' Fountain / 3-Mercury Racing 400R BAD DECISIONS Crew
John Wittenberger Jr | NJ | BAD DECISIONS | 30' Spectre /2 Mercury Verado 300 Marisa
Dave Maloney | NY | WNY OFFSHORE POWERBOAT | 38' Renegade / 3 Mercury Racing 400R Marissa
Deeanna
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Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team PROJECT 1080HP | 38' Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 540 EFI DONZI ZRC Crew
Deris Ceresa | FL | DONZI ZRC | 38' Donzi / Mercury Racing Custom Sponsor
Bryan Mullinax | MD | SEAKEEPER | 27' SeaHunt
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Nick Buckman & Bryan Mullinax -SEAKEEPER Sponsor Award
Nate & Robin Michel | LA | FASTBOATS | 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Verado 350
While most poker runs conclude with the Saturday night festivities, the Miami Boat Show Poker Run had another big feature on the agenda, the Sunday Exotic Car show, which welcomed a variety of exotic, classic and muscle cars to the venue, raising addition funds for the weekend charity efforts. With all of the activities concluded, FPC managed to raise $ 5,000 which was matched by Gilberts Resort, and together a $10,000 donation was made
to Special Olympics of Florida. Just a few weeks later as FPC returned to the Florida Keys for the Spring Key West Poker Run, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsey and his team of deputies were on hand at Gilberts to accept the donation. The FPC Miami Boat Show Poker Run had certainly taken on a whole new format for 2021 with this new Gilberts partnership, and one that perhaps could set the stage for many more great events to follow! SJ
Gilberts owner Elina Weisberg & Stu Jones later presented Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsey with $10,000 donation to Special Olympics Of Florida
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JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER NORTH AMERICANS TURNED THEIR CLOCKS FORWARD BY ONE HOUR TO MAXIMIZE THE “LIGHT OF DAY”, THIRTY-SEVEN FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB POKER RUN TEAMS GATHERED IN MIAMI FOR A MEMORABLE ADVENTURE IN PARADISE, SQUEEZING EVERY OUNCE OF ENJOYMENT FROM EACH SUN-DRENCHED DAY OF FUN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS! STORY: STU JONES
U
nlike its much bigger November Key West brother, the Spring Key West Poker Run has evolved into a pleasant boutique style poker run, if there is such a thing. Let’s call it “Fun Size”, because with thirty seven teams and just under two hundred participants, it’s big enough that it has all the eye-candy appeal and the dockside wow-factor of a much bigger poker run, but small enough to handle poker card handoffs efficiently and settle in comfortably for lunch at Gilberts Key Largo. But the real benefit is the way in which FPC organizers can secure docking for all the boats in the Key West Historic Seaport, where all the teams settled in by Thursday evening after a great run through the scenic Florida Keys. More than half of the fleet were rafted up at the inside basin at Conch Republic Seafood company, and the amazing display had every bit of the sex appeal and dockside panache as we commonly see in November! A total of seventeen manufacturers were represented on the 37-boat roster, with MTI leading the charge at six registered teams, Nor-Tech, Fountain and Skater with a three way tie at four boats each, followed by Mystic, Formula and Wright Performance with three apiece. That left Black Thunder, Cigarette, DCB, Doug Wright, Midnight Express, Outerlimits, Statement,
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Sunsation and Superboat with solo entries on the roster, and an undeniable smorgasbord of high performance hardware. At the very least, it was worthy of a full-stop on the dock as Key West visitors marveled at the massive fiberglass flotilla and snapped dozens of photos to send back home. As always, FPC established the Conch Republic Seafood Company as the official event headquarters and this made for a perfect central meeting place for participants throughout the weekend. Getting back to the “fun size” of the event, the other big BONUS was taking the entire group on the Friday daytrip to Boca Grande for beach picnic! Actually, the daytrip plan was a little more adventurous in the early planning stages, as your writer/ organizer actually acquired a special permit with the United States Park Service to take a group of boats to Dry Tortugas National Park, where visitors can hike around the historic Fort Jefferson, lounge on the sandy beach, or snorkel on what has been described by many as one of America’s most beautiful reefs! Sadly, with high winds and turbulent seas, the 150-mile roundtrip was scratched for Plan B. That’s B for Boca Grande!
PHOTOGRAPHY: JERRY WYSZAT YCKI
The much closer scenic island seemed like the best option at just ten miles from Key West, and on any given Friday, it generally has a very light crowd of local boaters, making this the ideal time to visit. But don’t even try to visit Boca Grande in November during the Key West Poker Run, because National Refuge officials have deemed the island off-limits to all recreational boating traffic, citing too much environmental impact on the resident birds and butterflies. (Something to do with the music our poker run teams play—the animals just don’t like it!)
Meanwhile, there was plenty to do and see in Key West. Every evening FPC members gathered at various restaurants around town, especially all the hotspots along Duval Street. Most popular were Irish Kevin’s, known for its entertaining singers who interact with the crowd, and Rick’s complex across the street, which features about fifteen bars under one roof. It is customary for FPC to reserve a venue and gather at the upstairs Martini Bar at Ricks, where the management will always ensure VIP bartending service for poker run guests.
The most attractive feature about Boca Grande is the ability to pull the boat up in the soft sand, and have deep water at the drives. With careful spacing it’s easy to get dozens of boats up on the beach at one time, and that’s when the fun begins. Because this is government owned island in the heart of a national refuge, there are no concessions and no park staff to pick up after its visitors, so we always urge guests to pack lunches and of course, bring along a few garbage bags – so nothing is left behind except footprints. Thanks to all the FPC participants for following these guidelines, and we are certain that everyone truly enjoyed the experience. The Dry Tortugas will just have to wait!
FPC congratulates all the poker run winners, including California member Bryan Houtchens who returned to the FPC fray after a three year absence, and somehow managed to pull the high poker hand for his second time, winning him the grand prize. When asked what brought him back to join FPC in Key West, he pointed to his team name on the roster, My Therapist Insisted. Enough said, we could all use a little therapy on occasion. SJ
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 55
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | PROJECT 1080HP | 38' CigareIe / 2-Mercury Racing 540 EFI
BEST DRESSED TEAM
Frank & Grazia Bulte | FRANCE | SHARK RIDER | 44' MTI / 2-Mercury 1100
Jose Pegan / Brad Extum | MO | PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
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10% Offer must coincide with Poker Run dates 11/05/2021 - 11/14/2021. Must be booked by 10/01/2021. Taxes and fees apply. Not valid with any other specials or holiday weekends. Special offer valid for online reservations. Enter PROMO CODE: FPC10 during booking.
BEST CATAMARAN AWARD
MaI Dawn Borcina | NY | MC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Bryan Tapocik | CA | TAPOCIK 37' | Outerlimits
SEXIEST CREW AWARD
Brant & Jamie Daniels | KS | KANSAS 32' Skater / 2- Mercury Racing 900 SC
Bubba & Brittany Chrisco | OK | MRS WAR PARTY | 36' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
MY THERAPIST INSISTED Crew
Bryan Houtchens | CA | MY THERAPIST INSISTED | 42' MTI / 2-Mercury 1100
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BROKEN PROPELLER AWARD
Michael Tandoi | NY | OUT OF CONTROL | 40' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 860
Todd Roberti | FL | MYSTIC | 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
John O'Loughlin | NY | VENGEFUL | 48' MTI / 2-Mercury 1350
BEST CENTER CONSOLE
Richard Tatiana Hartz | CT | HARTZ | 39' Fountain / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
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Sponsor
ERICKSON MARINE Crew
Chris & Kimberly Erickson | FL | ERICKSON MARINE | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
JR Adan | GA | BAG OF ICE | 36' Doug Wright / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
John Suzanne Stella | NY | PERFECT PRESCRIPTION | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Thomas Freund | NY | 390 X 39' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Michael Brogna | MA | IMPULSE DECISION | 35' Formula / 2-Mercury Racing 500
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JOIN THE CLUB. JOIN THE FUN . Five levels of membership to suit your boating lifestyle.
PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP
• Access to all FPC events and parties. • Powerboating Video. (Dozens of titles to choose.) • Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription. • Embroidered Club T-shirt in your choice of colors. • Access to all Membership discount programs. PLUS: • Premium mens OGIO club polo shirt. • Premium Concierge Services • Priority booking status for rooms and dockage on all FPC Events. • Marina and marine service referrals for your powerboat. • Nautical assistance to a variety of marine resorts and boating destinations. • Planning and hotel/slip reservations for your Florida boating weekends. • Personal assistance(up to 4 hours) for boat shopping by FPC President Stu Jones( Hourly rates apply for additional time spent)
$479.00/year*
GOLD MEMBERSHIP
Membership suggested for married couples Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits, PLUS: • Second membership for spouse/partner included • Premium mens OGIO Club Polo Shirt. • Premium womens OGIO Ladies Tank Top $379.00/year*
STANDARD MEMBERSHIP
Membership Includes:
• Access to all FPC events and parties. • Powerboating Video. (Dozens of titles to choose.) • Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription. • Embroidered Club T-shirt in your choice of colors. • Access to all Membership discount programs. $279.00/year*
COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP Membership Includes:
• Discounted rates on FPC Magazine advertising • Discounted rates on all web advertising/banner programs. • Access to all FPC events and parties. • Business listing on our website affiliate section. • Business card introduction Ad in FPC magazine. Commercial Members also have the opportunity to run promotions and discounts through FPC events. $349.00/year*
SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP
Membership Includes:
• Club T-shirt in your choice of colors. • Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription. • Access to FPC parties • Discounted Boat Show tickets. $89.00/year*
*Overseas and international memberships will have a slightly higher rate to compensate for mailing/shipping costs.
Mike & Lauura Pizzelanti | FL | WASABI | 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Verado 350
BEST TEAM NAME
Kevin & Maureen Randlett | FL | BLUE DA MONEY | 33' Formula / 3-Mercury Verado 300
Michael & Sarah Howe | FL | LIGHT SPEED 2.0 | 39' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
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MOST SPIRITED CREW
CHILLIN’ THE MOST Crew
Kris & Dawn Randlett | FL | CHILLIN’ THE MOST | 37' Midnight Express / 4 Mercury Racing 400R
LIKE EVERY FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB POKER RUN ON THE CLUB’S ANNUAL EVENT CALENDAR, THE TAMPA BAY POKER RUN STARTED WITH A MERE TWENTY-TEAM ROSTER IN THE EARLIER DAYS. NOW, IN ITS 11TH YEAR AND AFTER FINDING A COMFORTABLE DOWNTOWN VENUE, THE APRIL 2021 TAMPA EVENT REACHED A RECORD TURNOUT OF 75 REGISTERED TEAMS, SETTING THE STAGE TO BECOME ONE OF FPC’S SIGNATURE POKER RUN EVENTS, AS FPC MANAGEMENT SETS ITS SIGHTS ON A 100-BOAT ROSTER FOR 2022 AND BEYOND! STORY: STU JONES
W
hile the on-water boating experience is a big measuring stick when it comes to the success and popularity of any poker run event, many seasoned poker run aficionados will say that the quality of the poker run “venue” is of equal, perhaps greater, importance. As a case study, the 11th Annual Tampa Bay Poker Run might illustrate that very point. In sheer numbers alone, the event participation has tripled after three years of moving the event’s home base from the elegant Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, just fifteen miles to Downtown Tampa, where the abundance of luxury hotels, docking options, dining and entertainment has scored high on most poker runners wish lists. Now in its fourth Downtown Tampa appearance, the April 2021 engagement has somehow managed to bounce off many roadblocks along the way. First, a forced date change due to the City’s decision to reschedule its largest annual festival called Gasparilla, leaving FPC with only one other date option for the early April weekend. Then, it was heated bout with Tampa’s WrestleMania organizers, as that powerful group decided they wanted an exclusive on all the lodging at the popular Downtown Tampa Marriott, where most of the FPC
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alumni had confirmed reservations for rooms and dockage. Fortunately for FPC members, the Marriott’s senior management was ready with an attractive Plan B, as the FPC guests were given premium accommodations at the newly opened J.W. Marriott located across the street. This proved to be a great outcome for everyone, as the new property exceeded most everyone’s expectations and the staff really excelled at making it a great experience for FPC organizers. Thursday: The event format followed a similar agenda to previous years, giving most of the traveling poker run teams all day Thursday to arrive in town, get to the nearby Davis Island boat ramp, and manage the logistics of getting their boats settled into their dock, and the crew checked into their hotel rooms. The logistics of truck and trailer parking at the ramp were supported by FPC’s 15-pass shuttle van, and fortunately most of the docking at the Tampa Convention Center was just walking distance to the JW Marriott and Westin Waterside Resort. Equally attractive were the popular food and beverage options at Jacksons Bistro and American Social along the way.
Melissa, Lilly, Lauren PHOTOGRAPHY: PETE BODEN American Social was designated as the evening rendezvous point for all participants who had made it to town, and there was a great turnout of event guests on the open air deck/bar that AMSO staff had reserved for the group. For the most part, about fifty teams got situated by late Thursday, while many of the remaining teams were planning to rendezvous with the group at some point during the Friday fun run. Friday: With the larger group, it was necessary to designate two lunch locations for the Friday fun run, which got underway from Downtown Tampa by late morning. New to the agenda, was the Bradenton Yacht Club located on the Manatee River, and back by popular demand, was Tiki Docks at the landmark IGY Maximo Marina, a first class marina a very welcoming staff that has made it possible for such a large event to arrive and enjoy lunch at this popular waterfront hotspot. Many of the local boaters made the Tiki docks their rendezvous point, while a number of teams that came from Sarasota-Bradenton area on their own bottoms, found the Bradenton Yacht Club to be a the ideal rendezvous point. With the pool area open for use, the poolside bar and buffet provided the first-time experience with Bradenton Yacht Club as a perfect fit
for FPC and likely to return again in 2022. The same was true for the club’s 2nd return to IGY Maximo/Tiki docks, where the staff was ready, the vibe was festive, and the outcome was a win-win for all parties. After all the teams arrived in Downtown Tampa, the docks were soon filled and FPC organizers were very pleased with the way that captains and crew members were patient and very cooperative with the crowded docking scenario. It took a tremendous amount of planning to accommodate so many boats on the limited dock space that was provided, and the practice of rafting same-manufacturers together helped to make the complicated pieces of the puzzle come together. Special thanks to FPC manufacturing sponsors including Mystic, Midnight Express, Nor-Tech Hi- Performance Boats and Statement, for providing extra support on these docking logistics. Capping off the Friday evening festivities, participants were given a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, and in particular Jacksons Bistro management had extended an all-out 10% discount to any FPC attendees for any food and beverage items at all of their restaurants and bars. Many teams took advantage of the offer, including the Florida Powerboat Club staff with a fourteen seat reservation!
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Melissa, Lauren, Lilly
Saturday: With perfect weather for Saturday, the festivities got underway as the first poker card was handed off from the docks at the Tampa Convention Center, and the boat departures were structured with the usual Red decal Hi-Performance class boats taking the lead off position, followed by Performance class(yellow) and Sportboat class ( green) decal boats. This proved to be a good formula to avoid high-speed overtaking and certainly met the safety management guidelines spelled out in the two captains meetings held the day earlier. Two area volunteer boats were set strategically on the course, each carrying a two-man diverescue team, recruited from the nearby St Petersburg Fire Rescue department. Although the poker run course called from a 2nd card pickup at Egmont Key, strong winds and turbulent seas prevented slightly more than half the poker run teams from venturing beyond the Sunshine Skyway into the open Gulf waters. This was a wise decision on the part of most captains, as the weekend warriors that proceeded, mostly shared stories of a very “hellacious” ride, and in fact the FPC Cigarette paceboat Project 1080, encountered its very first official “stuff” as the writer admittedly made a wrong decision on an alternate course heading. Whoops!
Nick & Priscilla Buis | FL | STATEMENT | 42' Statement / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
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The lunch stop at the Westshore Yacht Club provided adequate docking for all the teams, and a nice poolside vibe, although organizers painfully agree that the food offering was sub-standard for an FPC event and that is a detail that will go back to the “drawing boards” if FPC plans to return to this venue in 2022. Overall, in spite of the windy and somewhat choppy Saturday conditions, the sunny skies held at least until late afternoon, which is about the time that a major storm system pulverized the Tampa Bay area. Fortunately most teams had made it back to safe harbor by that time, and a special thumbs-up to the staff at the Tampa Convention Center for making the executive decision to move the Saturday Poker Run Party inside. The group enjoyed a wonderful dinner in a spacious ballroom, where people’s choice awards and sponsor presentations were made, culminating with the announcement of the top three poker run winners! Congratulations to the winning teams and thanks to everyone for joining FPC to make the 11th Annual Tampa Bay Poker Run, a 75-team event that has elevated to the status of an FPC- Signature Poker Run event, in a world-class city that has so much to offer for a weekend of powerboating fun! SJ
David Gordinier | FL | ROCK STEADY | 29' Welcraft Scarab BEST DRESSED TEAM
Bruce Kruglick | FL | BAD DOG 3.0 | 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Michael Tandoi | NY | OUT OF CONTROL | 40' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 860
Deris Ceresa | FL | DONZI ZRC | 38' Donzi / 2-Mercury Racing Custom
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DIVEOCEAN Crew
Rob BuShea | FL | DIVEOCEAN | 39' FrontRunner / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
TRY IT NOW! Crew
Ryan Foster | FL | TRY IT NOW! | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Ed & Jacquie Rachel | FL | WIDE OPEN | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
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Mark Godsey | TN | PROJECT MAYHEM | 39' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Jeffrey Riehl | MI | UNRIEHL PERFORMANCE | 37' Deep Impact / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Sean & Channing McArthur | FL | DREAM HUNTER | 36' Blackwater / 3-Mercury Racing 400
Melissa
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL PROJECT 1080HP | 38' Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 540 EFI
Paul Bertucci | MS | BEER MONEY TOO! | 39' | Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Verado 350
Tim Gallagher | MO | PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
BEST
PERFORMANCE
Cass Shewbart | TX LIQUID PROZAC | 44' Outerlimits / 2-Mercury Racing 860
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VEE
Lauren
Frank Scheelen | FL | TOP FUN | 36' Nor-Tech / 2-Mercury Racing 700
Pete Riveiro | FL | CLOSING QUICKLY | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
FARTHEST TRAVELLED AWARD
Dr Sven Dracker | GERMANY | DEVILS DAUGHTER | 36' Nor-Tech / 2-Mercury Racing 700
Lilly
Chris Colson | NJ | FLUID FRIENDLY | 39' Lavey Craft / 2-Mercury Racing 700
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71
Raymond Evans | NJ | JEFF'S BOYS | 35' Cigarette
Lilly
Jorge Arellano | FL | 151 WARLOCK | 36' Warlock
JR Adan | GA | BAG OF ICE | 36' Doug Wright / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Apolinar Acevedo | LA | WILD CARD | 30 Spectre
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BEST PAINT & GRAPHICS
Mike & Olivia Lopez | IL | GRAY AREA | 40' Sunsation / 4-Mercury Racing 400R
Lauren Ed & Kathy Champion | MO | BIG THUNDER MARINE | 41' Donzi / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Chris Andrisani | FL | STATEMENT | 38' Statement / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
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MOST
ENTHUSIASTIC
TEAM
Ricardo Chaves | AL | IN DEBT | 34' Fountain / 3-Mercury Verado 300 H. Neil & Cindy Campbell | FL | BODACIOUS, TOO 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Racing 400R
Bryan Tapocik | CA | TAPOCIK | 37' Outerlimits
CARD STOP BOAT Keith Goodson | Team THIS IS US | 50' Azymut SEXIEST CREW AWARD
Scott & Monica James | SC | COAST TO COAST | 33' DCB / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Jason & Christy Stross | FL | BLACK BOATS MATTER 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Mike Boyle & First Mate Kelsey | FL| XCAT | 34' Pilini / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
MEMBER
APPRECIATION
AWARD
Don & Alice Lightfoot | TX | FOOTLOOSE TOO | 52' Nor-Tech / 2-Mercury Racing 1350
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Pool side at the Westshore Yacht Club
Robbie & Anjum Ullah | GA | DR PERFORMANCE | 32' Spectre / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Bradenton Yacht Club
Mark DiMichele | MI | PHUKINA | 38' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 1100
Dan Raimondi | FL | JENNY | 34' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Vinoy Basin Poker card Lauren
Andrew Gast | FL | FPC Safety Boat | Intrepid CC / 3-Mercury Verado 300
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 75
Sponsor
Dennis Delatorre | FL | PLANTATION BOAT MART | 41' Blackwater / 4-Mercury Racing 400R Lauren
Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe | GA | DIRTY MONEY | 36' Skater / 2-Mercury 700 SCI
Shaun Torrente | FL | SHAUN TORRENTE RACING | 39' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Jerry Hartmann | PA | STATEMENT! | 42' Statement ULTIMATE / 2-Mercury Racing 1075
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BEST POKER RUN BOAT
BEST CENTER CONSOLE
David & Jenny Landsman | MD | GAME CHANGER | 43' Midnight Express / 5-Mercury Racing 450R
David Carey | MD | PUNCH IT | 37' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing 450R
Sponsor
Eric Glaser & Hagan Huber | FL | MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express / 5-Mercury Racing 400R
Wayland Joe | IL | JOE JACKED | 42' Mystic | 4-Mercury Racing 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 77
Matt Borcina | NY | MC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Scott Kowalski | FL | SHIFTING TIDES | 37' Pilini / 2-Mercury Racing 450R Melissa
Rob & Cynthia Boulware | FL | THE FLORIDA HUSTLER | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 400R
Craig & Paula Ackerman | GA | SEA YA | 40' Sunsation / 3-Mercury Racing 450R
BROKER PROPELLER AWARD
Rick and Ellen Raab | PA | SO WELL WORTH IT | 42' Fountain / 2-Merc Cruiser 700
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ORANGE BEACH POWERBOAT WEEK
Sneak Peek
FULL COVERAGE IN THE NEXT ISSUE
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FPC MEMBERSHIP MARKET PLACE Florida FloridaPowerboat PowerboatClub Club offers offers a “Commercial a “Commercial Member” Member” program program which iswhich designed is designed for individuals for individuals or companies or companies that are engaged that are in some engaged form ofincommerce some formthatof relates commerce to thethat marine relates industry. to theIn many marinecases industry. these members In many cases these members provide provide special special discounts discounts and offers andtooffers FPC members, to FPC members, so we invitesoyou we toinvite contact youthem to contact and keepthem yourand boating-related keep your boating-related needs within the FPC needs family. within the FPC family.
Join us in welcoming these NEW FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB COMMERCIAL MEMBERS: TIM & TRACY LYNN KOWALSKI
BioKleen Products 269-998-2100 | biokleen.com | tim.kowalski@biokleen.com 810 Lake Street | Kalamazoo, MI 49001
RICHARD GARCIA
TIM MARKOU
Pantera Boats 833-972-6837 | pantera-boats.com pantera-boats.com| |tim@pantera-boats.com tim@pantera-boats.com 2100 M.l.k. Jr Dr | High Point, North Carolina
ANDREW POKORNY
Boat Depot 305-587-3094 | boatdepotonline.com | boatdepot@live.com 101500 Overseas HWY | Key Largo, FL 33037
Powerstroke Performance | 239-910-4169 powerstrokeperformancespecialties.com | andrew.pokorny@gmail.com 5660 Division Drive | Fort Myers, FL 33905
MICHAEL & NICOLE LUND
SCOTT PORTA
DANNY AYALA
RUDY DIPIETRO
Borden Light Marina | 508-678-4547 bordenlightmarina.com office@bordenlightmarina.com 1 Ferry Street | Fall River, MA 02721 Broward Motorsports | 954-559-7030 browardmotorsports.com | danny@browardmotorsports.com browardmotorsports.com | danny@browardmotorsports.com 2100 W Sunrise Blvd Suite 161 | Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33311
BILL DAY
Days Boat Sales & Service 502-695-4546 | daysboatsales.com | bill@daysboatsales.com 101 Corporate Dr. Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
CHRIS ERICKSON
Erickson Marine | 941-365-4444 ericksonmarinecorp.com | cberickson@verizon.net 7891 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34243
WALLY J. WOLANSKE
Exogear 716-998-1197 | exogear.co | walter.wolanske@exogear.co 301 Clematis St. | West Palm Beach, FL 33401
FRIAS JOSE
JAF Marine | 45' Otam charter boat josefrias@mac.com 90 Alton Rd, Miami Beach
JIMMIE HARRISON
Frank & Jimmies Propeller 954-467-7723 | fjprop.com | jimmie@fjprop.com 200 SW 6th St | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
GREG & JENNIFER CONNELL
Porta Product Corp 386-428-7417 | portaproducts.com | portaproducts@aol.com 1601 Tionia Rd. | New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 Renaissance Prowler 860-830-7900 | renaissanceprowler.com | Rudyjr@aol.com 13040 NW 43rd Avenue | Opa Locka, FL 33054
MANNY OSES
Renegade Powerboats, Inc 305-687-3700 | renegadepboats.com | info@renegadepboats.com 1111 E. 52nd St. | Hialeah, FL 33013
SCOT CONRAD
SLT Fort Lauderdale | 954-909-5480 sltfortlauderdale.com | scot@sltfortlauderdale.com 1050 W Sunrise Blvd | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
STEPHEN MILES
Stephen Miles Design | 270-570-4442 stephenmilesdesign.com | propainter7970@yahoo.com 5931 B State Rout 56 | Owensboro, KY 42301
FRANK SCHEELEN
Scheelen-Racing | +49 (0) 7741 96 94 25 scheelen-racing.com | info@scheelen-racing.com Im Unterberg 11 | D-79761 Waldshut-Tiengen
BRANDON BRANDON MAYER MAYER Sweetwater Sweetwater Landing Landing Marina Marina || 239-694-3850 239-694-3850
sweetwaterlanding.net sweetwaterlanding.net || bmayer14@yahoo.com bmayer14@yahoo.com 16991 16991 State State Road Road 31 31 || Fort Fort Myers, Myers, FL FL 33905 33905
PETE PETE RIVEIRO RIVEIRO
Legend Marine Group | 214-676-6885 legendmarinegroup.com | greg@ legendmarinegroup.com 3231 Commander Dr | Carrollton, TX 75006
The The Firm Firm Realty Realty Group Group 305-619-0257 305-619-0257 || peteriveiro.com peteriveiro.com || peteriveiro@gmail.com peteriveiro@gmail.com 26 26 Bahama Bahama Ave Ave || Key Key Largo,FL Largo,FL 33037 33037
ANDY IMHOF
TOM TOM CARUSO CARUSO Total Total Marine Marine || 914-403-5896 914-403-5896 ||
Maryland Offshore Marine 903-855-2647 | mdoffshore.com | info@mdoffshore.com 235 Derwood Cir | Rockville, MD 20850
JOHN COSKER
Mystic Powerboats Inc. | 386-736-2247 mysticpowerboats.com | j@mysticpowerboats.com 1848 Patterson Ave. | DeLand, FL 32724
KURT EDWINS
Neptune Boat Lifts 305-632-1689 | neptuneboatlifts.com | kurt@neptunelifts.com 228 SW 21st Terrace| Ft Lauderdale, FL 33312
totalmarine.com totalmarine.com || tcaruso@totalmarine.com tcaruso@totalmarine.com 160 160 Water Water Street Street || Norwalk, Norwalk, CT CT 06854 06854
TOM TOM CROWLEY CROWLEY
Oakdale Oakdale Yacht Yacht 631-589-1087 631-589-1087 || oakdaleyacht.com oakdaleyacht.com || tom@oakdaleyacht.com tom@oakdaleyacht.com 520 Shore Drive 520 Shore Drive || Oakdale, Oakdale, NY NY 11769 11769
OLGA SMIRNOVA
MIG Marine dba Fusion X Marine/ Cortes Campers 216-896-7000 X211
olga@migmarine.net | www.cortescampers.com | www.fusionxmarine.com
1148 East 222d St. | Euclid, Ohio 44117
SVEN TEUBER
On Track Incentives, LLC | 813-500-7110 ontrackincentives.com | sven@ontrackincentives.com 11125 Winthrop Lake Drive | Riverview, FL 33578
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 81
FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB 2021 Event Calendar
JUNE 17-22
| 30TH ANNUAL BAHAMAS POKER RUN: BIMINI/ CHUB CAY/ NASSAU
JUNE/ AUG
| FPC SUMMER TOUR 2021 AND AFFILIATED EVENTS:
JUNE 25-27
Rock The Harbor Poker Run Baltimore MD FPC Sponsored event. Project 1080HP Cigarette attending.
JULY 2-9
Tri-State Powerboating Tour: NJ-NY-CT:
JULY 8-11
Tiki Lees Dock Bar-Shootout on the River:
AUG 12-17
| BAHAMAS SUMMER BLAST: BIMINI/CHUB/ NASSAU
SEPT 22-26
| EMERALD COAST POWERBOAT WEEKDESTIN- FWB
OCT 8-10
| FALL FUN RUN- KEY LARGO- COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND
NOV 10-15
| 29TH ANNUAL KEY WEST POKER RUN – WED & THURS DEPARTURES
Project 1080HP Cigarette touring local powerboat destinations & hotspots
FPC Sponsored event- Project 1080HP Cigarette attending
Disclaimer: Please note that FPC event dates and venues may be modified, so it is important to always refer to the FPC website www.flpowerboat.com before making any event plans.
WATCH FPC ON YOUTUBE - SUBSCRIBE TO FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB !! CONTACT US: 954-545-1414 | FLPOWERBOAT.COM | STU@FLPOWERBOAT.COM
FOLLOW US:
@FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB @STUFPC @FLPOWERBOAT
82 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
AMERICAN CUSTOM MARINE........................................ 39 APACHE BOAT FOR SALE.............................................. 38 AO COOLERS................................................................. 47 BLACKWATER BOATS................................................... 15 BRAND X...................................................................... 47 CMI - CUSTOM MARINE.................................................41 DEEP IMPACT CUSTOM BOATS........................................ 5 FPC MARKET PLACE..................................................... 81 FPC MEMBERSHIP........................................................ 61 HAULOVER MARINE CENTER........................................ BC HIALEAH GARDENS TAG AGENCY.................................. 38 KEY WEST VACATION HOMES....................................... 57 LIVORSI MARINE.......................................................... 23 MADELINE WYSZATYCKI REALTOR.............................. 79 MARINE CUSTOMS....................................................... 69 MERCURY RACING........................................................IFC MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOATS............................................ 9 MYCO TRAILERS............................................................11 MYSTIC POWERBOATS................................................ IBC NOR-TECH HI PERFORMANCE BOATS............................ 17 PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER...................................... 19 PIRATES OF LANIER...................................................... 63 PLANTATION BOAT MART............................................. 27 PROJECT 1080 FOR SALE............................................. 57 SCI - SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS.............................. 45 SHORE THING STORAGE ................................................51 TNT CUSTOM MARINE.................................................. 35
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: NEXT ISSUE SEPTEMBER 15 SUBSCRIBE TO POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE DELIVERED 4 TIMES A YEAR
UNLIKE ANYTHING ON THE WATER M4200
M Y S T I C P O W E R B O A T S . C O M 386-736-2247
Be A Part Of The Action!
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! L A M R O N W E N R U O Y D N I F
S t a t e O f T h e A rt D ry S t o r a g e F o r B o ats To 6 0 ’ I n L e n g t h • Adjacent To Haulover Inlet • Completely Enclosed • • Category 5 Storm Rated Building • Minutes To Everywhere You want To Be • Located directly on the Intra-Coastal Waterway, this multi-million dollar marina facility offers everything you need for an exciting day on the water. With one call your boat will be ready to blast out the inlet and be in the ocean in minutes.
Call 305-945-3934 to be a part of the action! Check us out at www.haulovermarinecenter.net New home of Midnight Express and Marine Technology Inc (MTI) performance boats.
WWW.WESTREC.COM
Stop by and see all that we have to offer: 15600 Collins Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33154