20 minute read
TAMPA BAY POKER RUN
TAMPA
A favorite amongst many club members, the ever-evolving Tampa Bay Poker Run did not disappoint.
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By Jason Johnson and Matt Trulio
Despite having to limit the number of participants in this year’s Tampa Bay Poker Run because of restricted dock space and rooms in downtown Tampa, the 55-boat fleet for the 12th annual event showed up for an incredibly fun-filled weekend featuring welcoming lunch stops, a couple of nights of social activity, an added raft-up and two distinctly different days on the water during the event’s new two-day poker run format.
The unpredictable Florida weather stayed pretty true to form during the late-April event as club members and their guests were greeted with a solid dose of rough water on Friday that included frothy three- to five-footers coming from multiple directions. Then on Saturday, which was predicted to have similar weather as Friday, the wind laid down to provide much tamer conditions on the Gulf of Mexico.
Of course the consensus from the participants was that the twoday format worked out well, and would have whether or not the conditions improved on Saturday because club president Stu Jones was concerned enough to change the course ahead of time so participants could avoid heading into the Gulf of Mexico.
Among those in attendance was South Florida-based Tim Gallagher of Performance Boat Center. Gallagher delivered a new Sunsation Powerboats 40 CCX to repeat customer Scott Favre, who also owns a 44-foot MTI catamaran, and joined the Louisiana performance boater for the run on Friday and Saturday.
“On Saturday we went to this little lunch stop, The Getaway in St. Pete,” Gallagher said. “Saturday was really nice. Friday was rough.
“The 40 CCX is a very cool boat,” he continued. “Scott had a 32 CCX before this one and he’s been a longtime Performance Boat Center customer. We had a really nice time.”
For New York’s Matt Borcina, a regular at FPC events, this year’s Tampa Bay Poker Run was extra special, and not just because it was his first in his 38-foot center console from Statement Marine. More so because he and his wife brought their daughter and four of her friends to the poker run to celebrate their high school graduation. Borcina—a cat guy at heart—acknowledged that doing the poker run in a center console with six women on board was out of the ordinary for him but still fun.
“The event was awesome—it always is—but it was the first time in my center console so I wasn’t used to being that slow,” Borcina said with a laugh. “Because I like to run hard, that part was a little disappointing. It was a different perspective though and I can see why center consoles are so appealing.
“Overall the run was excellent,” he continued. “It was pretty rough on Friday but other than that the boating was great. We enjoyed downtown Tampa and the convention center. The club put on a nice
event at the convention center and the lunch stops were a lot of fun. The girls had a blast, too. I think it’s a trip they’ll never forget.”
Tackling the poker run in his company’s demo C4000 catamaran, Mystic Powerboats owner and founder John Cosker and his wife, Robin, enjoyed the event as much or more than they did the year before.
Neither of them minded Friday’s rowdy conditions when running the 40-foot cat powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines. In fact, they had a blast.
“We ran 70 to 75 mph right over the top of it,” Cosker said. “I love these boats in the rough. That’s where they belong.”
Along with a new 41 Nighthawk from Cigarette Racing Team, Chief Marine Group’s Gaby Pacheco brought a substantial entourage of people up from the newly established Florida Keys service and sales center founded by Tommy Hofstetter in 2021 and they had a fantastic time.
“Tampa has always been a great venue that draws a great crowd,” Pacheco said. “We’re only an ‘arms reach’ away from Tampa being down in the Keys so we wanted to get on board and get some more exposure up that way.”
The exposure, thanks to the 41-foot Cigarette powered by four Mercury Racing 450R engines, was second to none, Pacheco said. “The 41 Nighthawk speaks for itself—it’s one of the best multipurpose, multi-person packages available,” he added. “I really like the boat’s cleanliness and its elegance. It has that Cigarette elegance that you just can’t beat. Plus it’s so versatile and its handling is excellent in any conditions. You can go out and run 80 mph or you can take an Intracoastal cruise with 20 people on board with plenty of space left.”
Another notable participant in one of the most attention-getting boats at the run was Eric Glaser, who owns Midnight Express Boats in Miami. Glaser and his wife, Hagen, enjoyed the event with a sizable crew of people on board the company’s 100th 43-foot center console, a 43’ Solstice powered by five Mercury Racing 450R engines that made its debut at the Miami International Boat Show in February.
“Tampa was fun; it’s a cool place to boat but for some reason it tends to always be a rough event,” Glaser said, after both he and his customers in another 43’ Solstice, Kentucky’s Chris ad Shelby Mattingly, ended up bending a tie-bar during Friday’s run. “We both bent tie-bars during the run so I asked my parts manager to overnight the parts, but they didn’t arrive in time so we did our best to get the Mattinglys on the water with what we had available. We had fun though—Tampa has some great restaurants on the water so we always enjoy that aspect of the run.”
Photos by: Pete Boden, Robbie Robertson, Stu Jones, Joe Kotrady
John & Robin Cosker - Team MYSTIC
Poker Run teams gathered up their first card voucher at the Tampa Convention Center docks
Team TRY IT NOW Crew Crew
Team XCAT Mollie Dignan - Team SNUFF RIDER
Shelby Mattingly - Team NEVER ENOUGH
The Girls of Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Crew Tammy Ritchie - Team WICKED ADDICTION
Five levels of membership to suit your boating lifestyle. PLATINUM
MEMBERSHIP
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
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.
$89.00/year*
MADDHATTER Crew
FPC Girls Masyn & Kolbie Bentley Thompson | SC | Team MADDHATTER | 39' Cigarette
Tony & Jessica Gielow | FL | Team SKIDS OFF | 39' Midnight Express Gaby Pacheco | FL | Team CHIEF MARINE GROUP | 41' Cigarette-Nighthawk Chief Edition
Curtis Watkins | FL | Team EVIL WOMAN | 39' Nor-Tech
Ryan Foster | FL | Team TRY IT NOW! | 39' Nor-Tech TRY IT NOW! Crew
Mike Boyle | FL | Team XCAT | 34' Pilini Marine
Bruce & Tracy Kruglick | FL | Team BAD DOG 3.0 | 38' Statement
BAD DOG 3.0 Crew
John & Robin Cosker | FL | Team MYSTIC | 40' Mystic
Frank Scheelen | FL | Team SCHEELEN MOTORSPORTS | 36' Nor-Tech
Saturday morning at Tampa Bay Convention Center
FPC Girls Kolbie & Justine
Team FOUNTAIN 38TE
FPC Girls Masyn, Justine, Kolbie & Hannah
Team SPARTAN POWERBOAT CLUB
Team 151 FOUNTAIN
Departing Downtown Tampa on Seddon Channel
Dennis Delatorre | FL | Team PLANTATION BOAT MART | 39' Deep Impact
Team ULTIMATE MARINE - 53' HCB Suenos, Team OFF THE HOOK - 46' Invincible
Joseph Labon | FL | Team OFF THE HOOK | 46' Invincible
Robert McAtee | OK | Team ROBALDO | 42' Mystic LOADED DECK Crew
Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express
Aaron Swafford | FL | Team FOUNTAIN 38TE | 38' Fountain
Poker card stop at Vinoy Yach Basin
Poker Card ladies aboard Bill Waters 62 Baia - Vinoy Basin
A new twist on picking up the poker card!
Team HUNTRESS
Team FLUID FRIENDLY Team SUNSATION
Team FUND$ALOW
Jesse Stephanie Neumann | MN | Team DIRTY MONEY | 50' Nor-Tech
Team MADDHATTER
Chris & Shelby Mattingly | KY | Team NEVER ENUFF | 43' Midnight Express
Team MYSTIC
Al Jr. & Liz Copeland | LA | Team SWEET HEAT | 39' Nor-Tech
Joseph Gross | NY | Team NOR-TECH | 39' Nor-Tech
50 SUNSEEKER SUPERHAWK
FULLY UPDATED BOAT WITH SOFT U-DEK THROUGHOUT
TRIPLE ENGINE 50MPH CRUISE SPEED
COCKPIT AND SALON BLUETOOTH AUDIO SYSTEMS
AIR-CONDITIONED CABIN & BATHROOM
TRIPLE ENGINE 50MPH CRUISE SPEED COCKPIT AND SALON BLUETOOTH AUDIO SYSTEMS AIR-CONDITIONED CABIN & BATHROOM
GREAT RATES & YEAR-ROUND AVAILABILITY
Half Day : $ 1,800 | Full Day: $ 2,800
• Weekend programs for FPC Poker Runs
• 15% discount to active FPC Members
• Scenic Intracoastal tours
• Waterfront dining at best restaurants • Lake Boca anchorage & picnic
• Celebrate Special occasions
• Staging in Pompano Beach
• Max (6) passengers per charter
CALL STU JONES 954-684-9333
Jorge Arellano Fleet | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 32' Phantom
Joseph Labon | FL | Team ULTIMATE MARINE | 53' HCB
Mark Fitzgerald | MD | Team STATEMENT | 36' Statement
Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 FOUNTAIN | 42' Fountain
Brad Hancock | FL | Team AL HAIL | 50' Hustler
Raymond Evans | NJ | Team JEFF'S BOYS | 35' Cigarette
SATURDAY NIGHT AWARDS ParTy
1st Place - James Patti - Team WICKED ADDICTION
2nd Place - John Wittenberger SR - Team ON THE ROCKS 3rd Place - FPC Girls with a third place prize for Dennis Delatorre
Best Paint & Graphics - Eric Glaser - Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Sponsor Award - Tim Gallagher - Performance Boat Center
Sponsor Award - Dennis Delatorre Plantation Boat Mart
Best Team Name - Robert McAtee - Team ROBALDO
Sponsor Award - Team CHIEF MARINE GROUP Broken Propeller Award - Team WICKED ADDICTION Sponsor Award - Team MYSTIC POWERBOATS Farthest Towed - Team X-SCAPE FROM NY
Sponsor Award & Sexiest Crew Award- Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Farthest Traveled - Team SCHEELEN MOTORSPORTS Member Appreciation Award - John Wittenberger SR & Scott Witt
Florida Powerboat Club offers a “Commercial Member” program which is designed for individuals or companies that are engaged in some form of commerce that relates to the marine industry. In many cases these members provide special discounts and offers to FPC members, so we invite you to contact them and keep your boating-related needs within the FPC family. Florida Powerboat Club offers a “Commercial Member” program which is designed for individuals or companies that are engaged in some form of commerce that relates to the marine industry. In many cases these members provide special discounts and offers to FPC members, so we invite you to contact them and keep your boating-related needs within the FPC family. Join us in RECOGNIZING these 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
MICHAEL & NICOLE LUND
Borden Light Marina | 508-678-4547
bordenlightmarina.com office@bordenlightmarina.com 1 Ferry Street | Fall River, MA 02721 1 Ferry St. | Fall River, MA 02721
DANNY AYALA DANNY AYALA
Broward Motorsports | Broward Motorsports | 954-559-7030 954-559-7030
browardmotorsports.com | danny@browardmotorsports.combrowardmotorsports.com | danny@browardmotorsports.com 2100 W Sunrise Blvd Suite 161 | Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33311 2100 W Sunrise Blvd Suite 161 | Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33311
JEFF JOHNSTON
DCB Performance Boats | 619-442-0300
dcbperformanceboats.com | jeff@DCBracing.com 1468 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020
CHRIS ERICKSON MIKE BOYLE
Erickson Marine | 941-365-4444EZ Boat Fenders, Inc. | 908-361-5629
ericksonmarinecorp.com | cberickson@verizon.netezboatfenders.com | mikeboyle0819@yahoo.com 7891 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34243 1757 SE 46th LN, Cape Coral, FL 33904
JIMMIE HARRISON Frank & Jimmies Propeller 954-467-7723 | fjprop.com | jimmie@fjprop.com JIMMIE HARRISON Frank & Jimmies Propeller | 954-558-3596 fjprop.com | jimmie@fjprop.com 200 SW 6th St | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 1148 E 222d St. | Euclid, OH 44117
PAUL & OLGA SPIVAK
Frank & Jimmies Propeller Fusion X Marine | 440-759-7300
954-467-7723 | fjprop.com | jimmie@fjprop.comfusionxmarine.com | olga@migmarine.net 200 SW 6th St | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 200 SW 6th St. | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
JODY HAMILTON
Frank & Jimmies Propeller Hamilton Marine Finance | 470-248-2655
954-467-7723 | fjprop.com | jimmie@fjprop.comhamiltonmarinefinance.com | jody@hamiltonmarinefinance.com 200 SW 6th St | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 3231 Lake McGinnis Dr | Suwanee, GA 30024
WALLY J. WOLANSKE ED MILLER
Exogear Hi-Tech Marine Services | 410-375-1638
716-998-1197 | exogear.co | walter.wolanske@exogear.cowww.hitechmarine.com | hitechmarine1@gmail.com 301 Clematis St. | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 2023 River Road | Baltimore MD 21221
GREG & JENNIFER CONNELL GREG & JENNIFER CONNELL
Legend Marine Group | 214-676-6885 Legend Marine Group | 214-676-6885
legendmarinegroup.com | greg@ legendmarinegroup.comlegendmarinegroup.com | greg@ legendmarinegroup.com 3231 Commander Dr | Carrollton, TX 75006 3231 Commander Dr | Carrollton, TX 75006
ANDY IMHOF MARK MAGNESS
Maryland Offshore Marine MAG Roofing & Construction | 713-855-3787
903-855-2647 | mdoffshore.com | info@mdoffshore.com magnessconstruction.com| mark@magroofinginc.com 235 Derwood Cir | Rockville, MD 20850 100 Perkins Ave, League City | Texas 77573
ANDY IMHOF JULIAN MALDONADO
Maryland Offshore Marine Manatee Marine Unlimited | 941-405-2835
903-855-2647 | mdoffshore.com | info@mdoffshore.com info@manateemarineunlimited.com | www.manateemarineunlimited.com 235 Derwood Cir | Rockville, MD 20850 3806 U.S. 41 North Palmetto | Florida 34221
KYLE VAN DAMME
Marine Tops Unlimited | 920-420-2677 marinetops.com | kylevandamme@gmail.com 2016 Daggett Drive | Omro, WI 54963
ANDY IMHOFANDY IMHOF TIM MARKOU REESE BROWN
Pantera Boats Miramont Interests | 832-691-1581
833-972-6837 | pantera-boats.com| tim@pantera-boats.comreese@mt-tx.com 2100 M.l.k. Jr Dr | High Point, North Carolina 2002 Timberloch Place Suite 200 | The Woodlands, TX, 77380
TIM MARKOU CHRISTOPHER GELSDORF
Pantera Boats MAYLA GmbH | 491-514-2506
833-972-6837 | pantera-boats.com| tim@pantera-boats.comchristopher.gelsdorf@solvingpartners.com 2100 M.l.k. Jr Dr | High Point, North Carolina 20457 Hamburg, Alter Wall 32 | Germany
VINCENT ODDO
Pantera Boats Office Furniture Connecti | 832-368-2066
833-972-6837 | pantera-boats.com| tim@pantera-boats.comofconnection.com | voddo@ofconnection.com 2100 M.l.k. Jr Dr | High Point, North Carolina 750 Almeda Genoa Ste. A | Houston, TX 77047,
TIM MARKOU LES VOUDRIE
Pantera Boats Precision paint worx | 618-972-3513
833-972-6837 | pantera-boats.com| tim@pantera-boats.comkayla.voudrie@techdata.com 2100 M.l.k. Jr Dr | High Point, North Carolina 14 Bridge St. | Osage Beach, MO 65065
ANDREW POKORNY ANDREW POKORNY
Powerstroke Performance | 239-910-4169 Powerstroke Performance | 239-910-4169
powerstrokeperformancespecialties.com | andrew.pokorny@gmail.compowerstrokeperformancespecialties.com | andrew.pokorny@gmail.com 5660 Division Drive | Fort Myers, FL 33905 5660 Division Drive | Fort Myers, FL 33905
MANNY OSES
Renegade Powerboats, Inc Renegade Powerboats, Inc | 305-687-3700
305-687-3700 | renegadepboats.com | info@renegadepboats.comrenegadepboats.com | info@renegadepboats.com 1111 E. 52nd St. | Hialeah, FL 33013
STEPHEN MILES
Stephen Miles Design | 270-570-4442
stephenmilesdesign.com | propainter7970@yahoo.com 5931 B State Rout 56 | Owensboro, KY 42301
FRANK SCHEELEN FRANK SCHEELEN
Scheelen-Racing | +49 (0) 7741 96 94 25 Scheelen-Racing | +49 (0) 7741 96 94 25
scheelen-racing.com | info@scheelen-racing.com scheelen-racing.com | info@scheelen-racing.com Im Unterberg 11 | D-79761 Waldshut-Tiengen Im Unterberg 11 | D-79761 Waldshut-Tiengen
BRANDON MAYER BRANDON MAYER
Sweetwater Landing Marina | 239-694-3850Sweetwater Landing Marina | 630-881-9422
sweetwaterlanding.net | bmayer14@yahoo.com sweetwaterlanding.net | bmayer14@yahoo.com 16991 State Road 31 | Fort Myers, FL 33905 16991 State Road 31 | Fort Myers, FL 33905
TOM CARUSO DAVID SHAEFFER
Total Marine | 914-403-5896 |T&D Custom Painting | 616-841-1086
totalmarine.com | tcaruso@totalmarine.com tanddcustompainting.com | david@tanddcustompainting.com 160 Water Street | Norwalk, CT 06854 9500 Henry Ct Suit 50 | Zeeland, MI 49464
TOM CARUSO Total Marine | 914-403-5896 | totalmarine.com | tcaruso@totalmarine.com JOHN HERMAN Total Marine | 201-741-6817 totalmarine.com | tcaruso@totalmarine.com 160 Water Street | Norwalk, CT 06854 160 Water St | Norwalk, CT 06854
JOSEPH LABON
Ultimate Marine | 407-276-5800
ultimatemarine.com | kevin@ultimatemarine.com 3419 WD Judge Dr #150 | Orlando, FL 32808
DAVID DELEZENNE
Unique Custom Marine | 954-980-4887
uniquecustommarine@gmail.com 2044 NW 25th Ave | Pompano Beach, FL 33069
