VOL 20#1 WINTER 2020
Featuring...
SHOWCASING THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE
KEY WEST POKER RUN 2019 Complete Coverage of Florida Powerboat Clubs Signature Poker Run With Record Attendance of 270 Teams!
KEY WEST
HIGHLIGHTS • WEDNESDAY DEPARTURE • THURSDAY DEPARTURE • POKER RUN VILLAGE PARTIES • SATURDAY AERIALS
PLUS...
WINTER POKER RUN 2020 Sneak Peek WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM
1,400 boats in water and on land. More than 1,100 exhibitors. 1,000,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. MiamiBoatShow.com
February
13–17
MIAMI MARINE STADIUM
A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle WINTER 2020
Vol. 20#1
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Alyssa Caiazza alyssafpc@gmail.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Lina Montes fpclina@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHY Jerry Wyszatycki Pete Boden Stu Jones
EVENT MANAGEMENT Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com
VIDEO PRODUCTION Stu Jones Ryan McCoy Joe Kotrady Ryan Christen
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 - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM
CONTENTS 4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT: STU JONES
FPC President Stu Jones reflects on the two biggest trends in the constantly changing performance boating world and outlines FPC’s new format at the Miami Boat Show
6 KEY WEST POKER RUN 2019
Just when we were beginning to thing 200 boats was a pretty big deal, FPC saw a record 270 registered teams for the 27th edition of this blockbuster November outing!
4 6
8 KEY WEST 2019 - WEDNESDAY RUN
8
32 KEY WEST 2019 - THURSDAY RUN
32
42 KEY WEST POKER RUN VILLAGE EVENTS
42
Multiple departure dates have numbered as many as four for the Key West event in recent years, but the new earlybird getaway is Wednesday, which reached a roster of nearly 60 teams for 2019. With a record of nearly 200 teams traveling the 170-mile course for the Thursday run, FPC was forced to get very creative with managing the lunch and fuel logistics. See how it took Five lunch stops to feed the roster of almost 900 hungry poker runners! Florida Powerboat Club's new VIP Powerboat Week format was well-received in 2018, which may explain why nearly 100 poker run teams from across the Southern States returned to the Emerald Coast, for five days for Boats, Bikinis and Big Horsepower!
83 SATURDAY HELICOPTER AERIALS
Although the wind, waves and overcast skies put a damper on the Woman Key raft up plans, at least a handful of weekend warriors got out on the water to rendezvous with our FPC chopper, seeking that ultimate Money Shot!
83 96
96 SNEAK PEEK: WINTER POKER RUN 2020:
While most of the country was digging out of giant snow banks and braving the cold winter, about 23 poker run teams escaped to tropical paradise, visiting the landmark Faro Blanco Resort in Marathon. On The Cover: Key West Poker Run participanst lining up for the poker run start in Biscayne Bay. Models: FPC Girls Romana, Lindsey & Mallory
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Letter
FROM THE PRESIDENT
W
e are excited to kick-off a new decade with a robust calendar of poker run events for 2020 and an equally robust North American economy that has given so many of you the resources to enjoy your powerboating lifestyles. From replacing older boats with shiny new ones, to adding a 2nd boat to the toy fleet, or doing full-scale restorations and repower projects, the go-fast boaters are spending like never before, with a great outcome for the performance marine industry. And there’s no better time, or place, to jump on that buying-bandwagon than at the Miami International Boat Show, which opens its doors on Virginia Key as this issue of Powerboating in Paradise begins circulation. Make no mistake about it. Miami 2020 will be off the charts in so many directions, because performance manufacturers have been fully engaged in developing new hulls and power options, that cover the full gamut of what we now consider to be bona fide “performance boat”. Just two decades ago, performance v-bottoms ruled the poker runs, while about one of every five poker run boats, was a cat hull. About that time the first center consoles started showing up, while most hardcore enthusiasts laughed and poked fun at these modified fishing boats, and those ridiculous looking outboards. Fast forward twenty years, and those modified fishing boats are sleek, colorful, multi-engine dream machines! Fast as hell, yet spacious and comfortable, and capable of leaping tall waves with a single bound! Ok I watched a lot of Superman as a kid…but you get the point! And then there’s the revolution of out-board catamarans. a.k.a. the "cat-craze". The growing demand for twin-Mercury Racing outboard-powered cats is on fire. Like the center consoles, an amazing transition has unfolded in just a decade. At one time, forty to fifty foot 2,000 HP cats stole the show, along with the wallets of their owners. But look around at the Miami Boat show, and we’ll all see a handful of newer, leaner cats….still sexy and colorful, still able to seat six, still able to go 100mph all day long, but for half the purchase price and a quarter of the operating cost of their big ancestors. Even rich guys like saving a few bucks, and these modern rebooted 2.0
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versions, are getting a lot of mileage, in more ways than one. Times and trends keep changing in the boating world, and I commend our performance boating industry for keeping pace with exciting products that continually renew our passion for the powerboating lifestyle. With more reliable and fuel-efficient power, along with advanced hull design and creature comforts for passengers, going fast and having fun on the water no longer must end with untimely breakdowns or frequent visits to the gas dock. Combine that with the growing popularity of poker runs on a global scale, it’s a great time to be in this sport and it’s even a better time to be a member of this great organization that you have all helped build over the last three decades! On a final note, I am both pleased and proud to be attending the 2020 Miami Boat Show for my 30th consecutive year! Since 1991, it’s an event that I look forward to every year, and a place where I feel at home with my extended powerboating family. But you won’t find a Florida Powerboat Club booth in the F-tent at the Miami Boat Show this year. What?! Yes it sounds crazy, but after five years at the new Virginia Key location, I realized that the maximum amount of contact with our FPC members and our performance industry peers, occurs when I visit with the boating displays out on the docks, and make the rounds to see exhibitors in the big tents. We have been location-challenged in the corner of the big F-tent for the last few years, so it’s time for a change. We remain loyal supporters of NMMA and the Miami Boat Show management team, and you will continue to see the Show’s full-page ads here in the FPC magazine, which we place at no charge to NMMA. It’s just that, thirty years is a long time to work a boat show, and I just needed a little change in the format. Please join us for an exciting 2020, and if we don’t see you at the Miami Boat Show, hopefully it will be at an FPC Poker run event soon! Stu Jones, President Florida Powerboat Club
Key West
Poker Run 2020
STORY: STU JONES
K
ey West has always been a popular destination for boaters in every way, shape or form. Whether you’re a retired couple with ample time on your hands to do the amazing “loop journey” which includes an extended stay in Key West, a wandering sailor with no agenda other than to hope for enough wind to muster a 3-knot cruise, or a performance boater on the Key West Poker Run cruising at triple digit speeds….Boaters from all walks of life just love to set their heading for Key West. Regardless of their waterborne mode of travel, most would agree that once you’ve arrived in Key West, it’s worth settling in for at least a few days. Except of course, for those cruise ship passengers who make a stopover in Key West for a few hours, only to be whisked away on the ship, heading to the Mexican ports of call. Four hours is barely enough time to make it two blocks
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on the Duval Crawl, much less rent a scooter to ride around the island or visit one of the many historic sites. Luckily, the Key West Poker Run, by design, is as much about the destination, as it is about the amazing boat ride through the scenic Florida Keys that gets you there. During the Key West powerboat week in November, in addition to the Race World Offshore events, there is so much to do and such a festive vibe of fun-loving people. After twenty-seven years of trial and error, we’ve concluded that three to four days seems to be the right amount of time to let your hair down, make some new friends, eat plenty of fresh seafood, and party like rock stars. It’s all part of the experience, and the Key West Poker Run is an experience that will indeed, put at least a few of your senses on overdrive. The 2019 edition of the Key West Poker Run kicked off in Miami as always, with Haulover Marine Center in North
Todd Fountain | MI | Leads the charge through Haulover Inlet in his 46' Skater - Team TOMCAT PHOTOGRAPHY: JERRY WYSZATYCKI & STU JONES
Miami Beach, and Grove Harbour Marina in Coconut Grove, playing host to well over two hundred poker run teams, as they staged for one of two departure days, Wednesday or Thursday. With a record-setting event roster which approached 270 teams and approximately 1,200 attendees, it’s apparent that the popularity of this November powerboating ritual continues to soar, as many FPC members have described Key West as their “bucket list” poker run event. Apart from somewhat windy conditions which are typical for the month of November, FPC was able to work around the rough seas by diverting the Thursday departure through the protected ICW from North Miami to Coconut Grove. As repeated year after year, the remaining poker run course took the calm-water trek through Biscayne Bay waters, ICW channels and Florida Bay, with a final romp offshore in coastal
waters from Bahia Honda to Key West. The only difference for 2019, was the addition of new lunch venues to manage the nearly 200-boat fast-moving flotilla, and along with the usual Gilberts Key Largo and Faro Blanco Marathon stopovers, FPC assisted manufacturing sponsors Nor-tech Hi-Performance and Cigarette Racing Team, with owner-driven lunch stops at Sundowners and Playa Largo Resort in Key Largo. The Key West Poker Run reported no injuries or mishaps, and considering the vast size of the poker run roster and the hundreds of thousands of cumulative miles logged by the massive fleet, this 270-team event went down in the FPC record books as the largest to date, but surely stands poised to be shattered once again, in 2020. We hope you enjoy the next several pages of photo-editorial coverage, showcasing a global roster of adventurous powerboaters who have made this event what it is today! SJ
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 7
Stu Jones | FL | Team PROJECT 1080 38' Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 540
Greg Roth | Canada | Team BABYBLUE BAYOU 38' Hustler
Barry & Stephanie Henson | TN | 50' Skater
Wednesday Run
T
he Wednesday departure has grown in popularity in recent years, as more FPC members are stretching their poker run agendas by an extra day. Among the benefits of leaving on the Wednesday group, are the extended 5-day mini-vacation in Key West and enjoying the less crowded staging and checkpoint locations on the course. Not everyone likes boating around a huge pack of boats, and for those people, the Wednesday departure is a great solution. About 40 boats departed from Haulover Inlet, making their way along the coastal waters, before ducking in at Government cut, and proceeding to the Grove Harbour card checkpoint. Another twenty boats joined the mix at this location, and the three speed groups divided the boats equally for the restart in Biscayne Bay. The docks at Gilberts are capable of handling about sixty boats total with good rafting techniques, but a handful of boats continued past Gilberts and headed straight to Faro Blanco in Marathon.
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Fred & Judy Reavis | FL | stepped it up with a two-MTI poker run entry!
As always, Faro Blanco provided a VP Racing Fuel tanker, which offered higher-octane fuels for the participants with finely tuned Mercury Racing 1350 and 1550 powerplants. Lunch was provided at Lighthouse Grill, and the two checkpoints proved to be more than adequate to balance out the needs of the Wednesday fleet. Other incentives to run the Wednesday departure include access to several luxury villas and vacation homes that can be rented on a weekly basis, ideal for crews with six to ten guests. There are a nice variety of cozy 4-5-bedroom homes in Old Town that rent for under $ 2k per night, and include spacious living rooms, nice bedrooms and private yards with pool and spa. Boating daytrips for the early birds include a variety of destinations such as the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas, so it’s always great to consider the benefits of the earlier Wednesday departure. For more information, call the FPC office. SJ
Greg Harris & Yvonne Aleman | FL | Team MAD PROPS | 32' Skater
Joe & Nikole Gilstorf | MI | Team 50 SHADES | 50' Skater
Zebastian Fohlin | Sweden | Team FOUNTAIN | 47' Fountain
10 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Geoff & Sue Wanamaker | MD | Team REGULATOR | 34' Regulator
George (Klaus) & Martha Takkula | Switzerland | Team TEAM FINLAND | 46' Predator
TEAM FINLAND Crew LASCOLA Crew
Craig & Franca LaScola | MA | Team LASCOLA | 37' Outerlimits THE ANIMALS Crew
Josh & Terri Anne Pierce | KS | Team THE ANIMALS | 42' Fountain
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 11
Mark & Jennifer Schouten | AZ | Team BRAVO ZULU | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450
BRAVO ZULU Crew
Ted Hosmer joined Stu in PROJECT 1080HP Rob & Kerri Turner | MI | Team TURNER UP | 34' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
FPC Girl Kelly
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team PROJECT 1080 HP | 38'Cigarette / 2-Mercury Racing 540's
Jim Schultz | FL | Team FACTORY BILLET | 42'Cigarette / 5-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
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A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE... ...and we’re still writing.
2520 NE 9th Ave Cape Coral, FL 33909
Nor-Techboats.com
contact@nor-techboats.com
Bubba & Brittany Chrisco | OK | Team WAR PARTY | 39' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R WAR PARTY Crew
Jukka Murto & Sebastian Mefsamaki | Switzerland | Team SIPULI RACING SUPPORT TEAM | 38' Skater
ON THE ROCKS Crew John & Tracy Wittenberger SR | NJ | Team ON THE ROCKS | 36' Sonic / 2 Mercury Verado 350
Dawn & Donald Hadden | SC | Team DANGEROUSLY KNOTTY | 32' Belzona / 2 Mercury Verado 350
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Win Farnsworth | SC | Team DOIN' IT WRIGHT | 42' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Kevin Primmer | Canada | Team MTI |34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Scott Witt | VA | Team OFFSHORE ACCOUNT 33' DCB / 2- Mercury Racing Verado 400R THE SWITCH Crew
Jim & Lynne Archambault | GA | Team KEEPIN' IT REAL | 43' Outerlimits
Bo & Bilge Gregory | AZ | Team THE SWITCH | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
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James Branton | LA | Team VOO DOO | 38' Skater
In Memory Of Michael Pierce
Michael & Nicolle Pierce | LA | Team PURE PLATINUM | 38' Skater MC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Crew
Matt Borcina | NY | Team MC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | 36' Wright Performance / 2- Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe | GA | Team DIRTY MONEY | 32' Skater
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Derek Wachob | OK | Team 6 CARAT | 59' Cigarette / 6 Mercury Racing Verado 450R Sponsor
Dan Kleitz | RI | Team OUTERLIMITS | 52' Outerlimits
Chip Miller/ Don Doty | MI | Team LET 'ER RIP | 40' Skater
Don Doty | MI | Team 1YR SKATER | 42' Skater
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 19
Chris & Angela Bradley | TX | Team RAINMAKER | 38' Skater
MOE POWER Crew
Shawn & Sieglinde Moe | NV | Team MOE POWER | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Taylor Scism | FL | Team MTI | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing 450R
Fred & Judy Reavis | SC | Team MTI | 48' MTI
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Howard & Amie Beindit IV | MI | Team TATONKA | 41' Apache
Trent Toone | FL | Team LIV-N-HOOT | 37' Intrepid / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Evan Bangs | TX | Team IMPLICATED | 35' Donzi
Craig & Paula Ackerman | GA | Team SEA YA | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
NAUTI HABIT Crew
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Steve & Lisa Young | AL | Team NAUTI HABIT | 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
FPC Salutes OUR 2020 SERIES SPONSOR Florida Powerboat Club is pleased to introduce our 2020 Series Sponsor line up! These
leading manufacturers have renewed their commitment to support Florida Powerboat Club
and assist us in every way by participating at major poker run events and providing additional financial resources to improve the quality of the poker run experience! With this support FPC can continue to produce safe, exciting poker runs to a variety of destinations in paradise!
www.blackwaterboats.com 855-476-1405
www.deepimpactboats.com 866-726-3403
www.mercuryracing.com 920-921-5330
www.midnightboats.com 954-745-8284
www.mycotrailers.com 941-748-2397
www.nor-techboats.com 239-567-5030
www.performanceboatcenter.com Missouri: 573-873-2300 | Florida: 954-237-0332
To inquire about sponsorship programs contact Stu Jones 954-684-9333
GUNSLINGER Crew Jason & Krisha Tolliver | OH | Team TOLLIVER | 40' Sunsation / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Curtis Mulch | NJ | Team GUNSLINGER | 35' Cigarette
Derek Wachob | OK | Team BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
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Roger & Pam Anderson | TX | Team EASY MONEY II 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Chris Miller | OK | Team NEVER ENOUGH | 30' Spectre
Jewfish Creek, Key Largo
Jim Bradley | TX | Team ROAD WARRIOR | 39' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Verado 350
Dr Ino Halegua | TX | Team GREECE LIGHTNING | 38' Cigarette Sponsor
Greg & Brenda McCauley | FL | Team MTI | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R Gilbert's Resort Key Largo
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 25
LUNCH STOP AT
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John Wittenberger Jr | NJ | Team BAD DECISION | 30' Spectre / 2-Mercury Verado 350
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 27
David Branton | LA | Team HOTSHOT | 48' MTI Sponsor
Bryan Mullinax | MD | Team SEAKEEPER | 33' Boston Whaler / 2-Mercury Verado 350
Derek Wachob | OK | Team BLACK DIAMOND | 52' MTI
Bill Pyburn JR. | FL | Team PLATINUM ADDICTION | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
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Florida FWC Boats along with Miami Dade fire rescue teams in county fire boats and on board volunteer boats, made up a strong safety management fleet on both Wednesday and Thursday runs.
Donnie Snyder | CT | Team BLUEPRINT | 44' Concept / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Todd Fountain | MI | Team TOMCAT | 46' Skater
Michael Tandoi | NY | Team RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT | 35' Motion
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 29
Faro Blanco Resort and Marina, Marathon
Chris Colson | FL | Team HTO | 32' Sunsation
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Thursday Run
M
oving nearly two hundred performance boats from Miami to Key West would be a relatively simple undertaking if most of the teams were to navigate the coastal waters offshore, but that would certainly compromise the Florida Keys boating experience. As many seasoned Key West poker runner would agree, it’s that 170-mile trek through protected bays and sounds, connected by narrow, wandering mangrove waterways, that makes the journey as memorable experience. And the best part is, you can do it a hundred times and it just never gets old. Trust me. The massive Thursday fleet assembled at multiple locations in Miami, including Haulover Marine Center and its overflow counterpart, Duffy’s Sports Grill in North Miami. Three miles to the south, TNT Marine Center released dozens of teams, with all the eager crews congregating at Haulover Inlet for the first start. With strong northeast winds, the inlet and coastal waters appeared to be a little unforgiving, and the flotilla began its journey on the eastern arm of the ICW, a course known for its amazing mansion-dotted shoreline that displays the magnitude of wealth in Miami Beach. After cruising through Port of Miami and making the next checkpoint at Grove Harbour Marina, it was a mad dash
for Key Largo, as the red-decal front-runners in the hiperformance class took flight, enjoying the calm open waters of Biscayne Bay. Like clockwork, the Performance class followed, then Sportboat, a green-sticker class that primarily consists of center-console outboard boats. The big challenge for the day, was to find enough stopover locations in the Upper and Middle Keys, for almost 200 boats to settle in for lunch, and for many, a heavy load of fuel. Between Key Largo and Marathon, a total of five lunch locations were offered to participants, two of which were manufacturer sponsored. In Key Largo, Nor-Tech Hi Performance hosted a second consecutive owners’ lunch for just under thirty Nor-Tech teams at Sundowners, while Cigarette Racing hosted an equally sized owners’ event at Playa Largo Resort. Gilberts carried a heavy load of weekend warriors as always, feeding well over 300 for lunch, while Faro Blanco Marina utilized both Lighthouse Grill and the Courtyard’s pool bar to serve a lunch buffet. It was an amazing day of boating, with some interesting stories to go along with it…so let’s just leave it at that. To get the true Key West Poker Run experience, one must attend. SJ
Jeff Layton | AL | Team LAYTON CHEVROLET | 48' Skater
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FPC Girls Allyssa & Mary
Sponsor
Mark & Eileen Fischer | FL | Team DEEP IMPACT | 39' Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 33
Downtown Miami was a picturesque backdrop for the Thursday departure group, which used the ICW course to avoid the rough seas offshore.
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Ron Roman Ricucci | NJ | Team PURE EVIL | 47' Outerlimits
Todd DePetris | FL | Team BANK RUN | 38' Cigarette
Jack Villars | Switzerland | Team JACK | 43' MTI
William Pater | MI | Team GOOD TO GO | 36' Nor-Tech
Greg Delmonte | NJ | Team HARD TO HANDLE | 44' Outerlimits
36 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Frank Scheelen | TX | Team TOP FUN | 36' Nor-Tech
Tom & Rachel Regan | TX | Team ELEANOR | 36' Nor-Tech
FPC Girl Romana
Noel & Gretchen Speranza | FL | Team RETAINAGE | 44' Concept / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Mark Headley | OH | Team MAIDEN AMERICA | 42' Fountain
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 37
Fred & Judy Reavis | SC | Team BLEW BY U 4 | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Jeff & Marilyn Whitlock | AL | Team DO IT | 42' MTI
Michael & Debra Alexander | NY | Team TJA MOTORSPORTS | 32' Skater / 3-Mercury Verado 300
Jimmie Harrison | FL | Team FJ PROPELLER | 39' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
George Pasha IV | CA | Team IV FUN | 38' Cigarette
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Don Verkuylen | FL | Team SUPER VELOCE | 52'MTI
Icom Command Mic VHF Radio
Garmin 7612 XSV x 2 Units
Special thanks to SCI for their product support on the FPC official pace boat PROJECT 1080 HP. Twin Garmin 7612 XSV chartplotters, Icom VHF radio system, and Icom handheld marine and aviation-band radios... providing PROJECT 1080 HP with the complete electronics package
TA DA PINS Crew
Scott & Stacy Rosenbach | IL | Team BAD HABIT | 48' MTI
Kevin & Melissa Welch | MA | Team TA DA PINS | 42' Cigarette
BODACIOUS, TOO Crew
H. Neil & Cindy Campbell | FL | Team BODACIOUS, TOO | 42'Mystic / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
40 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Mike & Maggie Sanz | FL | Team QUICKSANZ |29' DCB / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
John & Suzanne Stella | NY | Team SEND IT | 38' Statement / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Brian Johnson | DE | Team MTI | 44' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
David Sacher | NY | Team LEO IV | 36' Deep Impact / 3-Mercury Verado 350
James & Sonia Redding | Mexico | Team LA MEXICANA 39' Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 41
Michael Lund | MA | Team SEAGULL SIZZLER | 42' Outerlimits
HUNDRED PLUS Crew
Jared Hardin | CA | Team HUNDRED PLUS | 39' Outerlimits
David Carey | MD | Team HARD EIGHTS | 37' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
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Allen Chase | NY | Team CHASE-IN-RAYS | 40' Hustler
CHASE-IN-RAYS Crew
Michael & Angela Rorie | FL | Team TIME FLY'S | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
STATEMENT Crew CONTROLLED AGGRESSION Crew
Nick Buis | FL | Team STATEMENT! | 38' Statement! / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Justin & Erin Lucas | TN | Team CONTROLLED AGGRESSION | 32' Sunsation / 2-Mercury Verado 350
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Kevin Kurkowski | TX | Team THE GRASSY ASS | 35' Fountain
ANOTHER BAD HABIT Crew
Stephen Barker | NY | Team X-FACTOR | 42' Cigarette
Blake Olson | TX | Team ANOTHER BAD HABIT | 38' Cigarette
Kent Fiedler | Canada | Team LAST TOY XV | 42' Fountain
Chad MacDonald | CO | Team MY TIME | 35' Donzi / 2-Mercury Verado 350
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 45
Sal Olivia | NY | Team X-SCAPE from NY | 42' Cigarette
Max Zeldich | NJ | Team SUPER BAD | 36' Cigarette
David Gordon | FL | Team MISS TREATED | 39' Nor-Tech
Chris Mattingly | KY | Team NEVER ENUFF | 46' Outerlimits
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Docking at Playa Largo as the Cigarette owners lunch started to take shape
Sponsor
LOADED GUN Crew
Doug & Sheri Falcone | NJ | Team MARINE UNLIMITED | 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Michael & Cory McClellan | MO | Team LOADED GUN | 38' Cigarette
Scott & Natalie Pollio | NJ | Team TROUBLE MAKER | 35' Cigarette
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 47
THURSDAY LUNCH STOP AT
It seems like yesterday when Florida Powerboat Club approached (then) Gilberts owner Reinhardt Schaupp about turning the run-down Key Largo property into a vibrant stopover location for poker runs and transient boaters. For most of the nineties, FPC events passed by its sagging docks, which were lined with derelict sailboats and lacked fenders and mooring cleats. It was uninviting to boaters, and above all, a missed opportunity for commerce with a constantly growing FPC event roster. The year was 2001, and Stu Jones made an offer to the owners, who didn’t want to spend a dollar on the dock upgrades. If Gilbert’s owner would remove the barnacleinfested sailboat squatters from its docks, FPC would purchase and install dozens of piling fenders and mooring cleats, and
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replace the rotted deck boards, at its own expense. Within just one year, the Key West Poker Run 2002 lined Gilberts docks with more than 80 powerboats, and once-empty tiki bar, was packed with over 300 powerboaters from all over the continent, who enjoyed the rustic vibe of this cozy waterfront. The owners rejoiced and began dumping more money into the property over the next decade, turning the once-forlorn marine resort into vibrant business, which was eventually sold in a multi-million-dollar deal to a successful Miami-based entrepreneur. Fast-forward to 2019, and Gilberts continues to be a landmark, must-do stopover for all Florida Keys poker runs, and for local and transient boaters who enjoy its casual vibe, great food and friendly staff.
Sponsor
Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 60' Midnight Express / Quad 7-Marine
Sponsor
Skip Braver & Erik Christiansen | FL | Team CIGARETTE RACING TEAM | 41' Cigarette / 4 Mercury Racing Verado 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 49
Mike Bolin | CA | Team ROSIE | 39' Outerlimits
DRINKIN FOUNTAIN Crew
Karsten Melcher | Germany | Team GERMANY | 38' Donzi
Tonka Simpson | Bermuda | Team DRINKIN FOUNTAIN | 38' Fountain / 3-Mercury Verado 300
Al & Dana Mazzarella | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express / 5-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
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MEG
S B A T A 1650 TAB
N O C DTS
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MIAMI BOAT SHOW FEB. 13-17, 2020
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BOOTH #E343 MIAMI, FL
David Beach | NJ | Team ROCK & RYE IV | 44' Outerlimits
WEED WACKEN Crew
Brandon Purkiss | CA | Team WEED WACKEN | 34' MTI / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Tim Gallagher | FL | Team BLACKWATER | 43' Blackwater / 4-Mercury Verado 350
Adam & Cathy Ramirez | CA | Team LAST CALL | 48' MTI
52 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Chris Ryder | NY | Team CRISIS MANAGEMENT | 36' Skater
tt CRESCENDO Crew
Jimmy & Gina Smith | CA | Team tt CRESCENDO | 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Verado 350 LOONEY TUNE Crew
Elliot & Erica Wiczer | IL | Team LOONEY TUNE | 41' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
54 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Be A Part Of The Action!
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This multi-million dollar marina facility, located directly on the Intra-Coastal Waterway, offers the latest technologies and innovations in dry storage. With one call your boat will be ready for you 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
W
ith its spacious marina, fuel dock, restaurant, pool and central location on the bay waters of Marathon, Faro Blanco Resort & Marina continues to be an integral part of the poker run agenda for all FPC events. With that huge fleet to manage for the signature Key West event, even further upgrades had to be put in place, starting with the VP Racing fuel tanker, which was placed in one corner of the marina, to offer higher octane fuel grades and a few extra nozzles. To feed the hungry boaters, Courtyard Marriott next door, offered a poolside buffet lunch, and along with the Lighthouse Grill, over 300 guests were served during the Thursday lunch stopover. Participants also had a chance to pick up a bonus poker card voucher nearby, from an anchored 100-foot yacht, which was sponsored again by Nextera Energy Marketing. After this stopover, it’s just fifty miles to Key West, and it’s always easiest to take the offshore route, which can be accessed from Seven-mile bridge, or from the Bahia Honda bridge further south. With some concerns about high wind and bumpy sea conditions, a handful of participants thought the northern passage through the Saddlebunch Keys might be a calmer and more prudent decision, but tricky navigation in these waters caught a few off-guard with soft groundings. In hindsight, and going forward, FPC will always suggest taking the Marathon to Bahia leg (12 miles) offshore to test the waters first. If the seas are too rough to endure, at that point, the boats can run back to the inside route via Bahia Honda bridge. SJ
56 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Sponsor
Mark Palanchian | FL | Team NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES | 102' Maiora
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 57
Jorge & Ann Arellano | FL | Team OGP | 42' Fountain Poker Run Edition / Mercury Racing 600 SC
Scot Conrad | FL | Team SLT COLLECTION | 43' Midnight Express / 4-Mercury Verado 350
Nicholas & Heather Mitchell | MA | Team DADDY'S GIRLS | 38' Fountain / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
58 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
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 Outer Banks club polo shirt. (Ladies tops available.) • Premium embroidered club hat. • Additional Powerboating video. • Venus Swimwear gift voucher. ($75-$100 value.) PLUS:
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.
$479.00/year*
GOLD MEMBERSHIP
COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP
Membership Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits, PLUS:
Membership Includes:
• Premium Outer Banks Club Polo Shirt. (Ladies tops avail.) • Premium embroidered club hat. • Additional Powerboating Video of your choice
• Discounted rates on FPC Magazine ads • Discounted rates on all web advertising/banner programs. • Access to all FPC events and parties. • Listing on our website affiliate section. Commercial Members also have the opportunity to run promotions and discounts through FPC events.
$379.00/year*
$349.00/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*
SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP Membership Includes:
• Club T-shirt in your choice of colors. • Powerboating Video of your choice (Dozens to choose.) • 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.
Sponsor
DOUBLE R Crew
Sponsor
Peter & Raymond Roberts | CANADA | Team DOUBLE R | 56' Nor-Tech/ 3-Cummins Turbo Diesels
Ramon & Katia Vera | FL | Team BULLETPROOF | 35' Bulletproof Custom Powerboats / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Chris Mastronardi | Canada | Team OUTERLIMITS | 50' Outerlimits
60 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Burton Kirsten | ME | Team L'IT JET | 34' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
FPC Girl Lindsey
Frank & Toni Esposito | NJ | Team MYSTIC | 42' Mystic / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Keith & Karen Rockman | FL | Team SUNSATION | 34' Sunsation / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Parnell & Wendy Olson | MI | Team L'ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT 36' Concept / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 61
Jukka Murto | Finland | Team ALGOTS VARVA | .39' Nor-Tech / 2-Mercury Racing 525
ALGOTS VARVA Crew
George & Carre Olson | TX | Team DRIVE THIS | 42' Fountain / 2-Mercury Racing 525
Cody & Veronica Lovins | TX | Team SPECIAL PURPOSE | 45' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
62 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Andre Flottmann | FL | Team NOR-TECH | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Jason & Melissa Hill | MO | Team STATEMENT | 35' Statement! / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R Sponsor
Randy Kent | MO | Team MIDWEST BOATING CENTER | 37' Pillini Marine / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 63
Richard Szesnat | NY | Team POOR DIRT FARMER | 50' Outerlimits
POOR DIRT FARMER Crew
Jesse & Stephanie Neumann | MN | Team SALTY WIFE | 45' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Eric & Ashley Matzen | NY | Team PIPE DREAMS | 36' Skater
64 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
PHANTOM Crew
Ken Armstrong | NY | Team PHANTOM | 48' MTI
Pierre & Meghan Brousseau | CANADA | Team THE STOOGES | 39 ' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Jason & Loren Yates | VA | Team ORANGE CRUSH | 50' Hustler
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 65
Shannon & Alicia Hamilton | GA | Team LOW ALTITUDE | 50' Mystic
Garry & Nancy Robertson | ME | Team MY DIAMOND | 52' Nor-Tech
Alan Lima | FL | Team GROVE HARBOUR MARINA | 42' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Stephen Sweet | IL | Team SWEET SPOT | 42' Scout / 4-Mercury Verado 350
66 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC Girl Mallory
William Betz | NY | Team EXCUSES | 48' MTI
Hans Othar Blix | NORWAY | Team 2TWENTY5 | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Roman Sanchez | ME | Team R3 | 45' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
68 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Laurent Besnier | France | Team GROS COCHONS | 32' Doug Wright / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Dave Raisbeck | FL | Team RAISERS EDGE | 39' Nor-Tech / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
David & Sarid Arnold | GA | Team D-STRESSED | 33'Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Verado 350
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 69
J.T. Byrne | TX | Team OH FOR FIN'S SAKE | 33' Power Play
Kyle & Georgina Weese | OK | Team SPLITTIN 10'$ | 40' Formula
David Rudiger | OH | Team OHIO | 42' Mystic / 4-Mercury Verado 350R
70 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
Francis Marfyak | CT | Team YEAH BABY | 35' Formula
Al & Chris Sadow / Dean Albanese | FL | Team HAMMER DOWN | 34' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Craig Hargreaves | WA | Team SPOOLED UP SUPPORT | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71
Sam & Maria Galasso | NY | Team SAGA | 47' Fountain
Brad Williams | FL | Team GRANDE YACHTS | 38' Fountain / 3-Mercury Verado 350R
Jeb & Stephanie Bradshaw | NC | Team OUTERLIMITS | 42' Outerlimits
72 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Benji & Chris Mastronardi | Canada | Team DOUBLE DIAMOND | 42' Mystic / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Ray & Kristine Gremaux | NY | Team BIG SHOT! | 24' Mystic / 3-Mercury Verado 350 Sponsor
74 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Bernie Neuhaus | NJ | Team MARINE UNLIMITED SALES | 38' Mystic / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Curtis Watkins | FL | Team EVIL WOMAN | 45' Nor-Tech / 5-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
HAMMERTIME Crew
Ray Aquit | FL | Team HAMMERTIME | 39' Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Sponsor
Mark & Nancy Tuck | VA | Team TIMBERCAT | 36' Wright Performance / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 75
Brian Metcalf | CA | Team NATIVE SUN | 40' MTI
COLD ONE CONFESSION$ Crew
Michael & Neveda McClallen | IL | Team COLD ONE CONFESSION$ | 37' Active Thunder
Bobbie & Lynn Kieber | CA | Team BIG BAD N BLUE | 35' Cigarette
APACHE Crew
Ed & Surey Garcia | FL | Team APACHE | 41' Apache
76 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Sites of Key West
Kyle Fowler | GA | Team BAD A$$ET |35' Fountain Not a registered Poker Run Team
Considering hiring this team for Poker Run support! Dan Desantis | MA | Team MCLAREN BOSTON | 38' Skater / 2-Mercury Racing 1100
Key West Historic Seaport
Ray & Jill Kowalik | MO | Team BIKINI BOTTOM | 42' MTI / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 77
Leon & Mayli Ramos | FL | Team SAVAGE | 39' Deep Impact / 4-Mercury Verado 400R Chet & Cindy Huffman | CA | Team STILL NUTZ | 39' Nor-Tech
Russell & Patty Hayes | CA | Team ELIMINATOR | 28' Eliminator
Matt & Ann Marie Raymond | NC | Team MISS GRACE | 48' Fountain / 5-Mercury Verado 350
78 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Chris & Quinn LaMorte | NJ | Team SKATER 36 | 36' Skater
Sponsor
Geoff Tomlinson | FL | Team NOR-TECH | 39' Nor-Tech provided by Midwest Boating Center / 3-Mercury Racing Verado 450R
Bill Day | KY | Team DAYS | 32' Glasstream / 2-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 79
Bill Robbins | TX | Team CENTER OF ATTENTION | 39' Cigarette / 3-Mercury Verado 350
Bennett & Jimena Loftin | FL | Team SIDE CHICK 36' Deep Impact / 3-Mercury Verado 275
Tom Klocker | OH | Team NO ETA | 42' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Verado 350
80 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Jeff & Brenda Jacobs | MD | Team WE'RE BACK | 36' Cigarette
A & B Marina Key West
Robert Lockyer | KY | Team PATRIOT MARINE | 32' Skater
CENTER OF ATTENTION Crew
Matt Garland/Kenny Schomp | KY | Team DOWNTOWN | 42' Mystic / 4-Mercury Racing Verado 400R
Todd & Heidi Anne Chartier | MD | Team SIDE CAR XL | 39' Nor-Tech / 3-Mercury Verado 350
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 81
Dr. Michael Janssen | CO | Team CENTER FOR SPINE & ORTHOP / WATCH YOUR BACK | 53' Outerlimits
Anthony Bertozzi | VA | Team SMOKIN HOTT | 38' Cigarette
Lawrence Coelho Jr. | CA | Team RAPID RABBIT | 28' DCB
Luke/Corey Leibel | FL | Team MAD MAX | 45' Cigarette
Tom Gourzis | PA | Team OPA II | 42' Cigarette / 4-Mercury Verado 350
82 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
KEY WEST POKER RUN VILLAGE
Poker Run headquarters at Conch Republic Seafood Company, Key West Historic Seaport
W
hen you have a thousand participants and over thirty major sponsors supporting the Key West Poker Run, it’s important to have one central meeting place where all can come together over the course of this four-day, festival of fun! The Conch Republic Seafood Company on the doorstep to the Key West Historic Seaport has made this possible since 1999, and over the years FPC has worked closely with their team to keep making it better. The Key West Poker Run Village once again included a wide variety of on-land exhibits including performance boats from the leading manufacturers, with Mercury Racing on site to support their manufacturers, dealers and performance boating enthusiasts using their mobile marketing tractor trailer rig. Adding to the format, a huge selection of marine accessories from sponsors like Hardin Marine and Wilson Custom Composites, plus exotic cars and toys from Team Black Diamond and McLaren of Boston. Complementing the land-based show, the in-water presence of
the sponsor dock was over the top, with the latest performance boat models rafted up with amazing paint schemes, dazzling underwater lights and night-club-caliber stereo systems that delivered a new level of Wow-factor like we have never seen! A great entertainment agenda returned to the Poker Run Village, including the Thursday night Body Painting Expo, Friday’s Sponsor Appreciation Day, and the big Saturday night Poker Run Awards party. It’s no wonder why thousands of guests pass through this venue with their phones out, snapping photos and video clips for great social media posts and memories to share back at home! Between bikinis, body painting, and big horsepower, the Key West Poker Run Village is indeed, a phone-battery-killing machine, and that’s why it’s right up there with Duval Street, as a must-see destination in Key West during powerboat week! Enjoy the photos of our highlights! SJ
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 83
The Key West Poker Run Village at Conch Republic Seafood Company offered a variety of display options on land and in water for the leading performance marine manufacturers and dealers.
Performance Boat Center 32' Sunsation CCX
Mike Layton | GA | displayed his latest Adrenaline Powerboats model
Dan Kleitz from Outerlimits hosting a sponsor video segment
Jackie's team of FPC Girls in the apparel tent
84 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
thursday night
Body Paint
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 85
Saturday
Helicopter Aerials
Mark Palanchian | FL | Team NEXTERA | 38' Cigarette ( A Stu-approved loaner for the afternoon )
Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER testing the raceboat on Saturday for the Race World Offshore finals
86 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC Girl Brooke
NorTech Hi Performance boats rafted-up in the protected waters near Fleming Key when the big Woman Key raft-up location was ruled out due to high winds.
Johan Andersson | Sweden | Team JOY RIDE | 39' Nor-tech
Matt Migliazzo | KS | Team LAUNDERED MONEY | 38' Donzi
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 87
Hugo Domingez | FL | Team VANDALIZE BOAT WORKS | 30' Vandalize Boat Works
Bill Grigo | NY | Team ADJOURNMENT | 36' Fountain
Brian Forehand | NC | Team NSF | 52' Outerlimits / 2 Mercury Racing 1350/1550
88 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Bobby & Kendall Berk | FL | Team VIRGIN GUN | 38' Cigarette
Bruno & Rebecca Perree | FL | Team MEGAWATTS | 39' Outerlimits
Alex Pratt | MI | Team NOR-TECH | 45' Nor-Tech / 4- Mercury Verado 400R
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 89
Mark Stoddart | Canada | Team MTI | 48' MTI
Oystein Tenold | AZ | Team TJ VIKINGS | 36' Nor-Tech Supercat / Mercury Racing 1350's
Steve Lyman | AZ | Team NICE PACKAGE | 39' Nor-Tech / 4- Mercury Verado 400R
90 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |
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 welcoming these NEW FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB COMMERCIAL MEMBERS: KEVIN SCHULTE
BILL DAY
Hardline Products
Days Boat Sales & Service
1-888-413-8315
1-888-413-8315
hardlineproducts.com
daysboatsales.com
sales@hardlineproducts.com
bill@daysboatsales.com
7766 SW Jack James Drive Stuart, FL 34997
101 Arrowhead Ct Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
SCOTT PORTA
BRANDON MAYER
Porta Product Corp
Sweetwater Landing Marina
386-428-7417
1-888-413-8315
portaproducts.com
sweetwaterlanding.net
portaproducts@aol.com
bmayer14@yahoo.com
1601 Tionia Rd. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
16991 State Road 31, Fort Myers, FL 33905
JOHN COSKER
CJ KUSMIERZ
Mystic Powerboats Inc.
Bluefin Marine Consultants
386.736.2247
616-893-7503
mysticpowerboats.com
bluefinconsultants.org
j@mysticpowerboats.com
info@bluefinconsultants.org
1848 Patterson Ave. DeLand, FL 32724
Port St. Lucie, FL
Other FPC Commercial Members Listed Below: Frank Scheelen - scheelen-racing.com
Michael & Nicole Lund - www.bordenlightmarina.com
Jimmie Harrison - fjprop.com
Peter/ Raymond Roberts - doublerperformance.com
Hugo Domingez - www.vandalizeboats.com
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 91
Sponsor Appreciation
Radio personality Bill Hoebbee & Stu Jones
T
here are many reasons why the FPC Key West Poker Run continues to be such an amazing experience for thousands of participants over the years, and at the top of that list of reasons, is the much appreciated sponsorship support from a long and very loyal list of performance marine manufacturers. Mercury Racing remained as the Presenting sponsor, while OffleaseOnly returned as Grand Prize sponsor, along with a roster of nearly thirty of the leading manufacturers, dealers and aftermarket product suppliers. The Friday sponsor appreciation day is dedicated to recognizing these sponsors, who are invited to receive special awards and have photo-ops with the FPC girls!
AO Coolers displayed in Key West for their first time
92 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Peter Roberts for Nor-Tech Hi Performance Boats
Kruis Rutherford & A.L. Kirkland for Glasstream
Brendan West for Marine Concepts
Marissa & Sara
Sara, Mary, Allyssa, Marissa with Jackie Jones
Dan Kleitz (left) for Outerlimits
David Tievy accepted for Superior Communications Inc
Scott Price owner of Hardin Marine and long time sponsor
Tim Gallagher, Eileen & Mark Fischer - Blackwater Boats, Deep Impact, Offleaseonly
Forrest, Leo & Craig Wilson for Wilson Custom Composites
Bryan Mullinax & Nichols Buckman for Seakeeper
FPC Girls Steve Miller joined Stu and the FPC girls for Mercury Racing Presenting Sponsor Award
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 93
Saturday night
Stu and Jackie Jones
S
aturday evening is reserved by the Conch Republic Seafood Company as a private members-only affair, as nearly 1,000 participants assembled for the big bash to enjoy a fabulous dinner and play out their poker cards. The weather was magnificent for the evening party, which got an early 6:30pm start due to the three-rounds of dinner seatings required to feed 900 guests. This was the absolute limit for dining according to the restaurant management, so several participants were given an optout choice to dine elsewhere, then join the party later to play out their poker hands. The big poker run tent had a steady but manageable flow of participants, who could play out their hands and purchase additional cards to increase their odds of winning. With Bahamas Relief as the designated recipient of these proceeds, FPC eventually used these funds to load a tractor trailer with bundles of plywood and sheetrock, which were later shipped to Bahamas to repair and construct new homes in Abaco and Grand Bahama Island. With the cards played out, there was a 1st place dead-heat tie between Miami’s Ed Garcia ( 41 Apache) and a new member David Carey (37 Midnight Express) A single round playoff dealt a pair of eights to our new member, who’s boat name quite strangely is , “HARD EIGHTS”. Congratulations to all the poker run winners, and thanks to our participants who helped to make this a festive and exciting evening of poker run fun! SJ
94 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Stu & Jackie Jones with FPC Girls David Carey (left) - Team HARD EIGHTS - Grand Prize Winner, received a $25,000 voucher towards the purchase of any vehicle(s) at Offleaseonly's five Florida stores
Ed Garcia - Team APACHE - Second Place Winner
Team NOR-TECH - Manufacturers Cup Winners 3rd Place
Greg & Stephanie DelMonte - Team HARD TO HANDLE - Third Place Winners
Team SWEDEN - Farthest Traveled Award & the lovely FPC Girls
Jim Lee, KS - Team CHRISTINA - Sexiest Crew Award
John & Natalie Wittenberger - Team BAD DECISION - Best Dressed Team
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 95
WINTER POKER RUN 2020
Powerboating In Paradise magazine returns with our Spring 2020 Issue which will contain feature coverage with a detailed story line and photo captions for all of the teams that participated in the clubs first 2020 event
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY: STU JONES
Club kicked off the new T hedecadeFloridawithPowerboat a mid-winter escape to paradise, in
the heart of the Florida Keys. Twenty three registered teams from all over the United States congregated in North Miami for a departure from Haulover Marine center, and took a 100-mile trek through the Upper Keys to Faro Blanco Resort in Marathon. Here’s a few nice highlight photos, and we promise full coverage in our next issue of Powerboating in Paradise. SJ
96 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 97
JAN 24-26
| WINTER POKER RUN: FARO BLANCO, MARATHON
FEB 13-17
| MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW: VIRGINIA KEY
FEB 20-23
| 25TH ANNUAL MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN: MIAMI TO KEY LARGO
MAR 12-15
| MTI OW N E R S F U N R U N : FLO R I DA K E YS
MAR 19-22
| SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN - MIAMI TO KEY WEST
MAR 26-29
| PALM BEACH BOAT SHOW: WEST PALM BEACH
APR 16-19
| 10TH A N N UA L TA M PA BAY P O K E R R U N : TA M PA - S T. P E TE R S B U RG
AMERICAN CUSTOM MARINE........................................ 43 AO COOLERS................................................................. 67 BRAND X...................................................................... 67 DEEP IMPACT........................................................... 5, 35 FPC MARKET PLACE..................................................... 91 FPC MEMBERSHIP........................................................ 59 HAULOVER MARINE CENTER........................................ 55 JETDOCK...................................................................... 53 LIVORSI MARINE...........................................................51 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW 2020...................IFC MERCURY RACING....................................................... IBC MIDNIGHT EXPRESS..................................................... 21 MYCO TRAILERS............................................................. 9 NOR-TECH.................................................................... 13 OFFLEASE ONLY........................................................... 31 OUTERLIMITS............................................................... 15 PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER...................................... 17 SCI SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS................................ 39 TNT CUSTOM MARINE.................................................. 73
*This is a courtesy listing - not an FPC event
| 2ND A N N UA L MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BIMINI MAY 15-17 *NEW DATES OWNERS RENDEZVOUS
MAY 28-31
| ORANGE BEACH POWERBOAT WEEK: THE WHARF, ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
JUNE 19-24 | 2 9TH A N N UA L BA H A M A S P O K E R R U N : *NEW DATES B I M I N I , C H U B C AY, N A S SAU, E X U M A S JUNE 12AUG 9
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: NEXT ISSUE APRIL 15, 2020
| FP C S U M M E R P O K E R R U N TO U R B EG I N S ! MULTIPLE EVENTS NATIONWIDE THROUGH AUG 2020.
AUG 12-16
| FPC EMERALD COAST POWERBOAT POKER RUNDESTIN- FORT WALTON BEACH
SEPT 18-20
| FALL BIMINI BLAST- NORTH MIAMI TO BIMINI
OCT 9-11
| TBA - EUROPEAN TRIP IN PLANNING STAGES
NOV 4-8
| FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW: MULTIPLE VENUES
NOV 11-16
| 28TH ANNUAL KEY WEST OFFSHORE POKER RUNMIAMI TO KEY WEST
DEC 12
| SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINTERFEST BOAT PARADEFORT LAUDERDALE, FL
SUBSCRIBE TO POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE DELIVERED 4 TIMES A YEAR
Disclaimer: Please note the 2020 event planning is a constantly ongoing process, that will most certainly see changes to dates and events along the way. The following calendar includes some (tentative dates) along with new events that are currently in the planning stages with venue hosts and sponsoring organizations. It’s important that you do NOT purchase airplane tickets, book hotels, or make plans to attend, without first confirming with the Florida Powerboat Club office. Visit WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM for updated information.
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
NATURAL PROGRESSION QC4 860 STERNDRIVE The naturally aspirated QC4 860 shares all of the high performance running qualities of its turbocharged siblings. Designed, developed and manufactured inhouse, the 9.0-liter V-8 engine pumps out 860 horsepower on 89 octane (Rec 90) pump fuel. Mercury Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) technology provides luxury-carlike drivability. All of this with an unprecedented 2-year limited factory warranty.
MercuryRacing.com/860
Please join us for your next boating adventure with the Florida Powerboat Club. With highest tourism levels in Florida on record, its important to start planning at least three or more months in advance. Please visit our website for event updates. *Membership and insurance is required to participate in all FPC events
FEB 20-23, 2020
MAY 18-28, 2020
OCTOBER EVENT PENDING
NOV 11-16, 2020