20 minute read

TAMPA BAY POKER RUN

from Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2

by STU JONES

from Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2, page 4

Article from: Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

TAMPA

A favorite amongst many club members, the ever-evolving Tampa Bay Poker Run did not disappoint.

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

• 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.

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

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

PAUL & OLGA SPIVAK

Frank & Jimmies Propeller Fusion X Marine | 440-759-7300

JODY HAMILTON

Frank & Jimmies Propeller Hamilton Marine Finance | 470-248-2655

WALLY J. WOLANSKE ED MILLER

Exogear Hi-Tech Marine Services | 410-375-1638

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

ANDY IMHOF JULIAN MALDONADO

Maryland Offshore Marine Manatee Marine Unlimited | 941-405-2835

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

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

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

This article is from:

Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2

by STU JONES