Powerboating in paradise vol14#1

VOL 14 #1

A Magazine Showcasing the Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle

Miami Boat Show

n u R r e k o P Paradise Found in Islamorada

Bahamas

1adventure 000

Over the Top!

Plus...

palm beach boat show!

Fun in the Sun!

Tampa Bay Poker Run

A Day On The Bay!

KEY WEST AIR-LAND SEA Motorheads in Paradise!

Special Tribute

GIRLS

OF FPC

Mike Fiore Carey Downs WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

oat B i m Mi aShow un R Poker ci Spe

al

Edi

tio

n

WINTER 2014 Vol. 14#1 Editor/Publisher Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com

Office Manager

A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle contents

4 Letter from the president The latest news and views from FPC President, Stu Jones

10 Miami International Boat Show 2014.

Tracey Gutierrez admin@flpowerboat.com

South Beach wouldn’t be the same without this globally recognized boat show. But then again, the Miami Boat Show wouldn’t be the same without South Beach.

Graphic DesignERS

12 FPC Miami Boat Show Bash 2014 - Party Time!

Juan Carlos Grisales fpc.mag@gmail.com David Vaccaro

Photography

Stu Jones Jim Wenger Ryan McCoy Jerry Wyszatycki

Event Coordinators Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com Jobe Holmes

media sales

NOW HIRING Commissioned sales positions available. Send resume to: stu@flpowerboat.com

TV & Video Production Stu Jones David Steel Ryan McCoy Juan Ona

There’s no better way to celebrate the mid-winter blues, than with all your boating buddies over cocktails, palm trees, the ocean breeze and uh....Bikinis?

16 19th Miami Boat Show Poker Run to Islamorada.

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

50 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Outstanding Achievements of FPC Members: From coast to coast, FPC members keeping proving they have a passion for life and a desire to achieve! While there are certainly hundreds of tremendous achievements within our vast roster of unique and colorful FPC members, these few individuals have reached milestones in their own personal lives in 2014. Here’s our FPC salute to these high achievers!

58

58 Tampa bay poker run - April 2014

Luxurious accommodations in an historic hotel, first class marine facilities and a vibrant night life would be reason enough for anyone to spend an extended weekend on the St Petersburg waterfront. Add in an exciting poker run on scenic Tampa Bay, and you have a winning combination!

If it Flies, Floats or ...Where was I going with this? Let’s just say that cool cars, custom bikes, luxury coaches, private airplanes, helicopters, powerboats, and yachts all in one poker run event sounded like a pretty cool idea. Alas, this one is now in the history books, and is now established as an Annual celebration of the motorsports lifestyle!

84 Bahamas Sport boat poker run

With a seven day adventure that passed by more than half of the Bahamas 700-plus tropical islands, this may be the closest thing to the Baja 1000...... by water!

88 Palm beach boat show

80 84

If boat shows were rated on overall “Pleasantness” Palm Beach wins by a landslide.

With sunny and mild weather, festive Clematis St. on it’s doorstep, well-staffed cocktail bars every two hundred feet, and a stellar line up of the finest fishing, cruising and yachting vessels on display...its easily a five beer show!

Traveling? Need to lighten the load? Enjoy the digital version of this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine on...

FPC Pompano Beach Headquarters All copyright laws apply. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher

16

The only way to truly celebrate winter...is to leave it behind and join members of the Florida Powerboat Club for this great escape to paradise. One hundred powerboat teams and almost 500 attendees from around the globe couldn’t agree more!

80 Key West Air-Land & Sea Poker Run

Direct all inquiries to

10

On the Cover: Golddigger was the first 50 Catamaran built by the late Mike Fiore, and is currently owned by David Landsman. Tributes to Carey Downs and Mike Fiore will be conducted as part of the Key West Poker Run agenda.

Models: Courtney V. found her way to FPC by helping out at boat shows, poker runs, and eventually landed on the cover this issue! Is that what they call Blonde Ambition?

88

www.facebook.com/flpowerboat‎

See the complete digital edition of Powerboating In Paradise MAGAZINE at www.flpowerboat.com

Winter 2014

Letter from the

president Stu & Jackie Jones

W

ith a revitalized economy, low interest rates and marine manufacturers charging out of their factories and straight to the leading boat shows with exciting new models and innovations, things are looking pretty darn good from where I’m sitting. That’s if I’m actually sitting, because it’s been a whirlwind year for Florida Powerboat Club since we last checked in.

Alongside our Powerboating in Paradise TV series which has been broadcasting on Sunsports/Foxsports since 1996, we launched Boat Show TV, a new TV platform that was intended to focus primarily on mainstream boating arenas…

Cruising, Fishing, Watersports and Yachting. Wooooohooooo what a ride it’s been. From Daytona to Orlando, Miami Beach to the Florida Keys, and along the Gulf Coast from Tampa to the Florida Panhandle, Boat Show TV has given me and our small crew a chance to meet the (other) 99% of the marine industry outside of the Performance Marine sector, and they are building some pretty damn nice stuff.

OK, for those readers whose curiosity just got a poke in the eye, let it be known for the record…this is not an abandonment of the performance enthusiasts who I have come to know and love for the last twenty-four years. (Aka my extended family) No, on the contrary. For me, stepping outside the box to ex-

plore the mainstream recreational marine world by visiting and filming every major Florida boat show for TV, was a very strategic move to strengthen the FPC brand, and get more eyes on the powerboating events, activities and lifestyle that we have all come to love. After all, the Boat Show TV Series is presented by Florida Powerboat Club, and I’ve already discovered a variety of cross-over marketing platforms that will bring more attention to our brand of boating as well as the manufacturers and dealers within our sector.

The other compelling reason to move into the mainstream marine arena is quite simply sound business strategy for FPC. Over the years we’ve honed and developed specialized skills in marine event management, travel-related services, television and video production, web-based marketing, digital media, publishing, and more recently, social media. The result is that FPC possesses a pool of creative professionals and is now poised to offer marketable B-to-B talents to a much larger sector of our marine industry.

A “for-hire team” if you will…that can plan and stage a manufacturer’s dealer meeting, organize a boating rendezvous, create a video brochure for a line of boats, or even produce TV programming to promote a new boat racing series. Either way, it all points to one very important out-

come. Survival. Over the next ten years or more, if the Florida Powerboat Club has a broader foundation from which to source its economic existence, surely at the very least, the “Club” will continue to forge along at a good pace and be around for many years to come.

As we move into the fall season with the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and the 22nd Key West Poker Run, the coming weeks will be an emotional roller coaster ride for many of us. These fabulous events will induce many of us to celebrate an exciting start to the fall and winter boating season in South Florida, while in sharp contrast we share heavy hearts to pay tribute to lost friends in the boating community. We recently suffered tragic losses of Outerlimits founder Mike Fiore, along with Carey Downs and Jeremy Floyd, who were close members of the David Woods family circle. All three in boating accidents, which is tragically close to home for all of us. Please join me with fellow FPC members in these tributes, Got a and above all, let’s honor them comment for me? with a safe 2014 E-mail me at Key West Poker stu@flpowerboat.com Run!

Stu Jones

President & Founder, FPC

Nov 6-9, 2014 POKER RUN HEADQUARTERS: CONCH REPUBLIC SEAFOOD COMPANY 631 Greene St. Key West FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB HEADQUARTERS: 1214 SW 6TH ST. POMPANO BEACH, FL 33071 Info: 954-545-1414 www.flpowerboat.com

IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD WINTER, THERE IS COMFORT IN KNOWING THIS ANNUAL ESCAPE TO ISLAMORADA WILL SOON TAKE AWAY THE CHILL

By Stu Jones

6 | Powerboating in paradise

ABOVE: Leading the Pack. The colorful parade of power winds along the scenic Miami waterfront before reaching the starting gate, at Rickenbacker.

The Upper Keys from Key Largo to Islamorada provide a scenic backdrop that requires critical navigation and slower speeds. There’s no better way to see the Keys!

Postcard Inn Resort in Islamorada was the Florida Keys headquarters for the poker run. Limited slip spaces requires rafting along a 500 foot section of dock.

T

here are two kinds of people who are able to attend the full schedule of the Miami Boat Show, then just two days later, prepare for a multiday powerboating escape to the Florida Keys...The Florida Powerboat Club’s annual Miami Boat Show Poker Run to Islamorada. The first kind of person, is that one whose boating passion is so intense, that they Live to Boat. To attend such an aggressive mid-February double header they must plan details to no end, with the hopes that they can accomplish the dream vacation, and leave the snow behind! They do anything they can to juggle calendars, office staff, babysitters, airline tickets, hotel rooms and whatever it takes to basically goof

off in paradise for almost ten solid days.

For those lucky few who have the time, the freedom the planning expertise and of course the benjamins, we salute you and say.... Go For It! Then there’s the OTHER kind of person, the one that reversely, Boats to Live! You know that guy...He’s your factory sales rep, your boat builder, your engine builder, your rigger or your hauler.....Your reliable, dostuff-guy that somehow found a career that puts him or her at every major boat show, and every large-scale poker run.

And occasionally, those events may fall back-to-back. To those of you who have fallen victim to this lifestyle, we at FPC apologize. I promise, we never planned it that way! By the time you finish that boat that barely got rigged in time and

haul it 1,000 miles to Miami....By the time you set up the booth, stand on your feet for five days, stay out late in South Beach bars every night, then tear down your booth at the convention center, and shift gears for a five day poker run that involves fun people from around the world, a healthy dose of Florida sunshine, and certainly more late nights in bars....

It’s a wonder you are still alive. The ironic twist in all this is simply, that living life at wide-open-throttle, is what makes us feel alive, in the first place. The 2014 Miami Boat Show poker run to Islamorada hit record numbers, with nearly one-hundred registered poker run teams. The following pages feature all the highlights. Enjoy!

SJ

Powerboating in paradise | 7

8 | Powerboating in paradise

xt question for a mid-winter escape. The ne

?.

to ponder is….WHERE and WHEN

If you’re a boat lover, the answer is simple…Miami in February. Whether you’re actually planning to buy a new boat, plan a repower, or just snoop around for accessories…anyone who has an ounce of boatnik in their blood, will have no problem spending and entire day or even a whole weekend, wandering around the Miami Boat Show. In fact, for many, it seems as if the farther they travel, the more they want to hit the Miami Boat Show with feet running.

These are our kind of people. In fact, we are those kinds of people.

For a would-be buyer, you squeeze in a day of wandering around the red carpet aisles decorated with gleaming fiberglass, you walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk with eager boat builders, then you take your honey out for a nice Valentine’s day dinner in South Beach or hit the FPC Boat Show Bash. Now at this point, you’ve either done the boat deal and you’re celebrating over cocktails, OR, you just need time to think it over.

No worries, there’s still a couple days to shop….but you are bound and determined to make your deal, and chances are, the seller is just as excited about you as you are about getting that new toy! Alas, the Miami International Boat Show, a magical event in the heart of the Magic City that delivers a platform not JUST to buy a boat…but rather, a wonderful place to escape the cold, take a much-needed vacation, and get you in a great mood to …what else, but buy a boat! continued on next page

Mystic Powerboats had a colorful display, with new racing 50 and renderings for new 40.

Jackie & Courtney at the FPC booth.

Mastercraft displayed amazing wake boats.

The big hit is themed cars & boat combos. Gino Gargiulo’s matching 48 MTI & Lambo

Powerboating in paradise | 9

Miami Boat Show 2014

Florida Powerboat Club was on hand to share that wonderful experience with so many of its members and boating friends, and for those of you who are as passionate as we are, let’s hope you found the boat of your dreams at the 2014 edition of the Miami International Boat Show. And if you didn’t, we have a great solution…it’s called the Miami International Boat Show 2015…and it’s just around the corner. SJ 10 | Powerboating in paradise

PLATINUM DEALER FACTORY AUTHORIZED DEALER SINCE 1977

ORDER GENUINE MERCURY MARINE PARTS ONLINE 24/7

Full line Mercury outboard - Call us or email for prices too low to advertise!!

For a limited time - included with all outboards purchased from BAM 2 additional years of factory product protection

New - Outboard Financing Available!

4.9% or Rebates up to $1500* *Select models, qualified buyers, Mercury Racing excluded - good until 11-30-14

What you need...

When you need it!

CyborgTransmissions.com Broken NXT Trans

NEW! 72-LHP Rebuilds and Upgrades - ask about our new gears

Now Available!

INFO@BamMarine.com

954-545-8681

315 SW 15th Ave - Pompano Beach FL 33069

Miami Boat Show BASH! 2014

M i am i

BA S H

With South Beach on its doorstep, the Miami Boat Show offers abundant dining, and entertainment opportunities within just blocks of the Miami Beach Convention Center. But there’s only one venue that provides all of that with a one-stop shopping approach, and the FPC’s Miami Boat Show Bash at the Raleigh Hotel keeps delivering that perfect Party in Paradise!.

Walking around the Miami International Boat Show is a blast on every level!

Whether you’re shopping for your own new boat, just browsing for accessories, or tagging along with your boating friends…it’s just fun and gets you in a good mood to party. So with the Miami Beach Convention Center closing at 8PM every evening…the common phrase right about happy hour is, What are we doing tonight? For twenty two years, FPC has answered that quest for the Friday night revelers, with a festive occasion we

have come to know as, the Boat Show Bash. Those simple words express exactly what one might expect. There’s going to be boat people there, so that’s good! It’s called a Bash, so that means party, and that’s good! Hmmmmmmm sounds like we should check it out! With FPC members and guests from around the globe, mixing it up with the key players in the marine industry, this event has become a “must-do” on the Miami Boat Show agenda for over two decades.

We hope you enjoy these highlights!

SJ

Mike & Maggie Sanz

Will Smith & Guest, Phantom Boats

12 | Powerboating in paradise

...with Carmelo Zocco, Revolver Boats

Stu & Jackie Jones

Bess Parish, Amorette, Preston Parish, Bob Berg

Randy & Denise Chochran with Fred & Judy Revis

Guests enjoyed a fabulous valentines theme fashion show, great music & mild weather for a great party vibe that only an outdoor venue can provide.

Marck Fischer, Reese Lewis , Jackie Jones & Gary Goodell

The Girls of FPC entertained our guests with a sexy swimwear-lingerie show.

Powerboating in paradise | 13

Miami Boat Show BASH! 2014

Eliana Sanz, Eileen Fischer & Maggie Sanz

Cherie & Brad Schoenwald, Laura Schrader

Steve Curtis, Erik Christiansen & the late Mike Fiore

Red bikinis were a popular theme for the Valentines day party

Steve Curtis, Erik Christiansen & Mike Fiore Party guest from all over the country enjoyed festive evening at The Raleigh

14 | Powerboating in paradise

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

The Thursday departure provides a four-day format for participants to get the most enjoyment for their time in Florida. Pictured: A group of boats crosses Blackwater Sound in Key Largo after departing the Gilberts lunch stop. The Marriott Key Largo is off in the distance.

ABOVE: Richard Gerth came all the way from Southwestern Ontario, joining a strong base of Canadian participants on the poker run.

After completing the run in his 42 Outerlimits, he pulled high hand, winning great poker run prizes, including a Garmin chartplotter.

16 | Powerboating in paradise

I

n business, we often find ourselves joining trade associations and attending trade shows or seminars where we meet with industry peers, exchange ideas on new ways to build a better widget or think outside the box to provide a better product. Recently, at such an industry gathering sponsored by VisitFlorida, the Sunshine state’s tourism marketing organization, they encouraged us travel professionals to get the Florida visitor to “stay another day”, which of course increases hotel revenue, restaurant business and general spending in the local economy. Well, based

on that objective, FPC should be getting the Florida Tourism Award of Merit, based on our track record of extending our poker runs longer and longer as the years progress.

The Miami Boat Show Poker Run is a perfect example, where the once “earlybird departure” on Thursday, is now the mainstay of the poker run, and the Friday guys....well they’re “ just plane Late to the Party!” The Thursday run is for the Cool School crowd... They almost sing and chant to one another as they cruise into Post Card Inn Marina and drool when they see all those empty slips … “Ha Ha I got an inside Slip.... and you aint

gonna get none!..nana nana na...na...””

Of course, they don’t always get that spot for the whole weekend, but it sure is nice to have it for the first night!

Besides, we all share at FPC! But the point being, if you come all the way from the great white north in the middle of winter, you want to get the most out of your escape to the Keys, and any kindergartner can tell you four days is better than three...so the Thursday departure is just sweet!

The only thing that might trump that in 2015...would be a Weh, weehh... wenn.....wens.... NO Im not lettin the cat out of the bag yet!! continued on next page

Powerboating in paradise | 17

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Rich Ainsworth (MI)

Team KUZICAN | 36’ NorTech

Chris & Angela Bradley (TX) Julie & Wayne Casey (CANADA) Team UNRULY CREW II | 39’ Cigarette

Team RAINMAKER 40’ NorTech

If you can read this I might have just hinted at a Wednesday departure to celebrate our 20th Anniversary of this run, but its really hard to prove that’s what I wrote cause this is like 2 point text it might not even come out in the magazine. But thinking about it, Wednesday departure would make the Thursday guys like just average Joe’s and those Friday guys?..By the time they get to Islamorada they are like gonna miss that topless girl dancing on the back of the cat and the tiki bar will be practically out of ice and rum... they can forget about fuel! And maybe the Wed and Thursday guys will have a small government formed by then....but not a nice government more like a Sons of Anarchy deal where you gotta be super tough to survive ...Never mind, we won’t let that happen!

Joseph Amoroso (NY)

Team BADA BING | 39’ Outerlimits

Wandering around the docks at SeaIsle Marina on Thursday morning, as the poker run fleet swelled in size to nearly fifty strong, it was clear to see that we’d be booking some fast times to the Keys. Think back fifteen years ago to about 1999, where a garden variety v-bottom was a non-step 38 Top Gun with 500’s or Fountain 42 Lightning with a bad re-power. There were no Nortech 36 supercats, no MTI’s (neither were invented yet) a handful of older race-converted Skaters....most of which were going to be on the edge at 120mph. continued on next page

18 | Powerboating in paradise

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Ken Armstrong (TX) Team PHANTOM 48’ MTI

Benny D’Angelo (CANADA) Team HOUDINI 38’ Cigarette

Steve Daly (MD) Team STAGGERING 38’ Fountain

20 | Powerboating in paradise

Miami Boat Show poker run 2014 | THURSDAY It’s amazing how so much has changed in the performance boating world over the years! I’ve been running these poker runs for over twenty years, and with all the magazine editorials and TV interviews covering our signature poker runs with lots of big-ass boats with shiny paint jobs and monster horsepower, when describing the visual impression of seeing the boats all in one place, I have overused and possibly worn out the term, “ impressive fleet” ….so I will start thinking of new more exciting adjectives or phrases, (for the sake of our readers) so that they might gain some appreciation of what it’s like to stand on a dock and watch fifty powerboats of this caliber, fire up and leave port! The rumbling noise, the vibrant colors of six figure paint jobs, the smell of raw fuel, the visual of highly-spirited men and women from many walks of life, all climbing aboard these mammoth machines, untying lines, stowing fenders and digging around the cabin for color matched PFD’s....it’s about as much horsepower-charged excitement as one might get by standing fifty feet from Turn One during a Nascar restart! That precisely, is what makes these poker run events incredible on so many levels!

Keith Slagle (fl)

Team panty dropper | 38’ Cigarette

Michael Ciasulli (NJ)

Team Maxon Hyundai- Mazda | 38’ Skater

Thomas Calabro (RI)

Team ILLUMINATI | 44’ Outerlimits

Tom Meshinsky (NJ)

Team OFFICIAL BUSINESS | 39’ MTI

George & Shannon Argyros (FL) Team MAYHAM | 44’ MTI

Powerboating in paradise | 21

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Lane Christianson (TX)

Team FAST LANE | 52’ Outerlimits

Bob & Madelyn Christie (NJ)

Team JERSEY STRONG | 42’ Cigarette

Tom & Cheryl Sharp (GA) Nick Buis (FL) Team STATEMENT 38’ Hustler /

37’ Statement

22 | Powerboating in paradise

Team MILAGROS 50’ Cigarette

Miami Boat Show poker run 2014 | THURSDAY

Patrick Dolan (MD)

Team SPICY | 39’ Cigarette

Win & Melissa Farnsworth (CO)

Team SILVER LINING | 41’ DCB

Warren Foreman (TX)

Team X RATED | 47’ Fountain

Powerboating in paradise | 23

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

G. Thomas “Toto” (nj) Team BIG BLUEI 52’ Outerlimits

Mark & Eileen Fischer (FL)

Team OFFLEASEONLY.COM / BOATSDIRECTUSA.COM 39’ Deep Impact / 33’ Ocean Hawk

Rafe Guidry (LA)

Team SHENANIGANS 38’ Cigarette

Richard Gerth (CANADA) Team OUTERLIMITS 42’ Outerlimits Legacy 1ST PLACE: BEST POKER HAND

24 | Powerboating in paradise

Most dealers claiM they take trades against consignMent boats, we actually do.

Most buyers have trades so when Pier 57 takes the trade your boat sells faster and you get paid sooner.

showroom

sales & inventory turns

chicago, il location

Financing

Marketing

guaranteed buy number

s.e.o.

consignment/option to sell

45,000 sq ft Indoor Showroom enables us to provide year-round, dry showings while keeping your boat protected.

We sell and turn over our inventory faster than any other high performance boat dealer.

It’s easy and affordable for buyers to get here. We are within 1 hour of 3 major airports - Ohare, Midway and Milwaukee.

Pier 57 advertises in both print and online media more than any other high-performance boat dealer.

Would you prefer to get paid now instead of letting your boat sit on the lot?

Call us for a buy number.

We currently average 38,000 hits per month on our website. Pier57.com is constantly updated to reflect our current inventory.

847-336-9037 pier57.coM

All financing is handled in-house which insures paperwork, titling and loan payoffs are handled properly and on time.

Start by consigning your boat or decide later you want us to buy it, you get a buy number before we list your boat.

Pier 57 1953 N Delany Road, Gurnee, Illinois 60031

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

AJ Phillip (LA)

Team NO PLANS 40’ Skater

David Postill (MI)

Team XTREME INSANITY 42’ Cigarette

Sharon Henley (fl) Team liquid asset 38’ Cigarette

Rich Johanneck (mn) Team FUELISH PLEASURE 40’ Advantage

26 | Powerboating in paradise

FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB & THE ENVIROnMENT

FLORIDA MANGROVES Mangroves serve very important functions in the ecology of South Florida.

Mangroves have a high ecological role as nursery grounds and as a physical habitat for a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates. They recycle nutrients and the nutrient mass balance of estuarine ecosystems. Mangrove leaves, wood, roots, and detrital material provide essential food chain resources, and provide habitat for many wildlife including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods.

Mangroves have a special ecological function for endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern. They also serve as storm buffers; their roots stabilize shorelines and fine substrates, reducing potential turbidity and enhancing water clarity. One of the greatest values of mangroves swamps in Florida is their aesthetic appeal.

28 | Powerboating in paradise

Powerboating in paradise | 29

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Wayne Kacher Jr. (md)

Team fullstick 47’ Fountain

Andre Krevere (va) Team sweat equity 33’ Active Thunder

Dan Kurzejewski (pa) Team RIDE THIS 38’ Cigarette

Jens Müeller (germany)

Team germany iii 43’ NorTech

30 | Powerboating in paradise

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Cody & Veronica Lovins (tx) Team OUT OF COMPLIANCE 42’ NorTech

Greg & Brenda McCauley (MO)

Team MTI V 42’ MTI

Ted McIntyre (LA) Team TURBINATOR 43’ Black Thunder

Karsten Melcher (GERMANY) Team GERMANY I 32’ Advantage

32 | Powerboating in paradise

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Richard & Melissa Prince (LA) Team DICTATOR 44’ MTI

Bill Pyburn JR. (FL) Team PURE PLATINUM 38’ Skater

James Pellizzi (fl) Team TAPS 40’ MTI

Anthony & Tammy Reece (ky) Team SADDLE UP 42’ Statement

34 | Powerboating in paradise

ŠMercury Racing 2014

THURSDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Jim Wiley (fl)

Team OUTERLIMITS 39’ Outerlimits

Derek Wachob (ok)

Team PLAN B 42’ Cigarette

Geoff & Sue Wanamaker (md)

Team ARMED AND DANGEROUS 38’ Cigarette

Tom Polski (ct)

Team efficient lighting 35’ Formula

36 | Powerboating in paradise

FRIDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Tom Abraham (NY) Team MTI | 42’ MTI

Unlike many poker runs around the nation, where all boating and land-based activities are focused around one headquarter venue, many of Florida Powerboat Club’s events would be categorized as “destination events”.

The format often involves multiple cities, numerous hotel and marina options, and above all, a substantial amount of logistics to manage. Back in the mid-nineties, the Miami Boat Show Poker Run started offered a Friday run from Miami with about 25 boats, heading to the Marriott in Key Largo. continued on next page

BRAD BENSON (NJ)

Team PASS BLOKER | 52’ MTI

David & Jenny Landsman (MD) Team GOLDDIGGER | 50’ Outerlimits

Jorge & Anne Arellano (FL) Team OGP | 30’ Eliminator

38 | Powerboating in paradise

Markku Biedermann (fl) Team SISU | 39’ Cigarette OFFICIAL PACEBOAT

FRIDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Anthony & angela Della Bella (ny) Team DELLA AUTO GROUP | 36’ Spectre CC

Hernan Bradas (FL)

Team RIGHT WAY RACING TEAM 38’ Donzi

Skip Braver (fl)

Team CIGARETTE RACING TEAM | 42’ Cigarette

Terry Sobo (FL)

Team NORTECH | 34’ NorTech

40 | Powerboating in paradise

But the event soon outgrew that venue and the decision was made to move the event to the Postcard Inn & Marina (then named Holiday Isle Resort & Marina) naturally, as the event grew, it was obvious that we as organizers needed to offer a multiple departure format and the Thurs/Friday departure concept was adapted, with great success.

The Friday group assembled at Miami’s SeaIsle Marina, as the marina continued its transformation from a major Miami Boat Show venue, to a temporary poker run headquarter, and in just a few more days it would be back to business as usual.

Meanwhile, on this beautiful February morning, the crowded docks were a bustling scene of colorful fiberglass, shiny engines and brand new bikinis, as hundreds of eager participants were thrilled to be out of the cold, and ready for a three day adventure in paradise. continued on page 42

FRIDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Bob & ELLE Berg (FL) Team ARTEMIS 50’ NorTech

Mark Stoddart (CANADA) Team OFFLIMITS 50’ Outerlimits

Roland Pust (germany) Team germany 28’ Laveycraft Nord1

Alan Ober (FL)

Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS 36’ Sunsation

42 | Powerboating in paradise

FRIDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014 Alan Lima (FL)

Team GROVE HARBOUR MARINA 38’ Cigarette

Joe & AMY LEE Celello (FL) Team EL DIABLO 36’ Spectre

Jerry Springer (fl) Team ON COURSE 38’ Powerquest

Dr. Robert Rosenberg (nj) Team LABOR INTENSIVE 38’ Cougar

44 | Powerboating in paradise

FRIDAY | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

Ryan Leestma (mi)

Team DUTCH | 50’ Mystic

Marc & Micheline Gendron (canada) Team XCLUSIVE | 42’ MTI

Chris Walker (ga)

Team SUPERTRUCKS | 36’ MTI

Matthew Gordon (Ct) Team HUSTLER | 37’ Hustler

JOHN ROSATTI (fl)

Team BURGERFI | 52’ MTI

46 | Powerboating in paradise

On target, we were off and running, and I had the chance to board a 39 Cigarette Top Gun, piloted by new member Marku Biedermann, a transplanted German professional race-car driver who drives a race-ready Mercedes-AMG. Although it is quite different driving a high-powered performance boat compared to a finely tuned 200 mph race car, the skill sets are similar in many ways. Respecting the performance, the speed, and handling characteristics of the craft, while paying attention to navigation and the close proximity of other boats…takes a certain set of skills that separates high-speed powerboating from the common thread of weekend warriors that rarely will ever exceed 50mph in their family play boat. After powering up on Biscayne Bay and settling in at a 70mph cruise speed, I felt confident in the skills of our pace boat captain, and turned my attention to photography, video production, and enjoying the fabulous February day. As I turned to see my wife Jackie, who was sitting pleasantly on the rear bench and appearing content, I thought for a moment, “We’re allowed to have fun too!”

SJ.

saturday | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

47

Powerboating in paradise

Raft-Up Party

saturday | Miami Boat Show poker run 2014

5

48

Powerboating in paradise

There are so many ways to enjoy an FPC poker run event. From the fantastic Florida weather, to the scenic beauty of the Florida Keys, to the WOW factor of the people and the incredible toys that keep showing up at these events, year after year. As founder and organizer of these highly energized events, I must share with all of you, that one of my most cherished parts of any poker run is presenting awards! Whether it’s the People’s Choice Awards for the dozens of categories we’ve created, to sponsor recognition, or giving out fabulous prizes for the best poker hands…. It’s just plain fun to see people’s reactions when they win something! Earlier this year I attended a Captains party for participants of the Fort Lauderdale Winterfest Parade, winning a simple, but much appreciated “Best in Entertainment Award” for our 40 foot Cruisers Yachts.

After hearing our boat name Clubhouse called, I jumped to my feet and reached for the ceiling and screamed “Yah Baby!” then raced up for my small plaque and photo op! So, congratulations to all the winners at the Miami Boat Show Poker Run...and remember, scream as loud as you want and jump as high as you can, because you will make my day!

Powerboating in paradise 49

B OB B E R G ♣ SP T

O Light Member

P

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2014

owerboaters and then hire a first-class crew sailors agree that the with racing in their veins, long-standing riff and study race strategies between power and for months before the race. sail, is here to stay for a very He and Katie, became two long time. But rarely, we members of the 13 person come across individuals who crew . This past July 18th, are equally versed in their “To the Moon” set sail from passion for poker running the Chicago Yacht Club, one weekend, then sailing the along with close to 350 next. Except FPC member registered teams in various Bob Berg, owner of the 50’ classes That’s over 3,000 Nor-Tech, Team Artemis. sailors and crewmen, all When Bob’s daughter immersed in three days of Katie went off to college, continuous strategic sailing attending University of South around the clock! With over Florida’s sailing academy, fifteen classes competing the conversation between there are many prizes to be her and pops soon led to awarded, yet there exists the decision to compete in only “one” coveted award one of America’s longest for the team that performs running sailboat regattas, the best overall, not just in Mackinac Cup. This event their class, but relative to ranks among the most highly the entire competition. publicized sailing events in This prestigious award, the the world, running now for Mackinac Cup, was one by 105 consecutive years, and Bob & Katie Berg and the covering the longest fresh crew aboard To The Moon. water sailing course in the Appropriately, in keeping world…the entire length with their boat’s namesake, of Lake Michigan. After that is precisely the direction purchasing a used Swan of the countless champagne 42 sailing schooner, Bob corks that followed for many proceeded to rig the vessel jubilant days of celebration! with the best of everything, 50 | Powerboating in paradise

O Light Member

SP ♣ T

M

ark Fischer and his wife Eileen joined Florida Powerboat Club in 2001, with a 29 Powerquest, making a Bahamas poker run to Port Lucaya their first adventure with FPC. At the time, the couple owned a small car business called Fords Offlease, which operated out of a storage unit in Lantana. Average cars, small inventory, and low prices.

But the concept of “Don’t Pay More” was not just an advertising slogan for Mark. It really was the foundation of his business, as he bought cars cautiously at local auctions, and took small margins to move them quickly to eager buyers. Turning the page to the recent years, Mark’s simple company philosophy, has catapulted and transformed the company to OffleaseOnly, which is now one of the nation’s leading privately owned used car dealers. But Mark’s love of

MARK FISCHER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2014

The wheels are turning in more ways than one FOR THIS SELF STARTER THAT TURNED HIS PASSION FOR CARS & BOATS INTO A SUCCESSFUL RETAIL BUSINESS.

cars was only outdone by his love for boats, and after many years with Florida Powerboat Club, Mark soon owned and operated a thriving boat dealership, Boatdirectusa, based in Key Largo. 2014

was a milestone for the transplanted New Yorker, as expansion took on a whole new meaning. The OffleaseOnly brand just expanded its thriving Palm Beach and Miami stores, each capable of selling over 1,000 cards monthly, to include a new 15 acre Orlando store, opening

52 | Powerboating in paradise

this November. This came on the heels of Mark’s recent August 2014 purchase of Deep Impact Custom Boats in Miami, which adds to his factory direct line of two other brands, Blackwater and OceanHawk. Needless to say, as the wheels turn on recently sold cars at three major OffleaseOnly locations, so too are the propellers spinning on dozens of new and used boats from the Key Largo BoatsdirectUsa store. It’s been an outstanding year for Mark & Eileen Fischer, an achievement that we feel is tremendous on so many levels!

Eileen & Mark Fischer

♣T SPO Member

Light

RYAN LEESTMA

! n u R r e k o P n I ” N U Putting The “R OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2014

A

fter competing in the 2014 Tampa Bay Poker Run in his 50 Mystic Cat with his three young children on board, Michigan member Ryan Leestma decided that he ought to turn in early, rather than head to the Saturday night party at SIP Nightclub where a spirit party would be par for the course. But it was a wise decision, as Ryan was registered to compete in an area half triathlon the following day. What transpired that Sunday afternoon, was that the 34 year old not only finished the competition, but took first place in the eighth annual Gator Half Triathlon at Lake Manatee State Park in Bradenton April 13, in a field of hundreds of competitors. When asked

how he managed such a feat, Ryan had some interesting comments that were nothing short of inspiring.

Editor: Ryan, how did you prepare for such a competitive event?

Ryan: Two days before the event, I eat plenty of pasta to “carb up”. Then I do what’s called a “prime” workout on Saturday before I attended the poker run. It’s basically a hard swim (15 min) then a hard bike (30 min) followed by 15 minute hard run. Then, I attended the FPC run (with Mystic’s John Cosker on board) , and for the most part, I concentrated on saying relaxed in the seat, drank plenty of water, and just tried to relax. I didn’t stay for the party at the end of the night because I knew I needed to get “in the zone” mentally.

Ronal & Robbin Selway (OH)

Team ZIP & BOB | 37’ Outerlimits - Stileto Tem augiam, con exer sequat. Gue volore dolortionse dolorem augait in enim ipis autpat alit vu

54 | Powerboating in paradise

Editor: How often do you train for this sport?

Ryan: I try to train between 10-20 hours a week. I usually swim for 2-3 hours, bike for 5-10 hours, and run for 3-5 hours. I usually get up at 5 in the morning to get it in before work.

My boating hobby has complicated my triathlon hobby, but I just have to do both!!!

Considering Ryan competes in a major event every other month, while running his successful I.T business, spreading himself evenly between a wife and four young children, PLUS….still managing to get out to the occasional poker run?! Now that’s something worthy of our FPC 2014 Outstanding Achievement Roster!

♣T SPO Member

Light

Don Lightfoot OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2014

73 !!

Th e Fun B e g in s at

I

f owning several powerboats over a span of three decades wasn’t enough to illustrate his passion for the sport, Texas native Don Lightfoot made 2014 his true “coming out party”, by taking delivery of a brand new 52 foot NorTech cat earlier this year. Before you go on to say, no big whoop.... just another Texan who likes big toys, well that’s no surprise........ let us share with you a few significant factoids. First and foremost....

Don just recently celebrated his 73rd birthday. Second, he has been married 54 years to his lovely wife Alice who rides in the Nor-Tech and

56 | Powerboating in paradise

has attended literally dozens of poker runs at his side, year after year. On the family front, Don is father to four sons ages 49, 51, 52 and 53 years, and is grandpa to 10 grand-kids ages 5 to 30 years. Not only is Don actively involved in all of their lives, he still manages Orange County Building Supply along with two of his sons, overseeing five stores in Southeast Texas with a total work force of over 130 employees. Along with their home in Texas he and wife Alice maintain a Florida vacation home in where else, but sunny Fort Lauderdale. Adding to the mix of toys, the Florida pad is fully equipped with a party boat for cruising the local waterways for dinner...a 50 foot

SeaRay Express Cruiser.. After all, the speed limit on the ICW is still just 25 mph!! But make no mistake about it...when it’s poker run time, expect to see that big Nor-Tech cat, powered by Mercury Racing 1350’s, to be running up there with the big boys close to 150 mph!! Let’s all learn a lesson from Don...to live our lives with passion, work hard, play hard, and always make family a number one priority! AMEN

STORY | Stu Jones PHOTOS | JIM WENGER

58 | Powerboating in paradise

ADay On The BAY

The 4 th edition of TAMPA BAY POKER RUN attracted powerboat teams from across the nation for a Spring event that somehow keeps on getting better.

T

he success of every poker run is the sum of many parts. The timing on the calendar, the quality and luxury of accommodations, proximity of the hosting marina, the water conditions and length of the poker run course, all mixed in with fun and entertainment that’s pleasing to all participants. In recent years, for the Tampa Bay Poker Run seems to have scored high on all fronts, and somehow the 2014 edition staged in mid-April, raised the bar yet another notch. Depending on who one might ask, most participants agree that between the fun run to Tarpon Pointe Grill in Bradenton on Friday, the historic elegance of the luxurious Renaissance

Vinoy Resort, or the subtle changes to the 110 mile poker run course which takes place mostly on the protected Tampa Bay waters, or the banquet hallturned-night club at SIP Lounge in downtown St.Petersburg, there is simply the right combination of all the right stuff, that makes this a fabulous event every April.

In at least two of the event’s last four years, it has been paired up alongside the popular Festivals of Speed event, and that was certainly the plan again for 2014, until last minute schedule by the FOS camp forced a date change. But that didn’t seem to affect the registration numbers, as the event has consistently grown by at least a few more entries every year, with a total roster of about forty five teams for 2014. We hope you enjoy the highlights!

SJ

Powerboating in paradise | 59

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Robert Crow (FL)

Team NOR-TECH BOATS OF FTL | 39’ NorTech

John Costello (FL) 36’ Spectre

Drew Fleming (FL)

Team STATEMENT | 38’ Statement

Scott Conrad (FL)

Team NORTECH | 39’ NorTech

60 | Powerboating in paradise

M

ost Floridians might be shocked to hear that of Florida’s sixty seven counties, just three, Lee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, contain a combined total of over 131,600 boats currently registered with the Florida DMV. Why is this significant? First, because that represents an amazing fifteen percent of the entire state of Florida’s registered boats with the state. But secondly, the geographic significance is that these three counties alone surround the Tampa Bay area, illustrating that above all, this is indeed one of Florida’s best place to live, and boat.

It only makes sense therefore, that as far as the local boaters are concerned, FPC’s annual Tampa Bay Poker Run may not necessarily provide new adventures on local familiar waters, however it does provide an exciting format, awesome powerboats and new friends for a playful weekend with like-minded enthusiasts!

Jeff Bognolo from Tampa runs a 38 Donzi ZR, GOOD NEIGHBOR and couldn’t agree more.

“When the Tampa Bay Poker Run comes into my town…this is my back yard so I get all jazzed up and load the boat up with my friends for a great weekend. The boating around here is fun all the time, but when FPC brings 40 or more big powerboats in for this weekend, and the chopper is chasing us around, it’s like we’re a bunch or rock stars all of a sudden! It’s just a blast, and we always make some new friends!”

For out of state visitors and first timers, the new adventures and great Tampa Bay waters that made it worth the long journey to Florida’s west coast. New York native and longtime FPC member John O’Loughlin agrees that while the luxurious Vinoy Resort and the great waters are ideal for his 48 MTI, Terminator, he’s discovered other hidden gems that the Tampa/St.Pete area offers. “In addition to the great boating here, my crew loves to ride around on our custom bikes here. So we bring a motorcycle trailer and get here a day early to cruise all over the place. What a blast! For us this event really has it all and it’s a perfect time of the year!” continued on next page

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW® February 12–16, 2015

Miami Beach Convention Center Strictly Sail® Miami at Miamarina at Bayside Marketplace New Yacht & Power Boat Show at Sea Isle Marina

Make plans now to attend the Greatest Boat Show in the World!

If it’s for boating, you’ll find it in Miami!

• Thousands of boats on land and in the water: Luxury yachts, powerboats, sailboats, fishing boats and more • Incredible selection of marine products: The best in boating accessories, marine engines, electronics, nautical apparel and more from around the globe Plus boating education, seminars, demonstrations, sea trials, and entertainment.

MiamiBoatShow.com PRODUCED BY

FIND US ON

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Sandy Estep (FL)

Team FOUNTAIN | 31’ Fountain

Florida Powerboat Club extends a very special thanks to all participants who have supported the growth of this relatively new event on the FPC calendar. Going forward, we are happy to announce that a permit application is in place for 2015 and the coming years, for temporary floating docks to be installed in the Vinoy Basin near the resort. This will certainly help to overcome the challenges with the limited dockage at the Vinoy Marina, and should help to take the Tampa Bay Poker Run to the next level! Seventy five boats….here we come!

SJ

Mark Stockwell (MI)

Team 616 GOT CHICKS | 37’ Intrepid

Jason & Christy Stross (FL) Team FOUNTAIN | 38’ Fountain

John & Connie Fahmy (GA) Team EVERDRY | 38’ Baja

62 | Powerboating in paradise

Bob Berg (FL) Team ARTEMIS 50’ NorTech

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Kelly Sills (LA)

Team ASPHALT BABE 36’ Skater

64 | Powerboating in paradise

WWW.SPECTRE-PILINI.COM 727-329-8778

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

George & Shannon Argyros (FL) Team MAYHAM | 44’ MTI

Tom Abraham (NY) Team MTI | 42’ MTI

Michael Nunez (FL)

Team DANGER ZONE | 47’ Nor-Tech

Bill Munyan (FL)

Team NORTECH | 36’ Nor-Tech

66 | Powerboating in paradise

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Kieffer Bailey & Tab Orcutt (LA) Team WHO DAT CAT | 39’ MTI

Ken Armstrong (TX)

Team PHANTOM | 48’ MTI

Jeffrey Bognolo (FL)

Team GOOD NEIGHBOR | 38’ Donzi

Charles Kelly (FL)

Team AMERICAN PLAYER | 41’ Velocity

68 | Powerboating in paradise

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014 Nick Buis / Todd Warner (FL)

Team STATEMENT | 50’ Statement

Jeff & Marilyn Whitlock (AL) Team DO IT | 40’ MTI

Randy Carver (OH) Team NO COMPROMISE | 50’ NorTech

Bob & Madelyn Christie (NJ)

Team JERSEY STRONG | 42’ Cigarette

70 | Powerboating in paradise

Bukaty Marine Service specializes in the repair of generators, air conditioners, and diesel engines.

Expert Level Repairs and Modifications After over a decade of experience with companies like AC Power and Leeward Marine, Jonathan Bukaty realized that he could offer a higher level of service at a much lower price, which led to the creation of Bukaty Marine Services.

If you’re looking for expert repair please give us a call at:

954-588-2564

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Red Reynolds (WI)

Team LADY LISA | 80’ NorTech

Jim Wiley (FL)

Team 007 | 44’ MTI

Mark & Eileen Fischer (FL)

Team OFF LEASE ONLY | 39’ Deep Impact

Glenn Salyer (KY)

Team RED RIVER RANCH

72 | Powerboating in paradise

Girls of FpC 73 | Powerboating in paradise

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014 Don & Alice Lightfoot (TX) Team LOOSE FOOT | 52’ NorTech

Ryan Leestma (MI)

Team DUTCH | 50’ MYSTIC

John O’Loughlin (NY)

Team TERMINATOR | 48’ MTI

Oystein Tenold (NORWAY) Team NORTECH | 36’ NorTech

74 | Powerboating in paradise

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014 Albert Teramana (OH)

Team NASTY HABIT | 42’ Cigarette

Celeste SEGredo - Jason Ventura (FL) Team BRAND X HI PERF MARINE | 36’ Cigarette

Williams, Simon (FL)

Team GOGPS | 42’ Cigarette

Tov Vestgaarden (FL)

Team VALHALLA EXPRESS | 39’ Nor-Tech

76 | Powerboating in paradise

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Gino Gargiulo (FL)

Team RAGING BULL LAMBORGHINI 48’ MTI

Powerboating in paradise | 77

TAMPA BAY poker run 2014

Party & Awards

E

veryone agrees that the opulent Renaissance Vinoy Resort is an ideal headquarter hotel for the Tampa Bay Poker Run. One of the features is being on the doorstep to downtown S t . Pe t e r s b u r g , w h e r e a v i b r a n t restaurant and entertainment district provides abundant dining, dancing and clubbing options! One of those nightclubs is SIP Lounge, and when managing partner James DeVito suggested we do our full poker run dinner party there, then turn the party in a full on nightclub, we thought.. sure why not? After a great dinner and the presentation of all the awards, the venue went through a full transformation to nightclub in just minutes! Thanks to James and Rich, and to all the gang at SIP, for a wonderful evening!

STORY | Stu Jones PHOTOS | JIM WENGER

H

ow many times do you think I have I heard variations of this same statement over my two decades of staging powerboat poker runs in Florida? “Stu I think it’s so cool how you do these poker runs…I just wish I could go, but I don’t have a big powerboat!” Or …”I would go on Key West run for sure, but my boat is broken”…Or...” Hey I think the boats in the club are really cool, but I’m a car guy, just wish I could go on your runs in my Porsche!” ….And the list goes on, and on. Alas, I have an answer for all of those guys and gals who felt like they wouldn’t fit in, and by default, would never get a chance to truly experience a Florida Powerboat Club poker run. To conquer that dilemma, by design, the first ever Key West Air-Land-Sea Poker Run was created with one simple focus. Everyone is welcome, and every form of transportation, is fair game.

But to truly appreciate what the organizer set out to accomplish, is the essence of what this event was created to do. Beneath all the planning and marketing and event management logistics, the true mission is quite simply, to discard some old myths, and create a new mindset when it comes to all forms of recreational cruising, motoring, riding and even flying. The fact remains, we are all motor heads at heart, but occasionally a lifestyle choice (an exotic car, a custom bike, an offshore powerboat) can sometimes lose its appeal. We sometimes need to a little push to step outside the box, and accept new ways to have fun, new ways to make friends, and new ways to discover and explore this beautiful State of Florida, a place that we have all come to love!

To accomplish this, we have to begin by throwing out the conventional rules. Rules that somehow mysteriously dictated that car guys only want to hang out with car guys…

80 | Powerboating in paradise

81 | Powerboating in paradise

KEY WEST AIR-LAND-SEA POKER RUN 2014

Motorcycle guys are in bike gangs so we have to let them do them do their own thing…. Dudes with 40 foot motorhomes are just retired red-necks, and yacht guys? Well they’re just arrogant snobs, who would ever want to hang out with them?” The days of stereotyping or labeling enthusiasts by what form of recreational toy they have chosen as their favorite pastime is…are long over. The Key West Air-LandSea Poker Run was created because there is nothing better than gathering classic and exotic cars, custom bikes, colorful powerboats, stylish cruisers, luxurious yachts, modern motor coaches and private airplanes all together to compete in a poker run to paradise. Pardon me, there is one better thing. It’s meeting and sharing that experience with all those wonderful people who quite frankly, are equally as passionate as you.

The 2nd Annual Key West Air-LandSea Poker Run returns in May 2015, and whether you ride, drive, cruise or fly, we hope to see you there! SJ 82 | Powerboating in paradise

Bahamas Sportboat Poker Run 2014 STORY & PHOTOS | Stu Jones

C

ruising to the Bahamas from mainland Florida is an experience that should be on every boater’s bucket list, and for many Florida boaters, it’s a regular routine year after year. Florida Powerboat Club made its first adventure as a group in 1992, with less than ten boats, many of them single engine cruisers, taking the 50 mile Gulf Stream crossing from Miami to Bimini. Since then, FPC has ventured far and wide to other popular Bahamian ports of call, including West End, Spanish Cay, Green Turtle, Treasure Cay and Great Guana in the Abaco chain to the north, and to Chubb Cay, Nassau & Paradise Island to the South. But somehow, through all those years, no FPC Bahamas journey ever connected all these popular island destinations into one amazing adventure that spanned seven days and almost 1,000 miles. Until now. Over Memorial weekend in late May, four boat crews, all traveling in hi-performance center consoles, set out from South Florida for a memorable journey that has set a new benchmark for FPC’s future Bahamas agendas. Unofficially, it’s called the Bahamas Loop, and here’s a condensed version of how it seven magical days were spent in paradise.

The Teams: (photos) Team Bradley: (TX) 39 Nor-Tech Center Console / Quad Mercury 300 Verados Team Fischer: (FL) 39 Deep Impact Center Console / Quad 300 Verados Team Luna: (TX) 37 Statement Center Console / Triple 300 Verados Team MTI: (FL) 42 MTI Center Console- Quad 300 Verados

Day One/Thurs: (3) Boats depart Fort Lauderdale while the MTI departs Miami, clearing Bimini at the Big Game Club, stopping long enough for a hearty Bahamian breakfast then continuing eastbound across the Bahama Bank to Chubb Cay for fuel.

84 | Powerboating in paradise

GOING THE DISTANCE

has new meaning for a small group of adventurous

FPC members, as they log 1,000 miles on a seven day marathon cruise!

Complications with one boat’s GPS fuel gauge interface made for a troublesome first day, but quick action on the part of Team Fischer, provided the necessary assistance! Destination: Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Day Two/Fri: A fun play day at Atlantis, which has undergone major improvements and waterpark additions since our last visit nearly ten years ago. During the day most of the crews enjoyed AquaVenture Waterpark, (fun for all ages) or the poolside nightclub atmosphere at The Cove, while evenings provided endless dining, entertainment and gambling options throughout the resort. Our favorite was the Marina Village at Atlantis, where awesome mega yachts provided a spectacular backdrop.

Day Three/Sat: The boating fun run started out with a simple daytrip plan to travel about 30-40 miles southeast towards the Exuma chain of islands.

Once under way, calculations from the Garmin indicated this trip was closer to 85 miles one way. Ahhhh…what the hell, it’s only fuel! Staniel Cay Club, here we come!

85 | Powerboating in paradise

BAHAMAS SPORT BOAT POKER RUN 2014

After a cold Kalik at Staniel Cay and a squirt of fuel, we beached the boats at Big Major Cay a.k.a. Pig Island! Honestly, one of the craziest, funniest things you could ever do. Take my word!

Day Four/Sun: Time to fly. Two boats stayed for more fun at Atlantis, while Team Fischer and Team Luna head north for Abaco.

About the first half of the trip is an open-water cruise, followed by scenic cruising along the southern chain of the Abacos. Destination: Hope Town Inn & Marina. First class marina, accommodations, dining and service‌.My favorite Abaco destination to date!

86 | Powerboating in paradise

Palm Beach Boat Show 2014

STORY | Stu Jones PHOTOS | John Lambert, Forest Johnson

B

y the time the Palm Beach Boat Show rolled around in late March, the FPC crew had traveled the highways and biways of Florida, visiting more boat shows and nautical flea markets than ever before, with the club’s new TV platform, BOAT SHOW TV. It was all part of Florida Powerboat Club’s focus on getting the FPC Brand out there in front of the mainstream recreational marine sector, so we decided to hit the boat show circuit a little earlier than usual, with the early January Daytona Boat Show. Followed by Pompano Beach, Orlando, Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show over a six week period. You might think that “something’s gotta give” by that point, but the Palm Beach International Boat Show once again reminded us, that boat shows are not necessarily all work and no play.

Quite the opposite. The beautiful March weather and the mere fact that the Palm Beach Boat Show is positioned along the scenic West Palm Beach waterfront, with

Paul Teutul, Sr. of Orange County Choppers takes time to talk to Boat Show TV producer Stu Jones. a vibrant downtown entertainment district on its doorstep, gives the Palm Beach Show a unique flavor that makes it as much as a social event, as it is a boat show.

Indeed, the selection of boats in every category from cruising, to fishing, to performance and yachting, was stellar in every respect, and it certainly kept our Boat Show TV crew busy every day, capturing the highlights for nearly twenty broadcasts on Sunsports just a few months later! But there is just something about the pleasant vibe if this show, the mild but sunny spring weather, and the ease of getting around the show that always makes this one a big hit for South Floridians.

88 | Powerboating in paradise

Of course, being at the height of Spring Break certainly gives the snowbirds a great chance to get out and do a little shopping, as they plan for the summer ahead, and there was no lack of variety in virtually every category of recreational boat from 15 to 150 feet!

Decisions, decisions! Do I hang out at the amphitheater and enjoy the Venus Swimwear show presented by Florida Powerboat Club, sipping my suds…. or do I walk that docks and pick out my next dream machine? “Excuse me, Bud Girl. One more beer please….I can’t think straight when I’m thirsty.”

Palm Beach Boat Show 2014 Some of the hottest ladies around came to pose for the Palm Beach Boat Show

Powerboating in paradise | 89

In Loving Memory Of

Mike Fiore

Much of the tightly woven family that known simply as the offshore powerboating community, is still very much in shock over the recent loss of Michael Fiore, founder of Outerlimits Powerboats, and highly respected performance boat builder for over two decades. Florida Powerboat Club’s management, its members, sponsors and followers, are but a small part of that community, and many of us still feel empty and perhaps numb, as we still reach for the answers as to why such an experienced and competent hi-performance expert, could lose his life in an environment where he was masterful.

Sadly, the word tragedy seems to be getting overused in the world of high performance boating in recent years, and the loss of Mike Fiore, at the young age of 44, has taken the meaning of this term to a new level. With surviving family that include father Paul & mother Joyce, wife Shonda and the couple’s two young children, along with Michaels first daughter, it soon becomes apparent just how tragic the loss of Michael is,

90

Powerboating in paradise

and will be, for years ahead.

Remembering Michael and all his accomplishments will be the easiest thing for most of us to do. Just look around the docks at your local poker run event... or leaf through the pages of Pow-

erboating in Paradise Magazine.

Locate the most colorful and stylish of boat that catches your eye and makes you say WOW, and there’s a strong chance it’s

an Outerlimits. Talk to anyone who has worked closely with Michael to design and build their very own custom Outerlimits, and they will typically reveal the incredible experience they had working with such a fiercely driven professional. Who would ever have imagined a young boat builder in his twenties, would pursue his goal with so much passion, to become one of the world’s finest performance boat builders.

Our hearts and thoughts remain with the Fiore family, as we join together at this 22nd Key West Poker Run, to remember and pay tribute to Michael Fiore.

SJ

In Loving Memory Of

Carey Downs

During the Key West Poker Run in November, Florida Powerboat Club will formally request fellow club members and poker run attendees to join together and remember our friend Carey Downs, who lost his life late August along with close friend Jeremie Floyd, in a tragic boating accident. Most members of the performance marine community agree that Carey was a wonderful, thoughtful, and giving person who was pleasant to know and work with. For many years, Carey was an integral of the David Woods Pier 57 sales and service team, working many boat shows and poker runs across the country for more than a decade. His close friend Jeremie Floyd (40) who he perished alongside, was married to Marsha Floyd, another close friend too many of us and an employee with David Woods and Pier 57 for several years. Sadly, this upcoming Dec 5th, 2014, Carey would have been celebrating his 40th Birthday.

This is so close to home for all of us in the extended Florida Powerboat Club family. Jackie and I had ongoing dealings with Car-

92

Powerboating in paradise

ey, before and during every boat show or poker run, as Carey always looked after the customers to make sure they had the right dockage for their boats or rooms for their guests on the poker run.

In fact, we recall just two years ago, when Jackie and I checked into our suite at the Postcard Inn for the Miami Boat Show Poker Run, only to discover the a/c system was not working. The maintenance team could not correct the problem and the room clocked in over 90 degrees. Down at the Tiki Bar, having drinks with Carey and a bunch of the poker runners, Jackie told Carey about our overheated room situation. He immediately handed us his own room key and told us to sleep in his room, while he would find somewhere else to bunk. He

said, “Hey you guys are the ones running the poker run and we appreciate you both very much!

You need to get some sleep! Take the room, I’m fine!” How could we refuse the generosity that he spread everywhere…..he was just a genuinely good person right to the core!

Soon after the accident and the tragic news, there were so many stories and memories that have been shared online by so many people, whose lives Carey touched.

We did not know Jeremie Floyd very well, but certainly many of us are very close to our dear friend Marsha, and we pray that she will continue with strength to forge through this terrible loss of her loving husband.

SJ

Letter from the

PUBLISHER Stu Jones

In some ways, this is really just a continuation of my regular Letter from the President found in the front of the book. I really wanted to address the subject of the much longer delay between magazine issues.

As the editor and publisher of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine since we started publishing in 1999, I am very proud of how far we have come, and on a subjective level, I think we have achieved some great milestones by maintaining a 4x annual schedule throughout most of 2012 and 2013, with 130 page issues, during which time, other performance publications have simply vanished.

No disrespect to any of these publishers and industry peers, but in the last decade we saw Extreme Boats, Hot Boat, Powerboat, and a handful of other marine magazines vanish. We consider our friends at Dupont Registry (Boats) and Got a also at Speedboat to be our comment Magazine, publishing allies, as for me? we each cover our E-mail me at stu@flpowerboat.com respective niche in the market. But even here in our immediate situation, getting single issues of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, back up to 200 pages per book as we saw in 2007 and 2008, or taking our circulation numbers beyond the 15,000 copies per issue over the last few years, are not something we have on our agenda, as we go forward. The times...they are a changin’! To expand, for just a single

130-page issue, we often budget between $40K and $ 50k for content acquisition, graphic design, printing, mailing and national circulation.

Sure, the advertising revenue helps us cover these costs, but until we find new and much stronger revenue sources to supplement the production of the book, I am quite content to scale back to a bi-annual format.

For as long as it takes, to get the book

back on track to where we can sustain a 4x annual publishing schedule, I would say we will maintain the 2x annual schedule. So where does that leave our subscribers and members who expect 4 magazines annually?

For starters, the few hundred nonmember subscribers that are eager to receive their issues every quarter, your subscription terms will be extended.

We will ensure that you receive the correct number of books for the period that you have paid for. At the present time, we are comfortable to maintain the standard $ 29 Subscription cost, although we will double the

period of the subscription to 2 years, which equates to 4 Issues.

Meanwhile, on all of our members and followers will see over the next year, is as much stronger focus on television production from our FPC studio in Pompano Beach. , This includes the Powerboating in Paradise TV Series and the new BOAT SHOW TV series, along with much more web-driven content Plus our ever-growing social media platforms such as Facebook.

For our marine trade members, and those engaged in some facet of the marine industry, we will continue to offer the lowest possible rates for advertising, substantial circulation numbers of approximately 10,000 magazines each issue, and most importantly, a very controlled circulation and distribution of these books, to ensure that qualified boaters and prospective buyers are reading Your ads!

I would like to thank our passionate FPC members and loyal advertisers for their continued support, and for those of you who are just new to our sport and getting a fresh start in the world of powerboating, welcome to the Florida Powerboat Club family! We promise to keep every issue of Powerboating in Paradise magazine packed with colorful editorial features that depict, true to form, how exciting it is to enjoy the Florida powerboating lifestyle

Stu Jones

Join the club. Join the fun.

Six 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. $449.00/year*

GOLD MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits, plus: • Premium Outer Banks Club Polo Shirt. (Ladies tops avail.)

• Premium embroidered club hat.

• Additional Powerboating Video of your choice: • Venus Swimwear gift voucher. ($75-$100 value.) $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. $249.00/year* VIDEO MEMBERSHIP Membership Includes all of the Social Membership benefits, plus: DVDs as they are released. (10-12 per year.)

Key West Poker Run, Emerald Coast Poker Run, Bahamas Poker Run, Sportboat Poker Run, Jacksonville Poker Run, Tampa Bay Poker Run, Fort Myers Poker Run, Miami Boat Show Poker Run. Events may vary.

$169.00/year*

COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes: • Business card ad in our magazine • 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. $249.00/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. $69.00/year*

*Overseas and international memberships will have a slightly higher rate to compensate for mailing/shipping costs.

♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣

KEY WEST POKER RUN Tom Abraham Rich Ainsworth Max Alaniz Michael Alexander Bryan Aloia Joe Amodio Ray Aquit Jim & Lynne Archambault Jorge Arellano George & Shannon Argyros Phil Armitage Ken Armstrong Richie Barr Tom & Terry Beagle Justin Beischel Brad & Lisa Benson Bob & Elle Berg John & Maria Bettencourt Jeffrey Bognolo John Bongiorno Skip Braver Stephan Broeker Nick Buis Joe Calvanese Jeff Campbell Woody Carneal Joe Center Michael Ciasulli Mike Clamshack John Coe Hunter Coe David Cohen Scot Conrad Jeff & Jennifer Corbel Ken Criswell Jeff Crotty Dr. Chris Deloache

96

NY MI TX NY NJ GA FL GA FL FL Va TX LA MI OH NJ FL MA FL MD FL GER FL CT TX VA CA NJ FL MI MI MA FL IL TX CA OK

42’ MTI 36’ Nor-Tech 39’ Nor-Tech 32’ Skater 38’ Hustler 40’ Performance 36’ Deep Impact 34’ Sunsation 39’ MTI 44’ MTI 34’ Scarab 48’ MTI 38’ Fountain 36’ Sunsation 36’ Spectre 52’ MTI 50’ Nor-Tech 47’ Cigarette 38’ Donzi 38’ Cigarette 41’ Cigarette 27’ Eliminator 50’ Statement!

46’ Skater 43’ Nor-Tech 39’ Cigarette 40’ MTI 38’ Skater 36’ Yellowfin 34’ Jupiter 39’ Ocean Express 50’ Outerlimits 34’ Nor-Tech 39’ Outerlimits 31’ Cigarette Sponsor 42’ MTI

Powerboating in paradise

MTI KUZICAN KING OF CLUBS TJA MOTORSPORTS HUSTLER SLINGSHOT TILTED KILT G-SEA STILL KEEPIN’ IT REAL SUPER BEAST MAYHEM AGITATOR PHANTOM WIRED UP BAR-NONE SHORT CIRCUIT PASS BLOCKER ARTEMIS LAST CALL GOOD NEIGHBOR MAKE IT HAPPEN CIGARETTE RACING TEAM GERMANY 2 STATEMENT! DE CAL RIDIN’ DIRTY DADDY BOAT RIDE SHOOTING IT MAXON HYUNDAI- MAZDA AFTERFISH ZIGG Y NAS-T Outerlimits NOR-TECH OUTA MY MIND CIGARETTE Lucas Oil GAME OVER

David DeNicola Dave Dusendang Wendell Eirvin Tony Ely John & Connie Fahmy Mark Fischer Mark & Eileen Fischer Trent & Shawn Fischer Chris Fisher Warren Foreman Bryan Funk Buzz Fyhrie Tim Gallagher Curtis & Debbie Gano Gino Gargiulo Glen & Kathy Gerstenslager Eric Glaser Mike & Angela Goldbaugh Larry Goldman Gary Goodell Matthew Gordon Ray Gremaux Bill Grigo Dr Ino Halegua Eskil Hansen Ian Hawkins Pat Haughey Mark Headley Sharon Henley Tommy Hofstetter Rene Hoppe Chet & Cindy Huffman John Hynes Gabriele Jasper

NJ MI MO SC GA FL FL TX VT TX MD FL MO MI FL OH FL AL FL FL CT NY NY FL NOR MI FL OH FL FL GER CA BAH NJ

39’ Nor-Tech NOR EASTER 39’ Cigarette Cigatette 42’ MTI LET’S GO 39’ Cigarette LEVEL 5 38’ Baja EVERDRY 36’ Black Water BOATS DIRECT USA 39’ Deep Impact OFF LEASE ONLY 43’ Nor-Tech SCREWS LOOSE III 35’ Donzi VT DONZI 46’ Skater RATED X 38’ Fountain OASIS MARINAS Sponsor TOTAL DOLLAR INSURANCE 52’ MTI MTI 38’ Cigarette PRIMAL INSTINCT 48’ MTI Raging Bull Lamborghini 42’ Fountain HAULIN ASS 43’ Midnight Express MIDNIGHT Express 38’ Donzi LATE FEE$ 42’ MTI XTREMEPOWERBOATS.COM 38’ Cigarette CAVEMAN 40’ MTI WICKED 33’ Renegade RAY THE PLUMBER 35’ Fountain ADJOURNMENT 38’ Cigarette GREECE LIGHTNING 50’ Nor-Tech 5000 TBS Nor-Tech Marine Sponsor ILMOR HI PERFORMANCE 37’ Active Thunder ACTIVE THUNDER 42’ Fountain MAIDEN AMERICA 38’ Cigarette LIQUID ASSET Sponsor CHIEF PERFORMANCE 32’ Advantage GERMANY 3 43’ Nor-Tech WAY NUTZ 39’ Outerlimits PREDATOR 36’ Spectre PAIN KILLER

Registrations after oct 25 are not listed.

♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♠♥♣♦♣

2014 PARTICIPANTS LIST

Rich Johanneck Steve and Marina Johnson Hal & Missy Johnson Stu & Jackie Jones Wayne Kacher Jr. Josh Kirkland Burton Kirsten Dan Kleitz David & Jenny Landsman James Lee Ian Lehn James Leonardo Kerry Leong Don & Alice Lightfoot

MN 40’ Advantage FL 38’ Formula MI 39 Nor-Tech FL Organizers MD 47’ Fountain GA 42’ Fountain MI 40’ Outerlimits RI 52’ Outerlimits MD 50’ Outerlimits KS 46’ Skater FL Sponsor NY 112’ BAGLIETTO BC-CAN 52’ Outerlimits TX 52’ Nor-Tech

FUELISH PLEASURE NAUTI GIRL SOMETHING’S BREWING POWERBOATING IN PARADISE FULL STICK UOEVNO CEASAR OUTERLIMITS GOLDDIGGER FREEDOM US1 BOOSTane Racing PURE INSANITY HOLY $#?!

LOOSE FOOT TOO

Alan Lima Amy Lincoln Cody & Veronica Lovins Rick Mackie Christian McCauley Steve McEachern Erik Martin Zane & Amanda Mead Brent Medley Karsten Melcher Tom Meshinsky Nate & Robin Michel Kenny Mungle Bobby Murray Michael Nunez John O’Loughlin Mark Palanchian William Pater Gary Patterson

FL MA TX WI NH NC OH TX MO GER NJ LA TX MD FL NY FL MI FL

GROVE HARBOUR MARINA HEAT HER UP OUT OF COMPLIANCE MERCURY RACING INSTIGATOR ROOSTERTAILS&COCKTAILS RUNNIN ON E OVERKILL HOT SHOT GERMANY I OFFICIAL BUSINESS REMOTE ACCESS GONE AGAIN SPECTRE Danger Zone TERMINATOR NEXTERAPOWERMARKETING US TARP LIBERTY COACH

84’ Lazzara 35’ Cigarette 42’ Nor-Tech Sponsor 36’ Nor-Tech 36’ Skater 37’ Active Thunder 48’ MTI 38’ Cigarette 28’ EVO LaveyCraft 39’ MTI 47’ Outerlimits 56’ Skater 36’ Spectre 43’ Nor-Tech 48’ MTI 90’ Yacht - MIA 40’ Profile Sponsor

Registrations after oct 25 are not listed.

Troy Paul OK James Pellizzi FL AJ Phillip LA Michael Pierce LA David Postill MI Falk Preussner FL Scott Price FL Richard & Melissa Prince LA Dennis Raia NY Dave Raisbeck FL Fred Reavis SC Michael Roeling LA Ron Roman-Ricucci NJ John Rosatti FL Dr. Robert Rosenberg IL Chris Ryder NY Wayne / Joe Schaldenbrand MI Chris Schoenfeld OH Brad Schoenwald FL Frank Schultz Jr. CO Kelly Sills LA Scott Sjogren IL Ladd Spring LA Jerry Springer FL Kirk Stevens CA Mark Stoddart CAN Scott Struthers CA Paddy Sullivan MD Ron Szolack MI George Takkula FIN Buddy Thomas MA Tony & Jeanme Thompson TX Mike Thornton KY David Tievy MD Rudy Trevisan CAN Jack Villars SWI Curt & Juju Vinson FL William Vogel WI Michael & Veronica Voudouris TX Derek Wachob OK Derek Wachob OK Mark & Rachel Waddington NE Curtis Watkins FL Jeff & Marilyn Whitlock AL Jim Wiley FL Simon & Kathryn Williams FL Matt & Tara Willman IA Mark Wilson FL Kort & Jessica Wittich LA

48’ MTI 40’ MTI 40’ Skater 45’ Cigarette 42’ Cigarette 42’ MTI Sponsor 44’ MTI 48’ MTI 42’ Nor-Tech 40’ MTI 38’ Cigarette 42’ Fountain 50’ MTI 38’ Cougar 32’ Skater 36’ Sunsation 38’ Statement!

38’ Cigarette 46’ Cigarette 36’ Skater 44’ MTI 42’ Cigarette 38’ POWERQUEST 40’ Skater 50’ Outerlimits 42’ Hydra Sport 38’ Donzi 42’ MTI 42’ Fountain 46’ Outerlimits 47’ Fountain 38’ Skater 48’ Fountain 36’ Nor-Tech 44’ MTI 39’ Nor-Tech 39’ Cigarette 39’ Nor-Tech 42’ Cigarette 52’ MTI 52’ Outerlimits 52’ Skater 42’ MTI 44’ MTI 42’ Cigarette 36’ Nor-Tech Sponsor 34’ Sunsation

PAUL TRANSPORTATION TAPS NO PLANS MAXIMUS XTREME INSANITY ESSENCE HARDIN MARINE DICTATOR OUTRAIAGIOUS RAISERS EDGE BLEW BY U ROELING ALONG MOTLEY CREW BURGERFI LABOR INTENSIVE WHIPLASH SUNSATION BOATS NAUTI-N-NICE POWERBOAT NATION ROUGH RIDER ASPHALT BABE PIER 57 SPRING BREAK II ON COURSE SHIFT FREIGHT OFFLIMITS THE OTHER WOMAN CODE BLUE TOM CATS FINLAND ALL SET PAIN KILLER FRISKY BUSINESS SPEC-OPS IV / SCI IT’S ALL GOOD JACK HIGH HEELIN GOTCHA CLEAN SWEEP PLAN B BLACK DIAMOND FAST REDHEAD DISRUPTER DO IT 007 GOGPS PERFECT STORM WILSON CUSTOM MARINE KORT ORDERED

Powerboating in paradise

97

2015 calendar

JAN 22-25, 2015

Winter Poker Run to Marathon To Hyatt Place Faro Blanco Marathon FEB 12-16, 2015

Miami INTERNATIONAL Boat Show Miami Beach

FEB 13, 2015

Miami Boat Show BASH Raleigh Hotel, South Beach, Fl. Feb 19-22, 2015

20Th Miami Boat Show Poker Run Miami To Islamorada - Post Card Inn March 27-28, 2015

Palm Beach Poker Run Dockage at PB Boat Show APRIL 16-9, 2015

tampa bay POKER RUN Vinoy Resort in St Petersburg MAY 14-17, 2015

2nd Annual Key West Air, Land & Sea Poker Run Miami To Key West - Hyatt KW JUNE TBA

bahamas POKER RUN Multiple island adventure June/JUly

Summer Poker Run Tour Non-FPC Events in MS,TX, MI, TN, NY, GA. AUG 11-16, 2015

Ad Index

ACTIVE THUNDER...............................73 BAM MARINE.....................................11 BOATSDIRECTUSA.COM.....................53 BOATHOUSEREALTY...........................31 BOOST POWER...................................63 BUKATY..............................................71 CIGARETTE RACING...........................27 DOLLER OFFSHORE............................15 DUPONT REGISTRY............................55 FPC MEMBERSHIP..............................95 GOLDDIGGER-OUTRERLIMITS............39 GOVE HARBOUR MARINA...................43 ILMOR HIGH PERFORMANCE..............19 KEY WEST POKER RUN 2014................5 LIVORSI-CMI......................................33 MERCURY RACING APPAREL..............35 MERCURY RACING......................IBC/99 MIAMI BOAT SHOW PR 2015..............87 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW...61 MIAMI BROKERAGE BOAT SHOW.......63 NAPLES MOTORSPORTS....................37 OCEAN ROADS TRANSPORTS............45 OCEAN LED........................................45 ODYSSEY BATTERIES.........................67 OFFLEASEONLY.COM...................... IC/2 PIER 57..............................................25 PIER57-MYSTIC..................................41 PILINI MARINE....................................65 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE TV......93 SPEEDWEAR......................................45 SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS (SCI)...57 TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE........... B/100 TILTED KILT........................................51 TNT MARINE......................................67 TOTAL DOLLAR..................................69 WINTER POKER RUN..........................83

23rd Emerald Coast Poker Run Destin / Ft. Walton Beach OCT 8-11, 2015

Key Largo Columbus Regatta Marriott Key Largo NOV 9-16, 2015

23rd Annual Key West Offshore Poker Run Miami To Key West - Multiple departure options Please confirm with FPC office before making travel plans. Dates subject to change.

Visit www.flpowerboat.com for updated information.

Advertising Deadlines: next Issue

Ad Materials: JAN 20, 2015

Subscribe to Powerboating In Paradise Magazine | Delivered 2 Times A Year

Contact us: 954-545-1414 • www.flpowerboat.com • fpcevents@gmail.com

BIGGER IS BETTER when it comes to power and efficiency.

The 8.6L 540 sterndrive, sporting larger diameter cylinder bores, has a 21-cubic-inch displacement advantage over its 8.2L 525 EFI sibling. This larger displacement produces 13 percent more torque for enhanced hole shot and an additional 50 ft-lb of peak torque.

The result is enhanced acceleration and power throughout the engine rpm range.

The 540 also delivers superior fuel efficiency and range compared to the 525.

All this power and efficiency comes from 87 posted octane (R+M)/2, or 91 RON (global) pump gas. The 540 complies with both EPA and CARB emissions requirements.

mercuryracing.com