Central FL Gathering Spring 2014

[RickK]

We've had members show up in all kinds of different boats over the years.  Showing up is the main part, hanging out with new and old friends is the best part.  

[Aswaff400]

If I bring a 1987 Wellcraft to the party    will I be cast aside like two week old leftovers?.... will I still be able to post on the site??

The admiral and I would promise to stay on the beach and only visit others when asked.  :eye:

Visited DeSoto last time we left a friends house in Tampa and had a blast!  Looks like a great place to spend a weekend!

i'll probably show up in either a 20 angler bay, 21 seaboss bay, or 36 contender(in my pic from last page) so you wont be the only non-aquasport outcast    

[seabob4]

Ryan, one of my buddies at WC (he rigged 200 and 175 Ospreys) had an 18 Fish just like yours, 130 Yam.  Excellent boat, we would take her out 30 miles regularly.  

So I guess if a guy who was building Aquasports can own one, you should be OK...

[woody]

perfect place. count me in!!

[RickK]

Holy Moly Woody, where ya been?
Hey if you want to stay the night with us again you know what you need to bring now, and I would recommend climbing into the back of my 230 under the cover/glass so you stay dry - you're always welcome and I have room.

Guys, we're slowly getting closer to the date and it's going to be a great time.  Time to start enrolling your better half and any friends that know AS owners. There are some rules for Shell Island that were put in place 6 or so years ago that we need to be aware of, which I'll get a link to.  One thing for sure I remember is that you can't let your dog run free or you'll get a ticket (one non member that was with a member got snagged a few years ago).

[Aswaff400]

here ya go rick https://www.pinellascounty.org/park/man ... _Rules.pdf
https://www.pinellascounty.org/park/man ... seLand.pdf

from what i understood, the rules apply everywhere within the boundary(idle speed) pilings. my parents used to stay on thier boat alot with another boat or 2 a few years ago, one friend got a ticket for having a dog(Yorkie) on the boat and the other boat got a ticket for having alcohol on the boat... my parents keep the cooler in the cabin with the cabin door shut  so they where spared the search, just had to show the usual safety stuff... guess it all depends on the officers mood...

[wingtime]

guess it all depends on the officers mood...

 
....and the boater that is being boarded attitude!

[RickK]

Buncee Pass - lowest part of the map in the link.
The cops were usually thick on the Saturdays that we held the gatherings.  The alcohol rules were always a touchy subject it seems, at least going back 8 years.  We just made sure we stayed in the water when we were drinking a beer.  Glass bottles is a no-no and was back then too.  Dogs are a no-no, both there and on Egmont.
Just have to be smart about it for the few hours that the gathering is held.  We'll be camping on the north side of Desoto, which is in the south side of Buncee Pass.  Always a nice current and a breeze.

[wingtime]

So Rick you going to camp on the beach on the north end of Ft Desoto?  They allow that?

[RickK]

Nope, we'll be camping on our boats in Buncee pass.  We'll find a niche, out of the channel drop an anchor and let the party begin.
If the wind is too stiff we can idle up into the Desoto park to the spot where you can't go any farther (no motorized vessels), drop anchor and let it rip.  We held the first 6 gatherings in Buncee, if I remember right, so we've found some good spots to boat camp.

I think some of the more seasoned boaters in that area always keep their refreshments in a plastic cup to avoid hassle from the po po.
Hey we have a member or two in that area that are po po, maybe they can get us a free pass that day?

[dburr]

I think some of the more seasoned boaters in that area always keep their refreshments in a plastic cup to avoid hassle from the po po.
Hey we have a member or two in that area that are po po, maybe they can get us a free pass that day?

Camouflage.... At an age that I shouldn't have, I used to put Myers Dark in a diet coke can with just enough diet Sprite to give it fiz.. At the Winter Harbor Lobster boat races I got busted   by one of the Old Boys that was getting ready to race. He was "parched" and needed a little soda before his run. Albert had quite a surprise as he hauled on that can. After he finished choking all he said was "JeeezzzuuussssKAAArrrist does your Mother know your drinking that????" I said yes, Albert knew the answer and I got the can back empty....  Yes, he won his heat

[seabob4]

Rick, out of curiosity, why do you call it Buncee Pass?  It's Bunces Pass...

[RickK]

I guess I type it the way I say it.  Must be a Sarasota thing  
(Shoot, now I need to go back and correct the last 6 years of posts - THANKS SB)

Hey, so I noticed on one of the links (maybe both) that Aaron posted that they now have pilings along the north side of Bunces pass?  Those were not there the last time I was there (a few years ago). If so, they are really going out of their way to define that preserve.

[Circle Hooked]

The Club is planning on meeting at Egmont, Rick are you towing up or driving the boat up, I plan on driving my boat, only 23 miles by water and if the gulf is flat it will be faster then towing, right now the plan is I'm bringing the whole family so unless things change camping is out for me.

[RickK]

I think I'll tow up. It's about 45min to an hour tow if we take our time and I'll get better gas mileage in the truck than the boat.