Wish our boats were bigger for this type of thing?

[RickK]

Take a load off, grab your favorite libations and lower your BP watching some pretty cool efforts.
Holiday parades - here's a few for 2014.  If you have videos of local ones please post them up.

[youtube:1tzb6b25]wP3J4TlN7UQ[/youtube:1tzb6b25]

[youtube:1tzb6b25]O3kSjsQn93M[/youtube:1tzb6b25]

[wingtime]

Our boats are plenty big enough for this!  We took Reel Crazy out for our second year in the Madeira Beach Festival of lights boat parade. And we won second place for boats under 25'!

Here is a video of the parade.  Not sure who took it but they did a nice job editing it.  See if you can spot which boat is us! (hint it's a pink nightmare!"

[youtube:7abclgol]VYAFwsw6L4M[/youtube:7abclgol]

[RickK]

I'd say #50.  Looks nice Bruce  
Who got to wear the suit?  I can't figure out what is on top though
The boat with the rollercoaster was wild for sure.

[wingtime]

I went to the captains meeting last night for the Indian Rocks parade.  Of course the roller coaster guy was there!  So I know I'm not getting best overall in that parade!  

Amy was playing the role of Ralphie in the bunny suit.  The thing on top is the leg lamp from the movie A Christmas Story.... "It's a major award!"

[youtube:1llpk7om]_0SIujwdc34[/youtube:1llpk7om]

[RickK]

Ahhh, it's all coming clear now.  Great idea!!

[GoneFission]

The Peninsula Yacht Club does a Christmas Parade each year - with some 17-25 footers included.  LED lights mean a smaller boat without a big generator can do lots of lights.    

There's a guy with a 46 Mainship that always decorates to the max:
 

See ya on the water!

[wingtime]

John is right LED lights make a big difference in the power required to run the lights.  In fact a modest inverter would be more than enough in many cases.  I run a inverter type generator to power my lights.  Even then I doubt I'm pulling more than 400 or so watts.  The problem is the time.  A four hour parade is a long run for an inverter and a battery.

[RickK]

Time for a small e2000i Honda generator - mine is super quiet. I think Yamaha is up to the same specs now too.
When I camp I carry it but don't need it until the 3rd day. In the summer if I run the big DC fan a lot I need it  on day 2 and you can barely hear it.

[GoneFission]

The E2000 is just amazing...  Quiet, stable, and a great example of modern engineering.