FL Aquasport Gathering Fall 2011

[Capt Matt]

Never fails when I make plans something changes or breaks. Found out Sat during my morning charter my steering is hooked up wrong. Two clients where riding on the transom cap and it must have put a lot of pressure on the steering system. The upper helm sprayed hydro fluid everywhere. After cleaning up the huge mess we limped around for the last hour finishing up the trip.
After reading the install instructions when I got home it turns out the steering is installed wrong It is a Uflex system and was rigged like a teleflex dual station station. The system is marketed as a bolt in replacement for the teleflex system so I never read the directions in my haste. I have never seen a dual helm that needed a vent plug on the main helm and a extra line between the two stations but I guess that is why they send directions. I must have got real lucky as I ran 120 hrs with no problems till Sat. It could have been a really bad mistake on my part.
After pulling the boat I just did not feel safe running  30 miles north to the gathering with  my scary steering situation.  Will get the parts on Monday and scramble to fix it before my Tuesday trip.
It just really sux as I wanted to meet everyone and thank you personally with your help on my rebuild.
Hope you all had a great time and i will catch you next time.
Capt Matt

[Circle Hooked]

Made it back safe after some cold windy nights, but Saturday the weather was great, definitely not a reason for everybody that didn't show up (Capt Matt you have a good reason) but the rest   anyway the diehards came as always, and now some pics.

Me and Josh just got back from Cayo Casta State Park and found Rick and Dave Taking it easy.


Rick and Doc pulling up for the  Gathering.


Dave getting ready for the raft up.


The gang is all here, from left to right Rick, Dave, me, Doc.






Money Pit stopped by in his pretty new Angler.


Doc's boat was for the birds  

[RickK]

We got there on Friday and headed out toward the pass - contacted CH and found he was already on the water and heading our way so we hung out in the pass and waited on him to catch up.  CH & Josh headed out to do some fishing and Dave and I took off towards Captive to do what the boats are named for - Exploring.  It was pretty windy out there for sure so the biggest priority was to find a place to duck and hide and we found a beautiful little cove that was deep and perfect to shelter us.  The Friday night gig was on.
We guided CH into the cove and that was it for the night - sitting back chilling with some friends.
Saturday turned out very nice. Started out real windy but started to lay down once the sun got high in the sky. On the way back in from Cayo Costa Dave ran out of gas (his guage stopped working a couple weeks ago ) and luckily he ran out close to a marina so I towed him over - $5.17 / gal  
We had to relocate the gathering - a family was camping on our first island and the water around the plan B island was shallow so we decided to move to a place that Doc could get into - he's having problems with a trim motor - so we shifted west about a 1/4 mile.  Waited with much anticipation for people to be hailing us on the vhf - but nothing.....  :(   Money pit stumbled onto us in his sweet new shiny boat - says it still smells new.
So the 12 or so boats we thought were coming ended up being just the 4 diehards     Oh well.  Cetainly not the first time and won't be the last.

Doc hung out with us until around 5 and he split to beat the dark on his 1.75 hour run home. We stayed the night in the new gathering place, cooked some scrumptous ribs, chilled out again - weather was warming. We packed up Sunday morning and mosey'd on home around 9.
I'll post some pics a little later today.

[Glock Diver]

Fellas,

Many apologies for missing what would have been my 3rd Aquasport gathering!  I had grand plans to get up early Saturday morning, launch the 225 from Punta Rassa, and cruise up Pine Island Sound in DOC's wake.

And then Friday happened.    My neighbors (3 single guys) decided to throw a "Tacky Sweater" party between their house and mine. Had about 20 people come through, several ladies! And most of them supported the theme and wore their tackiest holiday sweater.  Long story made short, many Corona's later...    

And then passed out on my sofa, about 1:30am, allowing my hilarious neighbors to photograph!



Needless to say, Saturday morning was a B****!  But it looks like you guys had a good time, and I will catch you at the next one!

[seabob4]

Gotta hand it to you Mike, you got huevos posting that pic!

[Circle Hooked]

Gotta hand it to you Mike, you got huevos posting that pic!

I second that, Mike the next one is going to be down by you.

[Glock Diver]

Gotta hand it to you Mike, you got huevos posting that pic!

I second that, Mike the next one is going to be down by you.

Hey, at least I had pants on!  

[seabob4]

Gotta hand it to you Mike, you got huevos posting that pic!

I second that, Mike the next one is going to be down by you.

Hey, at least I had pants on!  

And not shaving cream in your hand, and a warm bucket of water by your side...

[Aswaff400]

man, if yall did the gathering next weekend, or the weekend after i could have joined, im off for vacation sunday 20th through monday the 28th.

bob, ill be passing by your place on the 21st with the f150 (and boat) if you wana check out the work ive done on it... that reminds me, i need to get a new sunpass...

[gran398]

Mike, I'm with Bob...a man that can poke fun at himself is a great man! You just mosey on up this way any time....and bring the rest of the boys with you

[seabob4]

man, if yall did the gathering next weekend, or the weekend after i could have joined, im off for vacation sunday 20th through monday the 28th.

bob, ill be passing by your place on the 21st with the f150 (and boat) if you wana check out the work ive done on it... that reminds me, i need to get a new sunpass...

Aaron, coming up the Veterans, get off at 50 and hang a right, you'll see a 7-11.  You'll actually see it sitting at the light.  If it's in the morn, I'll buy you one of their breakfast...concoctions.

Good idea on the Sunpass.  With that dual axle behind you, you're adding $2 extra bucks per toll...

[pete]

Mike ,Mike,Mike,you crack me up!

Great Aquasport Gathering guys!Nice pics!

[MoneyPit]

It was nice to meet you guys saturday.  Sorry we didn't stay long, we got a late start in the morning and my family wanted to do some fishing.  I ordered a new Ram mount for the trolling motor and I guarantee I won't loose that one....I'm putting a leash on that beotch.  I knew I'd drop it one day...I grabbed it as it was on the way into the Atlantic Ocean when I sea trialed the boat a couple weeks ago.  

Take care guys.

[Glock Diver]

what's the plan for the Spring meetup?  Scott you mentioned down here in my area?

[RickK]

We may have to "couch" that idea.