The Key West Poker Run Problem Solver
With 160 boats currently pre-registered, the 2017 Florida Powerboat Clubs Key West Poker Run is going to be incredible. But, it has not been a smooth year by any means for Club President Stu Jones his wife Jackie and their team. This year Hurricane Irma did create a series of hurdles for Stu to overcome.
With little to no dockage available at Gilbert’s, the usual lunch stop, everything had to be moved to Marathon Key, which will have three separate lunch stops at some new locations that should prove to be outstanding.
The actual poker run course was also of great concern so Stu hired a sea plane and just last week flew the entire course from Miami to Key West low and slow checking every inch of the inter-coastal waterway to verify the course remained well marked and free of any submerged objects or debris. Stu told us he has also been promised a full waterways report from Florida Fish and Wildlife near the end of this month.
Stu said” The bottom line is that the Key West Poker Run is on in full form. Key West is fully recovered, all the marinas, hotels, and other venues are open and ready to accommodate everyone. There are about 10 to 15 boats still on the fence you have indicated they are coming but have not registered and while hotel accommodations remain available they will go fast as the date approaches.
This is the Florida Powerboat Clubs 25th year and the contributions the club has provided to marine industry especially in the high performance segment are clearly not measurable. The number of boaters inspired to buy a boat new or used, big or small has to be huge and a significant amount of credit goes to Stu and his team for continuing to provide safe and fun powerboating experiences throughout Florida and the world.
This years run is also dedicated to my great friend Larry Goldman. Larry was always at each and every FPC run since the beginning and was the host of the very first club Poker Run at Sunny Isles, Marina 25 years ago. The dedication of the 2017 Key west Poker Run to Larry’s memory is a great honor to Larry and his family and close friends who miss him so very very much.
Powerboat Nation will be all over Key West shooting video for out new episodes so be sure to be camera ready when we catch you in and around Key West!
