Event proposals

[boldts]

Kinda thinking why not have a Home Town Rally in Washington, NC? I've never been there, but its kinda on the inter-coastal waterway isn't it? The factory could be a big part in maybe a dinner or lunch along with tours. Show owners their commitment to the Donzi, Proline, Baja and Fountain boat lines. It wouldn't be an easy attend for the West coast owners, but it's pretty centralized for the East coast owners whether you be North or South.

Like I said, haven't been there, but it's on a river I believe. You'd have fresh or brackesh water for those who prefer not to run in salt water, yet being off the ocean, there would be access for the owners of the larger ZRs, ZXs, Fountains, Proline offshore fishing rigs and Bajas to come up or down from any of the coastal marinas. Have a complete display of all 4 companies showing plans for the future. All that water available, poker runs wouldn't be to hard to set up with winners in each boat manufacturer catagories.

LOL did someone invite me to Lake Cumberland for a long weekend again?

[Inferno]

I'm guessing the Awakening will be the "BIG RUN" this year and then there will be many local runs though out the year. The Awakening is for everyone no matter how slow your boat is. I'm tired of looking at 22, 18's and where are the other great models ????? I also feel it needs to be financial friendly, so we can see new faces.

[Ed Donnelly]

I'm guessing the Awakening will be the "BIG RUN" this year and then there will be many local runs though out the year. The Awakening is for everyone no matter how slow your boat is. I'm tired of looking at 22, 18's and where are the other great models ????? I also feel it needs to be financial friendly, so we can see new faces.

Well if you are tired of looking at 22's. and 18's. I will bring my 16 in May....Ed

[duckhunter]

I'm guessing the Awakening will be the "BIG RUN" this year and then there will be many local runs though out the year. The Awakening is for everyone no matter how slow your boat is. I'm tired of looking at 22, 18's and where are the other great models ????? I also feel it needs to be financial friendly, so we can see new faces.

Guess we need to get the barge to AOTH this year - it fits all of your criteria! It's slow and isn't an 18 or a 22...

I know that you & Lenny and your much better halves were captivated by the bowrider experience in Chatt this summer.

[Inferno]

OK ED .....Its my time to take a ride with you !!!!!!!!!! I would love to see the 14's and 16's as it's a great place to show case them .. Just think if we could get Poodle to flatbed his collection we would have them all .. lol lol lol

[Lenny]

you & Lenny and your much better halves were captivated by the bowrider experience in Chatt this summer.

Chis, quite honestly, you're right. I would much rather hang with you, this group, everyone, drink beer, float in some warm cove somewhere with country music blaring in the background, observe scenery I don 't see at home and chat with interesting people than going 200 mph in a 16.

We can all do that on our own time. Everyone on this board can do that in their own environment, and be successful at it. Everyone has fantastic rides.

What we can't do in our " personal " bubbles is all be together, enjoy the comradery, the love of the boats and the " bond " that it has created. Our geographic distances, cultures, Governments and politics dissolve when the Brand gets on stage. Everyone is respectful, we entertain "personalities", if nothing else, we learn about others.

It makes it hard to see what makes us all "different".

We're not.


Thanks all.

That's what I like

[duckhunter]

Chis, quite honestly, you're right. I would much rather hang with you, this group, everyone, drink beer, float in some warm cove somewhere with country music blaring in the background, observe scenery I don 't see at home and chat with interesting people than going 200 mph in a 16.

We can all do that on our own time. Everyone on this board can do that in their own environment, and be successful at it. Everyone has fantastic rides.

What we can't do in our " personal " bubbles is all be together, enjoy the comradery, the love of the boats and the " bond " that it has created. Our geographic distances, cultures, Governments and politics dissolve when the Brand gets on stage. Everyone is respectful, we entertain "personalities", if nothing else, we learn about others.

It makes it hard to see what makes us all "different".

We're not.


Thanks all.

That's what I like

Right on brother! What the bowrider lacks in WOT speed she more than makes up for with swimming hole capabilities.

We've been to Chatt three times (actually full crew twice, me once), and the runs are awesome, but the highlight for us has been the socializing. There isn't much better IMO than rafting up with a bunch of cool boats and drinking beer with some great folks. Or enjoying early morning coffee (or Bloody Marys) on the front porch of the floating cabin and BSign with the people on the porch next door.

I'm not a very outgoing, social butterfly-type guy, so the first year we went was kind of a shot in the dark. Glad it worked out! We will probably always own some flavor of Donzi just to have an excuse to show up at events.

[f_inscreenname]

This is what happens to me. Nothing, nothing, nothing, Oh crap that's next week?
To be honest I didn't even know we had a calendar here until just the other day. IMHO there should be a stick topic with a single post with the events and locations listed by date. Send a MOD/Admin a p/m telling of the event and they can update it that way it's all right there in the first post and not spread out over a long thread. Maybe a linked button (up by the Donate button) to a static page of events. I know topics will pop on the boards 2 weeks before the events but they are no help. It also wouldn't hurt if there was a "upcoming event" news line (or what ever they call it) in the header or top of page on the site.
I commend DMRS for trying to get grass roots gatherings together to build a stronger community. The last 6 years have been rough for the boating community with high gas prices, shrinking wallets and depreciating boat values. It would be easy to just let it all fade away. Nice to see some are trying to not let that happen.

[duckhunter]

This is what happens to me. Nothing, nothing, nothing, Oh crap that's next week?
To be honest I didn't even know we had a calendar here until just the other day. IMHO there should be a stick topic with a single post with the events and locations listed by date. Send a MOD/Admin a p/m telling of the event and they can update it that way it's all right there in the first post and not spread out over a long thread. Maybe a linked button (up by the Donate button) to a static page of events. I know topics will pop on the boards 2 weeks before the events but they are no help. It also wouldn't hurt if there was a "upcoming event" news line (or what ever they call it) in the header or top of page on the site.
I commend DMRS for trying to get grass roots gatherings together to build a stronger community. The last 6 years have been rough for the boating community with high gas prices, shrinking wallets and depreciating boat values. It would be easy to just let it all fade away. Nice to see some are trying to not let that happen.

The tyranny of the calendar is an obstacle, it bit us in the ass last year. Everything was tracking along and then we had a bunch of conflicting work/family events pop up. Agreed on setting up an annual sticky, maybe a single post with details per event so it doesn't get cluttered.

As far as expenses go, seems like these runs are a relative value compared to other boating vacations, especially when you factor in how much you get to run. The smiles per mile quotient is way up there, too. The dh crew has been spitballing a Bahamas trip for a few years now. Run from WPB to Abaco or Lucaya on a big center console, rent a condo, etc for 4 days. Even bringing & cooking our own meals and doing the crossing slow to conserve fuel we estimated at least 4x as much as a long weekend in Chatt.

[Thirdchildhood]

I also feel it needs to be financial friendly, so we can see new faces.

Cost was a big reason that this year will be my first. That's mostly because I would have had to close my business for a week-end and before the economy collapsed that would have meant losing $3,000 on top of the trip expense. I had considered coming alone and sleeping on the boat. I've bathed plenty of times in lakes (not in a marina though!). This year I will have the money to do AOTH right and I plan to run the boat and burn some gas! That's too far of a tow to just anchor it. I will have $ this year but maybe it could be made more affordable to others someway. Maybe a bargain package that doesn't include all of the food and the T-shirt and single people could double up on rooms with roll-away beds. Spend the money on gas!!

[Lenny]

single people could double up on rooms

Carl, you're one thinker, I tell you !!!

Here's what I'll do. Deneen will stay behind and feed all the wild deer, bear, elk and cougars and I will travel to AOTH alone. I will donate the use of my bed(s) to any women under 25 for the entire weekend and supervise

$$$ problem solved

You're welcome

[Lenny]

It wouldn't be an easy attend for the West coast owners, but it's pretty centralized for the East coast owners whether you be North or South.

Scott, your West Coast owners are never in the right place so distance isn't an issue for these events. We buy a ticket, take off, get drunk, fall asleep, wake up, get off the plane, usually it is hotter, boat, get drunk, fall asleep, wake up, do it many times more, THEN, wake up, get on a plane. get drunk, fall asleep, wake up, usually it is colder and get off the plane

Very simple stuff...