Re: Rendezvous in North Carolina or South Carolina or Orange Beach, Alabama

[glen1941]

I don't see much interest in getting our boats together on this forum. I tried last year to get [a rendezvous] going in Orange Beach where there are a zillion Whalers, and not one person showed up after thousands of views. Possibly as one long-time Whaler person said," We are just arm chair sailors."

I propose that we shelve discussing repair or re-power projectsfor awhile and actually get our boats together. I have driven thousands of miles--really-- for Boston Whaler boats, so driving a few hundred is perfectly fine with me. Maybe we could meet at Lake Norman, North of Charlotte, or on the South Carolina coast somewhere towards the end of Summer.

Any interest or ideas?
Glen

[glen1941]

Armchair sailors all. All hat no cattle

[Jefecinco]

I've attended a couple of Whaler Rendezvous in South Alabama. None were well attended. I suspect a rendezvous in a city such as Mobile, Pensacola or Biloxi sponsored by a Whaler dealer is the best, if not only, way to draw owners into the event. YMMV.

[glen1941]

There have been no useful or any other suggestions as to my idea of a Rendezvous. No "great idea, but can you be more specific"? [good] or "great idea, can we do it next week at my local marina here in New Jersey"?

[Masbama]

You know; nothing last forever. I suspect that Rendezvous are more attractive to owners of ‘classic’ Boston Whalers. The modern day Boston Whaler owners may be less inclined to involve themselves to such an event. My opinion; I could be wrong.
Also, it’s just not that easy to “hitch up” and tow your boat somewhere with not knowing who you are going to hang out with unless it is a local location. And cost is always a factor.

[jimh]

Many previous rendezvous were organized by Boston Whaler dealers and supported by the factory. The people that attended a rendezvous often trailered their boats to the site. This necessarily limited the size of the boats that could attend. The owners of classic-era Boston Whaler boats were often the majority of the people who attended.

Eventually I think that Boston Whaler dealers decided that sponsoring a rendezvous that attracted very old boats and their often equally very old owners was not particularly the best way to reach new customers for what weres becoming increasingly expensive new boat models. A guy hauling a 40-year-old Boston Whaler to a rendezvous was not exactly the ideal target customer to buy a new $150,000 boat.

[jimh]

There have been no...suggestions as to my idea of a Rendezvous.

A good place to start organizing a rendezvous is to work with a local Boston Whaler dealer who has an on-water facility. See if the dealer is interested in hosting a rendezvous. and if the dealer has sufficient dock space to accommodate launching and overnight docking for perhaps ten or more boats.

Another problem is availability of overnight temporary dockage. Many years ago we conducted week-long cruises with multiple boats, sometimes seven, eight, or more boats, and cruised perhaps 30 to 40-miles every day, arriving at various marina facilities usually late in the day with no pre-planed reservations. Somehow we always found dock space each night without having made any prior arrangements.

More recently, the number of available transient slips in many harbors has been very limited, as even with a cruising fleet of only four boats, it became necessary to pre-plan every stop in the cruise according to what facilities had open docks, and to make specific reservation and pre-pay for them.

I don't know if boating became more popular, or if marina owners changed to long-term rentals of their slips. But in the Summer in the Great Lakes you can no longer just show up with a fleet of boats at some harbor and expect to find slips available and at reasonable prices.

[glen1941]

Jim and Masbama. thanks for commenting.

Masbama, you are in Mobile. How much more convenient [a destination for you] than Orange Beach?

With all the inside sandbars and boat-up eateries and MarineMax just down the road in Pensacola, I mean really. And, apparently, there are many Boston Whaler boats, classic and non-classic in the area.With many many views for my earlier post, not one comment.

My 1989 Sport GLS 17 is not going to get MarineMax's attention, although they did say they would send a representative (who never showed up).

If MarineMax backed a gathering, it is likely that many of the big-boat new-boat owners would show up.

I live in upstate South Carolina near some beautiful water, but would drive to Orange Beach in a heartbeat--a long day's drive--if a goodly group committed to show up.

And as to a "voyage" how neat to leave from the Flora-A-bama yacht club and go East in the ICW to Pensacola a d Ft Pickens.

That's it, I am perfectly happy to zoom around Keowee and Hartwell, and I'll wave at any other Whalers if I see them.

[Masbama]

Yes glen1941; I’m here in Mobile. The most convenient destination for me is Dauphin Island, Al.
Orange Beach is convenient considering the distance but to be honest, I really don’t go there much anymore, at least not in the summer months. The traffic over the years has gotten to be terrible and a sixty mile jaunt can take over two hours.

[glen1941]

Masbama, I have a great story about me on Dauphine Island one moonlit night many years ago [1973], but not for this site. Distance, I guess that's it. Drove to Hooksett, NH and Beaumont, TX for Whalers, try that. Would like to go inside the WW2 submarine and try a dozen at Wentzel's in Mobile again, maybe next year.

[Jefecinco]

The shoulder seasons are the best time for a visit to the Gulf shores and Orange Beach areas, especially on Monday through Friday. Crowds and accommodation costs are down then and the weather is just about perfect. I assume Dauphin Island is the same.

[Masbama]

Glen1941, that is a story that I would like to hear someday. Maybe we can round up a gathering of some sort in the future. You definitely get the prize for the most dedicated rendezvous member!
I will say this; ‘classic’ Whaler sightings are getting less frequent. Most of the Boston Whalers I see are new, large models.

[glen1941]

Masmama,
You bet. Going to the South of France in early October for a few weeks, Med coast next to Spain. Maybe see some Whalers there. Definitely will be coming to Orange Beach in the Spring. See "classic" Whalers surprisingly often up here; always in a situation where I can't stop them or myself to talk. Generally, 13s, 15s, and 17s. Will give you a heads up before I get there. Best, Glen

[jimh]

Here in northern Michigan at my location on the shore of Lake Michigan in Grand Traverse Bay, the Boston Whaler boat is extremely popular. For example, from my location there are neighbors with a classic 16-footer, a classic MONTAUK 17, a modern 190 MONTAUK, a modern 210 MONTAUK.

At the nearby marine there several modern 130 SPORT and 150 SPORT boats used as tenders. At the launching ramp there are always some trailered Boston Whalers being launched or loaded.

In the commercial boat yard there is an ancient 16-foot that is used as their utility boat.

Due to the fresh water and seasonal use, the most popular boat is a 17 to 24-foot runabout powered by a single inboard V6 or V8 engine with sterndrive propulsion. These seem to last forever in freshwater use, and they are all stored on boat lifts.

These days the newer popular boats are pontoon boats, ranging from 17-footers to crazy big pontoon boats with 300-HP engines.

[glen1941]

Jim,
I include people with pontoon boats into the category of those with jetskis and people who walk around always looking at their smart phones. I see where a major university near you is not going to give letter or number grades to incoming freshman because it might screw with their mental health; either Pass or No Credit. An we wonder why we are trailing much of the world in math and science.