GFBL owners: the real story

[FormulaOutlaw]

There are many many misconceptions about "our group" that I keep reading about in here. Contrary to what some people would have you believe, we are not the evil boaters of the world.

For example:

We raise infinitely much more money for charities than all other boat groups combined. The SCOPE Poker Run in Southern California raised over half a million dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in just one Poker Run.

Poker Runs: Every poker run I have ever been associated with, and that's quite a few, there is a ZERO TOLERANCE for alcohol consumed by Captains until the boat is tied up at the dock for the night. If this rule is broken, that Poker Runner is immediately disqualified for the rest of the activities and told to leave.

On the second "Speed" thread it was brought up the extent to which GFBL boaters mix alcohol with boating. In reality, 90% or better of the operators of these types of boats do NOT drink while underway. We know the effects of alcohol and a hot sunny day. And most importantly, none of us are willing to risk damage to our boats, ourselves, or others, just for the thrill of drinking and boating. Drinking slows your reactions, and when operating a GFBL at higher speeds you have to have your wits about you. You have to be able to judge waves, judge what is going on around you, read the water. It is so much more to driving one of these boats than a 35 mph bowrider. And NONE of us wants to screw up. I have been a member of the GFBL group for about fourteen years now and the times I have seen a Captain drinking I could honestly count on one hand. We are a responsible group.

The "offshore" crowd, at least down here and I suspect we are a good representative of the overall "offshore" crowd, are WITHOUT question the most courteous group on the water. This has been told to me personally by every Marine Patrol agency that plies our waters, particularly the US Coast Guard. I personally towed an elderly couple in a few weeks ago who had broken down up on the north end of Sarasota Bay, and insisted they ride with me so that my loud pipes did not bother them. In the cockpit of my boat I can carry a normal conversation up to about 4,000 rpms. I, and every GFBL boater I know would NEVER leave a stranded boater floating helplessly. We work very hard at keeping a positive image, and by all accounts down here, we succeed handsomely.

Why do we own these boats? The answer is ridiculously simple. They are a blast to drive. Do we enjoy looking at them? Sure. But that's not the reason we have them. The Ferrari owner enjoys the fact that people "check out" his automobile, but that's not the reason he shelled out that kind of money for that car. He enjoys it, plain and simple. Well we enjoy our boats. I have asked many many people, usually at docks if the sound my boat annoyed them and the general response is "what are you kidding? I love it." The exception to that is the sailboat crowd, and that's because for maybe fifteen seconds, our sound interrupts their listening to classical music while sipping their white Zinfadel as they sail at a heart pumping four miles per hour. Now that is not my personal cup of tea, but if that's what THEY like more power to them and I would NEVER EVER do anything to dissuade their enjoyment of their passion. I have no right whatsoever to deny them their enjoyment simply because I don't care for it.

We are a family, at least over on the "Marine Mafia" site. We help each other out in every imaginable scenario. And we consider other boaters our "cousins". I will readily admit we consider sailboats the "red headed stepchild" however we are again, infinitely more courteous to them they are to us. I wave at 99% of the boats I meet. Including sailboats. I am happy to state that within the last two years more and more sailboats are beginning to wave back.

I don't expect to change anyone's mind about us, either individually or as a group. I just felt it needed to be stated that we are not the evil monsters that some have made us out to be. We come from every aspect of life. Rich, middle class, poor. Doctors, plumbers, real estate agents, carpenters, used car salesmen, nurses, lawyers, mechanics, painters, you name it, it's represented somewhere.

If you don't like our boats, fine. But stop painting us to be the evil of the world. We aren't, and our deeds prove that.

For those of you that detest us ask yourselves this. When was the last time I did something for a charity, besides toss a few bucks their way so you can claim it on taxes. I mean volunteer your most precious commodity, YOUR TIME..... All of us only have so much time on Earth, do you donate some of it for a worth cause? I do. And most of my brethren do.

Lastly, (I know this has turned out rather long winded, sorry) the GFBL groups stands up for EVERYONES's right to enjoy the water. Can't "you" just lighten up a bit and cut us some slack here. You don't have to like our boats, but you will never ever convince me that we ruin your outing on the water. That is just simply not true and everyone knows that. Thank you.

FO