SJRR 2014

Okay, so here is the deal. My family will be flying in from Minnesota for Spring Break. Is it possible to join in on the party. It's been a long winter! We had 50 days of below zero temps this winter, so we bought tickets to Florida. We fly into Tampa on the 23rd and leave on the 31st. So, we plan to tour the Nautique Plant sometime during the week. We would also enjoy going at least one day to the River Run. What day would be best to attend and what is the cost?

How many hours north of Orlando? Sorry, really on the outside looking in on this one. Any help appreciated.

Thanks-Scott       

Anybody have a physical address for where the boat show is going to be and the closest public ramp?

JPASS wrote: Anybody have a physical address for where the boat show is going to be and the closest public ramp?

JP Put in at Mt Dora. I can get the address if needed. Gilbert park, I think. About a 10-15 minute boat ride to Tavares. That ramp will likely be closed to the public due to the show, and you wont want to be having hundreds of spectators watch you launch!! Haha.
Pull it up on mapquest. Why don't you give me a call? 321 246 8276

JP, I think most everyone will probably put in at the public launch on Lake Eustis and head down the Dora Canal for a little extra added bonus points on the Fun meter. The Canal is close to the launch and lots of parking and a decent ramp.

As far as parking your boat on Sat night I don't think it will be a problem however most CCFans will be yanking boats out late Sat afternoon and headed back to Parramores for the Blow-Out Cook-Out Sat evening. Orlando76 has PM'd me offering assistance and his yard for trailer parking as he is a Mt. Dora Local Yocal. When you meet him you can ask him.

Scott, I'm gonna say Sat is probably the best day to come as that is the day I think most everyone will be there at Sunnyland including Mr. Ralph, and Ken Meloon. Rumor has it that Art C says a few CC owners that work at HQ are planning on showing up at the CC Corral bringing their boats as well. The Armada assembled there should be HUGE and generations of our beloved boats will be there to check out. You can also head back to Astor for the cookout if you and the fam aren't ready to head back to Tampa yet. Friday would be good too but pick the better weather day either way. Just give me a holla on da cell when you're coming and we'll tell ya where to go.

Smithfamily wrote: JPASS wrote: Anybody have a physical address for where the boat show is going to be and the closest public ramp? JP Put in at Mt Dora. I can get the address if needed. Gilbert park, I think. About a 10-15 minute boat ride to Tavares. That ramp will likely be closed to the public due to the show, and you wont want to be having hundreds of spectators watch you launch!! Haha. Pull it up on mapquest. Why don't you give me a call? 321 246 8276

-Gilbert park is a great ramp bc of great docks and prob 6 lanes but I expect it to have limited parking on that weekend due to large crowd.
-The closest ramp to Wooten would be the lil ramp behind Taco Johns on the Dora canal.
-Then the Eustis Hwy 441 ramp on Lake Eustis and Dora canal is close as well and has probably the most parking out of all the ramps.
-I can't believe I'll say this bc the whole world seems to overlook this ramp but my "personal private" ramp is Trimble Park on beauclaire. 15-20 min ride. Only open 7-7ish, but keep this ramp on this forum lol.
-north Lake Eustis near downtown Eustis has a ramp but you're starting to get a lil farther from Wooten now.
-Harris has 2 great ramps but getting to be a bit of ride as well to Wooten. Use caution at Hickory point.
-as a last resort Lake Jem on Beauclaire canal is usable right now, parking may be limited but I'd stick with a smaller CC here and use caution/idle this canal.

You send a Barefoot nautique in first, if they make it take the same route, if they dont you take a different route.

lakedog55 wrote: Orlando 76, any suggestions for avoiding the boulder under the railroad bridge? Left or right . There will be a bunch of us cruising through the canal. Thanks mike

Sadly no I forget its exact local, my wife and argue over it. When at the railroad bridge, closest and first bridge from Wooten, I always have passengers move to bow and I coast as a reach the bridge until prop is past it. I believe it was in center of canal. Bumping something when not in gear is much less damaging. Which reminds me, I still need a spare prop so if anybody has a rh 13x13 1" that's good let me know.

I think I have one. Will bring it

Orlando76 wrote: lakedog55 wrote: Orlando 76, any suggestions for avoiding the boulder under the railroad bridge? Left or right . There will be a bunch of us cruising through the canal. Thanks mike Sadly no I forget its exact local, my wife and argue over it. When at the railroad bridge, closest and first bridge from Wooten, I always have passengers move to bow and I coast as a reach the bridge until prop is past it. I believe it was in center of canal. Bumping something when not in gear is much less damaging. Which reminds me, I still need a spare prop so if anybody has a rh 13x13 1" that's good let me know.

this SCARES me! Even tagging a boulder in neutral would not be kind to my 540!

Its common whenever they build a bridge over a canal for the mexicans to wash out the concrete truck in the canal. Don't ask me why. its just a given thing you just know living in FL walking through enough canals. Just get out of the boat and walk it through the canal in that spot if your worried about it, you should be fine gliding through bumping in and out of gear.

There's this thing called the internet I found three pages of boat ramps onthe Harris Chain. I believe that Billy is talking about the Tavares Recreational Park on page two. Or just take your pick.

As far as a rock goes, like Ross said, if you see a RR tressle going over a canal and you're so SCARED, get out and walk it through under that tressle. What the hell is the big deal. You can go any place else on that chain and probably not have a problem. Many thanks to whomever pointed that out. At least we have a heads up about it.

Tavares and Mt. Dora have spent a huge amount of money in the last few years to build a tressle(s) for a very cool old steam train that they have there so it can go around the chain. It's a part of that community and the towns are trying to make it more family friendly as well as bring in some revenue I'm sure.    

Gentlemen I do apologize for the complications. Disregard all prior posts of any hazard. As a resident of this chain I've watched where the state dredged and cleaned and in June after declaring their efforts a failure, which I thought improved things they pulled out. In August I was buying a new prop. I don't walk my boat anywhere here, but in some places I use extra caution. Morphoot, I'll take you up on your prop, I gave you my number call me when you are in the area.

And, I have not heard anything on this "boulder", but as Eddie suggested, "walk" it or probe it with an oar to be safe!!

Todd, like Eddie said, thank you for bringing it to our attention, very good information!! I know on my home lake I can tell you about every hazard, most appreciate your input!!

Look forward to meeting you in a few weeks!!

If your coming from the north you have to get thru Atlanta first,after that experience anything will be a piece of cake