How many folks here have met in person?

SmokyMtnGrady

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This is rainy COVziD Saturday lunch thread. It has no benefit what so ever to fixing a damn thing on anyone's boat. Lol

I was thinking here on my porch in the Smoky Mountains about how many people I have met in person on this forum. Its kind of cool when you think about it.

Parthery and I grew up a few miles apart and went to rival high schools. We talk from time to time and he has visited us in the mountains.

DocStressior and I meet up when he and his wife visit the mountains and when my motor got stolen and I was in Florida he reached out to me and invited me out on his boat along with my son. Though we never took him up on his offer, it was a kick butt gesture.

Strikezone who was active here years ago invited me fishing in Charleston and we went on a great trip there. My daughter got sunburned, I mean fried like bacon and his wife treated her so nice. I got the sucky dad award on that trip I tell you.

Coconut and I met here. We went to the Bahamas together and we see each other yearly and talk from time to time on the phone. He is also a stand up guy. Weather permitting I am going fishing for dolphin with him next weekend. I have to go to Orlando to get fixtures being made for our new coffee bar and my son flew home in March from UCF with his laptop, book pack and his clothes on his back. We nee to go to his apartment to get summer clothes and shoes. Lol. We are going to get a fishing trip in hopefully on his 265 express.

KYGrady and I share a lot of boat ideas as we have the same boat. He stopped by my place on his way to pick up his new gas tanks last year. I can see us doing some tropical adventure down the road. That dude loves to go fishing for catfish. I might consider going with him, but I am no lover of the catfish meat. Lol. KY has become my phone a friend when I get stuck on a boat repair. He has skills. Lol.

There are some south Florida guys where we tried to meet up in the Keys and things didn't work out. Since I am in the boonies without a Grady White club to call HomePort, this site for me has become a defacto Grady club. It's been great to meet folks over the years and build some friendship and kinship around a boat.

Just curious how many others have met up here over the years?
 
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leeccoll

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Funny timing,

I am packing up my bags right now, gonna drive 3 hours and stay tonight with fellow member Lite Tackle and go out fishing together tomorrow for Halibut in the SF Bay.

Hoping to meet big time fisherman JJMag during my stint there as well.

Just don't tell LT that I snore ;).

Lee
 

Parthery

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Smoky - you forgot the time you chased me down on the St Johns River near Blue Springs.

True story, JiminGA saw me going the other way on the freeway here in Atlanta about an hour ago and called to catch up. We once owned almost twin Seafarers.

A ton of good people on here...
 
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SmokyMtnGrady

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Smoky - you forgot the time you chased me down on the St Johns River near Blue Springs.

True story, JiminGA saw me going the other way on the freeway here in Atlanta about an hour ago and called to catch up. We once owned almost twin Seafarers.

A ton of good people on here...
Yep, the mighty St. John's. Love that river and it was funny chasing you down.
 

Parthery

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I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention JIP40, who lives one street over and has been splitting a case of Ring Free with me for years.

I too have had many a conversation with KY Grady, Another good guy. :)
 
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seasick

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I don't want to blow my cover.
What I can say is that if you see someone who looks like George Clooney in a Grady, it's not me.
 
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Lsquared

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Smoky - you forgot the time you chased me down on the St Johns River near Blue Springs.

True story, JiminGA saw me going the other way on the freeway here in Atlanta about an hour ago and called to catch up. We once owned almost twin Seafarers.

A ton of good people on here...
Funny im in Atlanta and keep the boat on the St Johns on Doctors Lake
 

Ky Grady

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I've had the pleasure of meeting Strikezone and been on his boat in Charleston. Hung out with SmokyMtnGrady and had lunch with him on my way to my fuel tank pickup. Hope to make the Bimini crossing someday with him. Met up with Doc Stressor a couple years ago on my way down to Florida. Multiple conversations with Parthery for years, even before I had a Grady. We still need a raftup in Georgia sometime.

Talked with a few of our members by phone trying to help out where I can.
 

RussGW270

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Funny timing,

I am packing up my bags right now, gonna drive 3 hours and stay tonight with fellow member Lite Tackle and go out fishing together tomorrow for Halibut in the SF Bay.

Hoping to meet big time fisherman JJMag during my stint there as well.

Just don't tell LT that I snore ;).

Lee

Post some pics guys. Love seeing folks use their boats and catching fish heh.

I have tried like crazy to get to know local GW people, but Texas is so large...I think they just don't talk much. I also live 3-4 hours from the coast so... makes it hard. Most you guys are Florida or wherever, so... envious of those that could get together. Gotta be so much better than going at it alone heh.

I had a guy from Dallas drive down for a few hours, just to get out of his house. He moved to Texas from NC. He owns a 24ft Parker and lives for that boat and his small dog. Was a lot of fun, even if he is not a GW owner. He made me some awesome decals, which I plan to try to install on the cabin today. Will pst some pics.

Seriously told my wife I was going to plan a trip one day to drag my boat to Florida to hang out with the crowd there since the GW owners in Florida seem to always have fun.

I also am holding out for @Lsquared to get transferred to Texas so we can go catch some fish ;)

I'd haul my boat to the east coast just to go fishing with some of you.. heh

Before you say it... yes, after the 2nd axle is replaced.. lol

R
 

Ky Grady

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Russ,,,, I'm landlocked in Kentucky but I trailer everywhere. The key to going different places is a good trailer!! ;)

Met Strikezone before I bought my boat, he took me out on his 228 just to be on a 228. Parthery has talked with me for years literally, answering questions about the Grady's. I joined in '06, bought my first Grady in '17. SmokyMtnGrady and I are next door neighbors,, only 4 hours away. Doc and I met over some armrests which I still owe him a catfish trip on Santee.

Did I mention getting out and meeting people with your boat requires a good trailer. Cut your losses and frustration level, quit throwing money at that old trailer, you're already into it at least $2K or better and no real end in sight. Sell it for what you can, or talk to a trailer manufacturer and see if you can work a trade, something,,,,,, 14 months to splash is not good.
 

RussGW270

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Trailer is fine. I'll get it to a trailer person as soon as I am able.

So, yes, you mentioned it.
 

SmokyMtnGrady

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Funny im in Atlanta and keep the boat on the St Johns on Doctors Lake
That's too cool and crazy at the same time. We would take our kids and friends and go knee boarding and tubing there. Crazy as it's loaded with Gators. Lol. The DeLand Christmas Boat Parade starts there as I recall. We did it a time or two in our old Grady.
 

SmokyMtnGrady

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Russ,,,, I'm landlocked in Kentucky but I trailer everywhere. The key to going different places is a good trailer!! ;)

Met Strikezone before I bought my boat, he took me out on his 228 just to be on a 228. Parthery has talked with me for years literally, answering questions about the Grady's. I joined in '06, bought my first Grady in '17. SmokyMtnGrady and I are next door neighbors,, only 4 hours away. Doc and I met over some armrests which I still owe him a catfish trip on Santee.

Did I mention getting out and meeting people with your boat requires a good trailer. Cut your losses and frustration level, quit throwing money at that old trailer, you're already into it at least $2K or better and no real end in sight. Sell it for what you can, or talk to a trailer manufacturer and see if you can work a trade, something,,,,,, 14 months to splash is not good.

Part of it for me Russ is I live in the Smoky Mountains. People love to vacay here , so it's easy to meet people. The other part is KY is right. I trailer my boat everywhere. I mean on 1,000 mile treks. I met Coconut because I wanted a buddy boat to go the Abacos. Our stars aligned as it were . The reality of it we all met here first. I have yet to randomly just pop up at a sandbar and talk Grady with another Grady owner. Lol. I did bump into a guy with a 330 Express in the Dry Tortugas . He is here and on THT, he put two and two together and realized who I was before I knew he was. Then again, the interaction was somewhat facilitated by boating forums.

You could find a Grady club in Texas that is close to you. My sister lives in Texas and been there several times so , when I say close I mean an hour or even two away if that's doable. You could also find one on the coast join it and meet up when they have events too.
 

RussGW270

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Found a club. The president and hi wife had family issues so resigned. The rest of the folks were too busy so all I got was an email if I sent one to them with, "We did something last year. Planning something, but no-one running the place right now. Maybe in a few months" then covid. so, eh.. is what it is. Don't need a grady club, just need water.

So, onwards and upwards.

R
 

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I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention JIP40, who lives one street over and has been splitting a case of Ring Free with me for years.

I too have had many a conversation with KY Grady, Another good guy. :)

Parthery it’s always good to see you & I’m down to one bottle of Ring Free so will probably be ordering another case soon.

I believe I met SmokyMtnGrady at Fort Jefferson about 3-4 years ago. You were camping with your family & I was anchored with my son & grandson. If I’m correct we are in the same business as we own the Chocolate shop in Norcross.

I’d like to know if there are any members that keep their boats in Carrabelle area as there are a lot of Grady’s around there. I’m at Carrabelle Boat Club and boat’s name is REEL SWEET *4
 

leeccoll

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Post some pics guys. Love seeing folks use their boats and catching fish heh.

I have tried like crazy to get to know local GW people, but Texas is so large...I think they just don't talk much. I also live 3-4 hours from the coast so... makes it hard. Most you guys are Florida or wherever, so... envious of those that could get together. Gotta be so much better than going at it alone heh.

I had a guy from Dallas drive down for a few hours, just to get out of his house. He moved to Texas from NC. He owns a 24ft Parker and lives for that boat and his small dog. Was a lot of fun, even if he is not a GW owner. He made me some awesome decals, which I plan to try to install on the cabin today. Will pst some pics.

Seriously told my wife I was going to plan a trip one day to drag my boat to Florida to hang out with the crowd there since the GW owners in Florida seem to always have fun.

I also am holding out for @Lsquared to get transferred to Texas so we can go catch some fish ;)

I'd haul my boat to the east coast just to go fishing with some of you.. heh

Before you say it... yes, after the 2nd axle is replaced.. lol

R
Posted a couple in Fishing Reports section Russ.
Was trying real hard to get Lite Tackle to let me post a pic of him that I took, he wouldn't go for it as he has minimum quality standards I couldn't quite meet :rolleyes:
 
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leeccoll

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Great having breakfast and and sharing a few laughs today with JJMag!

Joe was here in Reno picking up his 228G. Got permission to climb aboard his vessel ;)

Nice spending time with a really neat guy~

20201030_091009.jpg
 
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HTHM

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OK, so who is who? I'm new to the forum so I do not know anyone yet. As well, where I live there are not many Grady's, but I am continuing the search. Having the border closed makes it more challenging as well.
 
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leeccoll

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JJMag, (Joe) the good looking one, is on my left.

Leeccoll, (Lee) is me on the right.

I am smiling because right after breakfast I decided to dine and dash, leaving Joe with the check.

Welcome to the forum HTHM!

Don't need to be a stranger here, many fine folks contribute generously with their time and experience helping fellow Grady owners.

Really a cool thing~
 
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