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jeff & karen's key's trip

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#161 ·
Who knows????? They probably have unbelievable power of authority. Their attitude sounded great which is refreshing. Knowing Federal Court, it would cost $$$$$$$$$$$ just to defend yourself. Guilty till proven innocent is the Fed's way, Mike.
 
Discussion starter · #162 ·
CV-23 said:
8 hours of run time = how much fuel burned Jeff? Inquiring minds want to know. Did you pick up any mph in cruise mode while in salt water?....Mike.
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Mike - I never ran over 3,600 rpm on the trip.

they engines were new and I wanted to break them in and did not want to break down 1,300 miles from home.

the prior week when we sea trialed it I ran the engines up to 5,200 rpm and that was a first - they'd only get to 4,900 rpm before since they were a little tired.

I'll let you know in may when we break her back out of winter storage.
 
#163 ·
Speedwake said:
Oh - by the way.

on saturday afternoon as we were cruising back from Key West to Key Largo a 39' foot center console with trip (or quad - not sure) outboards appeared on our port side in a diagonal convergence course with us.

as they got closer - I saw "Department of Homeland Security" on the side.
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Sounds like a trip of a lifetime for me. Thanks for sharing.
Thats my favorite Police boat !
39'Midnight Express.
 

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#164 · (Edited)
Yes, Quads. :)
A chase story from the Keys. :eek:
Key Largo detected the go-fast east of Punta Maisi, Cuba. It arrived in the vicinity of the go-fast, which was in Cuban territorial seas at approximately 5 p.m., and shadowed it from a position in international waters until 1 a.m. Oct. 27, when the white and grey, 35-foot boat turned north and left Cuban territorial seas.

Key Largo pursued the vessel, which refused to stop, fired 20 rounds of warning shots and, finally, 35 rounds of disabling fire from a .50-caliber machine gun into the two outboard engines of the go-fast to stop it.

After boarding the vessel, the Key Largo embarked the three suspected smugglers and 20 bales of contraband found on board the go-fast, which tested positive for marijuana, and towed the go-fast back to Key West.
 

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#166 ·
Speedwake said:
Oh - by the way.

on saturday afternoon as we were cruising back from Key West to Key Largo a 39' foot center console with trip (or quad - not sure) outboards appeared on our port side in a diagonal convergence course with us.

as they got closer - I saw "Department of Homeland Security" on the side.

Two young men on board - probably both about 28 or 30.

They pulled alongside about 12 to 15 feet away after I slowed down to an idle.

they came alongside and asked me where I was inbound from: I said "I am not inbound from anywhere and had been in Key West and was crusing back to Key Largo before pulling out on Sunday at Pennekamp State Par and had never left US waters" - with that he wished me a good afternoon and a Happy New Year and we returned the same and they left.

So - that was my encounter with the Man - I'm glad they're out there patrolling the waters. Karen asked me if I could outrun them afterwards and I responded "yes" - she than aksed if they'd start shooting and I said high unlikely - since our running was not threatening their lives. They probably would have called in the big guns, like a cutter of a helicopter to chase us and if we headed for land they may have taken action.

any thoughts on what they would have done if we had run -

headed toward land?
running parallel to shore about 3 miles off shore?

?????????????????????

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They have the authority to stop you by any means necessary including deadly force. You do not have to be threatening "their" lives. All they need is to feel you are a threat to the security of the nation. You can not out run them! They have numerous ways to "follow" you. They did not just randomly come up alongside. You were indentified and checked out due to the size/type of boat and your speed.

When they pulled alongsiide you they evaluated the boat, was it riding lower(packed with drugs) than normal etc..? They evaluated your's and Karen's manner, attitude and responses. You passed! :bigsmile:

Even though the patrol boat went off his own way, you were probably still being "watched" for a while.

I have been checked out numerous times down there and have never had a problem. :D
 
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#167 ·
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#169 ·
hey yall, great picks. it's made me promise to be in the keys again this year april2006 come hell or high water.
sorry about the pissy last post saying ya'll should post more pics. wasn't thinking that you were on cation and not alot of time to post. thanks truely for the ones you did post!!!!!!! ;)
that is awesome that you could have out run that copper boat. it would have been something to have seen yall on the news!
like has been said on this thread already, please let us in on the best places to eat and party. glad yall got back home safe and sound, and tahnks again for the quality pics of your vacation!!! :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
 
#170 ·
chjohn said:
They have the authority to stop you by any means necessary including deadly force. You do not have to be threatening "their" lives. All they need is to feel you are a threat to the security of the nation. You can not out run them! They have numerous ways to "follow" you. They did not just randomly come up alongside. You were indentified and checked out due to the size/type of boat and your speed.

When they pulled alongsiide you they evaluated the boat, was it riding lower(packed with drugs) than normal etc..? They evaluated your's and Karen's manner, attitude and responses. You passed! :bigsmile:

Even though the patrol boat went off his own way, you were probably still being "watched" for a while.

I have been checked out numerous times down there and have never had a problem. :D
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I have no clue but I'll agree with you.
 
#171 ·
MY UNLCE-when working for customs, he had two shootings, after the second one they gave hime a choice of where to be stationed.'

he said out there its you or tyhem!

He also showed pics of a 39 stinger they siezed and used as a patrol boat, on shore after a chase. the smugglers ran thier fountain up the beach about 200 feet in front of where they stopped.

they ended up catching them! LOL
 
#172 ·
Boating trips don't get much better than what you did, especially by yourselves with no one else to get in the way, and ringing in the new year. If nothing else the water clarity is absolutely fabulous down there.

Thanks for the pics and glad you got the make such a great run. It's a great reminder of why we're in this hobby and spend the money we do on it.

Rick
 
#174 ·
Speedwake said:
well of course my boat was riding lower in the back than normal..

wouldn't any boat that was carrying 600 lbs of marijuana?
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:eek3: :gunner: :eek3: :gunner: :eek3: :gunner: :eek3:
 
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Discussion starter · #176 ·
no need to beg because we aren't posting any more.

vacation's over and we're both back to work.

we posted the highlights and they recap our journey pretty well.

believe me - once you've seen a flat distant shoreline in Key Largo from the boat it looks exactly the same for the next 99 miles until you get to Key West and we already posted that pic.

it's time for someone else to make a trip and post their pics...
 
#180 ·
Speedwake said:
well - we're here lots to say but little time since having fun is the priority...so i'll post some pics instead..

I learned a lot yesterday about florida state parks, parking trailer and trucks overnight etc which I'll share in detail on my return.
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Jeff & Karen,

Thanks for posting while on your trip. Excellent photos and commentary!! Me and the Mrs. were down in the Keys the beginning of December. I used to go down to Little Conch Key every weekend when I lived in So. Florida (I used to work for the owner) back in the early seventies. Little Conch Key is directly across the channel from Duck Key.

Once you can catch your breath and get back in the swing of things at work, etc... could you share with us what you learned about launching and parking at John P. State Park?? Seemed like you had an experience you didn't anticipate. We would like to take the Dominator down that way some day.

Again, Thanks...
 
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