2012 Masshole raft up - MJ V20 tribute
 

Okay fellow V20 forum members! Here is you chance to meet your beloved forum moderator and enjoy scenic and historic waters in the heart of New England's boating paradise.

THe 2012 Masshole raft up!

Location: TBD
Could be any where from Gloucester to Buzzards Bay

Date: TBD

Details: TBD

I'd really like to put a face with some of the virtual friends I have met here. Plus I think you all owe it to the big guy to make a pilgrimage to Mecca (Wareham) and kiss his feet, or something.

Anyway, MJ said it had been mentioned before but fizzled out. I'm willing to give it another shot. (Can we get a sticky here mj?).

Pick a date, pick a location, pick your nose... I'm willing to dedicate a weeks vacation to making it happen and will be glad to act as coordinator, trail guide, buddy boat, hostess with the mostest, whatever, before, during and after the main event.


Things to do, places to see all within trailering distance:

Gloucester,North Shore, a working New England fishing port, Andrea Gail, Perfect Storm fame. Fisherman statue. Anisquam River, Marblehead, Rockport, Cape Ann.

Boston, Here is an awsome trip that we like to do. Launch upstream at the Charles River ramp in Brighton. No wake all the way to the locks at the Boston Museum O' Science. Takes about an hour. On the way, Harvard, MIT, Esplanade (4th O'July fireworks), Cambridge and Boston port and starboard. Boston Harbor, We will often put people ashore for a few hours to sightsee USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), Fredom Trail, N.E. Aquarium etc.while we fish for stripers. Outer Harbor... Castle Island... Mobster Billy Bulger's turf, I can show you where he buried the bodies! historic Harbor Islands, striper and flounde rfishing. Return trip against a big city skline at night is cool.

South Shore, Plymouth, Mayflower, Pilgrims. Bay waters that should remind you Jersey boys of home. Green Harbor, launching point for a 18NM drive to Stellwagen bank. Giant Blue Fin Tuna, Whale watch city and a hop skip and a jump to Provincetown (No jokes about dropping your wallet and then kicking it to Wellfleet before picking it up).

Cape Cod & Islands. Canal, tourists, National Seashore, Hyannis, Kennedy Compound. Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard. Did I tell you guys that Ted Kennedy taught swimming at the camp I went to as a kid? "First you get out of the car and float to the surface". That blip on your fishfinder could be a tuna or a shark or an Oldsmobile Delmont!

Buzzards Bay, west end of CC Canal, rich people, sailboats, Woods Hole - Bob Ballard Titanic Fame, Legendary striper fishing and I heard that there might be some fluke out there too.

SO come on. You local guys should have no problem. For anyone else this should be a bucket list item.

It would be great if we could meet up for a day and if anyone wants to stick around for another day I'd be glad to buddy boat anywhere else on the Mass. coast.

Let me know when and where. If I can I will be there.

#1) I'm all for it. I can bring my boat or pilot MJ's boat for him

#2) I know some nice spots on the South Shore that are nice for rafting up and hanging at nice sandy beaches. Some down towards the Cape too.

#3) My calendar is pretty open as far as dates are concerned.

#4) I ain't kissing any part of MJ. Period! :bat: Once you meet him, you'll understand. :cen:


Let's do it! :sun: :clap:

sounds like fun get some dates im with cb I aint kissing nuttin .....

Point taken, then again theres alot less of him now. I still can't believe that's him in that fishin pic.

Sounds great!! I an now applying for disability so time is not important issue for me! I have a great camp ground like 1 mile from me, hotels all over the place! I can take a few guys on my boat with CB and I, also for a couple of daysI can park a couple of boats here also. This sounds great, I hope it happens!
No feet kissing needed

what dates??

Well, we have the Barnegat raft up coming up in July, so it will have to be sometime after that. Mid to late August sounds great for me. I have inlaws that live in Sturbridge, Mass. so I've made that trip lots of times... Never with a trailer, but I pretty much know what to expect. It's about 3 1/4 hrs for me to get to their house from mine, so it only should be about another hour - hour and a half to get to Buzzards Bay. Sounds like fun. :beer:

Well the response has been underwhelming to say the least! Is it the lack of New England hospitality?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL1ql_q-nQc

Is it something in the water?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apEctKwiD8
The last two weeks of August are when I usually take my vacation. The weather here always seems to be perfect then. After Labor Day it is like throwing a switch.

Destroyer, I am about 10 mintes away from the Sturbridge exit on the Mass Pike/ I-84. My son works at the Sturbridge Host hotel. You don't have an excuse to not attend.

If anyone can make it but doesn't feel like towing their boat I figure I could take at few guys if we are fishing and 5-6 if it is just a raft up.

As an enticement I will offer to buy and cook a chikken lobster, a Qt of steamers and a couple of ears O' korn plus awl the Sam Adams you can suck down for the first dozen lucky respondents to sign up for the V-20 Masshole-alla-palooza - 2012. Be there or be square. Honestly guys, if you are on the forum you should plan to be there or have a good excuse, like a death in the family, your own death might be a barely acceptable reason. Anything else run it by the Moderator for a hall pass.

So just to throw a date out there how about August 18th or 25th?

Either of those dates I can plan around. As I said, if there are members without boats, I can bring mine and MJ's son can pilot his. :beer:

work for me either one!!:sun:

The second week in August we have a shore house with the family rented. Other than that I and Senor FishBones will make the treck.

O baby willys in the party!! :hi:

Sounds like both Willy and I can make it on the 25th without a problem, and Lumberslinger seems to be able to make it also, so that's 3 from NJ. BarnegatV20 you're more than welcome to travel with me if you can make it for that date. RW, how about you?? :head: Can you make it? That could be a 4 boat boatavan going up I95.:beer:

Sounds like a vacation Double header, stop in to see some family in New Bedford, on the way to the v-20 roundup..

Linguisa and brats on de grill.. Steamers after a CL or three.. :beer:

Don't see any reason not to be in!.... And as an added bonus I bought MJ's old chart plotter a couple months back and he was too lazy to clear all his fishing marks out of the machine.:sly:

Ummm... I know I probably shouldn't say this, but I have an extra Shore-landr' single axle roller trailer, in perfect condition, just sitting in my yard.... just saying...

No trailer is not a excuse!! I have room in my boat, CB stated he bring his boat if we needed a ride for people and MB says there is room on his as well!!

Ok next lame excuse??

yep and there are fish on them numbers!

this is sounding better, hope it flys!!

I was just up that way two weeks ago. I trailered a boat up to Salem. Not too bad of a ride. I might be able to get in on this too. depends if I have to work or not.

get her done pete!

I should be able to make the 25th if we get back from out motorcycle trip early. We were planning on riding down to the smokies for the prior two weeks 8/11-26th, I'll see if we can do 8/11-8/24.

rkc

I know its awhile away But who is in?? I am really looking forward to this!!!

Yes, I am hoping for a good turnout (esp if I cut my trip short).

I hope the time\location can be worked out soon.

Would the "stony point dike" aka the spit be a good spot?

rkc

I have never been over there, I mean I know were it is but have never gone over and checked the place out.:head:

RKC,

Like MJ I have cruised past there many times but never stopped. The spit is over two miles long, is there a particular spot? I've haven't noticed groups of boats hitting any one spot but I don't go around the back side much either. For those not familiar here is an image of the area:

http://www.monkeybutler.com/tmp/v20/6.jpg


If you have a good spot I trust your judgement. I know there is no access except by boat so if there is a beach it should be a good spot.

Another option is Basset's island shown on the map accross the bay from the spit. There is a long narrow piece of land there with beaches on both sides. The inside is good if you want less win, waves and boat wakes. As you can see it has some VERRRRRY nice scenery:

http://www.monkeybutler.com/tmp/v20/1.jpg


Here is a pic of the outer side, notice more wind and chop. It is outside of no wake zone:

http://www.monkeybutler.com/tmp/v20/2.jpg



Here is a pic looking right down the middle:


http://www.monkeybutler.com/tmp/v20/3.jpg



Usually folks don't beach their boats but you can anchor close enough to walk ashore. For some reason shortly after this photo was taken all the "scenery" packed up and left. Go figure?


http://www.monkeybutler.com/tmp/v20/5.jpg

Still dont see any reason that I'm not in....so for now I'm in!

So what are the final dates you guys are looking to do this, I have two I will be moving back to college in August so I will try to confirm their dates as best as I can.

Looks like a few have said they can make it Aug 25th so I am guessing this will be it? :sun:

Ya, if I can make it anytime the 25th is the best time available for me. Still unsure with the moving and unpacking etc. Can't make a firm commitment yet, but I think I should be able to go. :head:

There can be issues with the spit, such as:

Could be rough if the wind is SE.
There's usually a decent current.
Boats can get stuck the sandbar that runs along side of it on an outgoing tide. (High tide is 4pm or so, so that should be OK).
Not much "scenery".

There is a good beach on most of it (canal side), except for the end which is all rocks. I believe there is also beach on the other side, never really checked it out well there.

The only time I saw it crowded was when the tall ships went through. I was just thinking is we have a few boats, it may be difficult to snag a lot room at some of the other places. But I am open!

rkc

and actually, perhaps its not a good spot to "raft up", because even on a calm day there are some pretty big wakes from ships\boats going by.

next?

I don't know what the tides are at that time but we have a nice ride thur the canal and Cpe Cod bay and go to Barnstable Harbor, sand bar at low tide is great! Also some good fishing out around there. Could even launch out of Sandwich for that matter??

So what is up?

If we cannot find a "raft up" place, maybe we can do a "belly up place" (for those of us that still have bellies).

Plus it might be a better way to meet and greet everyone, Also, If I am late coming back from my trip, it might be easier for me to make it.

rkc

(btw, love that clip "Peter Falk in Athol MA", haven't herd that in years. That was a classic, loved bcn back in the day...

I'll second MJ's suggestion. So it's a plan, right?

Still in here!!!!! :beer::hi:

as far as i know its a go!! just need a place to raft up at?? got to look at tides to see were will be best.

Its at 1:30 in the afternoon for the stony, basset area, 12:30 Barnstable Harbor

MJ and everybody else... How about we sell tickets... Includes a tee shirt, cap , or something else?

My experience is that people will say yeah I'll be there but won't show. Put $25 down and they will be there.

Any place where we can go and bring a couple of propane burners and boil some lobsters and clams and corn at a raft up. Price of admission could include a shore dinner???

Just trowing it out to encourage participation.

BTW, I seen on the classicseacraft board that they were pondering a raft up in Barstable Harbor Mid-August with marginal interest. I know we have some connections there, what about a multi-forum get together?

Again, I am only tentative. If we have weather delays riding the bike back from smokie mountains, I might not make it. So if you sell tickets I may just crash the party and eat bolonga sandwiches...

Just hope we all decide on a plan so I will know what is happening before we leave.

Also, in case the weather for the raft up does not cooperate, maybe we should have the belly up planned as a second option?

Speaking of shirts...

MJ, do you think my shirt and sweatshirt is still around?

rkc

No reason to make it more difficult then it has to be. Them who come great, them who don't to bad for them.
We can all decide when it gets closer what food we want to bring, just some dogs and burgers would be easy for everyone.
I am also ok with the idea of going some place if the weather is crappy,

As for teaming up with another site, this is are first time, and a Wellcraft thing, we don't know anyone there, I like the way this board gets along and am not to keene on the idea of having a bunch of guys we don't know join here, or hang with. We all know each other here be it internet, or person.

I agree, I am bad enough with names\faces in a small group...

rkc