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Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:08 am
by rayman
Hello everyone, I just purchased my first pontoon, so this is all new to me. I bought a 2011 24' suntracker party barge with camping enclosure and 115 h.p. mercury 4-stroke to putt around North Florida. Once I get the prop pitch right I think I'll be pleased with this set up. Look forward to reading the forum and talking with everyone. I've got plenty of question's. My past boat's have been offshore, flats and bass boats. Now it's time to enjoy! My wonderful wife named it (Hur-Way Finally) I hope this was a good choice!

Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:17 am
by badmoonrising
Welcome ! You'll love your Tracker, they are great boats.

Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:41 am
by Thin Ice
Welcom Rayman!
My wife also suggested we get a toon, and I resisted at first.................soooooo glad i gave in!!!
FYI: You have good taste: "suntracker party barge with camping enclosure and 115 h.p"
How bout some pics
Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:41 am
by Rangercd
You will love it. I have the camping enclosure too but haven't got to try that part out yet. I had the plans but I was assigned a project that has kept me from taking overnight trips. I'm hoping to try it out late September with a week on a lake.
Welcome to the group.
Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:32 pm
by smltooner
Welcome to the club.
Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:16 pm
by HandymanHerb
Welcome, hey that's 2 new members from NW Fla, jlbutl is up there near you
Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:22 pm
by jlbutl
Looks like he's North East Florida. If that Jacksonville area, its still about 5 1/2 hours from me...
Re: Newbie
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:05 pm
by rayman
Hey everyone thanks for the replies, I've got so much on my mind, and what to do with the new boat! I'll take some pics as I go and share with everyone. I'm located between Jacksonville and Gainesville in a rural area. Look forward to being a part of the forum and sharing everyone's experiences.

Re: Newbie
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:30 am
by ROLAND
welcome to the group rayman...glad you joined... good group here.. don't forget those pics of your boat!
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:01 am
by rayman
Finally a picture, this is in the Gulf off the west coast of Florida (Steinhatchee) snorkling for scallops. Loads of fun and great eating.
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:18 am
by Kim in FL
Hi Ray.
Beautiful boat. I noticed the grill. Have you had a chance to use it yet? I bet those scallops would be yummy cooked on that thing!
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 5:36 pm
by rayman
Thanks Kim in Florida, I haven't used the grill yet but plan on it soon! We had a blast scalloping, this was our first time really enjoyed it. We wound up with 187 scallops. Dinner was great tonight with scallops from the westcoast and shrimp from the eastcoast! Life's good!
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:05 pm
by Ron Burgundy
MMMmmmm that sounds good.
I'm a little too far south for scalloping unfortunately. Homosassa river and Crystal river are the clostest scalloping grounds to me. I've been thinking about making a trip up there. Sounds like a blast.
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:09 pm
by jeffybear
Ron Burgundy wrote:MMMmmmm that sounds good.
I'm a little too far south for scalloping unfortunately. Homosassa river and Crystal river are the clostest scalloping grounds to me. I've been thinking about making a trip up there. Sounds like a blast.
We were out of Crystal River scalloping last Friday, didn't have near the luck that Rayman had though, we probably only snorkeled for about an hour and a half and only found about 36 between 3 of us. But this was our first time too, our guide said that if we had been out there early (mid to late June) we probably would have found our limit in that same amount of time. It was a blast though. The scallops were pretty small too.
BTW Rayman, great looking toon you got there!!
Re: Newbie
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 9:11 pm
by Partybarger3000
Welcome aboard! Lovely boat! We like our sun tracker!