Our busy weekend continued Friday evening when our friend, Larry, invited us to Norfolk’s waterfront for a dock party. He was participating in a poker run the following day to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Since parking in that area can be a challenge, Larry offered to meet us across the Elizabeth River on the Portsmouth waterfront, and give us a ride back to Norfolk.
Larry’s boat isn’t just an ordinary pleasure boat: it’s a 36-foot Fountain with (in Motor Man “speak”): twin 502 cubic inch, 600 horsepower engines. Also known as a go-fast boat. Larry contacted Motor Man last winter to do some machine work on the engines, then Larry rebuilt them, and Motor Man dyno-tested them before they were installed back in the boat.
The area between Portsmouth and Norfolk is a no wake zone, which means, of course, that boats can’t get up to speed. Since it was my first time on a boat of that type, Motor Man asked Larry if he had time to take us further out into the river. And get up to speed. (Well, almost.)
We kept a close eye on the sky….and the radar on our smart phones.
Motor Man took a neat little Go-Pro video of the ride.
And I took a picture of him, taking a video.
Our top speed was 82 mph, although the boat is capable of going a bit faster. This was her “maiden” trip after the freshen-up of the engines. But Larry has promised us on a longer (faster?) ride in the near future.
We made it back to the dock before it rained.
There were nearly 70 boats planning to take part in the poker run the next day. We recognized many of them as ones taking part in the Jammin On The James run. Fountains, Donzis, Formulas, Cigarettes. Lotsa horsepower.
Thanks, Larry, for adding another adventure to our busy weekend.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
Yep – that’s “go fast” alright! Looks like tons of fun too!
Pam
WOW!!! What FUN!!! “Go Fast” is properly named! Thanks for the adventure.
That is a beautiful pic of gorgeous horsepower!!Interesting all the names- all I knew was the cigarette boat. I know you enjoyed the speed. Beautiful pictures of the sky and so glad you got the camera working-exhilarating!! Finalyy,I like the picture of you and Motor Man! Good day my friend!
Wow! Zoom, zoom, look’s like fun!
I understood “go-fast”! 😉 Fun experience!
Wow—that is amazing!!! You barely look ruffled! I would be all crazy haired after that ride! What fun! Thanks for the tour!
Loved the go-pro video. Definitely a go fast boat.
What a great day!
I wonder If I could ski that fast?
Kudos to you two daredevils! 🙂
A busy and fast second half!
Those stormy clouds rolling in are the perfect backdrop…
And that first picture of the boat docked …. that one needs to be framed & up on the wall !
… & … loved the vid : D
What fun! Beautiful picture, Dianna!
What a nice boat! I am sure that was lots of fun!
Whoop! Makes me want to put on a helmet and jump on board 🙂 I love that photo you took of MM filming, he looks like he’s having a blast! MJ
That sky did look threatening. Looks like a great ride! Glad you got the Go Pro figured out. That might be the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on MM’s face! Was it the camera, the speed, or his lovely bride taking his photo?