Has anyone done a boat parade?

[BruceK]

I doubt you need the genset, but if you run it, you will be "parading" for some hours so be sure not to have it underloaded and risk glazing the bores. If necessary give it extra work to do, fridges, HWS, etc. The Honda genset suggestion above is not a bad idea.

 

[BandB]

Wow! Some of this sounds insane! No entry fee, it's just for fun. No crazy decorating rules either

One of my daughters had off from work today, so we spent the better part of today decorating. I don't think my generator will have a problem with the load. I certainly will do a dry run. Going to the marina tonight to plug everything in and see what it looks like.

Wifey B: Yeah, yours sounds like more fun to be in. Maybe ours is better to watch but Winterfest in Fort Lauderdale is a huge series of events. Sure nice to be able to have winter festivals in bikinis.

 

[markpierce]

Won't see me messing with a bunch of boats at night.

Safer at berth.

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: Don't listen to him, Donna. You and your daughters and guests enjoy the parade. Another great new experience of boat ownership.

 

[Fletcher500]

As noted, unfortunately a lot of operators drink during these night time parades. We almost took a full T bone by another boat. The Admiral still likes them, but I am resisting.

 

[BandB]

As noted, unfortunately a lot of operators drink during these night time parades. We almost took a full T bone by another boat. The Admiral still likes them, but I am resisting.

Wifey B: Very true and very sad that they can't enjoy it sober.

 

[kev_rm]

Ok lots of good decorated boats in this thread but how about some recommendations for LED 12v decorative (aka christmas) lights!?!!?

 

[GFC]

Private boat is only $35 to enter. Commercial is $250 to $1000, depending on size. A Showboat is guaranteed television and $8000. Decorations have to be approved. There can be no Santa or Santa Image as there can only be one Santa and he's on boat #100. Must provide proof of insurance and sign an indemnification form. The theme this year is "Comics & Cartoons Rockin’ the Night Away". Must have a minimum number of lights based on size. For instance, a 50' single deck boat must have 9500 miniature lights or 4000 C-7/C-9. That is per deck so a 50' boat with a 25' bridge would require something like 15,000 or 5000 I think. Something like that. No obscenity on your decorations and no nudity...darn. Think Key West Fantasy Fest sounds like more fun. Many of the floats and boats are professionally decorated. The route is 12 miles. Oh, you must designate your Captain but also your radio person as there must be a dedicated person assigned to monitor the VHF at all times. There are decorating tips and videos on decorating on the website. Oh, both sides y estimate 1 million people viewing in person and 8 million on tv. of the boat must be decorated the same, so all viewers see the same.

I can see participating in smaller, less professional, parades. Or maybe....Fantasy Fest.

I vote for Fantasy Fest. It's a LOT less complicated, less expensive and probably a LOT more fun than your parade.

We did up what I think is a pretty spectacular decoration this year but I'm not posting any pics yet. Our parade is next weekend so I'll post a few pics after Monday.

 

[koliver]

Wifey B: Yeah, yours sounds like more fun to be in. Maybe ours is better to watch but Winterfest in Fort Lauderdale is a huge series of events. Sure nice to be able to have winter festivals in bikinis.

no pictures? It didn't happen!

 

[BHBCO]

This is the Trawler "Kiss" from our Yacht club VYC, we go all out. Had to have the Trawlers gen/set and a portable to power it.

 

[menzies]

Kiss.

Very nicely tacky!

 

[Donna]

Ok lots of good decorated boats in this thread but how about some recommendations for LED 12v decorative (aka christmas) lights!?!!?

I like the Phillips brand and remember the bigger the boat, the bigger the bulbs.

WifeyB, this may not happen. I am so incredibly sad. Daughter just informed me her Christmas party for work is on the same day. Important because she works for the government. She is going to check when she gets into work today to make sure her days aren't messed up.

 

[Blissboat]

Hi, Donna: You'll have a blast. I agree with the others who note that your LED strings won't draw much.

About navigation: Whoever is on the helm should be super-alert to the motion of the boat (and boats) ahead. Parade organizers like everyone to "close-it-up," so the parade has coherence and the trailing vessels follow the intended parade route. But, with all the distractions, it's easy for a boat to swing wide on a turn, plus not every boat turns in the same radius. In addition, not every boat draws the same amount of water, so unexpected groundings should actually be sort of expected. If that happens to the boat immediately in line ahead of you, it's not as easily noticeable in the dark. If you're right on their stern, things can quickly get complicated. (Elsewhere on the TF you reported recent shoaling around Palm Coast post-Matthew, so extra caution is probably good).

Stay safe and have a lot of fun. Glad that you and Southerly are going for a holiday cruise!

 

[BandB]

I like the Phillips brand and remember the bigger the boat, the bigger the bulbs.

WifeyB, this may not happen. I am so incredibly sad. Daughter just informed me her Christmas party for work is on the same day. Important because she works for the government. She is going to check when she gets into work today to make sure her days aren't messed up.

Wifey B: Crap, crap, crap and double crap.

 

[Blissboat]

Sorry, Donna: Hadn't seen the preceding post. Hope you all can still make things work out. Maybe a dockside party instead?

 

[High Wire]

I never heard of a work Christmas party being called important before. Hilarious, yes!

 

[Donna]

Okay, she got her days mixed up. Her work party is on the 18th not the 17th. Lets hope it doesn't rain on the 17th because the rain date is the 18th.

On a lighter note, the giant wreath that I just ran with giant light up led balls and of course one of my famous giant bows, slipped out of my hand while tying it to the rail. My welcome aboard wreath. The *&$#^%$ thing started to sink. I quickly ran and got the hook. Fished it out of the water and today I get to see if the lights dried out enough to work.

Is this supposed to be fun? LOL!

 

[BandB]

Okay, she got her days mixed up. Her work party is on the 18th not the 17th. Lets hope it doesn't rain on the 17th because the rain date is the 18th.

On a lighter note, the giant wreath that I just ran with giant light up led balls and of course one of my famous giant bows, slipped out of my hand while tying it to the rail. My welcome aboard wreath. The *&$#^%$ thing started to sink. I quickly ran and got the hook. Fished it out of the water and today I get to see if the lights dried out enough to work.

Is this supposed to be fun? LOL!

I think it's fun the first time. It may become a bit less so year by year.

 

[Islanddreamer]

This was the neatest entry. The base boat was a pontoon. Sirens, lights, water cannon - the whole thing.

mike

 

[Islanddreamer]

No cost to enter in Middle River this year either. 80 boats registered.

 

[Donna]

This was the neatest entry. The base boat was a pontoon. Sirens, lights, water cannon - the whole thing.

mike

WHOA! Who has that kind of time? Beautiful but I'm sticking with simple!

 

[Islanddreamer]

Some people really take this thing to heart. We lit up and stayed at the dock and got to see the entire parade up close. A little too cold and windy - we were watching a few boats struggle in the breeze. I didn't feel like being miserable.

mike

 

[menzies]

She is nearly ready.

I have a 6 foot floating Tinkerbell with gold ribbons to go above the foredeck and adjust the lighting on Ariel, and off we go.

The first half of the 10X15 flag is fixed to a wooden rod, the back half should billow out when under way!

The overall parade theme is Mickey and Friends. I have bought the Its A Small World music which will be blaring from the speakers! We have costumes for our crew - a Mexican, Frenchman, Indian Sari woman, Indian man, Dutch girl and Spanish woman. Should be a blast.

 

[BandB]

She is nearly ready.

I have a 6 foot floating Tinkerbell with gold ribbons to go above the foredeck and adjust the lighting on Ariel, and off we go.

The first half of the 10X15 flag is fixed to a wooden rod, the back half should billow out when under way!

The overall parade theme is Mickey and Friends. I have bought the Its A Small World music which will be blaring from the speakers! We have costumes for our crew - a Mexican, Frenchman, Indian Sari woman, Indian man, Dutch girl and Spanish woman. Should be a blast.

Wifey B: You're going to drive everyone crazy. Number one song hardest to get out of your head when you hear it is "It's a Small World." In fact, you've got us singing it here now. Everyone here (7 people) knows it and is singling along. We'll be humming it or thinking about it all night. It's like a virus.

 

[menzies]

Wifey B: You're going to drive everyone crazy. Number one song hardest to get out of your head when you hear it is "It's a Small World." In fact, you've got us singing it here now. Everyone here (7 people) knows it and is singling along. We'll be humming it or thinking about it all night. It's like a virus.

That was exactly my plan.

Everyone else in the parade will be dressing their boats and themselves as Mickey and Minnie, Dopey and Donald.

I have even reached out the the band for the party making sure they know the music!

 

[BandB]

That was exactly my plan.

Everyone else in the parade will be dressing their boats and themselves as Mickey and Minnie, Dopey and Donald.

I have even reached out the the band for the party making sure they know the music!

Wifey B: Everyone knows it. Some pretend to now hate it but they really don't. It's so simple musically that anyone can sing it, can hum it. It's truly a song for all. The song was written for the attraction but the attraction was actually renamed after the song. Disney requested a song that could be translated into many languages and could be sung as a round. It's been played more than any other song in history and in more languages.

It's a good song for today, good thoughts. It was written during a time that love and harmony was needed.

It's a small world, it's a small world
It's a small world, it's a small world

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope and a world of fears
There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all
It's a small world after all, it's a small, small, small, small world

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone
Though the mountains be wide and the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all
It's a small world after all, it's a small, small world

It's a small world after all, no matter if you're big or small
Come on everybody let's bounce to this
Let's play some love with a little twist
It's a small world, it's a small world

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope and a world of fears
There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all, it's a small world

It's a small world after all
(After all, everybody now)
It's a small world after all
(After all, can you hear me now?)

It's a small world after all
(Come on, come on)
It's a small, small, small, small world
It's a small world, after all
(After all, everybody now)

It's a small world after all
(After all)
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small, small, small world

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all
It's a small world after all, it's a small, small, small, small world
It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all
It's a small world after all, it's a small, small, small, small world

 

[Donna]

she is nearly ready.

I have a 6 foot floating tinkerbell with gold ribbons to go above the foredeck and adjust the lighting on ariel, and off we go.

The first half of the 10x15 flag is fixed to a wooden rod, the back half should billow out when under way!

The overall parade theme is mickey and friends. I have bought the its a small world music which will be blaring from the speakers! We have costumes for our crew - a mexican, frenchman, indian sari woman, indian man, dutch girl and spanish woman. Should be a blast.

beautiful!

 

[menzies]

We won Best Costumes! As I thought everyone else went Mickey and Minnie. We went Small World!

 

[Capt.Bill11]

I vote for Fantasy Fest. It's a LOT less complicated, less expensive and probably a LOT more fun than your parade.

Yeah, Fantasy Fest. I've heard of that.

 

[GFC]

We had our boat parade this weekend, Friday and Saturday. We had 13 guests on board Friday night and 10 tonight. Both nights were a LOT of fun, about 20 boats in the parade each night and a good time was had by all.


Tonight there was a question about whether or not the parade would be held due to high winds forecast. They decided to go ahead with it despite the winds. I think the highest gusts were in the 30mph range but all boats were safe.


I'll post some photos once I've gotten some rest and retrieved the camera from the boat.