How do you meet new boating people?

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serpa4 · #1 Post by **serpa4** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 6:57 pm

Well, the Army moved me to SC and into a new shop with only two co-workers. Neither are really the boating type and are geo-bachelors and go home to their families on the weekends. My last job I worked with about 100 people and had plenty of friends to invite.
Do you pull into a float party with complete strangers? Is that proper?
Do you beach next to people on purpose to be social? Seems like I'd not appreciate it myself.
I have neighbors that just moved in on both sides of me, so that seems like my only option for now.
It's not like dating where I can run my shopping cart into someone.

I'm married with kids so I don't hang out at the local marina bar meeting the "young" people.
I've googled extensively and asked all the marinas on boating clubs also. Seems they are all yacht clubs or sailing clubs.
What do you all do?

bassn386 · #2 Post by **bassn386** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:33 pm

You don't have to drink alcohol at the bar. I'll bet there are other families that go there for food and you might be able to strike up a conversation with someone with kids close to your age.
Also, the folks at the marina store may know of some people they can introduce to you.
Boaters tend to be very friendly, so chatting with them shouldn't be a problem.

DonCabo · #3 Post by **DonCabo** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:42 pm

I'm assuming you trailer... Otherwise I'd suggest partying on your boat at the dock and meet some folks. If you're on Facebook, I know there are many regional, virtual yacht clubs. Search for them. Other then that, perhaps a night or two at a local marina bar may be in order. Good luck.

Bamaman · #4 Post by **Bamaman** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:52 pm

I'm sure the party animals congregate somewhere on Lake Murray.

Just pull into the middle of them, and conversation will happen.

You're lucky to have such a good lake so close to West Columbia.

crspang · #5 Post by **crspang** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:45 am

We'll be in Hurricane cove today. You're more than welcome to come say hey! We're a family friendly group that hangs out near there almost every weekend. If you're not familiar with the cove, its near the west side of the tip of Dreher Island. Look for the cove full of boats and when you come in the cove you will see a dock on the left, pass it and keep following the left shoreline to the second dock, that's where we'll be. If you have a VHF you can hail me on 16 or 72, I use the name Stargazer.
My real name is Rush by the way.
I'm not sure if this maps link will work:
http://m.google.com/u/m/zT5UVS

sjp · #6 Post by **sjp** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 4:46 pm

I assume you toon on Lake Murray. I do. The best spot to meet people and they are very friendly is Big Sandy Beach, go towards Bomb Island, round the corner, and pull up and beach it. Very friendly people. If you can brave it, equally friendly people, go to the opposite end of Big Sandy, and you'll be at Little Sandy, a bit different crowd (more likely to see people flashing, or people making out), not that that is a bad thing. Just isb't good for my little ones eyes.

You can google map brady porth rd, and that is the road behind the beach area.

I'll be there hopefully next Sat., weather permitting.

serpa4 · #7 Post by **serpa4** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:01 pm

Thanks for the Murray tips. That is where I hang out. Unfortunately i'm out for a couple weekends on a family road trip; New York today. I'll check them out next trip out. I heard lunch island was a good place, but found it is a bird preserve and cannot land anywhere. Was looking forward to meeting some people if possible.

Upon editing, I see lunch island and bomb island are the same. The large island out in the middle of nowhere right?
https://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces?h ... 7894964723
I bookmarked hurricane cover to my phone to find it next outing. Where are all these coves labeled? I.e. google maps doesn't show the cove names. Is there a good map that does?

Anyway to provide coordinates to Big and little sandy beach? Sounds like you are referring to a beach on bomb/lunch island.

#8 Post by **badmoonrising** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:15 am

Some of the best friends I have are people we've met at Canal Days or raft ups. What I do is anchor near a large group of boats (on the Bohemia) and introduce ourselves. At Canal Days, I wave boats over to raft up with me as long as there are one or several hot chicks on board. Everyone I ever rafted up with still hang around with us. Maybe it's my charm or maybe it's because we always have naked and or topless women on board ?

crspang · #9 Post by **crspang** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:45 pm

Here's a Google maps link to the sandy beach area: 1359 Brady Porth Rd, Lexington, SC 29072
http://m.google.com/u/m/dA4UaF

The east side cove is where the big party is.

You're correct about bomb/lunch island being a bird sanctuary. And if you haven't seen the purple martins yet, you should really make a point to take an evening cruise to them, it is absolutely amazing!

You can pick up a lake map at Walmart that has the landmarks on it, although I think hurricane cove may be called quarry cove on it.

BobG · #10 Post by **BobG** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:38 pm

How do you meet new boating people?

I think, the trick might be to sneak up behind them, and pop a bag over their heads. It's easy from there.

Redneck_Randy · #11 Post by **Redneck_Randy** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:38 pm

BobG wrote:How do you meet new boating people?

I think, the trick might be to sneak up behind them, and pop a bag over their heads. It's easy from there.

LMAO

Hope you offer them a cold beer afterwords

serpa4 · #12 Post by **serpa4** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:06 pm

Thanks all. Got two places to dock now and a good supply of bags. If I can't sneak up behind them with the bags, can I just fill them with sh!t, light on fire, and throw them? It works on Halloween, but I usually don't make friend that way.

serpa4 · #13 Post by **serpa4** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:42 pm

Looks like I found the Sandy Beach area. Hung out for a few hours, talking to several new people. My son was busy playing, good scenery :0
Thanks. Even had the ice cream boat stop by.

screwball · #14 Post by **screwball** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:59 pm

Had a guy beach next to me and yell "Gotta couple 6 packs, do you have any cooler room" We both had a great laugh. See Danny on the river all the time. We are both Vietnam Vets, have granddaughters, and do a lot of fishing without bait. Jim is a friend of Dan, and met 3 neighbors, 2 of whom didn't own a pontoon until all this partying started. We are all at or over 60. If you are ever on the Colorado River between Davis dam and Parker dam on Lake Havasu, look for the 3 or 4 pontoons flying pirate flags with a bunch of fat but tanned old men. Got a beer or iced tea waiting.

jrolin1 · #15 Post by **jrolin1** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:34 pm

That is the party side a lot of fun but a little much sometimes for kids.. The family side is on the other end (west) in a cove or in front. The front has some rocks that are marked (usually) so pay attention. Ditto the purple martins at dusk. Literally millions of them near dusk. It is an awesome sight. If I see you I will say hi. I am in a garnet 24 Bentley with a 90 merc.

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