Although Stu and Jackie Jones and their sons, Tyler and Maxwell, have settled back into the daily grind of work and school following an adventurous summer poker run season traveling around the country with their 33-foot Ocean Hawk center console, the owners of the Florida Powerboat Club are set for an eventful September, which is generally an off month for the club.

The Jones family enjoyed a run to the Bahamas earlier this summer in their 33-foot Ocean Hawk. Photo courtesy Florida Powerboat Club

“September is the low point of the tourism season in Florida so in my opinion, it’s a good time to come visit because it’s not so busy,” said Jones, who has added a couple of smaller events to the club schedule this month—an accompanying powerboat run shadowing thousands of motorcycles from Miami to Key West in the 44th annual Phil Peterson’s Key West Poker Run starting September 16 and a Bimini Fall Fun Run starting September 30. “We normally don’t offer any events but the Peterson’s Key West Poker Run shares the same popular checkpoints used by FPC for our boat poker runs, so it’s a natural fit.

“And the opportunity to go to the Bahamas before the fall season kicks in and the seas get too rough is a great one,” Jones continued. “The new Hilton in Bimini is a game-changer—it gives our members a nice, new, modern, American-owned placed to stay. It’s really a great property with plenty of docks. We have about 10 or 12 boats signed up and we can bring up to 20 boats so if you don’t go now, you’re going to have to wait until next year.”

Jones is excited join the Key West Sunrise Rotary volunteers to raise money for a great cause with the Peterson’s Key West Poker Run, which he’s been attending for more than 20 years. He said he is planning to run his 33-footer, which is powered by twin Mercury Verado 300 engines, down to Key West, but he’ll also bring his custom Harley-Davidson Fat Boy (above, click image to enlarge) down for the run. Along with assisting any FPC members who want to attend the Peterson’s run by boat, Jones added that the club will drive its trailer down to Key West and transport club members’ motorcycles if they want to bring their bikes with them.

“Whether you bring a boat or a motorcycle, we can book your rooms, arrange your dockage and parking, and plan all of the fun,” Jones said. “We’re looking forward to a thundering weekend in paradise.”