This content originally appeared as a blog post at tradeonlytoday.com
Thanks to all who joined me every day via this blog during the 2017 Boaterz n Bikerz of America Hull of a Tour: The Lobster Roll!
In case you missed out, this was the fourth in a series of organized annual motorcycling and boating tours staged throughout America for members of the boating industry and their friends.
We’ve had as many as 35 join us on a trip, and as few as 14 this year, but a great time is always the hallmark when you mix boaters and bikers together for outdoor adventure and fun.
Thanks to all who joined me every day via this blog during the 2017 Boaterz n Bikerz of America Hull of a Tour: The Lobster Roll!
In case you missed out, this was the fourth in a series of organized annual motorcycling and boating tours staged throughout America for members of the boating industry and their friends.
We’ve had as many as 35 join us on a trip, and as few as 14 this year, but a great time is always the hallmark when you mix boaters and bikers together for outdoor adventure and fun.
In the past our summer tours have included the first Hull of a Tour event, a cross-country 3,000-mile journey from Florida to California; the Freedom Ride, from Florida to Washington, D.C., which concluded in the mega Memorial Day Rolling Thunder ride at the nation’s capital; and the Pacific Coast Rush, a 2,000-mile run from Seattle to San Francisco, with a loop to Big Sur.
No matter the location, finding spectacular scenic roads and stops, meeting new friends and enjoying great grub are always on the agenda, as are the fun planned boating activities, which makes this tour unique.
A few weeks ago we concluded a 1,500-mile coastal and mountain ride through New England, rolling through misty Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Each day I posted a blog on Trade Only Today, highlighting the events of the previous day.
During the weeklong trek we rode hot new Regals in Maine and New Hampshire, cruised the legendary Kancamagus Highway while dodging moose, went tubing on the Kennebec River, took a land-and-water Duckmobile tour in Hyannis, Mass., feasted on all things lobster everywhere, including Boothbay Harbor and Bar Harbor, and eventually splashed down in Newport, R.I., where we enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise to toast our success.
Special thanks to our sponsors for making this year’s event possible.
Our three-time returning title sponsor Freedom Boat Club was back again to support the effort with boat stops and the big finale, as was four-time media sponsor Soundings Trade Only, which provided the editorial perch for this blog. Special thanks to Jack Atzinger and Eric Colby for turning on a dime to get the blogs posted daily.
Two-time boat sponsor Regal Boats returned, joining newcomers BRP Evinrude, our power partner, along with Sea Tow, which sponsored the official chase vehicle. It was driven by former Yachting and PassageMaker editor John Wooldridge.
Our special event sponsors included Moose Landing Marina in Naples, Maine, which hosted the launch breakfast; Freedom Boat Club of Portsmouth, N.H., which took us for a great afternoon boat spin; and Freedom Boat Club of Rhode Island, which helped facilitate the Newport festivities.
The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association came aboard and provided the tour of Hyannis aboard the jolly Duckmobile. My company, Kenton Smith Marketing, serves as the official event producer and publicist.
I can’t wrap this ride without giving special thanks to our riders for this year’s event and a big shout out, especially to Jim Krueger, regional sales manager of Regal Boats, who is our Hull of a Tour route planner and road captain and who has been my partner in this tour since day one. Jim is the ultimate rock star when it comes to orchestrating the most awesome roads to ride.
Wanda Kenton Smith is chairwoman of the RBLC New Markets Task Force, chief marketing officer of Freedom Boat Club and president of Marine Marketers of America. Email: wanda@kentonsmithmarketing.com
