Go BIG or Go Home
What Happens When A Small-Town Family Visits The "World's Largest"... Whatever!

World’s Largest Speed Boat, Clearwater, FL

You expect certain things when traveling to Florida. Heat, for instance. (We certainly got our fair share on the day we walked here.)

On our recent road trip from New York to Florida, we barely escaped a blizzard, and sought refuge in the “Sunshine” State. We arrived at the end of the coldest December in Tampa Bay’s history. Then, because we weren’t cold enough, we set out on the water. For a ride on a speedboat.

Where we went, and who was coerced into going:
We headed to the municipal marina in Clearwater, which sits on the calm, blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. While there are several dolphin tour boats and fishing expedition guide boats, many of whom hawk their services on the dock, we had a distinct experience in sight: the Sea Screamer, the world’s largest speed boat.

speed boat

Photo Credit: SeaScreamer.com

Even though the temperature was in the 60’s range, the four of us were up for the challenge, since the sun was up in a clear sky. We figured, as New Yorkers, we could handle any chill with stalwart fortitude (we were wrong; more on that later). My mom and dad, our hosts for the week, were much smarter, of course. They waved us off at the pier with knowing smiles, and went for a stroll during our 75-minute cruise.

 

thrill ride

The Girl prepares to catch air as the engine revs up.

WHY did you go there, exactly?
I was naturally drawn to the “world’s largest” part, and at 72-feet long, the Sea Screamer is a big boat. In order to get the kids on board (literally and figuratively), I stressed the “speed” part. She reached speeds of 35 miles an hour, which is fast for a boat. In a humorous juxtaposition, docked next to the big Sea Screamer is the “Little Toot” boat ride. And on the other side, the Captain Memo’s pirate ship. My kids gave that one a longing glance, and I promised to take them next time.

Okay, what was so cool about it?
The ride at full speed is exhilarating, even though it is intermittent between frequent “no wake” zones. Captain Barry’s narration and well-rehearsed jokes (“the more you drink, the more dolphins you’ll see”) were amusing, and the sea-themed music was fun (“just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…”). We passed the homes of the rich and famous, including Hulk Hogan’s estate and the former Fort Harrison hotel where Keith Richards wrote “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in 1965.

This is how fast we were going:

Another feature of the Sea Screamer excursion is the guarantee of dolphin sightings. And by “guarantee,” they don’ t actually promise you’ll see an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin while you’re out. If you don’t, they guarantee that you can come back within thirty days for another free trip. Alas, we only once caught a quick glance of a fin, after which I sent poor Matt on a fool’s errand to stand there for 20 minutes shooting video of the water’s unbroken surface.

It was nice to know that we could have returned for another trip, but not only did we not have the opportunity on this visit, we were also frightened to be once again subjected to the cold.

This is how cold we were:

Beach towel

I wrapped The Girl within an inch of her life in the beach towel we brought as an afterthought. I smugly thought I would do the smart thing and bring it to dry off sea spray. It soon became the only barrier between her and (imagined) frostbite. See, the thing about going fast on a boat is...it makes the air rushing at your body feel much colder than when you’re still. This hardy New Yorker, wearing her trench coat and mittens, was nearly crying from the discomfort. I spent most of the trip in a warmth huddle with any willing family member.

 

speed boat

The Boy is regrettably entering his “I’m cool, and I need to distance myself from my parents” phase.

A little background info:
The Sea Screamer was custom-built almost 19 years ago. She’s an 82-ton vessel, measuring 72-feet in length, and 19-feet wide. She has twin-turbocharged, 900 horsepower diesel engines. The Sea Screamer is Coast Guard licensed. There are two bathrooms aboard, and they sell drinks and snacks.

How it rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = snoozefest, 10 = add to your bucket list): [rating=6]
6. I can’t fault the fine people operating the Sea Screamer for the weather, but I willingly admit it had a negative impact on the experience. The sight of some cute, frolicking dolphins might have warmed my heart enough to stop my teeth from chattering, but no such luck.
So, if the weather is warm, please go. If the temps are below 70°F, wisely follow my parents’ lead, and stay on dry land!

Hey YOU! Go BIG:

SeaScreamer
Clearwater Municipal Marina Slip #15, 25 Causeway Boulevard, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
727-447-7200

speed boat

Almost looks like a hot day under the Florida sun, doesn't it? HA!

3 comments

  1. Fiona said,
    February 1, 2011 @ 7:43 am

    Traci you make even uncomfortable experiences sound fun – now I totally want to do the boat ride if for no other reason but to commiserate on the coldness.

  2. Mike said,
    February 1, 2011 @ 12:44 pm

    Doesn’t your husband repeatedly shovel your driveway of nightly snow and ice build-up in frigid New York morning weather??? I didn’t hear him complaining too much about the boat ride.

  3. February 2, 2011 @ 9:36 am

    Everything is always colder on the water! My teeth were chattering just reading your post and since I am not a fan of cold, I can only imagine that the experience is much better now that it is over. 🙂

    Feel badly about not spotting a dolphin- we paid quite a bit for boat ride in Florida that “nearly guaranteed” we’d see a manatee or two. We didn’t, not even a glimpse, my husband still complains.

1 Trackback \ Ping

  1. February 1, 2011 @ 10:26 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Go BIG or Go Home, Go BIG or Go Home. Go BIG or Go Home said: World’s Largest Speed Boat, Clearwater, FL: You expect certain things when traveling to Florida. Heat, for instance. http://bit.ly/gYtS4o […]