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HOW CANE WE TRUST ANY GOVERMENT PURPOSAL FOR AIRBOATERS ?

D-BREWSTER

Silent Prop
R. I. P.
ON WHAT FEW LANDS WE STILL HAVE LEFT TO AIRBOAT AND THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS EVER EVEN HAVIN A PLACE TO RUN THERE OWN AIRBOAT..WE HAVE ALREADY LOST SO MUCH AIRBOAT HUNTING AND FLORIDA HERITAGE THAT THEY WILL NEVER GET TO EXPERINCE, BECAUSE THAT WAY OF LIFE WE USED TO ENJOY ONLY 10-15-20 YEARS AGO IS GONE FOREVER..MAN IT MAKES ME AND IM SURE ALL THE LOCALS OF SOUTH FLORIDA SICK TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE LOST IN SO SHORT OF TIME..I WAS LOOKING THRU SOME OF MY OLD-PICS OF AIRBOAT AND TRACK HUNT'S OFF MIAMI CANAL AND HOLLYLANDS ALL THE WAY NORTH INTO THE SOD AND CANE FIELDS AND THEN CAME ON THE T.V A COMMERCIAL FOR THE (ARMY-CORE OF IDIOTS !!) AND HOW THERE RETURNING THE KISSIMMEE RIVER BACK TO ITS NATURAL FLOWING SELF..I DIDNT NO RATHER TO LAUGH OR PUKE !! IT BAFFLES MY MIND THAT WE THE TAXPAYERS PAID THEM TO RUIN IT BY DIGGING AND DAMIN CANALS THAT RUINED ANOTHER FREE FLOWING RIVER AND MARSH SYSTEM JUST LIKE THEY DID IN THE GLADES AND TO THE LAKE .AND NOW WE LET THEM BACK IN AGAIN TO TRY TO PUT IT BACK RIGHT ?? HAVE US HUNTERS AND AIRBOATERS EVER SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT ON OUR HUNTING AND AIRBOATING LANDS ?? YA RIGHT !! WE LOSE MORE EVERY YEAR.. JUST THINK OF ALL THE GREAT HUNTING AND AIRBOATING WE LOST TO THE STATE PARK, IT WASNT THAT LONG AGO YOU COULD HOGHUNT AND CAMP ALL YEAR AROUND ON THE RIVER WHERE YOU WANTED TO.DANG DONT GET ME STARTED ON (WATER-MIS-MANAGEMENT).AND THE EVERGLADES PARKS SERVICE AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO US IN THE GLADES I TRULY BELEVE THAT OF ALL THE HUNTERS AND AIRBOATERS THAT THE MIAMI AND BROWARD GUYS HAVE HAD THE MOST TOOK FROM THEM AND HAVE ALMOST PUT A END TO ALL THERE FLORIDA HERITAGE AND WAY OF LIFE BY THE GOVERMENT..FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FROM SOUTH FLORIDA YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE FOR THE GOVERMENT TO TELL YOU ONE DAY THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER HUNT OR AIRBOAT IN THE AREAS YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TOOK YOU AND YOU CAN NO LONGER RUN THE FULL-TRACK YOU HAVE EVERY DIME YOU EVER SAVED IN AND ALL THE COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORK YOUR FAMILY PUT INTO THEM BECAUSE IT WAS THERE PASSION AND WAY OF LIFE ..LOOK JUST A FEW YEARS AGO HOW THEY TRICKED US IN BROWN'S FARM , THEY LET US RUN OUR BUGGY;S AND BOATS IN THERE GIVE US THE DOE HUNTS AND MERCY HUNTS... THEN THE NEXT YEAR HEY HOPE YOU GUY'S ENJOYED IT BECAUSE BROWNS FARM IS NOW CLOSED FOREVER TO YA..AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO EXPERINCE IT 1ST HAND TO TRULY FEEL THE PAIN AND ANGER TO FIND OUT THE GOVERMENT IS TAKING YOUR HUNT CAMP FROM YOU, THAT FOR EVERY WEEKEND FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN TOTIN WOOD AND EVERY OTHER PEICE OF MATERIAL BOAT LOAD BY BOAT LOAD BY AIRBOAT SOME AS FAR AS 30 MILES FROM THE RAMP , AND BULIT THESE CAMPS BY HAND , MOST WITH NO MORE THEN A BUCKET OF NAILS A EASTWING AND A HAND SAW!! I KNOW I HAVE SPENT MORE HOURS THEN I CAN COUNT STANDING ON-TOP A AIRBOAT GRASSRAKE BEATIN 4X4'S IN THE MUCK WITH A SLEDGE, MOST OF THE TIME SCABIN TWO 8" 4X4'S TOGETHER BEFORE HITTIN SOLID GROUND AND HAND SAWIN 2X6 PRESS..TREATED PLANKS ALL DAY, BY FAR THE MOST REWARDING WORK I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW TO OWN OR BE PART OF A CAMP WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY IN THE THE GLADES AND TO HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE COUNTLESS GREAT TIMES AND MEMORYS OF CAMPIN AND COOKING AND FISHIN AND HUNTING IS THE MOST PRICELESS THING IN THE WORLD IN MY EYES !! BAM !! THEN ONE DAY WATER-MIS-MANAGEMENT OR THE PARK SERVICE SAY'S YOUR A COUPLE FEET OFF BOUNDS WERE TAKING YOUR CAMP !! AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER THE GREAT CAMPS IN THE LAKE PARK MARSH, SAME THING, TOLD WE CANT GO OUT THERE FENCED IT OFF AND NOW ITS THE PLAYPEN FOR CITY LEADERS FAMILY AND GAME AND FISH OFFICERS TO RUN THERE AIRBOATS AS THEY PLEASE!! ITS SICK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!! ..AND YES SIR CANEFAN AND COWBOY I GREW UP REAL CLOSE TO YOUR FATHERS PLACE ON HALL RD.. IVE LIVED OFF 140TH AND OFF OF KEYLIME AND I 1ST MOVED TO THE ACREAGE IN THE LATE 80'S EARLY 90'S WITH MY FATHER OFF OF AVACADO..BACK THEN THERE WERE JUST A HANDFUL OF HOUSES OUT THERE, WE USED TO RUN BUGGY'S AND BOATS IN OKEECHOBEE WOODS, THE MARSH , RUNNIN WATER..THEN LATER IN KEEP-OUT, THE SQUARES , THE TOWERS ,SADLY ALL DONE NOW BROTHER..HELL UP INTILL A COUPLE YEARS AGO I STILL DROVE MY BUGGY FROM MY HOUSE OUT TO THE CORBIT AREA TO HUNT 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK, NOW IT SEEMS IF YOU BACK YOUR BUGGY OUT OF YOUR YARD AND EVEN THINK OF DRIVING DOWN A DIRT ROAD THERES A COP WAITIN ON YA...SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY THING EVEN CLOSE TO THE WAY PALM BEACH COUNTY USED TO BE IS GETTING TO GO TO MIAMI CANAL IN MAY OR FOR THE BROWARD RUN BUT HELL THATS JUST A COUPLE WEEKENDS A YEAR. .. I THOUGHT I HAD ALL I COULD TAKE OF IT , I SOLD MY BUGGY,AIRBOAT AND HOUSE .BOUGHT 16 ACRES IN NORTH FLORIDA (MADISON) AND MOVED UP THERE , I WAS GONNA GIVE UP THE SWAMP'S AND BOATS AND BUGGYS....LOL ....DIDNT LAST 6 MONTHS , CAME HOME FOR A VISIT STOPPED AT LAKE CYPRESS AND HEARD THEM BOATS COMIN IN FROM THE MORNING HUNT AND THAT WAS ALL SHE WROTE... I LOOKED AT THE OLDLADY AND TOLD HER TO START PACKING WERE COMIN HOME.......LOL... I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE IN ST.LUCIE COUNTY AND THEN A IO-O470 ANGLE VALVE AND AM NOW STARTIN A NEW BOAT...MAN I CANT WAIT TO GET BACK TO (SLIDIN-AND -GLIDIN) SO MY SOUL CAN REST.....DANG SORRY ABOUT THE LONG POST BUT YOU GUY'S KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN YOU GET A CRACKER TALKIN ABOUT THE OLD DAYS AND HIS PASSIONS...........MAYBE WE SHOULD WRITE A BOOK LIKE (THE LAND REMEMBERD ) WILL CALL IT ( THE FLORIDA AIRBOATER LONG FORGOTTEN ) , ID DAMN SURE BUY IT !! LATER GUY'S
 
You'd probably be shot for telling the truth and exposing government mis deeds.

Sure wish we could devise a plan to take it all back. We just allowed too many to move in the state that really should be some place else. May be too late to reverse it now.

I can tell 30 year old tales of Brevard as well. I'm sure nearly every county has its horror stories and mis management and misplaced trusts. Kinda chokes ya up remembering how good things used to be. It scares me to think how bad our grandkids will have it. They are left with nothing but Nintendo and X-Box. What will they have to tell their kids and grandkids about?

The book could be titled PARADISE STOLEN.

Scotty
 
Nothing to it D, I thought it was a great post. I can feel your passion for the way of life you have loved and the pain of seeing it all going away. I told Cowboy when his son got to be about six or so we've got to get another airboat. I've said it so many times on this forum that some of the very BEST memories I have are those of being on the marsh on airboats with my family. We were fortunate enough to have a camp in WMA 2 for a few years and we spent nearly every weekend out there and always had a blast. I love to see the look on my nephew's face when we are out on the boats. I am so glad he had the chance to ride on his Grandpa's lap and drive his boat. I hope he never forgets that and holds that memory as dear as I know I always will. I will always have the vision in my head of him standing on the side of Cowboy's boat hanging on to the seat stand and poking frogs with the other out on The Big "O". He has his own light and gig that Cowboy made for him. It's cool man, it's really cool.
I feel ya D I just don't know if there is anyway to stop it from happening. Airboats, tracks, and buggies have brought alot of joy into my life and I hope when our sons are our age they are ticky tackin' on a key board too singing the praises of airboating.
Cowboy and I are in your neck of the woods. We live in Jensen Beach so look us up sometime.
 
Preach on man! You are so right. We have lost so much it is incredible.
I feel your pain. And they are not preserving anything. We are very lucky
that the preserved lands we have were laid down when they were because that would never happen today. And it needs to be done. On a large scale too. ENOUGH! Things need to change.

I went to a rezoning meeting last year that effected where I live.
The one rep said " its coming, you can't change it, you people need to
accept it". This dude moved here from out of state on purpose for his opportunity and when its ruined he will move back and we will be stuck with this Florida that they have ruined.

It really is a terrible thing.
 
I remember in the 70's I lived in Union Park Fl east of Orlando(for those of you that don't know where it is). I used to head south from Hwy 50 and Alafaya Trail through the woods on foot and not see a house or person all day long. Now it's called Waterford Lks, Stoneybrook and whatever the hell is out there now. My kids will never get to see the woods I roamed. So yea it is a tear jerker to see such development and so many people in the area you used to charish.
 
YES SIR , I KNOW THE WAY IT WAS ,AND NOW ! BUT A GOOD THING POEPLE NOW TRING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ! ITS A LATE FOR SOME BUT MAYBE IN THE MIST OF THINGS ! WE CAN SAVE SOME OF OUR WORLD AS WE KNEW IT FOR OUR KIDS ! DONT LOOK GOOD, BUT ,MORE OF US ARE GETTING OFF OUR BUTTS NOW AND TRYING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN SOME ! WE NEED TO UNITE , BUT SOMTHING ALWAYS IN THE WAY !THEY ARE GOOD POEPLE ON HERE FIGHTING FOR US . BUT THEY NEED HELP ! DONT KNOW THE FIX ! BUT WE GOT TO STAND TOGATHER ! GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE THANKS :D THAT WHY THEY ARE CALLED THEM MEMORIES ! JUST THINK WHAT YOUR FATHERS HAVE SEEN IN THIER LIFE ! MY DAD WOULD CUSS ALL THE TIME ABOUT CHANGE AROUND HERE ! REMEMBER HOW OUR DADS GOT US THIS FAR AND BLESS THEM FOR HOW THEY DID :idea: IT !
 
C'mon D-brew.... what's Really bothering you!? LOL :lol: just kidding. EXCELLENT post!

Too many people coming in enjoying this state. Like that Eagles song says, "If you call someplace Paradise, then kiss it goodbye". For years folks have been talking about how nice it is. And for the same number of years, people all over the country (and carribbean & the whole world for that matter) have dreamed of moving here.

They did. :(

If there were some switch we could turn off to empty out just SOME of those people I'd flip it in an instant. But it can't happen. Sadly, the pusher gave us our first 'hit' for free, we liked the money, and now we're hooked. We are dependent on the money from tourists and business that have relocated here. We import our beef and vegtables. The tourism business needs land for hotels, land for housing of it's employees, shopping, police & fire protection for THOSE people, and houseing for them, places for them to shop, places for THOSE employees to live. It never ends. They call it "Progress" and if you think different, they label you as anti-social.

The only thing that can fix that problem is a catastrophy of nearly Biblical proportions! And that would take a lot of us out as well. Terrorist attack? Monster Hurricane? Revolution? Polar ice cap melting? It all leads to economic collapse, and that means what we take for granted is over too. Gas and goods distribution, internet, electricity, and so on - all gone or severely crippled. I could deal with that. :) But in the meantime, I'm going to make the best with what I've got.

I like your use of the term "Water mis-management agencies" it's so fitting!!!!

If anyone comes up with an idea about this, let me in on it... I'm THERE! ;)

matt.
 
We import our beef and vegetables because there are houses, shopping malls, and Wal-Marts where the cattle used to roam and where the snap peas used to grow. Your right Florida is dependent on tourism and always has been but the old Snow Birds flew away one day and now everyone comes and stays. There used to be a "season" when the roads were more crowded, the beaches were more crowded, the stores were more crowded, etc. Now it's that way all the time and there is precious little space left to escape it on your airboat, track, or buggy. [/quote]
 
DBrewster,

Good post, thank you! Welcome to Southern Airboat and glad you found it!

Canefan, Your nephew will never forget! Some 40 years after riding on my grandpa's knee I finally managed to get a boat! From those same memories!

Jeff
 
Hey Gator dont forget about hunting the Econ Tr south of Lk Underhill roaming around Dump Road.I from same area same time.Small world.What a loss know.
 
Well Mr Brewster,
Ain't a whole lot more that I can say.
You pretty much said it all already. Your post got me pretty fired up. Then you started talking about the Lake Park Marsh, and I started seeing RED.

Only thing I can think to say to you is... we'll have to go out to the marsh when you get that boat put together! Or when we get some water back somplace. Whichever comes first.

Get it done. Let's go!
 
YES SIR , AS SOON AS I GET'ER DONE WILL GO BURN SOME FUEL...IM IN A LIL DELIMA RIGHT NOW ON MY HULL, IVE BEEN RUNNIN PALM BEACH FULLDECKS ALL MY LIFE FROM EITHER STOSSEL OR KLINE, BUT THIS LAST BOAT I PUT TOGETHER WAS A DIAMONDBACK ULTRA-LITE , IT WAS GREAT IN THE WATER AND SO -SO ON THE DRY BUT IT WAS A 13X7'6 A LIL BIGGER HULL THEN I WANTED , IM THINKING OF GIVING DIAMONDBACK ANOTHER GO WITH A 12X7 IM GETTIN A LIL OLDER NOW AND DOING MORE FROGGIN AND FISHIN WITH THE WIFE THEN RUNNIN THEM DEER AND HOGS DOWN ACROSS DRY PASTURES LIKE WE USED TO..BUT YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO NOTHING RUNS THE DRY LIKE A PALM BEACH HULL, ONLY THING BAD WITH A PALM BEACH HULL IN THE DEEP WATER IS LIKE DRIVING A 50 GALLON DRUM....IT WAS NICE NOT TO HAVE TO SQUEEZE THE POCKETS OFF THE BACK OF MY LEVIS EVERYTIME I WANTED TO STOP IN DEEP WATER WITH THAT DIAMONDBACK LIKE YOU DO WITH A PALM BEACH HULL....LOL.....
 
Oh Yea Skeeter, I looked at the old city beautiful (O-Town) a many a nights from dump mound. That place had some of the biggest meanest hogs and Bucks I have ever seen.
 
Well I agree with ya'll, but I beleive the only way we can stop it even if we can't reverse any of it is with a lobbiest to lobby in Talla. and we would need some deep pockets I'm sure. We gots any lobbiest in our mist that owns an airboat? That will work for fuel? :D Too bad we don't have some folks that has an influence in Talla. Its a shame and a disgrace how this state has changed in the last 40 years. Make a grown man cry, for real. Later, Cajun
 
I have steadily maintained that we pick the wrong fights to fight. We need to fight them on our own turf and on our own issues not theirs.

Need to get heavy restrictions in place for non-native elected officials.

Need to change the way licenses are issued to real estate developers.

Need to change the way politicians get campeign funds.

Need to mandate an environment FIRST law that stops large scale developement in its tracks.

Need to eliminate the "Highest and Best Use" phrasing from tax roles. OR Redefine Highest & Best to mean unspoiled and untouched lands are the highest and best use of the land. Slide the scale so that Highest and best use pays the least or no taxes.

Need an immigration tax or fee similar to the impact fee but must apply to enyone moving into Florida and must be significant not hundreds or thousands but in the multiple tens of thousands to just be allowed to move into Florida.

Tax credits for returning land to nature that was once developed.

Make ALL public lands accessable to ALL the public ALL the time.

Some of these would be fights more worth fighting than asking for mufflers and flags.

If ya fight a weed by cutting off the tip of it, it just bushes out and comes back even bigger and stronger. Ya gotta DIG it out BY THE ROOTS.

Maybe we need to start a grass roots organization that does just these kinds of things.

Just my opinion.

Scotty
 
Good points WB but what would really go a long way towards easing tensions would be some live and let live. I don't mind all the people that are coming into the state and staying as much as I resent the way they want to alter someone elses way of life. If you want to come in and develop land in and around marshes and rivers that are used by hunters and froggers then be prepared to hear some airboats running in the marsh, on the river or don't live there. The sound of a NY or NJ accent when backed up by some holier than thou attitude is not among my favorite sounds but I have to deal with it like it or not.
I had a lot in a community that offered equine activities, hunting lands, shooting ranges, an air strip, and even lawn bowling. The horse people didn't like the airplane people. The airplane people didn't like the horse people. No one like the people using the shooting ranges, and the lawn bowlers hated us all. People just can't live and let live anymore.
 
No argument there CaneFan. I hate to offer up things like this without offering a path and I'm sad to say I am ignorant of how to make either happen.

Its not much help for me to shoot my outh off and not offer a how to suggestion but maybe others, hopefully, have an idea.

I do believe the dig it out at the roots policy is the only way we, or other sportsmen, will ever survive though.

Scotty
 
Cane, we're in agreement there. I see that as the heart of the matter.

If I were to move here from, say, NY and buy a home next to the runway of one of our airports, and then want to whine to the commisioners about the sound of airplanes taking off night and day they would probably look at me like I've got a couple of lug nuts loose, and they would probably tell me "that's what airplanes sound like."

If I move here from NY and buy a place on the water, the same logic should apply..... "that's what airboats sound like."

The difference of course is that people from anywhere have been conditioned all their lives to know what an airplane sounds like, and they won't buy property next to an airport if they think the sound will bother them, but many have never seen an airboat before.

Adding a simple disclosure statement to all Florida waterfront real estate transactions about how we use waterways (fishing, hunting, jet skiing, airboating) in our State might go a long way toward settling some of these disputes.
 
Scotty, if I had my way this would be the next item for the FAA to go after in the next legislative session, next year.

If more of you agree let Gatorstick and Bondo hear from you.
 
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