Boyne Thunder: The Great Northern Poker Run

Everybody knows about big powerboat poker runs like Desert Storm and Key West, but switch out the sand and palm trees for the clean, cool waters of Northwest Michigan and the rich smell of pine trees, and you've got the great Northern poker run...Boyne Thunder. We headed up there after work on Friday night and jumped off I-75 at Gaylord for a solid night's sleep before heading over to Boyne City bright and early Saturday to watch the 40+ boats head out across Lake Charlevoix.

The municipal marina at Boyne City is a great venue for this event; there's plenty of room for even the largest boats, and the point on the western end is a great spot for spectators to gather. This year's event has been described by many as the best ever - and the collection of boats found at the docks backed that up, with a great selection of Skaters, Nor-Techs, Outerlimits, Apaches, Fountains, Formulas and Cigarettes on hand. It was an incredible scene -- especially when they all started the engines and headed out onto the lake.

As a tradition, the boats (in two groups) circle around the lake on a high-speed parade lap before heading west toward Charlevoix -- and the hundreds of spectators gathered on the point roared their approval as each boat gunned its engines on the pass-by.

The boats then head down the lake, through Round Lake at Charelvoix, then out the channel to Lake Michigan and the other card stops. The weather was just about perfect; warm and sunny, with little wind--which made the big lake manageable for some high speed runs and lots of fun. We drove up to Charlevoix for a few beers, caught a few more nice boats heading up the channel, then gradually worked our way back toward Boyne City right after noon. We even had a chance to grab a bite at the Horton Bay General Store, which any Ernest Hemingway fan would recognize from his Nick Adams stories.

The final card stop was at the marina at Somerset Pointe, featuring a very nice reception which offered visitors a chance to catch the boat crews coming in for some snacks and ice cold refreshments. We weren't sure how they were going to fit everyone in, but they managed to get the crews off the boats and into the bar with a high level of organization. Clearly, this run benefits greatly from a wonderful team of volunteers, who managed it all superbly. Hats off to them.

We wanted to stay longer for the Thunder Feast that evening, but the wife and I had another stop to make on that day's itinerary, and over a 100 miles to travel before nightfall. Suffice to say that as before, we had a short but albeit wonderful time at Boyne Thunder, and look forward to coming back again. If you're an offshore powerboater who loves great poker runs and is looking for something a little different, this is one run you will want to add to your calendar next year.

High Profile Dealer Shogren Drops Fountain Line

Clearly, things are continuing to change in the performance boat industry, and here's another sign...Shogren Performance Marine of Waukegan, IL has announced they will no longer carry the Fountain performance boat line after a long and successful relationship. Shogren had been the top Fountain dealer in the country for seven consecutive years—reportedly selling nearly $40 million worth of new Fountain boats. As an alternative, Shogren has decided to focus on the Nor-Tech line of custom performance boats and center consoles.

PHOTO CREDIT: Shogren Performance Marine.

“It was a great seven years,” said Scott Shogren, the owner of Shogren Performance Marine. “Reggie and Wyatt Fountain brought me into this industry and taught me a lot, which I will always respect and never forget. I wish the new Liberty group (owners of Fountain Powerboats) the best of luck in their endeavors in the future.”

Assessing the industry, Shogren says he believes that the market for go-fast powerboats is generally shifting in the direction of higher-priced custom boats, which are built to individual order. In addition to focusing on new Nor-Tech sales, Shogren also plans to develop other segments of the business, including used-boat sales and consignment services, which have grown dramatically over the past two years.

Looks Like Lake Erie Boat Week May Never Leave The Dock

Last year, Lake Erie Boat Week promoter Janie Vogel ignored, then antagonized the local fast-boat community when they tried to offer her helpful advice on how to stage a major powerboating event. The result? The plan fell through, and the whole shebang was postponed and reset to be held this year.

Over the past year, it appears Vogel licked her wounds but did little else to mend fences and reach out to the many people who would have been willing to help her pull the event off. While she did almost manage to get the APR Powerboat Superleague to stage an event, the lack of any funds to buy insurance and the lack of a volunteer list--which needs to be submitted to the city of Huron for background checks--seems to have put the kabosh on this year's planned event as well. Just over a week ago, Vogel stated that she had to unilaterally cancel the APR tunnelboat race because of a lack of funds.

“I’m left wondering why on earth you would sign an agreement when you don’t have the money,” said Sherron Winer, partner in the Powerboat Superleague. “We’re very disappointed. We were truly looking forward to going to Huron and being able to race there and entertain everyone.”

With some of Boat Week's scheduled events just weeks away--including regattas and other competitions--registration forms are noted as "to come" on the event web site. Press releases claim that the "Fastest Boat on Lake Erie" competition is still set for September 11th, but it remains to be seen if anyone will show up, since Vogel and her efforts have been the target of much criticism on the internet's performance boat message boards. While most boaters quickly welcome the event concept she has put forth, the criticism of her approach, her apparent lack of knowledge about offshore racing and her seeming focus on "money first" turned many potential supporters off. As an example, the "Fastest Boat on Lake Erie" competition requires a $100 entry fee -- with no mention of anything the participant will get in return. Not even a T-Shirt

As an example, I was just reading an email exchange with Vogel from last year. I had offered her some advice on using Twitter to help get the word out, and also offered to do a story on the event and at least exchange some advertising banners. At the time, we had at least 1000 unique visitors to our website every week (no doubt a lot more than her site was getting) but the offer was ignored. She said she was too busy...and noted that I could register as a volunteer if I wanted to help.

Of course, the lack of volunteers proved to be one of her main problems, as many boaters said the work and time commitment she was demanding from volunteers was far too much to expect. A "First 100 Club" of $250 contributors supporters never had more than a handful of members (there are four now) and it appears even some of those people changed their mind. Overall, boaters were left with the impression that Vogel had a "me first" attitude--putting the need to make an immediate profit in front of the concept of slowly building an event over the long term, collaborating with her natural support base, and getting people interested and invested in the event's success.

PHOTO CREDITS: City of Huron

Instead, we're left with another embarrassment for the sport. I often ask myself why there are so many people associated with this sport that are all about money--who will sacrifice the health of powerboat racing so quickly if the opportunity exists to get in line for a fast buck. We've seen it on the business side too, as one of performance boating's more popular offshore websites fell victim to it's organizer's willingness to put on a fake front and scam well-intentioned supporters for money. The thing is, there are a lot of good organizers and boaters out there who know how to work together. They put on good events. They raise money for charity, too.

Maybe this will encourage some local Lake Erie boaters to step forward and put together some ideas on creating an event of this type in the future. Clearly, it wouldn't be too hard to show Vogel the right way to put on a performance boating event...there are plenty of folks out there who would be wiling to sacrifice some work and some time to have some fun. And put the sport first.

PRA 1000 Islands Run: Another Year of Success

The 1000 Islands Poker Run roared into life again on Saturday August 7th, luring hundreds of admirers to watch the mighty engines ply the St. Lawrence -and to get a close-up look at the cigarette boats moored temporarily in Tunnel Bay.

There were more people (spectators) this year than in recent years," said city Councillor Larry Journal, one of the event's organizers. "We were really, really pleasantly surprised."

PHOTO CREDITS: Kingston This Week

For many local people, standing amid the thunder of these powerful engines seeing the kind of toys they will never be able to afford themselves is becoming a tradition. This year, the poker run boats made card stops in Brockville, Prescott and Kingston.

This year's event drew about 65 boats, but included some impressive examples of offshore power, including AquaMania, a 50-foot carbon fibre Mystic, that's equipped with two turbine helicopter engines.

"(It's) currently the fastest boat on the St. Lawrence River in history," said Merola, adding the vessel went over 205 m.p.h. last year. "We came to try and beat our record. I have been attending for 25 years. I have been to every single 1000 Islands Poker Run since the beginning."

While a handful of locals have criticized the poker run as an unnecessary waste of energy -not to mention a source of pollutants -in an age of global warming, most local residents support the event, and the economic boost it provides every year. Oh well--So much for the party-poopers ... congratulations to Poker Runs America for putting on another superb event!

Thousands Turn Out for OPA Races at St. Clair, Michigan

Thousands of offshore racing fans lined Palmer Park Boardwalk for this year' 16th annual St. Clair River Classic offshore race on Sunday July 25th. Clearly one of the Offshore Powerboat Association's (OPA) favorite racing locations, St. Clair attracted 50 fast boats divided into 11 different classes.

PHOTO CREDITS: thevoicenews.com

As always, crowd favorite Miss Geico pounded down the river at speeds of up to 150 mph, placing first in the Turbine and Extreme Class. Together, the Blue Water Offshore Racing Association and OPA have teamed up to put on a great event every year; the races regularly attract over 30,000 spectators to the city.

PHOTO CREDITS: offshoreonly.com member frickstyle

“We’ve had a great weekend. I estimate there to be at least 40,000 people downtown here to watch the race,” St. Clair Police Chief Richard Jefferson said. The next OPA race is scheduled for Patchogue Long Island, NY August 20-22 - for more information, surf over to www.greatsouthbayracing.com

4th of July Hot Spot: The Torch Lake Sandbar

If you've ever listened to Kid Rock's All Summer Long, you've probably heard him reference to "splashing through the Sandbar." Well, here it is: the famous Torch Lake sandbar, that sits at the south end of this crystal clear lake, near the mouth of the Torch River. Beloved by northern Michigan vacationers everywhere, it's one of the best places you can be...surrounded by sand, sun and crystal-blue water unlike anything else in the Midwest. Here is an 2009 arial photo of the area, courtesy of DeWitt's Marina.

PHOTO CREDIT: DeWitt's Marina.

In past years, they even used to have floating stages and organized concerts, but it grew a little too rowdy and loud for the neighbors. The place is still rocking on the 4th, however, with hundreds of boats and people making their own music and taking in the scenery. Just a few miles north of Traverse City, Torch is a place you don't want to miss...and once you've been there for a 4th of July, you'll doubtless be back again.

Enjoying Georgian Bay Beauty as Summer Draws to a Close

This summer hasn't been the greatest for boating; sure -- there have been a few decent weekends here and there, but overall, the season has been much cooler and a little wetter than we'd like to see. That hasn't stopped some die-hard boaters from hitting the water, and Offshore Only member Bobthebuilder is one of them. Bob was kind enough to share some of his photos from a recent trip around Canada's Georgian Bay.

"After about the worst summer I can remember weather-wise, I decided to take the afternoon yesterday and cruise out to The Western Islands and finish up in the small craft channel in the 30,000 Islands. The Westerns are about 15 miles offshore and are uninhabited. Weather was perfect. Enjoy the pics."

PHOTO CREDITS: Offshore Only user Bobthebuilder.

Bob took his Donzi out to the Western Islands about 20 miles offshore to take these photos, whihc really show off the ruged beauty of this area. He explains: "My route was Midland / pass betweek Beckwith and Giants Tomb / Westerns and then into the SC channel at O'Donnel Point and south to Honey Harbour and finally back to Midland. Gorgeous day but just not enough of them this summer."

To see the rest of his photos, check out this thread on Serious Offshore.

Superboat International Heads to Michigan City, Indiana for Great Lakes Grand Prix

The next stop on the Superboat International racing series takes place August 7 – 9 on the southern shores of Lake Michigan for the 1st Annual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix. The Michigan City race is the only SBI race on the Great Lakes, and includes a boat parade on Friday, block party on Saturday and plenty of extreme racing on Sunday.

The city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau estimates that up to 20,000 fans will invade the shores of Michigan City for the Grand Lakes Grand Prix for what promises to be an exciting weekend. Fans will have the opportunity to walk through the dry pits in Washington Park and see all their favorite teams and boats. The event will feature many of the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore powerboats racing along a six mile course, in front of thousands of fans along the Beach.

PHOTO CREDIT: Super Boat International.

The gates will open on Friday at 9:00 a.m.; boats and teams will be setting up during the day, and a boat parade will step off at 5:00 p.m. on Franklin Street. Saturday afternoon's activities include boat testing from Noon to 5:00 p.m., followed by a block party in Washington Park from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Racing competition starts Sunday, with races at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The CVB also is planning a classic car show and live music featuring local bands as part of the festivities.

PHOTO CREDIT: (Top) destination360.com / (Above) Southshoremedia.net.

For more information, visit the www.superboat.com website.

Tentative Event Schedule (Subject to Change)

Friday, Aug. 7
9:00am - 11:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
9:00am- 6:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 5:00pm Meet & Greet Who’s in the Driver’s Seat – Washington Park
4:00pm - 5:00pm Boat Parade – Begins at 10th Street & Franklin Street, open to public
5:00pm - 7:00pm VIP/Racer Party – McGinnis Pub, 227 W. 7th St.
7:00pm - 11:00pm Chuck Wells and Stone Cold Blues – Jaycees Stage, Washington Park

Saturday, Aug. 8
9:00am - 11:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
9:00am - 5:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 11:00pm Tented VIP Seating – VIP tent, boardwalk along beach
8:00am - 10:00pm Shuttle from parking lots at Marquette Mall
12:00pm - 5:00pm Boat Launching – Washington Park
12:00pm - 4:00pm Classic Car Show – Washington Park, open to public.
5:00pm - 7:00pm VIP/Racer Party – Blue Chip Casino, Suncoast Room, 2 Easy St.
7:00pm - 11:00pm Block Party/Live Music (Midwest Hype) – Jaycees Stage area, Washington Park

Sunday, Aug. 9
9:00am - 6:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
11:00am - 1:00pm Launching – Washington Park
9:00am - 4:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 6:00pm Tented VIP Seating – VIP tent, boardwalk along beach
8:00am - 6:00pm Shuttle from parking lots at Marquette Mall
10:45am - Boats for 1st race – Parade to Mill Area
11:00am - Start of 1st race – Washington Park Beach
11:00am - VIP Brunch – VIP tent, Boardwalk along beach
12:45pm - Boats for 2nd race – Parade to Mill Area
1:00pm - Start of 2nd race – Washington Park Beach
5:00pm - Awards Presentation – Washington Park

Be One of The Lucky Ones to Enjoy the 2009 WYNOPA BlackJack Run

Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo, New York will host the 2009 WYNOPA BlackJack Run, from July 31st to August 2nd. This club (Western New York Offshore Powerboat Association) always puts on great events, and one of the best things about this run is that the course is set up to be run on by boats of all sizes. All the planned activities are located about 100 yards of each other, and there is also a naval museum located in the harbor.

PHOTO CREDIT: Western New York Offshore Powerboat Association.

The location is very user-friendly as well; there are no launch fees, boats don't need to be launched Friday night, and they can also be left on the trailers at the marina. The facility has 24-hour-a-day surveillance, and the club has rented out over 250' of docks this year to keep everyone together after the run for safety...and so everyone can get a good look at all the boats. All of the recommended hotels are within 5-10 minutes of the marina as well, if you're not sleeping on your boat. Other features of this run include:

- Cook out Friday Night / 5-7:00 PM.
- Cocktail Party ( The Good Stuff ) 7-9:00 PM - Shanghai Reds - at the marina Friday.
- Photo Boat - Pictures for sale at Dinner.
- Post-Run Dinner and open bar [beer / wine only] 5:00 PM Saturday Night.
- CASH Awards for 1,2,3 Place.
- $500.00 in Door Prizes.

The entry fee is only 125.00 for Boat and driver -- and $50.00 each for additional crew members...that's a great deal. (WNYOPA / ROPA Members get a $ 25.00 Discount) Check the BlackJack Run out -- you'll be glad you did. To register and get more info, go to http://www.powerboatingwny.com

Plenty of Booty at Sandusky Bay Pirate Run 2009

There has really been a lot of activity up on Lake Erie this month - we told you about the recent Wiener Roast Run out of Cleveland, and the Lake Erie Offshore Powerboat Association (LEOPA) just had their Spring Fun Run. With all these great events packed into one month, it's sometimes hard to keep track, but we just had to show you a few of the great photos we've come across from last weekend's 2009 Sandusky Bay Pirate Fun Run on June 26th & 27th.

This run went from Lyman Harbor in Sandusky (where many boaters stayed on Friday night) to meeting off Cedar Point on Saturday morning, then on to Lorain for lunch at The Jackalope. For the afternoon, everybody headed out to the Casino at Kelleys Island. A lot of the region's finest boats and other visitors from out-of-state turned out for the run, which enjoyed some truly excellent weather. Aside from a few breakdowns, most everyone had a very exciting and memorable time.

STORY PHOTO CREDITS: IslandPirates Users Erierunnin (1) and Full Force (2 & 3)

You may wonder why Put-in-Bay was not part of the run? Well, this weekend also marked the Annual PIB Pirate Fest, which attracts thousands of extra visitors to South Bass Island. That's a recipe for a lot of wild partying - which is certainly OK, but it really makes negotiating the harbor with all the extra boats and people traffic a tough prospect. For many, it's a reason to steer clear...though we are sure that the boaters who did hit PIB last weekend had fun, too.


Unfortunately, I couldn't make it this run, but I hope to get to some of the Fall events at the western end of the lake. To see more great photos of the Pirate Fun Run, head over to IslandPirates.net and sign up as a member. It's free to join, and you will definitely get the lowdown on Lake Erie from the people who know it best.

Cleveland's Lakeside Yacht Club to host the 2009 "Wiener Roast" Poker Run

Not all the fun on Lake Erie happens on The Islands...and a great example of that is the annual Weiner Roast Poker Run, hosted this year by Lakeside Yacht Club in Cleveland. Scheduled for June 13th, this year's run has been expanded to include the run on Saturday (plus the party afterwards, of course) and a Sunday brunch for each boat captain and one guest. Like every other year, the run is open to all powerboaters, regardless of their boat's top speed - since it's essentially a fun run, not a race.

PHOTO CREDIT: Lakeside Yacht Club

The run will both start and end at Lakeside Yacht Club, with various stops along Lake Erie's North Shore. Registration for all participants is scheduled to begin at 9 AM, but all waiver and registration forms must be received by Lakeside Yacht Club no later than June 5th. before the run gets underway, there will be a brief but mandatory participant meeting at 10 AM, with boats getting underway at 11 AM.

Registration for the poker run is $75.00, which gets you two T-shirts, admission to the Wiener Roast, Saturday night dockage at Lakeside, a Sunday morning breakfast buffet for two, and a DVD of the event (which will be sent to participants later). Also, if you're interested in getting additional T-shirts, breakfast buffet tickets, or DVDs there's a place to order them on the registration form.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.islandpirates.net

Of course, after the run, everyone can kick back and enjoy the main event - the "Wiener Roast" - which includes plenty of refreshments and a live band on the deck. You'll also be sure to see some of Lake Erie's nicest performance boats on hand, including some Cigarettes, Apaches and some slick old school rides. If you're not planning on crashing overnight on your boat, there are some nice and affordable hotels in downtown Cleveland, which is only a few minutes away by cab. To stay on top of what's happening at the Weenie Run, check into www.islandpirates.net for updates and more info.

YOU can race for a Hundred Bucks!

Admit it....you've always wondered what it's like to race in a real offshore race. Waves pounding...heart pounding...surrounded by speed and spray...well, Harrison Offshore in S.E. Michigan is offering an opportunity to experience offshore racing from the inside. If you join the organization's founding member group you will also be entered to win a special race weekend you'll never forget.

Join Harrison Offshore as a member now for just $100 and you'll be part of a respected organization that promotes offshore racing in Michigan. You also get recognition in their Race Magazine as a founding member and receive a Harrison Offshore Race Tee shirt. The best part? One of these new founding members will be selected to take part in the complete race experience!

The Incredible "Bat Boat" / PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Offshore

The one winner - selected at random - will enjoy the following benefits at the 2nd Annual Harrison Township Offshore Challenge July 25-26th, 2009:

- Test and Race with a World Champion Throttleman
- Enjoy the Racer's Parties
- Attend the Racers meetings and physicals
- Complete the "Dunker Test"
- Hangout with the racers the entire weekend
- KEEP THE TROPHY YOU WIN
- Free Hotel room Friday and Saturday at the Racers Hotel
- All This For Only $100. That's right...just $100.

Email Harrison Offshore at wahoo214@comcast.net or rick@dirt-deals.com to get your membership now. Of course, there are a few other requirements. You will need to join the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA - the $150 annual fee gets you into all OPA races as well as "hot pit" areas for the season) and also have a recent CDL or FAA physical to race.

Boyne Thunder Site Up, Running and Ready for 2009

I am not afraid to admit to being totally biased, but I am also totally stoked. It seems the updated Boyne Thunder web site for 2009 is now up and running, with all the details posted for this year's Poker Run. Scheduled for July 10 and 11, this event offers all the excitement, quality and beautiful scenery that you could hope for. This is Hemingway Country, people - and it truly is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. The boating season up here is short...so the people up here do their best to make the most of it. And boy do they ever.

PHOTO CREDIT: BoyneThunder.com

The poker run kicks off at Boyne City, Michigan, located at the eastern end of Lake Charlevoix. It's a quaint little town by day and (at least during Boyne Thunder weekend) a cold-beer and loud music extravaganza by night. It's probably their biggest event of the year, and the town turns out big time to welcome visitors and make them feel at home. This will be their 6th year, and they are getting very good at it.

The run leaves Boyne City, heads out across Lake Charlevoix, through Round Lake and Charlevoix and then out to Lake Michigan. From there, it's on to Beaver Island, Harbor Springs, Petoskey and then a lunch stop at Bay Harbor. The run completes with a stop at Sommerset Point on Lake Charlevoix, then the final card stop, back in Boyne City. It all ends with a big post-run feast right on the lakeshore. The party is open to participants and anyone else who wants to buy a ticket in support of the children of Camp Quality-- a summer camp and year long support program for children with cancer.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Dude took this one

While I vacationed in this general area almost every year as a child, last year was my first trip to Boyne Thunder. The wife and I headed up without our boat--mainly because I didn't have a chance to have maintenance perfomed on my trailer, which it definitely would have needed before a 900 mile round trip. My wife was glad I didn't...especially when she saw the white caps on Lake Charlevoix and heard a Coast Guard officer talking on his radio about 8-foot rollers out on Lake Michigan. "You were thinking of taking me out in this?" she said. "You're nuts."

We watched the boats head down the lake towards Charlevoix, then headed there ourselves to sightsee in Charlevoix and enjoy some cold beers. The incredible homes and boathouses on Round Lake are a sight to behold, and we even had time to take a quick trip up tp Petoskey. Then it was back to Boyne City, to watch the fast boats return and enjoy the post-run feast. I highly recommend the cherry cobbler--there's none better. And it's hard to imagine a better way to spend a weekend. Be sure to check it out; you won't ever forget it.

Most beautiful Boat Ever? Yours for $875k.

Though I have been to Boyne City, MI before - up at the east end of Lake Charlevoix, I have never had a chance to stop and visit Van Dam Custom Boats, a manufacturer and restorer of custom wood boats. While most of their work involves more tradtional runabouts and launches, based on old Hacker designs, they worked with Michael Peters Yacht Design few years back to create the beautiful Alpha Z 33.


I have always wondered what would happen if you used a traditional wood boat-building approach and adapted it to a modern offshore design, and the Alpha Z gives us a pretty good idea of the result. The boat is totally custom and one-of-a-kind, boasting an 800hp fuel injected engine built by legendary builder Keith Eickart. Steinway Piano supplied the mahogany wood used in its construction, and the boat can easily do 100mph.

You can learn more about this fantastic boat by visiting the Alpha Z website, at www.alphazmotorboats.com. Apparently, it's also currently offered for sale at a cool $875k. In the current market, you can surely buy a faster boat for far less, but I'm not sure you could buy anything better looking or more unique.

Chicago as a International Waterfront Destination

According to Great Lakes Boating, there's a lot of excitement and optimism in Chicago, surrounding what someday soon will be transformed into Gateway Harbor. The old "Dime Pier" is set to become the center spine of the new harbor, which should have over 240 slips, including about 160 transient spots.


In addition, a second new marina at 31st Street, is also in the planning stages. Sheltered behind a 1,200-foot breakwater, the new marina will reportedly have space for between 800 and 830 boats. In addition to a 2.2 acre park, this marina is also set to include an underground parking garage and a restaurant. Now if they can just get a shuttle running to the Red Head Lounge, we'll be in business...