In 2012 I trailered my boat on a 7125 mile boating adventure from Fort Lauderdale to the West Coast and back. One of my stops was Lake Havasu where I was privileged enough to stay at the home of Devin Wozencraft of Wozencraft Insurance.

In the two years since Devin and I have often discussed and debated what his next new boat would be. One of the criteria was it needed to be a watercraft he could take around the country to different boating events yet still provide all of the lake lifestyle attributes to support his family and friends. Well, not long ago we reported abut Devins new 29 E-Ticket Luxury Cat and in that article we razzed him a little about a big road trip with the boat. Devin not being one to let anyone down just did his FIRST big haul. Partnering up Wozencraft Marine Insurance Specialist Andy Holte, it was two for the road as they set out from Lake Havasu to Kemah Texas for the BIG Texas Outlaw Challenge.

Blending work and fun fits very well for many of us and this trip was no exception for both Devin and Andy as they were even able to sign up some new customers along the way and when they arrived in Texas.

From all accounts the TEAM Wozencraft approach to boating events with their new E-Ticket Flagship is working well and to blend work with pleasure even more, Devin’s Wife and kids flew in to take part in the poker run and to tackle the big drive home leaving Andy at the airport.

So now that the E-Ticket got its first splash of water with a little tiny amount of gritty stuff in it and Devin found out that the boat wont immediately melt or disintegrate I think we ALL need to encourage him to make the big trek I keep egging him on about. How great would it to see the WOZENCRAFT E-Ticket tied up in front of the Conch Republic in KEY WEST!!!!

Desert Storm Promoter Jim Nichols and Photo Guy Jay Nichols take a break aboard the WozenCraft! Has to be a simple coincidence???

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If you weren’t one of the few hundred lucky souls that got to take part in the crazy pool party at Kenny Armstrong’s home during the Texas Outlaw Challenge then you better book your rooms for next year or otherwise you will just have to sit in front of that screen that your looking at right now and absorb the pictures. Kenny is one of three power boating enthusiasts that I know of who open their homes to a poker run and at least one of the other two makes his more of a invitation only.

Kenny has a big heart and throws the doors wide open, lets about 120 boats tie up in his back yard, about 100 cars in his driveway, and three helicopters land in his yard. Then he hires staff to serve food and beverages, all for free because the tab is on him. I will let the picture tell you what the staff looked like and they were as nice and helpful as they looked.

All I can tell you is that you better get ready for next year now because maybe, just maybe there will be a limit. But what do I know… Maybe Kenny will just build a bigger dock, dig a deeper pool, and use a bigger tent!

We love you Kenny Armstrong ! Thank you for all you do for all of us!

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The reason we all got together is certainly a sad one. The outcome of this event was very positive. Great people gathering to remember and commemorate someone very special in their lives and raising money for his children. PowerBoatNation was lucky to be able to be at Grand Lake and we hope you enjoy this video.

Pirates of Lanier Treasure Hunt! The Pirates of Lanier Poker Run is certainly about giving and this year the all new Treasure Hunt is going to be an exciting and easy way to not only raise money but also be your chance to win some cash.

A full $5000.00 will be awarded to the best Treasure Hunter, this unique and great event is a opportunity for anyone; boat, no boat, young, old, poker run participant, or general public, to have fun at Lake Lanier.

This treasure hunt is structured so that the $5000.00 cash bounty will go to one winner. You can’t buy in with extra hands so it makes the chance for winning much larger. Participating is easy; sign up , follow the clues to find the treasure locations, when your done you return your map and whatever hand is the best “Takes the Bounty”

The Treasure Hunt is sponsored in full by Billy Howell Ford Lincoln and is open to the general public. The organizers expect at least 200 treasure maps will be sold. That is a full $40,000 that will be given to the charity, and a full $5000 that one person WILL take home! Since this event is open to the general public there is no expectation or acceptance for the prize to be returned to the charity.

Please sign up today and you can buy as many Treasure Maps as you wish which will certainly increase your chances of winning plus have a great time on the hunt!

Click HERE to sign up today!

Like they say all things are BIGGER in Texas and The Texas Outlaw Challenge was no exception as it was BIG. Powerboat Nation took part in the Texas Outlaw Challenge this past weekend with 180 registered boats from all over the country experiencing this four day boating sensation and display of thousands of horsepower!

Starting out in Baton Rouge I was very very lucky to join Team Maxed Out for the journey to Kemah. These guys roll like rock stars rolling in a FreightLiner hauler towing a one of a kind CIGARETTE MAXIMUS plus their very our own limo for the girls set the bar even higher. The trip started out as a usual boating adventure with blown trailer tires and then a completely unexpected Limo tire failure. A quick onsite tire change and we all loaded back up for the hard charge on into Kemah, TX.

Thursday nights street party was a sight with boats, cars, and bikes on display at the Kemah, Boardwalk and a few crazy Outlaw parties around town. Friday’s shootout gave everyone who wanted to the opportunity to show just how fast they could run. Vern Gilbert and Gary Smith took the win with the 176 MPH pass in the 1991 SKATER“Predator”. Outlaw Win

TEAM MAXED OUT hosting PBN aboard took off for Kenny Armstrong’s home for an extraordinary pool party. I would estimate 120 boats, 100 cars, 2 helicopters and too many people to count took over the place and enjoyed the over the top hospitality of a true fun loving powerboating enthusiasts and all around great guy. I am not sure we can thank Kenny enough for opening his home to so many. I probably don’t have to mention this because it is so obvious but the girls on this run…. This has to be the best gathering of the most beautiful girls at one boating event anywhere!

Fridays run was another great showing of on water performance with a open start to run to all the cards stops and enjoy yet another pool party at the lunch stop.

The Texas Outlaw Challenge is certainly an event to put on your list. The effort led by Paul and Arlette is truly remarkable as they have put together something very special. Boats, cars, bikes, fireworks, logistics for trailers, motor coaches, docking, hotels, and the support of the local community. We had nothing but great help from law enforcement, local business owners and other event supporters. They even provided a police escort to bring the boat into the parking lot.

Another great event with great people!

I cant thank our Poker Run Hosts enough, TEAM MAXED OUT Michael and Niki Pierce, Nate and Robin Michel along with Heidi Esquivel, Jessica Lynn Sullivan and Peanut Butter! Thank you guys so much for supporting Powerboat Nation and helping us bring this event to those who couldn’t make the trip.

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The original 1991 40 Skater , Predator now owned by Vern Gilbert of West Coast Drives took top honors with their early morning 176 MPH pass. Yesterday at Kenny Armstrong’s Casa Party I got a chance to talk with Gary and Vern about the run . Out on the course a steady wind of about 10 MPH put it right off the port bow quarter. They were able to make this first pass and hit 176 but large swells coming in made the course challenging toward the end of the run.

Vern said they went to make a second pass running a little more negative to deal with the swells but the conditions just wouldn’t let them run the boat for another pass. As it was no one else came close and the Carson Brummett 1,700 hp motors running on E-85 were flawless for the run. Check out our interview with these guys below. Thanks to Devin at Wozencraft for holding the Camera for us!

While the power boater in us all may be scratching their heads wondering what’s going on with 250HP, I have to take my hat of to the folks at Mercury for finally getting around at taking a big swing towards the entry level side of our market. The new 4.5-liter, 250-hp sterndrive/inboard engine platform is the first recreational gasoline engine designed and built in-house by Mercury, the company said.

Some of you may not realize it but the stern drive industry has been shrinking for the lack of a better term. Yes many call it other names in an attempt to avoid the truth but fact of the matter is that cost of boat ownership has become so expensive that the entry level boater has just stayed away.

Other industries were much faster to realize the need for response. As our industry is facing an aging demographic we NEED to introduce additional new boaters to the sport so that these people can grow with the sport. While I’m cheering that something is happening I’m still frustrated at how slow we have been to respond. Other powersports industries are so far ahead of us that we’ve got ground to make up. Bombardier unveiled new entry level jet ski’s that have rapidly sold out at dealerships around the country as they have reduced the cost of entry to the PWC market by 35%. They weren’t first though Kawasaki rocked the entire motorcycle industry by bringing the #1 new selling bike in the likes of a 250 Ninja.

With new boaters comes more economic investment and more innovation to our industry. While Mercuiser is debuting these new entry level powerplants we now need the support of boat builders to stand back and realize as the automotive side has that you start brand loyalty young and you build a lifetime relationship through quality products.

So in the end what were saying is thumbs up to the entry level market as most of us start boating in something much smaller and less powerful than we have today.

The Pirates of Lanier Poker Run has raised HUNDREDS of Thousands for youth charities and if the event chair Mr. John Woodruff has his way this year will be yet again another record breaker. July 17-19 a large group of powerboaters will again converge on Lake Lanier and PowerBoatNation will be there to cover and support this incredible event. Not only does it raise massive money for three great organizations it is simply a great boating event.

Recently at the Jacksonville Poker Run we caught up with John and Nancy to talk about the “Pirates of Lanier Poker Run”

For those of us that have to pay for high performance marine power we know one of the biggest investments a power boater makes to allow his engines to perform at their peak is a performance marine exhaust system. Stainless tubular headers are far and away the number one choice, but they come with a staggering cost. Materials for these headers are the biggest expense and they take countless hours of construction.

For nearly four decades a Southern California marine products manufacture by the name of Lightning performance has been building the ultimate and most affordable alternative for fresh water boaters that wanted all of the performance features but didn’t need the corrosion resistance these all stainless steel versions provided.

Lightning Performance marine pioneered the first freshwater style double water jacketed headers in the marine industry and has been one of the largest volume tubular header builders to the marine industry ever since.

What sets a freshwater header apart from a salt water header it is the outer pipe material. All Lightning headers use the same 316L stainless inner tube the rest of the industry uses on headers that cost 2-3 times as much money. However, by using a durable thick traditional steel outer pipe or tube and coating the inner water jacket and the outside of the header with powdercoating they have developed a proprietary product that will survive in fresh water for years as well as save the boater thousands of dollars.

If you boat on an inland water way or freshwater location and have considered performance exhaust for your boat you owe it to yourself to look at what this company builds, its a phenomenal value for today’s powerboater and we know we all need value in our boating needs today.

Its still not too late to get yourself to Texas and participate in one of the biggest powerboating events of the year! The Texas Outlaw Challenge

All powerboating OUTLAWS are heading to Texas for an extreme showcase of power. If you have never been you must find a way to make it. Kicking things off will be the Stampede Street Party on Thursday Night with Millions of Dollars worth of Boat, Bikes, Cars, and Haulers on display. This event has so much going on it will be hard to capture it all but you can be sure that PowerBoatNation will bring you up to date details and of course live shots from Kenny Armstrongs Pool Party!

Keep Coming back for more on PBN. The fun starts Thursday Morning from Baton Rouge with a special road trip to Kema!

Thursday June 19th CITY OF KEMAH & KEMAH BOARDWALK

9AM – 4PM Team Arrivals & Parking at Event Location Kemah Bridge Boat Ramp
4PM – 8PM Event Registration Kemah Boardwalk – Landry’s (upstairs)
6PM – 9PM “Rock the Dock” Live Entertainment Kemah Boardwalk
8PM – Midnight Stampede Street Party Kemah Lighthouse District (6th Street)

Friday June 20th OUTLAW SHOOT-OUT & GUNSLINGER POKER RUN (Day #1)

8AM SHARP OUTLAW SHOOT-OUT Safety Meeting Alan’s Swamp Shack
8:30AM – NOON OUTLAW SHOOT-OUT Runs Galveston Bay Course
Noon – 4PM GUNSLINGER POKER RUN – Card Stop #1 Kenny Armstrong CASA
5PM – 8PM Texas Tiki Dinner – Card Stop #2 TopWater Grill
9:30PM – 9:45PM Kemah Waterfront Fireworks Display Kemah Inlet, Galveston Bay
10PM – 2AM Red Garter Saloon Dance Hall Party Jackie’s Brickhouse
10PM – 2AM Miss OUTLAW BIKINI CONTEST CABO Club – Clear Lake
10PM – 2AM HIGH HORSEPOWER Dock Party Turtle Club – Clear Lake

Saturday June 21st GUNSLINGER POKER RUN (Day #2)
9AM Captains (Only) Safety Meeting & GPS Hand-Out – Card Stop #3 Allan’s Swamp Shack
10AM Gunslinger Poker Run Departure Clear Lake & Galveston Bay
Poker Run (8) Card Stops:
Captain’s Safety Meeting, Bay Bridge Marina, Galveston Yacht Basin, HarborWalk, Turtle Club, CABO Club, Blue Marlin Fuel Dock, Sam’s Boat at Endeavour Marina

11AM – 2PM STEEL HORSE STAMPEDE Custom Bike Show Kemah Marina Channel

6PM – 9PM OUTLAW VIP Dinner (Reservations Required) Kemah Boardwalk Saloons
6PM – 9PM Poker Run Card Playing Kemah Boardwalk – Aquarium (3rd Floor)
All cards must be played and GPS devices returned by 9PM at Boardwalk Aquarium (3rd Floor)
10PM Poker Run Prizes and Shoot-Out Awards Kemah Boardwalk Aquarium (3rd Floor)
10PM – 2AM Red Garter Saloon Dance Hall Party Jackie’s Brickhouse
10PM – 2AM SHARP SHOOTER Party Turtle Club – Clear Lake
10PM – 2AM OUTLAW Quick Draw Party CABO Club – Clear Lake

Sunday June 22nd BACK IN THE SADDLE OUTLAW SEND-OFF

9AM – Noon “Red-Eye Round-up” Brunch Specials Jackie’s Brickhouse
9AM – 2PM TEXAS OUTLAW Custom Car Show Kemah Marina Channel
HIGH Noon – 4PM “Wounded Knee” Raft-Up & Pool Part Allan’s Channel Ranch

Powerboat Nation was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the Brad Smith Memorial Poker Run this past weekend at Grand Lake, Oklahoma. Roughly 50 boats took part in what has turned out to be a great event with many many more boaters running along as spectators. This event has become a wonderful celebration and tribute to the life of such a close friend of ours and a recognition of the amazing work that Brad has build a legacy with in such a short time. Something that we rarely see or possibly recognize is that Brad Smith Power was on the water pushing maybe half of the fleet and Smith Power T-Shirts and other apparel were represented everywhere.

The generosity of the event was also exceptional as at least $25,000.00 was raised for the Brad Smith Children’s Fund from many businesses and friends donating items for the silent and live auction. PBN sponsor CNC Illuminations sent Smith Power Signs as well as others. One of these was the biggest item of the night. A Skater sign from CNC that A.J. Phillips just had to have and kept going until it was his for $3700.

Brad’s father Bob and Uncle were thankful,grateful and gracious and we received the warmest of reception from his wife Krissy, brother Brian as well as his close friends.

This event really set a tone with me as I witnessed how heartfelt this hard loss was to so many people. It was a great event and while I was very glad to be there I do so wish it did not have to be.

Brad’s loss is immeasurable to his family and friends and even beyond. Nearly a year later Brad’s name and company are echoed continually through conversations around the industry as he was unstoppable in his quest for innovation and engine horsepower development.

A very grateful thank you to Chuck Fink, Chris Helt and their entire group of family and friends who were such great hosts and made it possible for me to be at Grand Lake.

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Every Poker Run has its unique cast of characters and fun things that happen. But this years Jacksonville Poker Run did what many thought may not be possible. With the efforts of Pyburn’s this event was literally revived, boat count was back up and the events happenings were broader and echoed into the night as many enjoyed the party atmosphere throughout downtown Jacksonville. Powerboat Nation continues to bring more than just editorial and photos and we love to bring you the events through video.

Here’s a glimpse of the action of the Jacksonville River Rally Poker Run. Look back for more news and event coverage.