Organizer Jeff Davis had reasonable expectations when he brought back the once-popular Lake Erie Offshore Powerboat Association Thunderfest last year. Davis planned for 20 to 30 boats for the run, and he ended up with 27. This time around, he’s expecting 50-plus boats to participate in the July 31-August 1 event based out of the Monroe Boat Club in Michigan.
Registration is open and has been steady so far.
The LEOPA Thunderfest organizers are hoping to double last-year’s boat count. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“I think we’ll end up with about 50 boats this year,” he said. “We have a lot of people committed like Rob Turner, Joe Gilstorf and Todd Fountain, who also are a few of our sponsors.”
The fun starts Friday evening with a welcome party—complete with live music—at the host-venue. Saturday’s 80-mile run will include Lighthouse Point, uninhabited West Sister Island, the Sunset Bar and Grill at Anchor Point for lunch and North Cape Yacht Club. From there the fleet will return to Monroe Boat Club for a dinner celebration, which include another live band.
Speedonthewater.com chief photographer Pete Boden will capture all of the action from a helicopter. Boden also shot the 2025 event. Proceeds will be donated to the Veterans Of Foreign Wars community service/social club in Monroe.
Davis said demand drove him to organize the Thunderfest happening again this year.
“Everybody said they has such a good time last year,” he explained. “So we decided to bring in back.”