Based in Oshkosh, Wis., Donzi Marine sportboat owners Jeff and Barb Seitz have been coming to the Lake of the Ozarks for a dozen years. But until four years ago, they hadn’t run their 38-footer dubbed Clifford The Big Red Donzi in the Big Thunder Marine-produced Baja, Donzi and Fountain Fun Run at the Central Missouri waterway.
And scheduling allowing, the couple won’t miss another. They enjoyed Thursday and Friday’s triple-brand event that much.
Jeff and Barb Seitz enjoyed the run with their son, Zach, in their 38-foot Donzi.
“There is so much we love about this run—the camaraderie, the new friendships we’ve made and more” Jeff Seitz explained. “Ed Champion and the entire Big Thunder Marine crew do such a nice job putting it on. It is very well organized, family-oriented and just plain fun.
“No matter the make, size or model of boat you have, you feel welcome,” he added. “Every year we bring an extra couple friends with their boats. This year I think we had a group of approximately 20 people.”
The event attracted 60 registered boats from across all three brands. The fun started with a Thursday evening welcome party at the Big Thunder Marine Speed and Luxury Showroom. Stops for the Friday run included Fish and Co., Backwater Jacks, the Neon Taco and Lazy Gators.
The ninth annual BFD affair on Friday was based out of the Camden On The Lake Resort.
Lake of the Ozarks local Nick Brenizer was among the Fountain owners who participated. Brenizer and his family enjoyed the event on a 2026 model-year Fountain 38 SCX center console set up with a trio of Mercury Racing 400R outboard engines. He purchased the 38-footer from Big Thunder Marine.
“I appreciate everything Big Thunder does for the lake,” he said. “I own multiple businesses and I know how hard it is to do what you can for the community. They go over and above like many other great businesses here and I like to support those.
“And I loved seeing the awesome boats and driving down the lake among them,” he added.
Kansas City-based Fountain owner Justin Keith, who piloted his 42 Lightning powered by Mercury Racing 700 SCi engines for his second year in the event, agreed.
“It’s always nice seeing all the Fountains and Donzis on the water,” he said. “It’s the largest gathering of those boats all summer.”
Some 60 boats were registered for the event.
Though Big Thunder Marine marketing coordinator Sage Rush has been an integral member of the BFD Fun Run organizing team for years, she enjoyed the event on the water for the first time last weekend. Rush joined fellow Big Thunder Marine teammate Cordell Goddard for the day in a Fountain 43 NX center console for the day.
“The camaraderie on the water between each stop was incredible,” Rush explained. “It’s about getting everyone out on the water, enjoying these incredible boats and making great memories with fellow performance boating enthusiasts. Even with charging for the event this year, we had a great turnout.
“Big Thunder is excited to make next year’s event even bigger and better,” she added.
Editor’s Note: All interviews for this story were conducted by speedonthewater.com reporter J.R. Bellis.