Founded in 2016, the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run in Clayton, N.Y., happens on the St. Lawrence River between the United States and Canada. It is among the world’s most beautiful waterways, and that—plus its close-knit group of organizers and a lovely hotel/marina venue that arguably is the most convenient of its kind—surely has contributed to its ongoing success.
So, too, has the dedication of the generous participants and organizers to the Make-A-Wish of Central New York organization, the event’s primary charity. Between granting wishes for children in the program to providing “wish kids” and their families with powerboat rides the day before the run, the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run tugs at the heartstrings like no other event of its kind.
Experienced-based advice? Bring tissue to the Saturday night auction during the July 16-19 happening, when wishes are granted and funded for the following year.
On the exotic powerboat-hardware side of the equation, 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run also is no slouch. But this time around, a couple of brand- new catamarans of particular note to those who frequent the waterway are coming to town.
One is the latest M42R catamaran from DCB Performance Marine. The 42-footer, which currently is on display at the Desert Storm Poker Run Street Party in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., is the property of Ken and Renee Lalonde. Like Alexandra Buduson, Bobby Cantwell, Dave Montroy, Jeff Morgan and Courtney Rutherford, the Lalondes are members of the 1,000 Islands Charity Run organizing committee.
The cat is the second DCB build for the couple—their first was a 37-footer—and it could be the most spectacular M42R completed to date.
“The boat is incredible—DCB outdid itself again on fit and finish,” said Ken Lalonde, who has been enjoying the cat this week on the Colorado River-fed waterway. “The ride is two levels up with the strength and ease in rough water. The boat accelerates and tops out better than my 37. The space and comfort in the cockpit I feel is the best in the industry. I did not want to get out of it yesterday. The colors and gelcoat fade came out better than I could have expected.
“I will feel very comfortable using this boat in South Florida,” he continued. “It’s very close to my 48 MTI—with outboard-engine reliability.”
Added his equally dazzled bride, “We love it.”
Like the Lalondes, Scott Grants of Oswego, N.Y., considers the St. Lawrence River in the 1,000 Islands area home-water. So what better place for the longtime performance-boat owner to debut the first Platinum Powerboats 428 catamaran? Though the catamaran was built in O’Fallon, Mo., the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run presents the perfect homecoming stage for the 42-footer.
“After three years of work and significant investment, we’re looking forward to showcasing are unique design and technological innovations,” said Grants, who founded and co-owns Platinum Powerboats with fellow performance-boating veteran Edwin Scheer.
As they should be, of course, Saturday’s poker run and the auction that evening will be the event’s biggest attention-getters. But this pair of new catamarans surely run a close second.—Matt Trulio