Speed, Excitement and Fun!

By Jeff Wellman

What could be a better way to spend a beautiful summer day than watching high-powered boats speed across some of Michigan’s most beautiful bodies of water?

Boyne Thunder is a highly anticipated annual event where high-performance boats gather from around the Midwest, putting on an impressive display of both visuals and power while raising funds for the community and charities. The event starts on Friday evening in Boyne City, where you can stroll the streets of downtown and also check out the participating boats docked in the marina. Saturday, the boats slice through the water, starting and ending on Lake Charlevoix in Boyne City,

 How it works

Boyne Thunder is not a race, it’s a poker run. This game of chance assembles some of the hottest boats in the Midwest to have fun on the water and showcase their big rigs. Each boat navigates a carefully charted course that includes five checkpoints. The boats must stop at each checkpoint to collect one playing card, which is sealed in an envelope. This year’s 150-mile course starts in Boyne City and leads the boats to Elk Rapids, Northport, Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs and back to Lake Charlevoix’s Horton Bay. Later in the evening at the party, the participants play their 5 cards and the crew with the best poker hand is declared the winner!

Where to watch

In Boyne City

Grant Moore Municipal Marina

The Open Space across from Family Fare

Sunset Park behind the Chamber of Commerce

Peninsula Beach

Tannery Park

Young State Park

 In Charlevoix

Walkways along the Pine River Channel

Bridge Park

South Pier Lighthouse & Michigan Beach Park

Observation Platform above the CVX Marina

Beach by Mt. McSauba (off of Pleasant St.)

In Elk Rapids

Elk Rapids Public Marina

 In Petoskey

East Park on U.S. 31 south of Petoskey

In Harbor Springs

Marina area

Click here for a full events schedule.