Hosted by Performance Boat Center of Osage Beach, Mo., last year’s inaugural Mercury Marine/Mercury Racing Outboard Only Fun Run in June was an instant hit that attracted a 42-boat mix of catamarans and center consoles to the Lake of the Ozarks. And for the team at the multi-brand, full-service dealership, the event was particularly ambitious—at least from the standpoint of organization and scheduling—as it happened the weekend after the outfit’s record-setting sixth annual Cigarette Racing Team Owners Rendezvous.

Chances are good that Performance Boat Center will have at least one Wright Performance catamaran to showcase during its second-year Marine/Mercury Racing Outboard Only Fun Run in July. Photo courtesy/copyright Performance Boat Center.

This year, the Performance Boat Center team will have more time between events as the Mercury Marine/Mercury Racing Outboard Only Fun Run is scheduled for July 23. (The Cigarette event is slated for June 17-20.) Brett Manire, who co-owns Performance Boat Center with Mark Waddington, said the later date will give the PBC crew a bit more breathing room in what tends to be a bustling time of year.

“Having it back to back with the Cigarette event was insane,” he said, then laughed. “We need to spread them out a bit.”

As it was last year, the happening is limited to boats with either Mercury Marine or Mercury Racing outboard engines. Beyond that, all powerboat brands and types are welcome at the event. Though additional details on the Saturday run such as stops along the way have not been finalized, would-be participants can already RSVP through Jordan Major at Performance Boat Center, 573-873-2300.

Manire is expecting 50 to 60 boats this time around. “We’re going to go to the west side of the lake for smoother water,” he said.

As for which outboard-powered models Performance Boat Center will showcase on the water from the Cigarette, MTI, Sunsation and Wright Performance lines it carries, Manire joked that he “hoped to have something in stock” given the ongoing boom in powerboat sales at the dealership.

“More events means more sales,” he said, then laughed again. “Plus, it seems like the only time I get to go boating.”

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