Midwest Boating Center 2024 Nor-Tech Fun Run Embraces Customer Appreciation

Though it mostly flew below radar, last Saturday’s annual Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats Fun Run on Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri delighted 25 Nor-Tech owners and some 150 participants. But for Marvin Dufner, the owner of the Midwest Boating Center, the longtime Nor-Tech dealership that sponsored the event, the event was much more than a fun get-together for Nor-Tech owners. Dufner has been part of the Nor-Tech family since the Cape Coral, Fla., company’s earliest days, and he’s seen Nor-Tech evolve since its early days as a go-fast catamaran and V-bottom builder to a high-performance center console powerhouse.

Starting from the Porta Cima Yacht, the 2024 Nor-Tech Fun Run at the Lake of the Ozarks attracted 25 boats. Photos courtesy Midwest Boating Center and Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats.

Though selling Nor-Tech center consoles is not his sole business, it’s one near and dear to his heart. Like company president and co-founder Trond Schou, Dufner is a passionate long-tie powerboat owner.

“Midwest Boating Center calls this a 2024 Nor-tech Fun Run event but it really is a Nor-Tech ‘customer appreciation event,” he explained. “This event is to thank all of Nor-tech owners for their business and support.”

“We had many great sponsors to talk to the customers about any current needs for their boats they may have and we felt that was important in today’s busy times,” he added.

Among the guests on hand was Mark Morris, the founder and owner of Visual Imagination in Peculiar, Mo. Morris, who typically works Saturdays, rarely attends boating events but he has a long association with Dufner—his first boat paintjob was for one of Dufner’s friends—and Nor-Tech has among the famed paint shop’s most loyal clients for years.

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Enjoy more images from the recent Nor-Tech happening.

“I have always wanted to attend the Midwest Boating Center Nor-Tech fun run but after years of scheduling conflicts—meaning working too much—I finally had an opportunity to attend with my wife, Laura,” said Morris. “We had a great time we had seeing and talking with so many of our customers and getting reunited with some old friends made my day.

“I have to thank Marvin Dufner and Jason Taylor from Midwest Boating Center for putting on a great event,” he added. “I also have to thank our great friends family and customers Clint and Harkrader and their son, Cole, who invited Laura and I to ride on their boat all day. We had a blast. We had so much that we’re looking forward to the next one.”

The run began at the Porta Cima Yacht Club. Before finishing up, participants stopped at Lake Burger Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill (headquarters for the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout before finishing up at the 1932 Reserve restaurant.

“They did a fantastic job hosting us,” said Dufner.

Commitments in Southwest Florida prevented Schou from making it to the event. But he kept track of it from afar via social media.

I have been to several of Marvin’s events in the past and he always puts on a first-class event,” said Schou. “From all the pictures, videos and feedback that I have received this was a wonderful happening for the Nor-Tech family.

“Marvin is a longtime Nor-Tech dealer and one of my good friends, so to see what he and his team is able to create at the Lake of the Ozarks is just outstanding,” he continued. “My team and I know all too well how much work goes in to creating a quality event for not only that many boats but that many clients as well. So I want to thank Midwest Boating Center for all the hard work they put in and all of our loyal clients who took the opportunity to join the festivities.”