Avalon Returning As Official Pontoon Of Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach
Though it raised a few grey eyebrows among chronically grumpy old offshore powerboat racing fans, a 27-foot Avalon Excalibur tri-toon powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines, also turned happier heads as the paceboat for the inaugural Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach event in 2019. That event—the final contest of the eight-race American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series—returns to the Southwest Florida venue October 6-8 and two new Mercury Racing 450R-powered 27-footers from the Alma, Mich., company will be there—one to pace races, another as a turn boat.
Avalon tri-toons have been pacing Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach raceboat fleets since the inaugural event three years ago. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Both are part of Avalon’s sponsor package as the “Official Pontoon Boat of Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach.
“We are so excited to back in 2022 for our third year as the Official Pace Boat of Roar Offshore,” said Miranda Bigelow, Avalon’s marketing manager. “We have been sponsoring the race since 2019 and look forward to showcasing to such a large audience what our boats are capable of.
“How many other triple toons do you see pacing world-class offshore powerboats at 70 mph?” she continued. “The race boats turn heads, but you better believe a 900-hp pontoon get its fair share of looks too.”
The owner of two WMF Watercraft and Marine Avalon/Tahoe dealerships in Delaware and a new location in Cape Coral, Fla., Bill Forenski, who has a second home in the Sunshine State, introduced the Avalon brand to Tim Hill and the Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach organizing team. Forenski’s dealership’s specialize in super-custom Avalon builds with Mercury Racing outboard power, and the two 27-footers playing a role Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach will be showcased at the Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill in Cape Coral on Friday before Saturday’s racing action.
“Now that we have a location in this area, it makes even more sense from a business perspective for us to be here as much as possible,” said Forenski, who also owns an MTI 390X catamaran and along with his wife, Patience, is a Fort Myers Offshore powerboat club member. “We love it here.”
Added Bigelow, “The entire Roar Offshore team, powerboat community, and city of Fort Myers have been so welcoming, and it is truly an honor that we get to participate in this event year over year.”
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