Boyne Thunder And 1,000 Islands Charity Events Opening Registration Friday

Northern Michigan’s Boyne Thunder Poker Run and the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run in Upstate New York have more in common than being the two hottest events of any given summer, raising money for worthy causes and being hosted in pristine environments.

Both of the annual go-fast powerboating happenings open general registration Friday, March 1.

Even with Lake Michigan “calm” as it was for 2023 event, the Boyne Thunder Poker Run dishes out thrills. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The Boyne Thunder Poker is capped at 120 entries as that is the maximum number of boats the Boyne City, Mich., venue can accommodate. The event typically sells out in a few hours, so would-be participants will want to mark their calendars for 9 a.m. Friday.

In 2023, Boyne Thunder celebrated its 20th anniversary. Speedonthewater.com produced a commemorative program that was free to the public for the event. That created a tradition of sorts as speedonthewater.com will produce another program for the 2024 happening.

As it has for the past three years, Scrapyard Media will produce a video chronicling the event.

The Make-A-Wish of Central New York organization is the headline charity for the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run.

Capacity for the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run has varied between 90 to 100-plus boats during the years. Though the event doesn’t typically sell out in a day, much less a few hours, it will sell out. That makes squaring away registration early a wise move on the part of those who don’t want to miss it.

Based out of Clayton, N.Y., the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run is entering its eighth year and was the subject of Speed On The Water/Scrapyard Media documentary video in 2022. The event is organized by Alexandra Buduson, Bobby Cantwell, Renee and Ken Lalonde, Dave Montroy, Jeff Morgan and Courtney Rutherford.