Nor-Tech At 35—The Boyne Thunder Connection
Given its home-base in Southwest Florida and its philanthropic culture, it’s only natural that Nor-Tech Hi-Performance would help support the trade-school and college fundraising efforts of the nonprofit Fort Myers Offshore club. From a marketing perspective, it also makes perfect sense for the high-performance center console and catamaran builder to be among the Florida Powerboat Club’s most loyal backers.
Thanks to American Custom Marine and Nor-Tech participants in the 2022 Boyne Thunder Poker Run got an eyeful of the second Nor-Tech 460 Flyer. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
But the Cape Coral-headquartered company’s generous reach extends beyond the Sunshine State and—at least when it comes to the Boyne Thunder Poker Run—into Northern Michigan.
Set for July 11-12 this year, the Boyne Thunder happening raises money for a pair of charities serving children in need. Closest to home, the Challenge Mountain program offers immersive outdoor experiences to physically and mentally challenged children. Camp Quality-Michigan produces camping experiences for children battling cancer or recovering from the disease.
Last year, Boyne Thunder raised more than $230,000 for those charities through the generosity of its happy participants. Keeping them smiling throughout the weekend is among the keys to event’s ongoing fundraising success, because a happy performance-boat owner is a generous performance-boat owner.
Nor-Tech 390 Sport center console owner Lori Lemanske (center) never misses a Boyne Thunder Poker Run.
No one knows this better than Michael Knoblock of American Custom Marine, a full-service Nor-Tech dealer in Kimball, Mich. Knoblock has been sponsored the Thursday night Boyne Thunder Poker Run Welcome Celebration at the Boyne Mountain Resort since its inception more than 10 years ago. When it started, the party was small enough to be held in a tiny space accessible by chair-lift atop Boyne Mountain. Now the bash occupies an entire conference room at the resort.
Three years ago, Nor-Tech began partnering with American Custom Marine to cover the celebration’s expenses including the food cost and room fee.
In 2021, Henrik Margård, Nor-Tech’s chief operating officer, and dealer manager Geoff Tomlinson experienced the Boyne Thunder Poker Run for the first time. Both were impressed by the Northern Michigan event. Co-hosting the party with its Michigan dealer the following year—and every year since including the one yet to unfold—was a no-brainer.
“Nor-Tech tries to support as many philanthropic projects as possible, though it’s impossible to participate in every one,” Margård said. “But we felt their mission aligned with ours and we are proud to be a part of it.”
Regardless of the conditions on Lake Michigan, the late Tracy Nemecek always was game to try to tackle them during Boyne Thunder.
As it happens, two of the Boyne Thunder Poker Run’s most prominent boosters—the late Tracy Nemecek and Bill and Lori Lemanske—are members Nor-Tech’s extended customer family. Nemecek, who died before the 2022 event at age 62, owned a Nor-Tech 477 sportboat. The Lemanskes have a 390 Sport center console.
Like her fellow Nor-Tech family clan member Knoblock, Lemanske is devout when it comes to the event.
“If there is a wedding during Boyne Thunder, I won’t be there—I’ll be at Boyne,” Lori Lemanske said, then laughed during a 2021 speedonthewater.com interview. “I actually had to tell my niece that when she was getting married.”
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