Sunsation Sun Run No. 3 Ends With The Mother Of All Raft-Offs
As if a 100-boat brand-specific boat show on Thursday in New Baltimore, Mich., followed by a 150-plus-boat brand-specific fun run the next day on Lake St. Clair weren’t enough to celebrate the loyal customers of Sunsation Powerboats, the third annual Sun Run finished yesterday with a massive raft-off. Some 75-plus Sunsation owners formed their own rows in the semi-controlled mayhem on Little Muskamoot Bay.
No brand had better representation in yesterday’s time-honored Sunday raft-off on Little Muskamoot Bay than Sunsation Powerboats. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos
In the interest of full disclosure: After covering the first two days of the Sun Run I had to leave Michigan early yesterday morning for a family obligation. Or I accidentally booked the wrong day to fly home. Or I was just too well to attend. Take your pick.
Whether he’s firing up his dragboat in downtown New Baltimore or hanging out with his love Renee Mariotti, in the waters of Lake St. Clair on a summer Sunday, Wayne Schaldenbrand inhales life.
But in the interest of proper reporting, I reached out to five reliable sources for their reviews. Here’s what they had to say:
• A talented dude who mostly lets his pictures speak for him, speedonthewater.com contributing photographer Jeff Helmkamp described the scene as “quite fun.” Trust me when I tell you this is a large compliment from Helmkamp, especially after two long days of shooting the Sun Run.
Enjoy a few more moments from yesterday’s Sunsation-centric happening.
• The founder and owner of Scrapyard Media based in Ira, Mich., Brad DiMaggio started attending what is simply known as “The Raft-Off” when he was 13 years old and didn’t miss one for another 13 years. He described yesterday’s extravaganza in one word: “Legendary.”
“Ryan Wenk of Sunsation Boats was right there with me all those years,” he said. “So was Bobby Boyd of Scrapyard Media, and my brother, Brian.”
Even in the most challenging moments, Sunsation’s Aaron Treppa (third from left) remains dedicated to his work.
• Aaron Treppa, Sunsation’s production manager, was almost as succinct in his take on the day. “It was bad-ass,” he said.
• Brett Manire, the co-owner Sunsation dealer Performance Boat Center in Osage Beach, Mo., has been selling powerboats for most of his adult life. The guy has experienced plenty of raft-offs. His description? “Mind-blowing turnout, three feet of water, hundreds of boats, a total s-show.”
Speedboat magazine publisher Ray Lee shared a branded moment with Kaitlyn Krystal, who is engaged to Performance Boat Center’s Brett Manire.
• Sunsation center console owner Terry Martin and his wife, Melanie, of Kuttawa Cannonball Run organizing-fame left their own ride back home in Kentucky. They joined their friends Chad and Rita Combs of Tennessee, who brought their Sunsation 34 CCX for the Sun Run weekend. Said Martin, “The raft-off was epic. And as usual, Chad’s Sunsation was the center of attention with the dance party.”
When the raft-off ended, Melanie Martin and Rita Combs rode off into the sunset with their husbands on the Combs’ 34-foot Sunsation center console. Photo courtesy Terry Martin
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