Third Annual Sunsation Sun Run Opens Registration

Though there’s no fee or cap on registration for the 2024 Sunsation Boats Sun Run, August 1-4, on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair, there is one absolute requirement for participation in the third-annual celebration of the 44-year-old brand: You need to own a boat from the Algonac, Mich.-based center console company to sign up.

A joyful celebration of brand, the third annual Sunsation Sun Run is set for August 1-3. Photos courtesy/copyright Scrapyard Media.

Registration for the three-day happening opened today.

In its first year, the event attracted a mix of 80-plus center consoles and sportboats for run itself, which was based out of the Cabana Blue Lakeside Bar and Grill in Clay Township. To welcome participants, Sunsation held a party the night before the outing as its Algonac facility.

Returning to its Cabana Blue starting point the following year, the event attracted more than 100 boats. But instead of a night-before welcome bash at the factory, the Sunsation team produced a day-long, all-Sunsation boat show and celebration in nearby New Baltimore.

Sunsation’s own boat show took over downtown New Baltimore during the 2023 event.

The 150-plus-boat showcase and automobile exhibit took over the small city’s downtown area, while raising money for the Special Olympics of Michigan organization and the St. Clair Fire Department.

“It felt really good to give back to the city that gave back so much to us,” said Joe Schaldenbrand, the president of Sunsation Boats.

Speedonthewater.com contributing photographer Jeff Helmkamp will be on hand to capture all the action from the three-day event, which includes a “Recovery Day Raft-Off” from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 3. Scrapyard Media will produce another comprehensive video chronicling the event.