- 2017 Lake Cumberland Poker Run. Public Hosted by Fast Boats of Lake Cumberland. Sep 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM – Sep 10, 2017 at 8:00 PM CDT. More than a year ago.
- Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2017 Harmon Creek 'Spiderman' - Duration: 3:31. ACOLEMAN12 8,245 views. Beechcraft King Air 1 hour Compilation Full HD - Duration: 1:09:21.
- Poppin’ The Limits At Lake Cumberland Poker Run By Matt Trulio, Columnist on September 6, 2017 Poker Runs In what could be its final event of the 2017 boating season, Poppin’ The Limits is heading to this weekend’s Lake Cumberland Poker Run. Photos by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
- Lake Cumberland is home-water to David Southern, who owns a Skater 388 Pure Platinum series catamaran powered by a pair of 1,350/1,550-hp turbocharged Chief engines, and he’s participated in the poker run since 2009.
Click here for main PokerRun and ShootOut page
Beyond its impressive go-fast boat fleet, the Lake Cumberland Poker Run boasts a houseboat village for participants. All photos courtesy/copyright Jennifer Finan. 'We generally have around 100 boats, but this year it will probably be a little bigger, around 110 to 125 boats,' he said.
Please email me by clicking on the following box ifyou have any updates, changes or corrections.
January 27 - 29, 2017
Winter Poker Run to Duck Key
Miami to Duck Key
Departure from Courtyard Marriott in Coconut GroveGrove Harbor Marina
Destination at Hawks Cay Resort & MarinaMiami, FL 33050
Florida Powerboat Club
February 23 - 26, 2017
Miami Boat Show Poker Run
Grove Harbour Marina
Miami, FL
Florida Powerboat Club
March 16 -19, 2017
Tampa Bay Poker Run
Vinoy Resort
Tampa Bay
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
Florida Powerboat Club
April 21 - 22, 2017
Fort Myers Poker Run
Pink Shell Beach Resort
Fort Myers
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Florida Powerboat Club
May 2 - 7, 2017
Desert Storm Poker Run and Shoot Out
Lake Havasu
Rotary Park
Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Lake Racer
May 4 - 6, 2017
Tickfaw 200
Blood River Landing
Lake Pontchartrain
New Orleans, LA
Blood River Landing
May 5 - 7, 2017
3rd Annual Key West Air, Land and Sea Poker Run
Grove Harbour Marina - Key West
Coconut, FL
Florida Powerboat Club
May 8 - 12, 2017
Florida-Havana Powerboat Rally
Florida-Havana
Florida Powerboat Club
May 18 - 21, 2017
17th Annual 'Awakening of the Horses'
Norris Lake
Hickory Star Marina
Maynardville, TN 37807
The Midwest Donzi Club or Facebook
May 19 - 20, 2017
20th Annual Tom Maynard Memorial Poker Run
Smith Mountain Lake
Hardy, VA
Contact: pokerrun@smlba.com
Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association
May 25 - 28, 2017
Leverick Bay BVI Poker Run
Puerto Rico to Virgin Gorda
Florida Powerboat Club
May 28, 2017
Memorial Day Poker run
Tolchester Marina
Chesapeake Bay
Chestertown, MD
Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association or Offshoreonly.com
June 2 - 3, 2017
3rd Annual Haulin Azz on the Pamlico Poker Run
Iconic Marine Group
Pamlico River
Lil Washington, NC
Contacts: Chris Bowers (252) 945-0011 or Brad Parham (252) 333-5898
Haulin Azz on the Pamlico Poker Run
June 4, 2017
Loop The Lakes
Docker's Restaurant in Fox Lake
Fox Lake, IL 60020
Northern Illinois Offshore Club
June 9 - 10, 2017
8th Annual Lake Winnebago Four Horsemen Poker Run
Pioneer Marina
Lake Winnebago
Oshkosh , WI
Lake Michigan Four Horsemen Poker Run
June 10, 2017
LEOPA Spring Fun Run
Lake Erie
Detroit Beach Boat Club Monroe, MI
Lake Erie Offshore Performance Association
June 16 - 17, 2017
9th Annual Lake Cumberland Thunder Run
Grinder Hill Marina and Resort
Lake Cumberland, KY
Lake Cumberland Thunder Run
June 16 - 17, 2017
2017 Kuttawa Cannonball Run
Kuttawa Harbor Marina
Barkley & Kentucky Lake
Kuttawa, KY
2017 Kuttawa Cannonball Run
June 16 - 18, 2017
The Chase Charity Powerboat Event
Lake Michigan
Muskegon Yacht Club
Muskegon, MI
The Chase Charity Powerboat Event
June 21 - 25, 2017
10th Annual Texas Outlaw Challenge Poker Run
Clear Lake, TX
Texas Outlaw Challenge
June 22 - 24, 2017
Hartwell Lake Poker Run Meals on Wheels Poker Run
Hartwell Lake
Portman Marina
Anderson, SC
Hartwell Lake Meals on Wheels Benefit Poker Run
June 22 - 25, 2017
12th Annual Lake St. Clair Run 2016)Lake St. Clair
St. Clair Marina
St. Clair. MI
Contact: Baja Pete at bajapete@foxchapelmarine.com
Lake St. Clair Run 2016
June 23, 2017
JobbieNooner I
Gull Island Lake St. Clair
St. Clair. MI
Jobbienooner
June 23, 2017
Support Our Troops Poker Run
Lake of the Ozarks
Osage Beach MO 65065
Contact: 573-348-9797
Lake of the Ozarks
June 23 - 24, 2017
2017 Children's Chance Lake Murray Poker Run
Rusty Anchor/Catfish Johnny’s
Lake Murray
Lake Murray, SC
Lake Murray Poker Run or Lake Murray Poker Run
June 23 - 25, 2017
2017 Erie Poker Run
Wolverine Park Marina
34 State St
Erie, PA 16507
Elite Poker Runs
June 24, 2017
International Tug Boat Race
Detroit River below the Ambassador Bridge
Detroit River
Detroit, MI
International Tug Boat Race
June 29 - July 2 and July 3 - 5, 2017
Bahamas Poker Run
Departure: Hyatt Pier 66 Fort Lauderdale
Florida Powerboat Club
June 30 - July 2, 2017
Thunder on The Ohio
Ohio River
Madison, IN
Madison Regatta or American Boat Racing Association
July 7 - 8, 2017
14th Annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run
Lake Michigan
Boyne City, MI
Boyne Thunder
July 7 - 8, 2017
9th Annual F. Wayne McLeskey, Jr. Memorial Powerboating for a Cure Poker Run
Waterside Marina
Chesapeake Bay
Norfolk, VA 23510
Mid Atlantic Powerboat Association
July 8, 2017
Muskingum Riverfest July 2017
Muskingum Riverway Advocacy Council (MRAC)
Saturday 1:00 - 6:00
Terry's Tavern on the Muskingum River
700 Linden Ave
Zanesville, OH 43701
Contact mracohio@gmail.com
Poster: Muskingum Riverfest July 2017 Flier
July 14 - 15, 2017
Thunder Run for Charity
Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club
Winthrop Harbor, IL
Northern Illinois Offshore Club
July 14 - 15, 2017
Bay of Quinte Poker Run
Belleville, ON
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
July 14 - 16, 2017
27th Annual Seneca Lake Battleship Run
Showboat Motel
Seneca Lake, NY
Himrod, NY
Contact: Jeremystarr2@gmail.com
Rochester Offshore Powerboat Association
July 15, 2017
Zanesville Yacht Club Boaters Poker Run
Cars and motorcycles welcome
Saturday 9 - 5
Zanesville Yacht Club
3790 N River Rd West
Zanesville, OH 43701
Contact: 740-319-7245 or email zyachtc@columbus.rr.com
Zanesville Yacht Club
July 15, 2017
1000 Islands Charity Poker Run
St Lawrence River in Clayton, NY
1000 Islands Harbor Hotel
Clayton, NY 13624
Offshore Only
July 15, 2017
Fun Run for Anthony and Tammy and Art and Melissa in Cumberland
State Dock Marina
Lake Cumberland
Jamestown, KY
Contact: Tanner74h@icloud.com
Fun Run for Anthony and Tammy and Art and Melissa in Cumberland
July 20 - 22, 2017
9th Annual Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run
Lake Lanier, GA
Lanier Partners
July 21 - 22, 2017
5th Annual Lake Michigan Offshore Wench Fun Run
Milwaukee Yacht Club
Lake Michigan
Milwaukee, WI
Offshore Wench's Boating Poker & Fun Runs
July 21 - 23, 2017
2017 Mentor Poker Run
Mentor Harbor Yachting Club
5330 Coronada Dr
Mentor, OH 44060
Elite Poker Runs
July 28 - 29, 2017
5th Annual Old Hickory 2017 Fun Run
Anchor High Marina
Old Hickory Lake
Hendersonville, TN
Tennessee Powerboat Club
July 28 - 30, 2017
Alexandria Bay “Hall of Fame” Poker Run
Alexandria Bay, NY
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
July 31 - August 1, 2017 (Not Confirmed)
Muskingum Valley Boating Association 15th Annual Poker Run
Boats, car and motorcycles
Saturday 9 - 4, Sunday 9 - 2
Muskingum Valley Boating Association
2400 Boat Dock Road
Zanesville, OH 43701
Contact: Barbara 740-796-2582 or 740-624-1874
August 5 - 6, 2017 ( Not Confirmed)
CAN/AM Presidents Cup VIP Poker Run
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
August 5, 2017
LEOPA Thunderfest
Lake Erie
Huron, OH
Lake Erie Offshore Performance Association
August 5, 2017
32nd Bud Bash
South Shore Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake, Michigan
Jobbienooner
August 5, 2017
2017 Lake Cumberland Raft-up
Lake Cumberland
Camp Earl Wallace, KY
2017 Lake Cumberland Raft-up or 2017 Lake Cumberland Raft-up/State Dock Events
August 5, 2017
NIOC Shootout on Grass Lake
Grass Lake on Chain-O-Lakes
Fox Lake, IL 60020
Northern Illinois Offshore Club
August 8 - 13, 2017
24th Annual Emerald Coast Poker Run
Florida Panhandle
Destin, FL
Florida Powerboat Club
August 11 - 12, 2017
Big Cat Poker Run
Discovery Bay Yacht Harbor
Discovery Bay, CA 94505
Big Cat Poker Run
August 11 - 12, 2017
Offshore Wench's 1st Annual Put In Bay Poker Run
Put In Bay Yacht Club
Put-In-Bay
Put-In-Bay, OH
Offshore Wench's Boating Poker & Fun Runs
August 11 - 13, 2017
Ray Nuchereno Memorial Poker Run
Templeton Landing
Lake Erie
Buffalo, NY
Elite Poker Runs
August 12, 2017
Muscamoot Bay Raft Off
Muscamoot Bay, MI
Jobbienooner
August 12, 2017
RPBA James River Fun Run to Hampton
Richmond, VA
Contact: Barry Adkins 804-512-5195
Contact: James Barton 804-539-3114
email: rpba12@comcast.net
RPBA James River Fun Run to Hampton
August 13 - 15, 2017 (Not Confirmed)
37th Annual Buckeye Lake Yacht Club Antique & Classic Boat Regatta
Buckeye Lake
Buckeye Lake, OH
Buckeye Lake Yacht Club
August 17 - 18
1000 CAN/AM Islands Poker Run
Kingston, Ont
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
August 18 - 19, 2017
Third Annual Carey Downs & Jeremie Floyd Memorial Boat Poker Run
Pickwick Lake
Counce, TN
Pickwick Poker Run
August 21, 2017 (Not Confirmed)
Bob Dye Poker Run
Buckeye Lake
Buckeye Lake, OH
Buckeye Lake Yacht Club
August 25 - 26, 2017
Rock the Bay Poker Run
Chesapeake Bay, MD
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
August 25 - 27, 2017
Detroit Gold Cup - UAW/GM Detroit Hydrofest!
Detroit River
Detroit, MI
American Boat Racing Association
August 26 - 27, 2017
2017 Lake of the Ozarks Shoot Out
Lake of the Ozarks
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079
Lake of the Ozarks Shoot Out
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2019
August 26, 2017
Harvest Moon Poker Run
Detroit River/Lake St. Clair
Ford Yacht Club
Grosse Isle, MI
Lake Erie Offshore Performance Association
September 2, 2017
Lake Ontario Poker Run
Toronto/Niagara Region, ON
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
September 8 - 9, 2017
Lake Cumberland Poker Run
State Dock Marina
Lake Cumberland
Jamestown, KY
Contact: (888)782-8336
Lake Cumberland Poker Run
September 8 - 10, 2017
2nd Annaul Grand Island Poker Run
Elite Poker Runs LLC
55 West Bay Rd
Erie, PA 16507
Elite Poker Runs
September 16, 2017
Patriot Poker Run
Lake Pontchartrain
New Orleans, LA
Contact: Craig at craig@gcoffshore.com
Gulf Coast Offshore
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2019 Pictures
September 16, 2017
Muskingum Riverfest September 2017
Muskingum Riverway Advocacy Council (MRAC)
Saturday 12:00 - 5:00
River Queen Restaurant on the Muskingum River
260 Front St
Malta, OH 43758
Contact mracohio@gmail.com
Poster: Muskingum Riverfest September 2017 Flier
October 7, 2017 (Not Confirmed)
Caesar Creek Shoot Out
Caesar Creek State Park
Caesar Creek, OH
More Info
October 13 - 14, 2017
Monster Storm Poker Run
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Lake Racer
October 13 - 14, 2017
Cape Coral Poker Run
Cape Coral, FL
Contact: (905) 844-8218 ext. 252 or coordinator@pokerrunsamerica.com
Poker Runs America
November 5 - 12, 2017
Super Boat International 37th Annual Key West World Championship
Key West, FL
Super Boat International
November 7 - 13, 2017
Key West Offshore Poker Run
Florida Keys
Miami - Key West, FL
Florida Powerboat Club
If you have any updates, changes or correction, please email me by clicking on the following box. =>
The following story and accompanying photos were contributed by Gary Baldwin at Lakeview Marina, a Manitou dealer in Noblesville, Indiana. Gary brought a Manitou X-Plode tritoon to the 11th annual Lake Cumberland Poker Run, a large powerboat poker run, the weekend of September 8-10, 2017. Read on for his thoughts on bringing a pontoon to run with powerboats. Thanks for sharing your experience, Gary!
I work part time as a salesman at Lakeview Marina in Noblesville, Indiana. Being retired and a boat nut, the job gives me the opportunity to enjoy boating more than I normally could. Yes, I have a lake house, and yes, we have multiple boats – but of course if you are a boat nut, the more boats you get to enjoy the better.
The boats I’ve had and have are small and slow compared to what I would be up against on this particular weekend at Lake Cumberland. My home lake is Lake Freeman in Monticello, Indiana, and like on most small lakes, 95 percent of the boats are under 26 feet. Very few can exceed 50 mph. So I knew this would be a challenge.
Why bring a pontoon to this poker run?
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2017 Dates
Lakeview Marina has a history with performance boats, with many friends in the powerboating industry. As a sponsor for this year’s Lake Cumberland Poker Run, and not having a larger powerboat in stock (I sold it), we decided – with owner Jeff Lingenfelter’s nervous blessing – to take a Manitou pontoon boat. This was not your typical pontoon, but a 25 foot dual outboard with 600 HP. This would be my first time taking any boat to a powerboat poker run. I was given the opportunity to run with many 1000 HP boats, quite a few bigger boats with 2000 HP, and just for the thrill of it, seeing boats with over 3000 HP thunder across the water at well over 100 mph. The challenge for the weekend was not to keep up with these guys, but to keep myself and my passengers SAFE in the wakes of mega power and heavy cruisers on a big lake.
The pontoon is a 2017 Manitou X-Plode SWR SHP, 25 feet long with two Evinrude 300 HP G2 outboards, sport arch, joystick assist steering, and a nice big stereo. A very impressive pontoon for the small lakes in Indiana I’m accustomed to boating on. In the weeks leading up to the poker run, I was warned many times about how big and rough the event would be, how crowded it would be in many areas of the lake, and DON’T run into multi-million-dollar boats!
[Build your own pontoon boat]
Challenge #1: Maneuvering the Pontoon in Tight Spaces
The Manitou X-Plode and its joystick assist steering coupled to the Evinrude outboards was such a joy. Maneuvering a pontoon on a windy day in tight spaces can be a challenge for even the most experienced pilot. Entering a marina, I would push the Command button to engage the joystick and place the pontoon where I wanted, never having to touch the steering wheel or the two shift handles. Our slip was partially blocked by a very big Fountain powerboat, and beside us were two very expensive show boats. The paint jobs on these boats likely exceeded the cost of our pontoon. More than once, I backed the Manitou pontoon into the slip, past the beak of the Fountain and beside the two other show boats.
Getting gas in a crowded marina on a busy Saturday morning was a typical task made more difficult by windy and tight conditions. I held the Manitou pontoon inline in a cross breeze, and once it was our turn to get gas, I used the joystick to spin the boat counterclockwise about 60 degrees on its center to get parallel with the dock. Then I moved the boat backwards and to the right while staying parallel to the dock to get gas. Getting out of the marina with other boats struggling to maintain “No Wake” and keep thousands of horsepower under control was a predicament. I would side shift out of line and let them pass, shifting back in line once they passed and gave us the thumbs up. This happened many times during the weekend.
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2016
On Friday afternoon, when parking at another marina to get food, my choice was either a long walk or once again docking between two boats costing many times more than our pontoon – and it was an easy choice. I went straight to the space, spun 90 degrees, and side shifted into the space. This was not as hard as the maneuvering to get gas, as there was no wind involved, but it’s still something you could not do without the joystick assist.
Challenge #2: Running at Speed with a 600 HP Pontoon Boat
Lakeview Marina also took a 2017 Baja 23-foot Outlaw powerboat to the poker run. This is a great small powerboat, and pilot Jeff Lingenfelter Jr. showed many just how rugged these boats are.
On Friday, we spent most of the day running together. Running with a professional I could trust on my first day at such an event help me get accustomed to running long distances at speed in rough conditions. The Manitou with 600 HP and a V-Toon hull easily kept up with him and many other cruisers and hot boats, running up to and a little over 60 mph. In the Manitou pontoon with the Evinrude G2 outboards, I would hit the Sync button and use one shifter to control both outboards.
[How fast is a pontoon boat?]
We spent much of the day running in the range of 50 to 60 mph. Loaded with gas and coolers, we exceeded 60 mph on clear water many times. In a heavy chop, I would do as the powerboats do, trim down, and the V-Toon hull cut the swells down for a better ride. As the swells cleared, I would trim up and enjoy the ride. I’ve ridden on many a pontoon, and this is the only one I’ve driven that reacts to trim in such a positive way.
Many of the boats we passed could exceed 90 mph on good water, so it was fun to see them catching air and a pounding trying to keep up with Grandpa in a pontoon boat that weekend. We did get a “thumbs up” from many – just not the ones holding on with both hands trying to keep up.
Challenge #3: Keeping My Passengers Safe
Manitou pontoon boats are built differently than any other pontoon. There are too many build details to go into here, but the enjoyment they give is what counts. On Saturday, with many more boats and winds getting stronger as the day went on, I put the pontoon through its biggest test all day long. Late Saturday afternoon, we were exiting the party cove with a flotilla of boats of every size.
We had miles to cover in the worst of conditions. Houseboats, cruisers, power cats, and deep v racing boats were making waves, with troughs as deep as 5 feet coming from all directions. The wind was not letting the lake settle down. With the cruisers rocking and rolling at speed, and the hot boats catching air as they crested the waves, this was not the place for the average pontoons to be. This is not the place to be crazy. This water will roll boats over, swamp your average runabout, and break anything that is weak.
I again put the trim down and used the responsiveness of the Evinrude G2 outboards to keep my passengers safe. I used the throttle to quickly change the attitude of the boat. The Evinrude G2 motors are two-stroke motors, and they respond so much faster than your typical four-stroke outboards. The Manitou V-Toon hull helped make the ride more comfortable, and coupled with the fast steering of the dual outboards, I was able to get across the bad to the little bit of good water there was. Through a lot of this, we were running 25 to 30 mph, above most boats less than 30 feet long.
I kept setting my sights on the next large boat. Watching them rock and roll, rise and fall, I would know what to expect and what to do to make the best of a dangerous crossing. Passing the last large cruiser just before entering the marina no wake zone, again we were greeted with thumbs up.
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2018 Images
Powerboat Poker Runs: Not for the Average Pontoon Boat
So, should you take a pontoon to a powerboat poker run? I would not suggest it for the normal pontoon owner. These events create extreme conditions. You have to have great situational awareness. Running at 60 mph in a pontoon seems fast until you get passed by a boat doing 150 mph. Relax at the wrong time, and bad things can happen – and not just for you.
Would I do this poker run in any other brand of pontoon? The answer is NO. I’ve driven many different brands and know how they are built. I have trusted the Manitou pontoons in all types of conditions on our small lakes. I know they are strong and will take care of you and your passengers in rough conditions, even if you don’t know how to run through rough water. During the weekend at the Cumberland Lake Power Run, I ran this Manitou X-Plode through the worst. Now I know it is stronger than I ever thought. I pushed it at times, well above what I would do on a normal busy day on our Indiana lakes. It never flexed, as I’ve had other brands do. It never rattled or squeaked. It never submarined the nose in the worst waves on Saturday, even with all seats occupied, coolers filled, and plenty of gas on board. And I never felt like I was putting my friends or other boaters in peril.
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2018 Pics
Would I do it again in a performance pontoon? A big THUMBS UP.
Maybe next year I can do it with 800 HP.
Thank you, Lakeview Marina. Thank you, friends, for riding along. Thank you and a big THUMBS UP to Manitou for building a great pontoon.