There’s a strong case to be made for the annual event in the wilds of Northern Michigan, https://www.offshoreonly.com/article...best-poker-run.

From the OSO home page—all in good fun.

You bet it is!!

Definitely supplies some of the best running shots of any poker run.

I think you are on to something ;-)

I have never been there before but from the video's that I have seen of the boats and community it is something that I want to see and is on my bucket list.

Nice article. Would love to do Boyne some time.

Matt, hope you are not putting water or ice in that Scotch. If you run out....Try some 12 or 15 year old Red Breast Irish Whiskey. Cask strength If you can find it.

Padraig

I like it has alot of custom V hulls in the run. But will add not many single engine apps at all. I understand big water but there is some singles that can handle big water.

My problem is, the older I get - the more I like single engine apps. If you crawled in them everyday - one surely would understand the likes of a single engine app. haha had to throw that out there.

I love scotch, scotchy scotch scotch, here it goes down, down into my belly.

Thats all I can think of when I hear scotch now...

Like Matt said the area is incredibly beautiful, the water is clean, the people are good. We have lived in Traverse City for ten years and just about every time we're on the water my wife says " We are so lucky to be able to live here !".

I think it once was. However, it's my opinion it has become greedy. You can get a slip if you throw big bucks at it, but if you were there supporting the poker run since the beginning you have to fight to get a spot many times. I like the fact that any organized event takes care of those that took care of them from the beginning, not the big bucks rolling in late to try to play with the cool kids. I've been fortunate enough to be a guest at this run for many years, but recently folks I went with stopped going. Granted, there is limited dock space, but it has become a different environment than it used to be, in my opinion.

It's also a fairly long run in the beginning portion and then typically fairly short after the lunch stop. I loved it a lot the first 4 years or so, other than the Sommerset pointe stop was a little odd. Was too soon after lunch and they were not really set up to handle that many people and the members aren't really "go fast people", although we met some nice local folks still. The dinner is the best dinner you can get just about anywhere. 5 star restaurant be jealous. If the water is right, any run is a good run on Lake MI. That's fun with any group of go fasters. Although, I enjoy seeing the 31 Sonics, 35 Fountains, 32 Sunsations, etc. all enjoying a run and hate to see the regular folks get pushed out to another brand new Nortech, Skater or Outerlimits, etc. I never did Smoke the Water back in the day because it was so much more expensive than other runs. They obviously wanted a certain group of folks to be in that run. I think Boyne is starting to go that same route. That's when it's not fun for the "common folk" anymore. Someone that has gone for the first 2,3,4,5, etc. years should not have to worry about registering and getting slips, etc. The hand that fed you before should be honored again. Just my $.02.