The Lakeview Business Group was pleased to bring back a fun-filled event to Indian Lake — the Wacky Boat Races.
Organizers changed things up a bit for 2024 by hosting the event in the Lakeview Harbor which proved to be a great space for the return of some wacky boat racing.
With the help of the local ODNR, Lakeview Fire Department, Indian Joint Fire Department and the Amvets Post 39, the morning was packed full of spectators and boaters vying for the title of Wacky Boat Race Winner.
The event had eight boats pre-registered with six showing up for the competition. All entires were homemade prior to race day of any materials that would float, but were not allowed to be manufactured for marine purposes.
The crowd saw lots of creativity with yoga balls, water jugs, 55 gallon drums, rubber mats, and styrofoam, as well as snow shovels and brooms that doubled as paddles.
This year also introduced a losers’ bracket to keep the boats racing and the spectators cheering. In the end, it was a match up between two brothers, Vincent Mertz on the “USS Blackhawk” built by Mark Bachman, and Oden Mertz on “Hope to Float”, built by Ed Odenweller. In the final heat race, it was the “USS Blackhawk” taking home the first place trophy and “Hope to Float” as the runner up.
Other entries included, “Fearless & Nauti” built by the team at Fearless Fitness, Parker Furbee and Gail Triplelt represented CJ’s Lakeside Tavern with “CJ’s Showerheads”, Cathy Dermaus created the “No Wakie Zone” with Maggie Mertz and Clair Hinkle and the fan favorite was “Underdog” designed and paddled by Chris Cockerham and Brandon Gross.
All proceeds raised at the event thru the 50/50 raffle will benefit the Lakeview Business Group Gazebo Project.
For more photos, visit the Downtown Lakeview Facebook page. The business group would like to thank everyone that supported and participated in the event. Get your boats ready for 2025; Wacky Boat Races will be back.
