Deep Impact Going Big at Desert Storm

Attendees at Desert Storm this week will get a look at something never seen before on Lake Havasu—a custom-built center console high-performance boat from Deep Impact Boats of Miami. According to Tim Gallagher, the director of sales and marketing for Deep Impact, the 36-footer, which is powered by triple 300-hp Mercury Verado outboard engines, is the first offering ordered by Lake Ozarks Marine in Osage Beach, Mo., and the first Deep Impact model to grace the Colorado River-fed lake’s waters.

Not seen on Lake Havasu before this week, a 36-footer (similar to the model shown here) will take part in most or all of the Desert Storm events.

The Lake Ozarks Marine dealership was founded and took on the Deep Impact line in November 2011.

“We actually just picked up the boat in Miami the Monday before last, did an in-water boat show Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then hauled it out here for Desert Storm,” said Ed Champion, who co-owns of Lake Ozarks Marine with Jeff Huebner, who also owns the popular Midwestboatparty.com website. “We thought it would be a really good place to gain exposure for Deep Impact. Center consoles are catching on now, and there’s not a ton of them out here.

“We did the (Desert Storm) poker run last year and we were impressed with the event and its organization,” Champion added.

On display at tomorrow’s all-day Street Fair, the boat was tested by the Performance Boats magazine test team this morning and reportedly topped 70 mph. Champion said the boat will participate in Friday’s poker run, but that he wasn’t sure if it will be run in Saturday’s top-speed shootout.

Editor’s Note: For live online video feeds from the Desert Storm Street Fair and Poker Run, check out River Dave’s Place.