Key West Poker Run By The Numbers: MTI Leading The Massive Pack

If MTI participation numbers keep trending upward—and based on last year’s turnout they likely will—high-performance catamaran and center consoles built by the Wentzville, Mo., company could end up comprising 20 percent of the 250-boat Florida Powerboat Key West Poker Run fleet. MTI currently has 43 boats signed up for the 30th anniversary run, which is set for November 8-14 and will depart from locations in Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Grove and Miami.

With 43 boats currently registered, MTI is leading the brand-loyal pack for the upcoming Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Reached during today’s Performance Boat Center Fall Fun Run on the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri, Taylor Scism, the company’s client relations manager, was delighted to hear the news of MTI’s hefty boat count for the Florida Powerboat Club’s signature, season-ending event.

“It’s incredible,” said Scism, who will race alongside Johnny Tomlinson in a 39-foot 450R Factory Stock class MTI catamaran during the concurrent American Power Boat Association/Union Internationale Motonautique Offshore World Championships produced by Race World Offshore. “The Florida Keys are one of the best places to boat and we love our customers coming down to experience the area.”

The presenting sponsor for the Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run, Cigarette Racing Team has 25 boats registered so far.

The Key West event attracted 51 MTI entries in 2021, which was enough to garner the Florida Powerboat Club’s Manufacturers Cup award for the go-fast powerboat builder.

“It appears that MTI will quite possibly take home the Manufacturers Cup once again,” said Stu Jones, the president of the club. “Next in line is Nor-Tech with 30 boats currently registered, followed by Cigarette Racing Team—our presenting sponsor—sitting comfortably with 25 registered teams.”

Nor-Tech owners always represent in strong fashion in Florida Powerboat Club events, especially during the annual Key West happening.

Skater Powerboat fans won’t lack for boats in the mix either. Thanks to its loyal customers, the Douglas, Mich., company has 22 catamarans signed up for the event.

Mystic Powerboats and Midnight Express also always show well—each have close to a dozen registered teams at this time—and Outerlimits has stepped up a notch from previous years, now holding 14 registered teams on the roster,” Jones said. “Fountain has 13 registered poker run teams, Statement Marine has 11 and Blackwater/Deep Impact has nine.”

Go-fast boating fans in Key West for the Florida Powerboat Club event, as well as three days of offshore racing action, will be able catch most exotic cats and V-bottoms at the sponsor docks in front of the Conch Republic seafood restaurant from Thursday through Sunday.

Skater enthusiasts will have find plenty to love in the Key West Poker Run.

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