Avalon And MTI Showcase Set For Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach

Unlikely as it may seem, the high-performance catamaran and V-bottom segments have significant crossover with the upscale pontoon segment of the recreational boating market. Some of best-known figures in go-fast boating, such as Lake of the Ozarks legend David Scott, have at least one pontoon boat next to their aquatic rockets at the docks during any given boating season.

So a casual happening blending two of the hottest brands on both sides—Avalon pontoons and MTI catamarans and center consoles—makes great sense for Friday, October 8, the day before American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series finale dubbed Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach Southwest Florida.

Delaware-based WMF Watercraft and Marine owner Bill Forenski will have both of his treasured boats—an Avalon 2785 Excalibur Elite Windshield and an MTI 340X—on display at the Boat House docks next Friday in Cape Coral, Fla.

Set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Boat House Tiki Bar and Grill in Cape Coral, Fla., the event will included a trio of loaded Avalon models—the Alma, Mich., company is a returning sponsor for Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach—and at least two MTI models, the canopied 390X that Taylor Scism, the daughter of company founder Randy Scism, and John Tomlinson are fielding in the first-year Factory 450R Stock class and Avalon dealer Bill Forenski’s own MTI 340X. (The Wentzville, Mo., company may also have a V-42 center console at the Boat House docks.)

Dubbed Absolut Madness, Forenski’s own Avalon model, a 2785 Excalibur Elite Windshield model will be the official paceboat for the Roar Offshore event. In mid-July, the Mercury Racing 450R outboard engine-powered 27-footer set an APBA-certified kilometer record of 78.9 mph, making in the world’s fastest Avalon pontoon boat.

The Friday event is open to the public.

“In addition to being the paceboat on Saturday, Absolut Madness will be in the Thursday boat parade and at the Boat House on Friday,” said Forenski, who splits him time between his second home in Southwest Florida and primary residence in Delaware, where his two WMF Watercraft and Marine locations are based. “In 2019, Friday was pretty much a free day for Roar Offshore fans so I reached out to Randy Scism at MTI to do this. Jim Wolf of Avalon pontoons was all for it and (multiple restaurant owner) Zak Kearns stepped up with the Boat House as a venue. And Miranda Bigelow has been doing the planning for it.

Taylor Scism’s 390X raceboat also will be displayed at the event. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.

“We’ll be giving out schwag such as drink holders and coolers, and we’re going to offer specialty cocktails named after my own pontoon boats—I name all of them after cocktails,” he added. “Two Avalon pontoons and my MTI—for sure—will be in the water. The MTI raceboat will be on land. Both Randy and Taylor Scism also will be there. It should be a fun, casual event.”

Avalon And MTI Showcase Set For Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach

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