Boat Races

For the most part here we will be talking stock outboard boat race marathons. Not just purpose-built race boats for sanctioned American Power Boat Association (APBA) or National Outboard Association (NOA) events, most of these races specified competitors to use stock, commercially-available outboard "family" runabouts. Venues varied from offshore, near-shore, river, to inland lake events, often running into the hundreds of miles. These events were a true test of boat, motor, and driver. Following are a list and short history of stock boat marathons.

Albany-New York Outboard Marathon

Run on the Hudson River.

Finger Lakes Marathon

A 68-mile course on Seneca Lake, making a round-trip between Geneva and Watkins.

Greenville-Vicksburg Outboard Marathon

A 105-mile course

Jacksonville 100-Mile Marathon

Sponsored by the Jacksonville Junior Chamber of Commerce and sanctioned by the Florida Outboard Motor Association. 1929-?

Milwaukee-Chicago Marathon

A 96-mile route on Lake Michigan.

St. Louis - New Orleans Stock Outboard Boat Marathon

This marathon was sponsored by the Mid-America Racing Association, sanctioned by the APBA. In advertising, it harked back to the famous river steamboat races.

Winnebagoland Outboard Marathon

This race was put on by the Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper.