It was a party the likes of which has not been seen on the Gravois Arm.
Promoted as the “world's largest boat party,” and a customer appreciation bash for MarineMax and Sea Ray owners, AquaPalooza drew a huge crowd to the 7-mile marker of the Gravois Arm.
Early estimates predicted the event would draw 1,000 boats. That's not what happened.
The event got under way Saturday and by the time the afternoon was heating up, as many as 2,500 boats were congregated near Coconuts Bar and Grill.
It was a tame crowd that gathered for the festivities, according to Water Patrol Captain Matt Walz, but the congestion, rough water and noise from that many boats and participants didn't go over too well with residents.
Although the Missouri Water Patrol had a full crew of officers on hand, that didn't stop the complaints, Walz said.
The crowd was tame compared to what shows up for a typical party weekend in spots like Party Cove on the Grand Glaize Arm, but the number of boats was more than what the Water Patrol anticipated.
Although the event did have a regatta permit, the number of boats exceeded  what was listed on the application and approved by the Water Patrol.
Walz said the Water Patrol is going to have to re-evaluate how the permit was handled.
“We are definitely going to have to take a closer look in the future,” he said. “It raised a lot of issues and complaints.”
Lake of the Ozarks was the signature event for the Sea Ray celebration. There are other host sites across the country and in other parts of the world. This is the first time Lake of the Ozarks has been included in AquaPalooza events.
Contact this reporter at
joycem@lakesunleader.com