What’s Your Speed?

Whether your preferred water sport gets your motor running — or sailing — you can find it at the Lake of the Ozarks this season.

Text: Jennifer Bondurant
June/July 2010

Setting Sail
“Power boats are fun — everybody likes to go fast,” says Greg Minor, general manager of Ozark Yacht Club (OYC). “But sailing is something different to do. It’s very peaceful with no engines running and it’s a little more challenging to let the wind move you around the lake.”

OYC is a full-service marina, traditional yacht club and home to the Ozark Sailing Club, supporting local sailing enthusiasts and offering a social atmosphere for boaters. With around 50 current members, Minor (who is also the club’s secretary) says that the Ozark Sailing Club’s membership is growing but that sailing at the Lake is not a new trend.

“It’s a trend that is revamping,” Minor explains. “Years and years ago, there was a tremendous amount of sailboats at the Lake. We’re trying to bring that back.”

“We see power boats shut down and watch us sail,” Minor says. “Everybody, at one point or another, has said ‘I’d like to sail.’”

The Ozark Sailing Club helps fulfill that dream by facilitating first-time sailing expeditions. Minor says they also see a lot of boaters getting their sailboats out after they’ve been sitting dormant and becoming more involved.

Interested in sailing but don’t know where to start? Come to a skipper’s meeting prior to one of the sailing club’s races (six in the spring and six in the fall) and throw your name in to be on the crew. OYC also offers a three-day course that certifies students with the American Sailing Association, or if you want to give  OYC membership a test drive, a weeklong guest membership is only $250.

Another reason why sailing may be enjoying resurgence: “It’s a wind-guzzler, not a gas-guzzler,” Minor says.

Fast & Fun
Whether wind is your speed or you prefer soaring across the water, socializing is a big part of boating at the Lake and why open bow boats are enjoying popularity, says Mark Niedergerke, sales/brokerage manager for Glencove Marine. The Formula 290 and 310 bow riders are some of the best sellers at the Lake of the Ozarks, according to him.

“(The bow riders) are good for coving out, spending time with friends and family,” he says.  A seat incorporated into the transom lets two people sit and enjoy the water, and a waterproof, transom-mounted stereo control allows for aft-control of the tunes. Options include upgraded stereos for iPods and docking stations for mp3 players, blue LED underwater lights, and digital throttle and shift — high-tech favs. Livorsi chrome shifters and throttles are standard features.

Innovations to Sea-Doo personal watercraft have revolutionized the PWC market, according to Niedergerke. Built-in, fully adjustable suspension gives you six inches of vertical lift to cushion the Lake’s waves. Sea-Doo also features a braking system and cruise control.

“Sea-Doo is the first to offer all three of those features,” Niedergerke says. “They own just shy of 50 percent of the PWC market because they’ve set the standards for safety with the brakes, comfort with the suspension and convenience, thanks to all of the features offered.”

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To spend your summer on the water, check out the list of marinas at the lake:

Kelly’s Port
5250 Dude Ranch Road, Osage Beach 
19 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.348.4700 or 800.874.7581
www.kellysport.com
Amenities: full-service marina with boat sales, service, fiberglass repair, gas dock with pump-out, and wet and dry storage

MarineMax Port Arrowhead
3070 Bagnell Dam Blvd., Lake Ozark
16 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.365.5382
www.marinemax.com
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, boat dealer, propeller service, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat hauling, boat refinishing, pump-out service and large boat equipment

Surdyke Yamaha
1660 Yamaha Drive, Osage Beach
26 Mile Marker on the Osage Arm
888.575.9283 or 573.348.6575
www.surdykeyamaha.com       
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, boat dealer, PWC rentals, speed ski boat rentals, pontoon rentals, boat repair, fiberglass repair, propeller service, boat lift sales, dock repair, dock flotation, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat launching, boat refinishing and marine services

 Village Marina & Yacht Club
107 Village Marina Road, Lake Ozark
3 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.365.1800 or 888.637.0008
www.villagemarina.com        
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, boat repair, fiberglass repair, propeller service, dock motors deicers, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat refinishing, pump-out service, large boat equip, restaurant and marine services

Glencove Marine
147 Glencove Blvd., Lake Ozark 
3 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.365.4001 or 888.GLENCOVE
www.glencovemarine.com   
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, PWC rentals, speed ski boat rentals, pontoon rentals, fiberglass repair, propeller service, boat lift sales, dock motors deicers, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat refinishing, pump-out service and large boat equipment

Dave Mungenast Yacht Club Marina
4815 Windjammer, Osage Beach 
At the Grand Glaize Bridge
1 Mile Marker on the Glaize Arm
573.302.8000
www.davemungenastmarina.com        
Amenities: boat sales, fuel, full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, slip rentals, covered boat storage, and food and supplies at gas dock

Ozark Yacht Club
119 Westwind Drive, Lake Ozark 
1 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.552.8401
www.ozarkyachtclub.com
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat launching, pump-out service, large boat equip and restaurant

Camden on the Lake Marina
2359 Bittersweet Road, Lake Ozark 
7 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.365.5620 or 888.365.5620
www.toadcove.com 
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, PWC rentals, speed ski boat rentals, pontoon rentals, slip rentals, pump-out service, bait tackle, restaurant and marine services

Four Seasons Marina
Horseshoe Bend Parkway at The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark
13.5 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.365.3000 or 800.843.5253
www.4seasonsresort.com    
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, pontoon rentals, fiberglass repair, propeller service, slip rentals, boat refinishing, pump-out service, large boat equipment, bait tackle, parasailing and restaurant

Blue Moon Marina
5395 Spruce Lane, Osage Beach 
19.5 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.348.3178 or 800.233.1980
www.bluemoonmarina.com   
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, PWC rentals, speed ski boat rentals, pontoon rentals and covered boat storage

G & G Marina Inc.
1528 Maritime Lane, Roach
Hwy 54 to State Road AA to Maritime Lane
1 Mile Marker on the Niangua Arm
573.346.2433 or 573.346.2628
www.ggmarina.com     
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, boat dealer, boat repair, fiberglass repair, propeller service, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat launching and marine services

Lighthouse Marina
Hwy. 5 North to Lk. Road 5-29, Sunrise Beach 
39 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.374.5256
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, boat dealer, boat repair, fiberglass repair, propeller service, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat launching, pump-out service, large boat equipment and marine services

Lake Of The Ozarks Marina
N. Hwy. 5 at Niangua Bridge, Camdenton 
2.5 Mile Marker on the Niangua Arm
573.873.3705 or 800.255.5561
lakeoftheozarksmarina.com          
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, speed ski boat rentals, pontoon rentals, fishing boat rentals, houseboat rentals, slip rentals, boat launching, pump-out service, large boat equipment and marine services

Silver Sands Marina & Resort
161 Silver Sands Drive, Sunrise Beach 
38.5 Mile Marker on the Main Channel
573.374.6126 or 573.374.6820
www.silver-sands-marina.com 
Amenities: full-service marina, gas dock, convenience store, fiberglass repair, dock motors deicers, slip rentals, covered boat storage, boat launching, boat refinishing, pump-out service and large boat equipment.