Lake Havasu, and the Colorado River just south of the lake, are prime hot rod boat territory. Located in the middle of the dessert, on the border of California and Arizona, Lake Havasu and the surrounding areas are packed with people and boats during all the summer months and warm weekends. Jet boats are by far the most popular, but you’ll find a mix that includes some V-drive, Stern-drive, and outboards. And while there are plenty of weekends of fun at Havasu, the Lake Havasu Classic Boat Regatta is a special event with lots of cool old fiberglass.
In the video below from Chasing Havasu, we get a look at some of the cool stuff and get to hear the awesome sounds.
Video Description:
: The 2025 Classic Performance Boats at Pirates Cove
There’s nothing quite like the thunder of vintage horsepower echoing across Lake Havasu, and this year’s Chasing Havasu: Classic Performance Boats at Pirates Cove brought that iconic rumble back in full force. Held in May 2025, this annual gathering of sleek lines, polished gelcoat, and deep-rooted passion once again turned Pirates Cove into a living tribute to high-performance heritage.
Under perfect desert skies, boaters from across the Southwest and beyond arrived towing immaculate classics — from legendary Skaters and Howards to pristine Schiada, Nordic, and Eliminator models. Each boat told a story, not just of engineering excellence, but of a lifestyle built on speed, sunshine, and camaraderie.
Whether it was the roar of twin big blocks firing up in the channel, or the unmistakable silhouette of a 70s-era flatbottom skipping across the chop, the nostalgia was thick in the air. But Chasing Havasu isn’t just about standing still in time — it’s about keeping a tradition alive. These aren’t museum pieces. They’re still doing exactly what they were built for: running fast, looking sharp, and bringing people together.
Pirates Cove served as the perfect backdrop, with its classic party energy blending seamlessly with the vintage aesthetic of the boats. From dockside grilling to shoreline shade tents and late afternoon tie-ups, the vibe was all about laid-back celebration. The event even featured informal judging and shout-outs for best resto-mods, best original interiors, and crowd favorites — but everyone knew the real prize was in the run itself.
Whether you came for the horsepower, the craftsmanship, or the people, Chasing Havasu 2025 delivered on every front. It’s a reminder that these boats are more than machines — they’re rolling memories, floating monuments to good times, good friends, and that unmistakable feeling of throttling up with nothing but water ahead.
See you next year — same place, same passion.