News

Kennesaw Museum Foundation Kicks Off Boat Raffle
04/16/08

KENNESAW, Ga. –Avid fishermen have the chance to win the boat of their dreams with a Yamaha Skeeter boat raffle that will kick off during the Big Shanty Festival in Kennesaw April 19.

The drawing for the fully loaded, custom designed boat will be held October 25 during the Kennesaw Museum Foundation’s annual Heroes and Legends Gala, and proceeds from the raffle will benefit the foundation, which is raising funds to support the Southern Museum’s new Education Center, slated to open this summer.

“We are so thankful for the incredible generosity of the people at Yamaha, who have donated this amazing boat, valued at more than $60,000,” Kennesaw Director of Recreation and Culture Jeff Drobney said. “Because of their donation, 100 percent of ticket sales will go to the foundation.”

For Phil Dyskow, president of the Yamaha Marine Group, based in Kennesaw, the decision to donate the boat was an easy one. “The Southern Museum gives so much to our community by preserving our history and offering educational programs for our children. This was an opportunity for Yamaha to help the Museum continue to grow.”

The high performance Skeeter 20i dual console fishing boat with Yamaha VZ250 HPDI was custom ordered especially for this raffle and is loaded with special upgrades, including hot foot and pro trim, hydraulic tilt steering, CD player and AM/FM stereo, Minn Kota® 36V Max Pro troll motor, Hummingbird® bow mounted and dash mounted fish finders and GPS system, and a custom EZ LoaderTM boat trailer.

In addition, the boat features a custom paint job using the original green, brown, and beige colors of the locomotive, the General, which was stolen by Union spies then recovered by the Confederates during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase. The General is a star attraction at the Southern Museum.

The boat will be on display April 19 – 20 in front of the Southern Museum during the Big Shanty Festival.

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at the Southern Museum or online at www.boatraffle.org. Only 2,008 tickets will be sold to ensure good odds for participants.

The mission of the Kennesaw Museum Foundation Inc. is to provide a superior Museum environment through philanthropic and programmatic support of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. The Foundation was established in 1998 to aid the mission of the Museum in presenting a quality educational experience to tourists and those interested in Civil War and locomotive history. The Kennesaw Museum Foundation also helps identify priorities, direction, and goals for the Museum.

For more information about the Kennesaw Museum Foundation, or to donate, please call (770) 427-2117, extension 3183 or visit www.boatraffle.org.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard company to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.