We’re Boaters Now!

Some times things just have a way of working themselves out. When Twisted Tea and South Bay decided to team up for a national contest, along with Richard Petty Motorsports and Mercury Marine, there was a tentative plan in place. Thinking the winner of the custom pontoon might be located in the southeast or possibly the Midwest, the plan was to have NASCAR driver Brian Scott present the pontoon in person to the new owner. 

Officially referred to as the “Cruising with Brian Scott, No. 44 Twisted Tea Ford Driver Contest, in partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports, South Bay by Forest River Marine, and Mercury Marine,” the contest ran for three months, and adults could enter through text-to-win or email entries. In total, the contest received more than 25,000 entries from Twisted drinkers and pontoon enthusiasts across the country, making it the most popular Twisted Tea contest to-date. After taking the South Bay for a spin during the promotion, Scott was very impressed with the performance.

“I got to test drive the boat earlier this year, and let me tell you, the boat rips,” said the NASCAR driver who knows a thing or two about speed.

Where?

At the end of September 2016 the winner was announced, but he wasn’t exactly located in the heart of NASCAR country.

Bob Diehl, a military veteran and outdoor enthusiast from Jackson, Wyo., won the custom Twisted Tea Super Sport 523 Arch model pontoon that was designed by South Bay and powered by a Mercury Marine 350hp Verado outboard.

As planned, Bob was able to take the pontoon out with Scott, followed by a trip to the Richard Petty Motorsports Headquarters in North Carolina. However, the actual delivery of the boat to Bob’s home waters out west would have to wait until the spring of 2017 since boating season by late fall in Wyoming was all but over as the area was busy preparing for snow season up in the mountains.

Entered To Win

As a lifetime NASCAR fan, Bob first heard about the contest while watching a DVD and although at that point all he could ever recall winning was a t-shirt, he decided to enter.

“I just entered it one time so I had only the one entry; it really was that easy,” recalls Bob.

When an email a month or so later came back saying he had won the estimated $62,000 pontoon, he recalled entering the contest but was thrown off a little since he was being contacted through a middle company. According to the winner, there was no immediate yippee, but more suspicion while he looked into it a little more.

“I told my boys I hade won but I didn’t tell anyone else until after I received a call a long two weeks later from Twisted Tea to talk about receiving the boat and marketing things, like being on the boat with Brian Scott,” says Bob.

On Loan

In 1993 Bob retired from the Army after serving over 20 years and today he works full time in the summer and winter for SkyWest Airlines out of the Jackson Hole airport—a regional airline for Delta and United. With a busy summer schedule he knew his free time would limit the amount of use he’d be able to get out of his new boat so instead of heading to Wyoming, the South Bay took a detour and headed to Bear Lake in Utah where his sons could use it.
Bob’s son Mike and his wife Megan live about an hour from the family cabin and are regulars in the summer along with their two young daughters Lanli (5) and Elli (3). So far, it’s been Mike and his family who have benefited the most from his dad’s good luck.

“My dad just wanted others to have the opportunity to enjoy the boat and that’s kind of how he is,” says Mike. “He’s very unselfish when he pulls off these little wins every once in awhile.”

First Impressions

Although Bob’s initial reaction to the news was a little hesitant, Mike reacted a little differently.

“I couldn’t believe dad won a boat,” recalls Mike. “I hadn’t seen pictures or anything and I just heard it was a pontoon boat so I was thinking it was something simple, like maybe a small fishing boat. When he finally sent us a link so we could see it we were blown away.”

Adds Megan, “When it arrived on the trailer, I thought it was huge! We popped open the cover and got in to see how spacious and nice it was inside and it was a complete 180 from what we were expecting.”

Forest River Marine, a division of Forest River, Inc., has been building high-quality pontoon boats since 1998. Founded in 1996, Forest River, Inc. is a Berkshire Hathaway company who builds entry-level through luxury performance pontoon boats including its Berkshire and Trifecta lines.

Beach Bums To Boaters

Despite having a cabin that was built in the 60s by Mike’s maternal grandfather and used regularly by the entire family, the cabin located on the shores of this beautiful mountain lake has surprisingly been boat-free.  

“If it weren’t for Dad and this opportunity we would have been on the beach today and we’re okay with that, but having a boat is so much better,” says Mike. “The frequency of our visits to the cabin now that we have the boat is about the same, but what we do here is a lot different. We used to just load up our toys and be beach bums all day, but now we’re actually on the water.”

Powered For Success

Having limited boating experience and even less knowledge about pontoon boats, Mike and Megan weren’t exactly sure what to expect at first. With its electric yellow and blue design, they knew they’d receive plenty of attention, but they had no idea the power that was going to come with this three-logged pontoon.

“We thought pontoon boats were for slow cruising and fishing and when we saw this we could tell a lot has changed,” says Mike with a smile. “With the Mercury 350 it’s clearly more than just a putt around boat.”

Although he grew up around the water, Mike admits he didn’t do much tubing growing up, but he’s very excited that his daughters are going to get the chance now.

“It’s great to get the girls out here and just getting them in the water is the biggest thing we’ve been able to do with this boat,” says Mike. “I haven’t water skied in years and I get to do that with this Mercury.”

The chance to show off what a Verado can do was also a big reason why the engine manufacturer wanted to be involved in this contest.

“Partnering with Brian Scott, Forest River and Twisted Tea for this experience is a great way for our customers to see first-hand the growth of Mercury Marine in the pontoon market,” said Michelle Dauchy, Mercury Marine chief marketing officer. “A 350hp Verado powering a South Bay pontoon is a bold statement—and one that will continue to grow in the future.”

Missing Out?

Bob grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, boating on Raystown Lake, Indian Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake and says he has a lot of fond memories of boating as a kid.

“I wanted to give my boys, and now my granddaughters, the same chance for memories,” says Bob. “I'll get it to Jackson soon enough for our one month boating season, but before the contest I knew nothing about pontoons and I definitely didn't know what I was missing.” 

Even though the pontoon spent its first summer in Utah, Bob was able to join his family onboard his new boat and of course the best way to celebrate was with a Twisted Tea.

“On a hot sunny day, there is nothing better than the fruity ones,” adds Bob. 

He’s twisted he way into a great situation and according to the winner the biggest satisfaction knowing others is his family are getting to enjoy his good fortune. And it really is true; some times things have a way of working themselves out.

For More Information

Forest River Marine

Mercury Marine

Richard Petty Motorsports

Twisted Tea