Boat at Kansas City Boat and Sportshow is decked out for the KU fan

So, what is a Jayhawk boat doing in Missouri waters?

Easy explanation, according to Joe Norton, who is displaying the boat at the Kansas City Boat and Sportshow this week.

“I’m a KU basketball fan,” said Norton, one of the owners of Performance Marine Watersports at Lake of the Ozarks. “And so are a lot of my customers.

“I thought it would be fun to come up with a KU boat for the lake. This is KU country, too.”

One thing is certain: The 23-foot Tige water sports tow boat will definitely stand out on the water. It is red and blue and has a big Jayhawk emblem on its side. And the stern of the boat is decorated with the words “Rock Chalk Jayhawk.”

Strike up the fight song.

The boat is designed to tow wakeboarders or make waves for wake surfers, the newest craze at Lake of the Ozarks.

“We cater to inland surfers,” Norton joked. “No coastal riders.”

Norton is displaying that KU boat for the first time at the Boat and Sportshow, which opens Thursday and continues through Sunday in Bartle Hall. And it’s already making waves.

When Norton and his crew were getting boats show-ready during setup day Wednesday, spectators already were drawn to the Jayhawk water sports vessel, snapping photos and daydreaming about one day owning such a prize.

For $145,000, it could be theirs, Norton said.

“We’re tossing out the bait for KU fans,” Norton joked.

But the speeding Jayhawk isn’t the only dream boat that will command attention this week

▪ The Chaparral 327 also is a big showboat.

The 33-foot long bow rider, being displayed by Premier 54 Motor Sports of Osage Beach, has the look of a cruiser with a big open bow. It seats 15 people and includes a convenience cabin with a microwave, television and a sofa that makes into a bed. It is powered by twin 300-horsepower motors.

It retails for $250,000 to $350,00, depending on the amenities.

▪ The Marker One, manufactured by Cobalt, isn’t your grandma and grandpa’s pontoon.

“Pontoons used to be floating patios,” said Randy Tague, who is displaying the modern pontoons through his Lake Viking Marine dealership. “It’s unbelievable how far they’ve come.

“Now you can tow water skiers or cruise the lake in comfort.”

The Marker One is stronger, quieter and with a more comfortable ride than the pontoons of the past, Tague said. It retails for $89,000.

▪ A 33-foot cruiser yacht displayed by Iguana Boat Sales of Osage Beach offers many of the comforts of home.

Air conditioning, heat, microwave, refrigerator, comfortable seats, a wet bar, television, radio and CD player — that’s luxury living on the lake.

The price varies with the amenities.

▪ Even down-home duck hunters and fishermen have their dream boats at the Boat and Sportshow.

The SeaArk V-Cat 200, being displayed by Midwest Marine of Harrisonville, is a 20-foot aluminum boat that comes in a camouflage pattern. It includes a trolling motor, choice of big motor and comfortable seating. Yeah, duck hunters are coming up in the world.

Prices vary according to the horsepower of the motor.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Boat at Kansas City Boat and Sportshow is decked out for the KU fan."