Cedar Boat Club

Registered 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to making the Cedar River and Ellis Harbor area a better place.
Established 1948

Drone Video Footage: Jacob Huber Photo

2025 Board & Commodore Elected!

The Board of Directors for 2025 has been chosen, and the Commodore for this year has been elected.

Jim Kaas, who was first Commodore in 2006, is returning to serve as the Commodore in 2025.

The rest of the board positions are TBD, and Jeffrey Kaas’s term remains on educational leave.

Donate Online

Supporting the local boating & Ellis Harbor community since 1948.

The Cedar Boat Club has been providing community events and service for decades toward the betterment of the Cedar River, boating community, and the neighborhoods surrounding the Ellis Harbor area. The Club has provided a free-to-the-public July 3rd Fireworks show for 40+ years, as well as other family-friendly events like the Fire on the River Drag Boat Races. New this year we’re launching a brand-new event in June called the Ellis Family Fun Fest!

Our membership base, though small and exclusive, does big things! There are open membership spots available… Check out the benefits of membership in 2024.

We also accept donations online as well as at any of our events. 90% of our annual budget comes from sponsorships and personal donations. Please consider donating!

2025 Board of Directors

  • Jim Kaas, Commodore

  • Brent Fountain

  • Chad Hutchcroft

  • Don Steichen

  • Wes Pudil

  • Jeff McLaud

  • Jeffrey Kaas (educational leave)

Community Events

The Cedar Boat Club puts on several large-scale events each year for the benefit of the surrounding communities.
We hope to see you at one this year!

Featured
Canceled - Fire on the River Drag Boat Races
Aug 3
Five Seasons Ski Show, Ellis Park & Harbor
Canceled - Fire on the River Drag Boat Races
Five Seasons Ski Show, Ellis Park & Harbor

The races unfortunately have been canceled due to permitting and scheduling issues that we were not able to overcome.

Five Seasons Ski Show, Ellis Park & Harbor
July 3rd Ellis Fireworks Sponsored by Cassill Motors
Jul 3
Ellis Park & Harbor area
July 3rd Ellis Fireworks Sponsored by Cassill Motors
Ellis Park & Harbor area

The Cedar Boat Club is excited to announce the return of the Ellis Fireworks back to it’s historic date on Wednesday, July 3rd after dark. The Club has provided a free July 3rd fireworks display at Ellis Park & Harbor for more than 40 years, returning in 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Ellis Fireworks have been an annual tradition for generations of Cedar Rapids families, with an estimated attendance of 40,000 residents and visitors.

Ellis Park & Harbor area

Corporate Sponsors

  • Cassill Motors

    Presenting Sponsor

  • Ellis Harbor Neighborhood Assn

    Admiral Sponsor

  • IFP Motion Solutions

    Admiral Sponsor

  • NW Neighbors Neighborhood Assn

    Admiral Sponor

  • Mike Wolfe Painting

    Captain Sponsor

Recent Water Levels

River level

River Level at Palo (Blairs Ferry Rd)

Historic Crests
(1) 31.12 ft on 06/13/2008
(2) 21.97 ft on 09/27/2016
(3) 20.00 ft on 03/18/1929
(4) 20.00 ft on 06/01/1851
(5) 19.66 ft on 03/31/1961
(6) 19.27 ft on 04/04/1993
(7) 18.60 ft on 04/04/1933
(8) 18.51 ft on 04/10/1965
(9) 18.32 ft on 03/19/2019
(10) 18.31 ft on 07/25/1999

Water Temperature