Don Aronow's Last Race Boat Available for Sale

Historic Offshore Race Boat Association (HORBA) Managing Director Charlie McCarthy has posted in the Offshore Only forum that he is considering putting up the 35' Benihana Cigarette up for sale. One of the better-known boats from a golden period in offshore racing, it is the last offshore race boat that Don Aronow ever built for himself and registered with the APBA under his favorite racing number 4. According to Charlie:

"The boat was not finished in time for the start of the season and Don was testing another boat and was injured and decided against coming out of retirement. The boat sold immediately to Hal Sahlman who raced it as Spirit and he sold it at the end of the season to Rocky Aoki who raced it as Benihana. The boat won the Bahamas 500 twice, the very last Miami to Nassau race, the Bushmills twice, The Stroh's race, the Hurricane Classic, and the Marina del Rey race while setting five new world speed records......it was a very special boat built for a very special guy."

PHOTO CREDIT: Historic Offshore Race Boat Association

As Charlie indicates in his thread, this special boat would be guaranteed to be the center of attention at any poker run or race gathering you would attend. The boat will come with a letter of authenticity signed by Aronow's son Michael, as well as many original parts including windshield, trailer, Kiekhaefer tabs, fuel fills, gauges etc etc. and more.

"The Engines and drives can either go with it, or repower it with something brand new like Ilmors...your choice," says Charlie. Whatever a buyer might choose to do, this is a real opportunity to pick up a piece of offshore racing history.