Video: 2011 Class 1 Season Promo Really Rocks!

If you haven't been out on your boat yet this year, this new promo video for the 2011 Class 1 Powerboat racing season will have you chomping at the bit to get out and hit the water. Like everything else about this series, the video is first class...and it's sure to get your blood pumping. So sit back, turn up the volume and rock on!

For now, Class 1 organizers announced that Norway, Italy, Brazil and Abu Dhabi have joined Dubai as the season venues, with the possibility of a sixth event to be announced later. The series will have one of its strongest line-ups in recent years when the season opens in Dubai on April 14-16.

You Can Plunder and Thunder on This Sharp Center Console

Though I am not actually a big Center Console boat fan, there's no doubt that this particular example is awfully nice by just about anyone's standard. Recently on Offshore Only, member GlassDave--everybody's fiberglass and paint "go-to" guy--shared this recent project he finished for fellow forum member Madcow.

PHOTO CREDITS: Offshore Only member GlassDave.

Being a diver, Madcow wanted something special, so he had Dave turn the Scarab's logo into a dive flag and combine it with some sharp graphics and a cool black, red and white color scheme. The result, named Days of Plunder is about all you could ask for when it comes to good looks, versatility and performance. To see more photos, check out Dave's thread HERE. He also plans to post a "How To" in the Fiberglass and Paint section.

Classic NZ Powerboat Still has Plenty of Class

Came across a nice story in The Northern Advocate focusing on a very nice restoration. Two years ago, an opportunity arose for Bryan McLean of Whangarei, NZ and his best pal of 50 years, 72-year-old Ian Reeves, to buy a boat. But it wasn't just any boat - it was a 38-year-old Classic Class boat named Topaz.

PHOTO CREDITS: The Northern Advocate.

"It was built by Jim McKay in Auckland 38 years ago, and in its hey-day won the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Unlimited Championships twice. We completely stripped it and rebuilt it to exactly how it was 38 years ago. It's beautiful. We re-powered it with a big block Chevrolet Twin Turbo which develops around 1000hp and can exceed 80 miles per hour - even though it's a Classic class boat which means you cannot exceed 80 miles per hour when racing."

This year, the men got to test drive their hard work, contesting the Classic division in four rounds of the Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Series. The pair, who were only competing for the "love of racing", not a championship title, were pleased with their second place in the Classic Class, finishing 30 seconds behind the winner. To read the whole story - check out the article HERE

OSS Starts 2011 Rolling with Smokin' The Sound at Biloxi

The folks living on America's Gulf Coast are working hard to make last year's oil spill a distant memory - and what better way than to kick off the start of the 2011 Offshore Super Series (OSS) season. The waters off Biloxi, MS are clean and clear now - and the beaches are ready for action, starting with the 2011 “Smokin’ the Sound” (STS) from May 12 – 15. The popular race will once again kick off this year’s OSS racing schedule.

This Biloxi event has become a favorite site for racers and fans alike, with exciting boat racing by day and all the casino action nightlife you can handle. The race brings out thousands of fans, and along with a Poker Run put on in conjunction with the Florida Powerboat Club, promises to be a real premier event. A kickoff Sponsor Appreciation Party is set to be hosted at the Beau Rivage, and other evening events are planned at the Hard Rock, the Imperial Palace (IP) and the Isle of Capri.

PHOTO CREDITS: Smokinthesound.com.

OSS Racing will be featured on both Saturday and Sunday; the big OSS cats are expected to clock in at 150 mph down the straight-a-way, with other classes consistently hitting the mark at over 100 mph. One of the great things about Smokin' The Sound is that you don't need binoculars to follow the action...you can see all of the excitement up-close by accessing any of the premium or VIP viewing areas. See the race course map below.


For more information, head over to the OSS website, or the official Smokin' The Sound website, HERE.

Offshore Only: Exactly That - 24/7

Whether you're new to performance boating and want some information, or are an experienced boater trying to make some new contacts, it's hard to top Offshore Only, better known to its members as simply OSO. The site is one of the oldest and also the largest High Performance boating site on the Internet, and it's highly popular forum is probably the best place around to find out what's happening in the world of Offshore Powerboating.

The site is truly broad and comprehensive - featuring photo albums for members, a classified ad section, videos, live chat, hot spots an event calendar and much more. If you're looking for poker runs and events to attend, there are special forums arranged by geographic location, and insightful discussions about the various racing organizations, various boat brands and even the historical development of the sport can be found. Basic memberships that allow you to read content and post are free when you register; additional options like extended PMs, etc. are also available for an affordable annual or semi-annual membership fee.

PHOTO CREDITS: OffshoreOnly.com.

As I mentioned before, Offshore Only is big...and the people there are ready to provide you with helpful advice and opportunities to network with lots of like-minded performance boaters. If you're a frequent visitor, you'll eventually find yourself at home - and you'll be sure to enjoy some entertaining photos, funny stories and the inevitable banter that you'll find at any dockside tavern. Boating season has already started for some people - for those of us in Northern climes, it won't be too much longer. Tune into OSO now and get yourself on track for the season!

PRA Cape Coral Season Opener

Poker Runs America [PRA] kicked off another spectacular season of poker runs with their opener over the weekend of March 11-12. Cape Coral, FL proved to be a great site for the event, as the weather was warm and sunny, and winds were light - at around 11 knots.

PHOTO CREDITS: Poker Runs America.

To see more shots from the event, check out the PRA website HERE. There are also some nice photos of the event to be found on this Serious Ofshore thread - courtesy of member Frank Fasulo. Take a look - it's probably the next best think to being there.