Time to Head North

Next week will be my fourth trip up to see Boyne Thunder, one of America’s premiere poker runs. The first couple of years I traveled up to Michigan, I had hoped to at least bring my Formula 242 up as a marshal boat, but ongoing trailer issues nixed that. Later, having sold my boat, my wife and I still enjoyed heading up to see the boats and check out all the activities, like the street show in Boyne City and the art fair in Charlevoix, which always seems to be held on the same weekend. There’s no doubt that the region includes some of the most scenic areas the Midwest has to offer.

The Street Party in Boyne City on Friday night is one you don't want to miss.

This year, my wife has declined to go, and being freed up, I decided to inquire about the possibility of volunteering at the event, which raises money for children with cancer and individuals with disabilities. Having secured a couple of opportunities to pitch in, I started to make plans.

I had thought about going about a month or more before, but we were invited to travel with some friends to Florida in the Fall, so I held off. When it later became clear that my wife’s job would not allow us to travel south in November, I looked again at coming up to BT, but by that time, no reasonable accommodations were available, and she was balking at making another trip north.

That meant going by myself, and since my needs are pretty modest (I just need a place to rest my head at night and take a shower) I figured I could find a convenient camping spot in the area. Finding campgrounds was not an issue; the only problem is that most non-electric tent sites can’t be reserved in advance, so it’s first-come-first served just about everywhere. I’m pretty confident that I won’t have any problems, and though I am not a big recreational camper, I think this will be a nice little adventure.

The continued popularity of this event is a real testament to the people who work so hard to put it on every year. When I first ventured up here in 2008, I think there were about 40 boats running; this year I believe the number of registrants is up to 120—and there are lots of people who are still on the waiting list. Since that more performance boaters are discovering this great Poker Run, it’s become a “must do”—not only for boaters, but for manufacturers who like to premiere their new boats. One I am especially looking forward to see is Catnip, a new classic wooden runabout from Van Dam Custom Boats, which is actually located in Boyne City. See you at the street show next Friday Night!


Catnip under construction at Van Dam Custom Boats

Classic Speed and Style on Display at PLX Boat Show

Every year, I try to make it over to the local Chain of Lakes to check out some of the sharp classic boats of yesterday. The show is normally held on the 4th of July weekend, but organizers decided to move it up a week, and except for the fact that the weather was a little cloudy and cool, it didn't seem to be a bad idea.

As usual, The Portage Lakes (PLX) classic boat show always features a number of slick "woodies" - and everyone's favorites are the big dual and triple-cockpit Chris Crafts and Hackers, which you can see below. They were truly the "big bad boats" of their day, and they are great examples of style and crafstmanship.

Not all the boats are wood, however...and not all of them are really old.  There are some nice examples of boats from the late 50's 60's and 70's to be found, like the nice jet boat I came across, and some other old "performance boats" of their day.

Some of the examples on hand were clearly inspired by 50's auto design, and others--while modest in size--were clearly well-built, well-cared for and are now shown proudly by their owners at various shows and regattas around the country. In the end, a nice boat is a nice boat - and there were plenty of nice ones to appreciate here.

700 HP V-12 Diesel Sparks Interest at Dusseldorf Marine Show

Ray at Raylar Engines recently shared some photos of this musclebound V-12 diesel offering that was recently showcased in Germany. Identified as the RED A03, the engine would be a newcomer to the marine world, as it is currently only available as an aircraft engine.

 PHOTO CREDITS:  maritimepropulsion.com.

Originally developed to fill a niche market between aircraft gasoline piston engines and the more expensive turboprops, the powerplant is the brainchild of Russian engineer Vladimir Raikhlin. Built by the RED aircraft GmbH, located in Adenau, Germany, the marine version of the engine is designed for output power of approximately 700 hp at 3,900 rpm.

The liquid cooled V-12 diesel engine has a 90 degree configuration between cylinder banks and twin double overhead camshafts. It's also electronically controlled with a common rail direct fuel injection system, and features a dry sump lubrication system, twin fuel pumps, twin turbochargers and an integrated oil-water heat exchanger.

Further details of the powerplant should be announced later this year; while it will no doubt be expensive, it would probably offer an extremely high degree of reliability, since it was originally designed for aircraft applications. In the end, this might give it a serious leg up on similarly-priced high-end gas engines, like a Merc 1350.

This Time it's Boats and Bikes as Cigarette Racing Teams up with Ducati

One of the star attractions of the Miami International Boat Show was the introduction of Cigarette Racing's new 42X Ducati Edition. Launching a collaboration between two legends of marine and motorcycle performance, the two companies unveiled the new model on Cigarette Racing Team’s home turf in Florida.


It's clear that the result of the collaboration is truly impressive; the 42X Ducati Edition delivers awesome performance an stunning good looks. Featuring 2,200 hp from a pair of staggered 1,100hp Mercury Racing engines, the livery of the model is pure Ducati, in white with Ducati red racing stripe. Combine that with a brilliant white interior boasting red accents and a specially designed stereo from JL Audio--and you've got a head-turning package that will deliver the maximum in speed, style and entertainment capacity. How does 120 mph sound? Pretty damn good in a luxury boat of this size.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cigarette Racing Team / Ducati.

"We are very proud to announce our partnership with one of the worlds greatest high performance, design and lifestyle brands--Ducati," says Skip Braver, CEO of Cigarette Racing Team. "The relationship between Ducati and Cigarette Racing allows two incredible high performance brands to showcase our passions together in complimentary ways. Ducati was the only motorcycle brand that fits the performance and lifestyle expectations of Cigarette’s customers.”

We have to agree, this is another great-looking project, and a great compliment to last year's project with AMG. You have to wonder what other partners Cigarette will team up with in the future...

Powerboat P1’s New Boat and USA SuperStock Series to Debut at Miami International Boat Show

The innovative versatility of P1's new 28' boat will be featured on the SuperStock exhibition stand at the Miami Boat Show, with both the race and leisure versions on display. The P1-28SS race boat was unveiled by Powerboat P1 USA at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando, Florida in December 2010. This will be the first time that the pleasure version has been on display.

PHOTO CREDITS: Powerboat P1.

The boat design was the work of Raimondo Luretig at Powerboat P1, hull design input came from Fountain Powerboats of the USA, tooling by Marine Concepts in Florida, high-tech production moulds supplied by Liberty Associates of North Carolina and Canada-based BRP Evinrude will be the exclusive engine partner. After ten months of development, the result is an eye-catching craft complete with the latest technology in safety, hull design, digital telemetry and data acquisition. The ability to switch between racing and pleasure is a unique feature of the boat; in just a 5-minute process, the cowling can be removed to deliver a comfortable 4-seat cockpit you'd expect in a leisure boat.

P1’s Director of North American Operations, Martin Sanborn says: “To be a viable motorsport, there has to be a credible competition model and that starts with the new boat. We wanted something unique and inspirational that would attract new racers to the sport. In the P1-28SS we have something that appeals not only to competitors but also to their families, friends and business contacts.”


Personally, I've admired this concept boat over the past few years since it originated with the former Honda Formula Four-Stroke racing series. I'm sure this updated version has a lot to offer - and if delivered at a price-point that makes sense, may offer a great option for regular performance boaters as well as weekend racers.

The P1 SuperStock Championship will run in both the UK and USA this year, with the American series scheduled to start in May and include events in Biloxi, Detroit, Cleveland and Morehead City. We'll definitely be there for the Cleveland debut!

Livorsi Debuts Newest Guages & Controls

Industrial Series Gauges

Designed for day-in, day-out performance, these no-nonsense gauges outlast are built to perform anything else on the water. They feature fade resistant powder coated pointers; SAE rims in a powder coat finish or in polished stainless steel. The gauge line up includes pressure, vacuum and temperature gauges, with diesel and gas tachs also available.

PHOTO CREDITS: Livorsi Marine

Plug-in connectors are waterproof and resist salt corrosion; Red LED backlighting provides easy viewing in low light conditions, and the SAE rim can be selected in your choice of Black, White or Polished Stainless Steel.


Vantage View®
Vantage View® reads and displays your boat's performance data directly from CAN (Controller Area Network) for protocols: Smartcraft®, SAE J1939, NMEA2000® Indmar and MEFI4. The Gauges are completely digital, with an analog face. In addition to factory set warnings, 15 alarms can be set to your individual preferences. Each triggered alarm gives visual warnings in the corresponding gauge (via LED warning light) and the Master Tach LCD. Vantage View® Gauges are linked with Deutch connectors and plugs for easy installation.


Other New Products:

New! Pull-Up Cleats
These feature a mounded base designed to allow water to run off the cleat, eliminating the need for drainage cups or hoses. Made of marine grade 316 stainless steel for strength and a polished finish for a long lasting shine. Available in three sizes: 4 1/2", 6", 8". Easy to install.

LED Pop-Up Bow Light
The LED Pop-Up Bow Light houses both port and starboard navigation lights in one convenient 316 stainless steel housing. Folds down flush when closed, opens with the push of a finger. LED lights draw very little power and stay cool to the touch. USCG approved for 2 nautical miles. Optional waterproof cup for water runoff.

New! Stainless Steel Mushroom Cleats
Secure your fender lines to these mushroom cleats. For fresh water or salt water conditions. Easy installation, requires 3/4" cutout, 2" overall. Stainless steel with a polished finish.

Southampton Grand Prix of the Sea sets UK's Southern Coast Abuzz

Powerboat fans in the UK were buzzing about the four big races on the South Coast at Southampton this weekend - as the Southampton Grand Prix of the Sea was set against the backdrop of the big PSP Southampton Boat Show. Seventeen teams from the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship fleet competed, including five teams that hit the water in P1 for the very first time.

PHOTO CREDIT: Powerboat P1 Superstock

That fact made it especially exciting for Team Fox, who celebrated its maiden Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship as Martin Colligan and Gideon du Val beat seven other powerboat teams to the title, moving within 26-points of championship leaders, Grandstand Motor Sports, with one event to go.

PHOTO CREDIT: PSP Southampton Boat Show.

Early reports had ticket sales up by 112% and the 350+ boat show had added up to 70 more showboats on exhibit in the marina, significantly up from 2009. The excitement and crowds generated by the boat show offered an outstanding opportunity for the P1 SuperStock Championship racers to compete in front of a large and enthusiastic audience. Last year the ten-day boat show event attracted 130,000 visitors but organizers say this year's 42nd annual show would likely break all records.

42nd Annual Long Beach Yacht & Boat Show - Sept. 9th - Sept. 12th

The Long Beach Yacht and Boat Show tradition continues, September 9-12, celebrating forty-two consecutive years of boat shows produced in Long Beach by the Southern California Marine Association and presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California.

PHOTO CREDITS: Long Beach Yacht & Boat Show.

Performance boaters looking for accessory products and related marine services won't be disappointed as this show also offers a wide assortment of name brand companies showcasing the very latest in marine electronics, custom accessories and hardware, safety equipment, insurance and financing.


As always, visitors will find a real party atmosphere on the waterfront at Long Beach, thanks to a special Saturday evening pizza and beer/wine mixer hosted on the marina green by Latitude and Attitudes Magazine. The event will feature festivities, prize giveaways and music; the dock party, which is free to all boat show ticket holders and exhibitors, starts at approximately 6:30pm. Be sure to check it out!

DATES: Thursday, September 9 thru Sunday, September 12, 2010

LOCATION: Shoreline Village Marina, Long Beach (at the corner of Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive)

SHOW HOURS:
Thursday.........11am - 7pm
Friday...........11am to 7pm
Saturday ...... 10am - 7pm
Sunday........... 10am - 6pm

ADMISSION:
Adults $12.00 -- children 12 & under free
Show your Auto Club membership card for additional admission discounts weekdays

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE SCMA: PHONE (714) 633-7581 FAX (714) 633-9498 1006 E. Chapman Ave. - Orange, CA 92866

Cigarette AMG Boat Combines the Best of Both Worlds

First seen in February, the new Mercedes-AMG inspired Cigarette 46' Rider features hand-applied AMG ALUBEAM silver paintwork seen on the new SLS AMG. The boat is currently on a worldwide tour, after being unveiled first at the Miami Boat Show.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cigarette Racing / AMG

Inside, the boat features marine-grade upholstery that resembles the two-tone AMG Design porcelain and white Nappa leather offered on the SLS AMG. While many of the influences of the SLS AMG can be seen in the exterior paint work and interior, most of the excitement here is found in the technology developed for this boat. Featuring more than 100 technical innovations, this all new 46' Rider serves as a incredible showcase for Cigarette.

From the propulsion system to the rigging, a clean sheet approach was utilized to build the Rider. Powered by a pair of revolutionary twin-turbocharged 552 ci, 1350 HP Mercury Racing engines, boat is estimated to have a top speed in excess of 130 MPH. Truly, an incredible example of the boat-builder's art; hats off to everyone at Cigarette Racing.

Making Time for Some Wooden Classics

No, they're not the fastest, and they're not the biggest, but every boater can appreciate the craftsmanship and nostalgia these wooden beauties had to offer at the Annual (PLX)Portage Lakes Classic Boat Show, which we went out to see on Saturday, June 26th. This was the 34th year for the one-day show and its eighth at its current location, explained Walt Stashkiw, president of the North Coast Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society. "'It's just fun,'' he said. ''It's fun to bring your boat out and show it off.''

PHOTO CREDIT: Ohio.com

There were 42 boats on display this year, impressively arrayed at the docks in front of The Olde Harbor Inn and Hook, Line & Drinkers. Among the really impressive enties were a 1939 Chris-Craft Custom Runabout named Sashay that is one of only 24 produced, and a very grand 1928 Hacker-Dolphin Triple cockpit speedboat that stretched out to 30' long. It was a real treat for lovers of old boats, gleaming mahogany and memories of good times. Best of all, the weather was gorgeous.

You Don't Always Have to be Fast to be Cool...

A few weeks ago, Rich Lazzara from Lazzara Yachts was kind enough to feed us a few photos from the Palm Beach Boat Show. While checking out his site, I came across this incredible project they recently put together--a floating Sales Showcase that really has to be seen to be believed. Dubbed by the boating industry press as the "Belle of The Ball" at her introduction during the Ft. Lauderdale Show in late 2008, the vessel was built on a custom-made 90' x 40' barge platform. Lazzara's goal was really to "raise the level of the presentation" at boat show displays, and the whole thing came together in about 120 days. As far as raising the level of presentation, I think the photos here demonstrate that they succeeded in a remarkable fashion.


One of the first things Rich's group determined was that a used steel barge was not the quick solution they had hoped for as far as a floating platform; the available sizes and other considerations quickly ruled them out. They needed a custom, fiberglass barge--but it was clear that the cost of just building a custom 90' x 40' mold would be prohibitive - and would add up to more than the cost of the fiberglass barge itself. The solution? Use the construction building as the mold! [see below] Simply brilliant.


Of course, that was only one of the challenges they faced. Under extremely tight deadlines, they managed to complete this unbelievable project, which Rich explains:

"There was still 100,000 pounds of steel that needed to be welded and placed upon the barge to support the structure. Then there was thousand of pounds of 1.5″ think glass (Hurricane resistant to 150mph) that would be applied to the steel frame. Systems to make the barge self sustainable, like two 55kw generators, a waste treatment center, spuds (anchoring system) and ballast tanks for leveling. In addition the barge would need to have features to educate and entertain people. So to that end we have 22 TVs, 14 computer workstations,1000 watt stereo system, 8 Apple TVs, 6 touchscreen computer kiosks, a 17′ waterfall with LCD behind it, a 10′ x 20′ water wall, 25 tons of AC, 5 refrigerators, 2 ovens, and washer/dryer."

After construction, the showcase was towed 300 miles from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale at a speed of about 5 knots. As you can imagine, the wind can sometimes play havoc when it comes to maneuvering the thing around. Yet--who wouldn't like to have something like this to tie up to at the end of the day? If you ever get a chance to visiting some of the Florida boat shows, you'll probably be able to check this thing out up close.


Thanks to Rich and his business for providing us with such an inspirational example of work. It's a real testament to how you can really make something happen if you can just envision it, and if you also have dedicated and skilled people to make it become reality. At the same time, I learned that the general idea of "building on a barge" was not totally new. I was looking through one of my old books on boat maintenance and marine-related articles, published by Motor Boating in 1952, and came across the plan for this barge-based floating "yacht club" [below] that was pretty neat.


Very slick for its time. I guess that it's true when they say that sometimes, eventually "everything old is new again." If you want to see and read more about Lazzara Yachts and this Sales Showcase, check out Rich's in-depth blog story, here.

Black Beauty from the Palm Beach Boat Show

Thanks to our Twitter pal Rich Lazzara at Lazzara Yachts, we can bring you some awesome images from the 23rd Annual Palm Beach Boat Show, which runs March 27-30. Featuring more than $350 million worth of boats, superyachts and accessories from every major marine manufacturer, the event includes more than 1,000 boats, covering everything from inflatables to superyachts.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.richlazzara.com

Rich was kind enough to post some photos [above] of this striking black Midnight Express Open 37. Dubbed Midnight Madness, it's well named, since it boasts FIVE (yes 5) 350hp Mercury Verado outboards on the transom, for a total of 1750hp! Top speed from the advanced, stepped hull is said to be about 95mph, but that's pretty fast for a big 37' boat with a full 11' beam.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.richlazzara.com

The show encompasses more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space on land and in water throughout three distinct venues. Two of the venues, the Palm Beach County Convention Center and the Intracoastal Waterway are connected by a convenient transportation network. The third, Rybovich Marina, is an exclusive showing of superyachts with access by the water taxi, which is docked next to the Yachts International Pavilion.

As an aside, in the coming weeks I'll have to show you an incredible project I came across on Rich Lazzara's blog - it's their ultra-modern floating showroom, built on a 40' x 90' barge. You'll have to see it to believe it...

New Checkmate Web Site followed by New Boats

Checkmate's new website has gotten great reviews already from offshore performance enthusiasts. Along with new graphics and a slick user interface, they have included an option that allows users to design their own color scheme, and alter it in various ways. Word is they are planning on doing some all-new product photography as well--probably after the ice thaws this spring in Ohio!

Even more interesting is all the talk about some new models that Checkmate has introduced at the recent Miami Boat Show, especially the 244 ZT "Mystery Boat" that has been the talk of the Checkmate performance forum for some weeks. Strangely, there has been more information about it on some other forums--particularly those associated with Baja owners--because the new model is reportedly built from the old Baja H2X molds, which are not currently being used by Fountain...

PHOTO CREDIT: Checkmate Community Forum User - Wildman

Looking at some of the other photos that have been posted, including the interior, you'd have to say it sure looks like a Baja...and that fact doesn't please some of the traditional Checkmate owners. Of course, I don't think the new boat is a bad thing - it's actually nice to see another midwest manufacturer save a decent mold from the scrapyard and put it to good use. Reportedly, the boat will do about 72mph with a 496 right out of the box, which is excellent. Especially when you consider the price of $55,900 right on the hull (you might want to take that off before hitting the lake.)

Miami Boat Show: Hoping for the Best During Hard Times

Even as last week's Annual Miami Boat Show opened, vendors, show officials and locals were taking a hard look at their expectations as well as their sales pitches. Hilary Lehman notes in the Miami Herald:

"In addition to stepping up efforts to sell the lifestyle, they are cutting deals and stressing affordability. Sales of smaller, cheaper boats are faring better than others. Some higher-end dealers are emphasizing their willingness to please the customer by customizing boats to suit buyers' whims."

PHOTO CREDIT: Freeze Frame Video

Initial reports indicate that while traffic was OK, sales were very slow, with a few exceptions; seems some of the manufacturers, like Outer Limits and Sunsation were well-prepared. A few others were obviously trying to cut corners, and it showed in their presentations. A fair amount of inventory going overseas as well. Should be an interesting season...