That's Gonna Leave a Mark: 1981 Harbour Towne Race

Came across this recently posted YouTube video, courtesy of the Duke Video Archives, which shows the spectacular crash of Michael Meynard and teamate Bob Idoni's Cougar cat, Fayva Shoes. The 36' super-light cat, powered by a pair of big Mercruisers and the then-new Arneson surface drives, was clearly capable of speeds up to 125mph or more.  The boat was probably too light, which is why--returning from the first checkpoint--the port sponson dug into a wave and disintegrated.

Luckily, both Meynard and Idoni survived the wreck. Meynard--who was already receiving treatment for Hodgkins Disease--escaped unscathed, and Idoni had some leg injuries that would keep him in the hospital for  week. The race came at a pivotal time for offshore racing; it was clear that speed and power were outpacing safety considerations, and changes would soon come to the sport....along with the big American superboats, which would soon be making their appearance.

You can check out more of Duke's offshore-related DVD offerings HERE. They are in the European PAL format, so they would not be viewable on North American NTSC format players, but could probably be converted with the right software.

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.

High Concept: Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat

Ben Walsh, the wizard behind the Cadillac Converj Concept car, has recently taken his design concepts from the highway to the water, with the Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat.

PHOTO CREDITS: Driven.

Walsh has transformed the design elements found in a custom Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport to bring us this concept, which is similar to what Mercedes-Benz AMG did with its SLS-inspired speedboat. Bugatti stunned spectators with its “Sang Bleu” edition at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance back in 2009, so Walsh used that design as a springboard to create a 30-foot speedboat that sports the same polished aluminum and royal blue carbon fiber construction, along with the same Gaucho leather gracing the interior as the motorcar.

Walsh’s boat design “concept” remains just that for now, but it should be pointed out that company founder Ettore Bugatti also had the same vision of developing an exclusive high-powered motorboat back in the 1920s--which makes this idea not so much of a stretch. Clearly, this is one design we'd like to see out on the water.

Meeting Up with an Italian Beauty

I was recently on Twitter when I saw a link to Eris Propellers' blog, which took me to a nice story about enjoying boating with the family. The story itself was rather brief, but what really caught my eye was the photo that accompanied the story - a very slick concept boat, the Archidiavolo, from Italian boat builder Cantieri Di Sarnico.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cantieri Di Sarnico.

There's no doubt that this is a real beauty - and the black-and-white color scheme really makes the most of its sharp Italian lines. It's hard to tell from the image, but according to other sources on the web, the multi-hull is based on a very unique 3-point design, which can be seen at left in an old photo of the Arcidiavolo I, which originally saw action back in the 1970's. To read more (use Google Translate, it's in Italian) check out the story of the original vessel HERE. It may not have been much to look at, but there can be little doubt the new version would turn a lot of heads!

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

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!

New Racing Promoter is Bullish on the Future of Class 1

H20 Racing's Nicolò di San Germano is optimistic that the new direction of UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship will boost the sport and help move it forward. As head of Class 1 Promotion and the Championship’s newly appointed promoter, San Germano believes that strength in numbers, clear communication and implementation of fair rules will be a major element in getting things on track.

PHOTO CREDITS: Class 1 Racing.

"Our target is to have a minimum of ten boats and this part I think we have already overcome because we have interest from over ten boats for the beginning of the season." Past experience has demonstrated that racers and fans want clarity and fairness in the applicaiton of rules - and this is a top priority this year. "“First of all," he adds, "the rules have to be clear and they [UIM] have done this and now through strong independent referees they must be applied."

For San Germano, the move into Class 1 was a logical step - where he will be looking to draw on and exercise his 17 years of experience as a successful water sports promoter to reinvigorate the sports appeal. “In powerboat circles worldwide Class 1 represents glamour, and was the first class to have a series promoter, Mr Mauro Ravenna. The fact that we are involved in other marine sports, F1H2o, now the new Nations Cup and now Aquabike, it was a logical step to add Class 1 to our effort."

How Cool is Old School?

Recently came across a fun thread on Offshore Only [OSO] that features some fine examples of some classic old school boat designs that hearken back to the 70's and 80's. Clean straight lines...full, deep-V hulls and maybe even a radar arch seem to typify these designs, which can be seen in classic Cigarettes, Apaches, Sutphens, and of course--Chris Craft Stingers and Scarabs.

PHOTO CREDIT - OSO member OL40SVX.

If you haven't joined the OSO forum already, it's a great excuse for doing so. Check out some of the photos of these older, badass boats that members have posted and and see what we're talking about! The thread is HERE.

Is a Plug-in, Electric Hybrid Powerboat in Your Future?

At this point, we certainly don't see it's innovative powerplant replacing a couple of Merc 1075s, or an Ilmor V-10, but the potential offered by Epic Boats 23e does provide some food for thought in regards to going fast on the water. Right now, for about $150,000, you can slide behind the helm of this first-generation, 3200 lb electric hybrid boat, which claims to offer the battery-powered equivalent of a 375-horsepower motorboat. I tend to doubt that claim, since my 23-year old, 325-hp Mercruiser will push my 42oo lb 26' Formula to 55+....something that I don't think this boat would be able to do with its 800 lbs. of batteries. But I could be wrong.

PHOTO CREDITS: Epic Boats.

The 23e uses a "Flux Propulsion" EVO 8.1 Marine Drive System to recharge itself over a four-hour run via gas motor, allowing it to use about half of what a similar wakeboat might use to pull a wakeboarder or skier. While that may seem kind of pricey for what you get, it's reported that 2012 may bring a $70,000 version.

The applied vinyl graphics look pretty nice (in a wake-boardy kind of way) and the video seems to demonstrate pretty decent performance for a ski boat. Of course, the big question is whether this type of power could ever be pumped up enough to deliver poker-run-ready-performance for the offshore crowd, who demand a lot more speed than the typical ski-boater.

If it ever could be, this technology would definitely go a long way toward making high-performance offshore powerboating a little bit "greener." The 23e offers:

- Over 50% reduced total carbon dioxide emissions
- Virtually no risk of CO poisoning with our hybrid drive system
- The Epic 23E burns 50% less fuel than a typical wakeboard boat on a 4 hour wakeboard outing
- Wakeboard for 1 hour on batteries without ever burning a drop of fuel
- Wakesurf for 3 hours on batteries without using any fuel
- It can be fully re-charged by the generator in about an hour
- The 23e can be re-charged from a typical 110v wall outlet or a 220v wall outlet once you're at home or at the dock

For more information, go to Epic Boats Website.

Zip Goes The MotorBoat: Japanese Artist's Creation Unzipping the Sea

If nothing else, Performance boaters surely have a sense of humor. Even though this creation by Japanese artist Suzuki Yasuhiro--who designed this boat as a slow-riding water taxi--is totally impractical, it's sure to put a smile on the face of those who can appreciate a good joke.

PHOTO CREDITS: asiajin.com.

This is especially evident when the boat is underway and viewed from above (see top photo) as it actually appears to "unzip" the water as it leaves its wake.

Still being tested before going into service as a water taxi - the boat's design may make it slightly more susceptible to rollover - it's nevertheless something to wonder at - and laugh at - for the rest of us. Via asiajin.com.

BIG. BAD. BOAT. That's the New 80' Nor-Tech Super Roadster

Apparently the first Nor-Tech Super Roadster is in the water after months of anticipation. The 80-foot "performance yacht" is unlike anything else on the water- in fact, the only thing that even comes to mind might be a big Magnum - but the Nor-Tech, in appearance and performance, is really in a class by itself. With three cabins, a large salon, full galley and flat-screen TVs all around, the new boat is a real showcase of craftsmanship, luxury and style.

PHOTO CREDITS: Nor-Tech Boats.

Power for this monster is provided by twin 1900hp Caterpillar turbo-diesels, which can push the boat to somewhere between 60-70mph. That's very impressive for an 80' boat...especially one that offers so much seating on its open deck--a deck that's clearly made for entertaining.


That said, the boat's design and lines make it look much sleeker than you might think; in fact, it's hard to judge it's real size without a 32' or 40' offshore boat next to it.


The boat also features bow and stern thrusters, a 1300-gallon fuel tank, and weighs in at a hefty 70,000 lbs. -- which makes that top speed even more impressive. The first Super Roadster will be enjoyed by it's new owner in Sarasota, FL. Congratulation to him...and to Nor-Tech - for setting another high standard for performance boating.

Sunsation's New 36 Dominator Hitting High Sales Marks in a Tough Economy

Say what you will about the current bad economy, some manufacturers are still selling plenty of boats--especially larger models. Sunsation Powerboats has announced that their new 36-foot-long Dominator is posting higher pre-production sales than any model in the company's history.

PHOTO CREDITS: Sunsation Powerboats

Reportedly, the 36’ Dominator performs very well, running approximately 100 mph with a pair of Mercury Racing 525EFI engine. The staggered engine layout provides plenty of stability and the hull design is built for top performance. Joe Schaldenbrand, vice president of sales and marketing for Sunsation, attributes the model’s record-breaking sales to the attention to detail in its construction.


“Every person that's bought a 36' has been blown away by the level of detail,” he explains. “We’re doing all kinds of things to a level of detail that has raised the bar on the industry."

Price for a fully loaded 36-footer with the twin 525 efi power package is $299,000. That includes a wide array of popular options. For more information, check out http://www.sunsationboats.com.

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.

A High-Performance Hot Rod for Land and Sea...

Most examples of auto/boat hybrids are pure novelty, and while they often demonstrate imaginative engineering, they seldom offer the kind of performance a real boater would appreciate. However, I must admit that this unique concept - the WaterCar Python - comes about as close to performance boating as anything I have seen.

For around $170,000, you can pick up a Python rolling chassis and install a General Motors LS series engine of your choosing — from a used LS1 to the same mind-bendingly powerful LS9 found in the Corvette ZR1. Sure, the styling may not be for everyone, but it's not bad; best of all, you get an on-land 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 100mph...with speeds of up to 60mph on the water. Check out the video to see this baby in action:

With a back end that resembles a Corvette and a front end reminiscent of a Chevy Avalanche, the WatercCar Python looks like nothing else on the road or in the water, that's for sure - and it sounds pretty wicked, too. Each WaterCar Python will be hand built to order and can be fully customized to suit the buyers tastes with 60,000 exterior color options and 4,000 interior choices.

For more information on this amazing ride, head over to the WaterCar website.

VIDEO: Apaches Go Head-to-Head at LOTO

Apaches are great boats - but you don't see one every day - much less two of them speeding side-by-side across the water. That's why we just wanted you to see this great-looking video posted on YouTube by user 41Apache, whose 41-foot No Reservations is shown flying down Lake of The Ozarks with a 31' Apache named Indian Giver. As he explains on an accompanying thread on OSO:

"I was running 65-70 in that video at about 3700-4000 rpms. Wave heights were 4-5's with a few 6's thrown in between. The swells were from hurricane Bill."

The footage is better than most casually-shot onboard videos - that's probably due to the excellent GoPro video camera, which is specially made for high-shock environments such as this. Also - a little scotch tape over the mic helps cut down on the wind noise!

There's a nice thread on OSO about this video HERE - and some accompanying videos that aren't too bad either - but for very different reasons!

New Boats: Pantera 28 SR and Nortech 427 Super Vee

While the downturn in the economy has affected performance boaters everywhere, it hasn't stopped America's best boat builders from turning out incredible new boats that continue to impress with their technology and original design ideas. Pantera and Nor-Tech have recently introduced some new models that are highly expressive of the latter.


Pantera's new 28 SR is a modified special version of its 28 model, which was launched to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary. The Pantera 28 SR features a newly designed twin stepped bottom design, new cockpit dashes and a new cabin layout. Particularly unique are the hull's recessed sides, which also feature special accent lighting (see the photo above) as well as headers which dump out the hull sides. Very sharp looking at night time, we suspect.

PHOTO CREDIT: (top and above) Pantera Boats.

The interior is comfortable, but kept simple to keep overall boat weight light for top performance. It can sleep four persons in the forward vee berth and the two facing cabin settees. Standard power for the 28' hull is from a single 525hp Mercruiser, run through a Merc Bravo One XR stern drive. For more information, check out Pantera's web site.


At the larger end of the spectrum, Nor-Tech's 427 Super Vee is definitely a Big Bad Boat. This new model incorporates advanced exterior styling from the helm all the way back to the all-new transom design. Updated features include a hull-centered twin helm with dual steering, larger head compartment, a large center mount GPS panel and stand-up cat style bolsters.


At the rear of the boat, there's a six-foot long recessed sun lounge, and between that and the swim platform, you'll find a trunk lid covering a "utility garage" which can conveniently hold items like a dive ladder, running light, dock lines and similar stuff.

PHOTO CREDITS: (last three above) Nor-Tech Boats.

The 427's powertrain consists of two Mercury 700's, which can push this boat to up over 100mph. Overall, this is a beautiful boat that represents some interesting new ideas...and it's a well-thought-out update of Nor-Tech's great 3900V. For more information on this and other great Nor-Tech boats, head over to their website, HERE.

New Boats: Outerlimits SV 52 & Vector Powerboats V-40 Launched

The performance boating industry may be hurting in some places, and a few of the manufacturers may be taking their lumps. But the current state of the economy isn't always evident at the upper end of the cost spectrum, as some boat builders are still turning out big, powerful, luxurious and technologically-advanced models that don't fail to amaze. Here are a couple of the more recent examples we've come across, from Outerlimits and Vector, respectively.

PHOTO CREDIT: Outerlimits Powerboats (above and below).

First is the impressive Outerlimits SV 52, which recently hit the water for a weekend of successful sea trials on Lake Winnipesaukee. It's powered by Whipple Supercharged Chief 1200's, has a five-step hull and reportedly hit speeds in the mid-130's on it's first time in the water. The manufacturer says the most impressive characteristic, aside from the acceleration, is the boat's ability to crush the waves. We believe it.


Of course, those kind of speeds from a 50'+ boat are very impressive; apparently this one will not be straying too far from home, the builder indicates the first SV 52 will be spending the summers on Lake Winni in New Hampshire.

The second boat we are introducing is the innovative and surprising new Vector V-40, an all-new Ocke Mannerfelt design that expands on the basic concept of the unforgettable V280 "bat boat" -- but with some advancements and enhancements that are in-tune with its larger (42' LOA) size. We'd love to be able to show you a good photo of this boat, but there are no pics or info about it yet on Vector's website other than the intro banner seen at the bottom of this article. The first photo just above is from a recently-posted YouTube video titled "Vector Powerboats 40 foot 135mph super-boat." Unfortunately the videographer was far more interested in the three models posing on the boat than the boat itself, so all we could do is show you as much as we could see in a frame capture. But of what we could make out, the boat does look good.

With a maximum beam of 14 feet, the V-40 rides on a twin-step hull incorporating four strakes per side and a 22-degree deadrise. With twin power options available ranging from 700 hp - 1,200 hp, the first V-40 is powered by Teague 1,200 hp engines and #6 drives. According to Vector president Rex Jardine, the V-40 shares the similar wing design of the V280, but they mechanically retract to allow easier towing and docking.

“The really neat thing about the boat is the fact that once we scaled it from 28 to 42 feet, the beam increased from 10 feet, four inches to 14 feet, which is not very practical for towing down the road or docking when the wings out," explains Jardine. "So, we designed a retractable wing system where they mechanically pivot on the front and come in at the back to reduce the beam.”

PHOTO CREDITS: 1st photo- YouTube user JCVdude / 2nd photo - Vector Powerboats.

I can only imagine what a sensation that retractable wing would be at the local watering hole when you pull up to the docks; it would definitely be something to witness. BTW, if you do want to see the YouTube video, you can see it HERE.

Little Boats, Big Balls: Powerboat Racing for The Masses

I spent this past Sunday afternoon about a mile from my house on the shores of Springfield Lake, where Springfield Township and the Village of Lakemore were celebrating the second annual Rock The Docks Festival. With carnivals, beer gardens and an impressive lineup of local rock bands on both the north shore and the south shore of the lake, it's a great backdrop for the exciting show that the 3 Rivers Outboard Racing Association (TRORA) puts on with it's small hydroplane & runabout races.

PHOTO CREDIT: 3 Rivers Outboard Racing Association (TRORA).

What makes this particularly enjoyable is the fact that it's a great family event -- the participants include families where two or even three generations of racers are behind the wheel. There's a lot of great sportsmanship, the enthusiasm and camaraderie between the participants is clearly evident, and the action is exciting, albeit on a smaller scale than offshore racing. Attendance was free, all you had to do to get into the pits area was sign a waiver, and they had a nice viewing area set up on shore where you could relax and enjoy the racing with some cheap beer.


That said, my hat is off to these guys. It's takes some serious stones to go flying down the lake at about 70mph in what amounts to a surfboard with an outboard motor strapped on the back. There were middle-aged guys, people in their twenties and kids in their teens out on the lake, and you could tell that everyone was having fun. A couple racers got wet, but the rescue teams were right on top of the situation, and the swimmers were smiling after they were fished out and back on shore. The APBA-sanctioned event was very well organized, and it also got excellent coverage in the local news media.


I caught a discussion on one of the offshore forums that raised the question of how it might be possible to "convert" some of these young "kneel-down" hydro-racers to offshore racing. The main problem is the cost of entry between the two types of racing is so disparate (we all know offshore takes some serious bucks) and there is really little or no "middle area" where these could could make an interim step up towards something larger.

If there was something like this UK-based "Formula Future" series in the US [their website is HERE] it might provide that much-needed step; for the long term health of our sport, supporting a program like this might be something the industry should consider once the economy picks up.

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.