200mph Racing Action in HD Video!

Aside from being one of the fastest teams on the water, JBS Racing also has one of the better websites out there, filled with some excellent videos and lots of good photography. Based in Wisconsin, the team's 50' Mystic catamaran sports two Turbine Marine T-53's, rated at 1950hp. Owner/driver Jeff Stevenson and throttleman Joey Skrocki have seen a lot of success, most recently taking the top spot in the Cat Extreme/Turbine class at the 2009 Smokin’ The Sound race in Biloxi, MS on March 29th.

In the first heat, the JBS Mystic hit a speed of 190mph...so when you see the 200mph speeds noted in the video below, it's no joke. As for the footage, producer Allan Wright does an outstanding job; the HD video a very, very sharp package. Congratulations to JBS!

Gettin' Down at The Docks: More Tiki Bars

A few weeks back we took a look at Tiki Bar culture here on B3 and I shared a couple of places I really like. A couple of our readers sent me some info on spots they enjoy as well, so I thought I'd post a couple up here. Like I said at the time, once you're done with your day of boating, relaxing by the dock watching the scenery and enjoying a cold one kind of go hand-in-hand. Of course, not all of these are Tiki bars in the strictest sense, but they do have the tropical, nautical feel you want when you tie up and plant yourself on a bar stool.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Woody's

Mark Underwood down in Central Ohio gave us the heads up about Buckeye Lake, which is just due east of Columbus; it's a 3500-acre lake with at least 13 popular watering holes along its shores, some of which will even allow you to dock overnight and sleep on your boat. Mark specifically singled out Capt. Woodys, PaPa Boos and Island House, and sent us some pictures, too. Above is a shot of the crowd at Capt. Woody's, and below is Mark, in his very nice, old-school Velocity 30. You might very well see him at Buckeye or up on Lake Erie - one thing's for sure, you won't miss that outstanding paint job! Also, check out Mark's website here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Underwood - 30velocity.com

Bob Carl from NJ said that he really enjoys the Nauti Goose, in Northeast MD, at the upper end of the Chesapeake Bay. The "Goose" is a very popular hangout for powerboaters, as evidenced by the photo just below. Another favorite, sent to us by Ed Scott in Missouri, is The Topsider [bottom photo] located at Osage Beach on Lake of The Ozarks. According to Ed, they have it all--including a pool, apparently.

PHOTO CREDITS: [above] The Nauti Goose [below] Topsiders

Thanks to everyone who sent us info and photos, we'd include them all but our space is limited. Maybe we'll do occasional updates on new places you find, or maybe at some point, even do a directory of your favorite tiki bars on the water.

Loud Exhaust? Now That's The Ticket!

While it's always nice to be noticed, I usually prefer to fly a little bit under the radar. My Formula's Silent Thunder swim platform has an integrated muffler system that uses water to muffle the sound of my boat's exhaust. Blackjack's 454 Magnum sounds fine as it is--enough rumble to know there's something decent underneath the swim pad, but not so loud that you can't talk to your passengers at idle. And it's plenty loud enough when we're up on plane.

Other guys like to hear a real healthy exhaust note, since they believe it adds to the feeling of high performance. And there are also other folks who like to let everyone know when they're coming...even when they're down the lake a mile away. To each his own, I say--until it becomes overkill, or is so obnoxious that people start wincing when you pull up to the dock at the local watering hole and they can't hear each other or the music playing at the bar.

The fact is, a lot of municipalities and law enforcement agencies are cracking down on boats that are too loud. Grand Haven, MI, for example, is just one town that has gained a reputation among performance boaters as being particularly unfriendly, and maybe a little too zealous in it's enforcement of the law. Different areas have different requirements, so it's important to know what noise decibel levels are acceptable and from what distances it is supposed to be measured. Boaters and manufacturers haven't been standing still. One of the easiest solutions is to port your exhaust underwater with some down-tubes; of course, everybody hates the look of this solution, but it's possible to set it up so it could be removed easily, if needed.

Last year, Mercruiser came up with an OEM solution, with X-haust, a fully integrated sterndrive exhaust noise reduction system. X-haust was developed primarily to bring the HP600 SCi and EU662 SCi sterndrive engine packages into compliance with some of the more stringent noise regulations, especially those of the European Union. Mercury says the muffler design flows exhaust through two separate chambers connected by three attenuator tubes before exiting the exhaust outlet at the bottom, reducing sound pressure waves without sacrificing engine power or performance. The transom-mounted muffler is completely submerged when the boat is at rest. Since it's introduction last year, I have heard little feedback about the system or its effectiveness, but that's no surprise, since I doubt there have been many takers in the U.S. market.

For those who are looking for an add-on solution, a number of options are available. Custom Marine's Sound Elimination Systems mufflers offer proven sound reduction technology that will allow most boaters to operate in areas where sound emissions are restricted. Designed to reduce sound emissions to levels as low as 85 decibels the mufflers are engineered to lower overall sound without restricting exhaust or creating unwanted backpressure, which can keep your high performance engine from running its best. Made from 304 series stainless steel, they can be installed on any exhaust system with tailpipes ranging from 4" to 6" in diameter.

Custom Marine also makes a "silent choice"-type system; External Sound Choice silencers allow the operator to muffle high decibel sound waves emitted through the exhaust with simply a flip of a switch and a butterfly valve system. For safety, they are pneumatically operated, eliminating the risk of electrical spark hazards. You can also find other manufacturers who offer similar systems.

Like everything, there's a time and a place for the display of epic brute power. Way out on the lake or ocean, in a race or poker run, or even the occasional loud rumble at dockside can be enjoyable - within reason. Using your smarts and a good exhaust control system can keep your passengers, fellow boaters and law enforcement officials happy. In the long run, your wallet will thank you, too.

Where Boaters Boat: Preserving Barnegat Bay's F-Cove.

In many places, access to the water continues to be a problem. Whether it's a place to launch or dock a boat, sit by the water and enjoy a cold beverage, or beach your boat on a warm sandbar for a swim...various forces come together at times to limit or restrict our use of the water. Sometimes these forces are for the protection of the area, and are sensible. Sometimes they're economic, and can't be avoided. Other examples just make no sense at all.

The F-Cove is the area on the north end of the Barnegat Bay in Brick, NJ where many boaters go to enjoy and relax with other families and boaters. It is now in danger of being closed off to Boats. Several governmental agencies are advancing a plan to partially fill in F-Cove, using the deep lagoons as a dredge spoil site, and also restricting use in an attempt to restore wildlife habitat. The plan would likely close F-Cove to all present forms of access; according to the plan, powerboats would no longer be allowed entrance. "Bollards" - pilings put in various places much as is done on land to enhance security of some building - would restrict access to craft above a certain size.What New Jersey boaters are requesting is that local officials work with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to arrive at a mutually agreeable way to keep F-Cove in existence for future generations of boaters to safely enjoy. Save Barnegat Bay, the local environmental group that is leading the effort to keep the cove accessible to boaters, acknowledges that the current activities do not meet the official recreational criteria:

"But we strongly believe that the fact that thousands of boaters enjoy this natural setting on weekends over the course of the summer creates an obligation on the part of representative government to work out an accommodation."

PHOTO CREDITS [both]: F-Cove.com

Interested boaters can help by writing letters or attending a hearing--just email info@savebarnegatbay.org for more info. To get a clearer idea of what the government is trying to do, a huge 753-page Army Corps of Engineers report is available here. [PDF] Scroll to page 164.

YOU can race for a Hundred Bucks!

Admit it....you've always wondered what it's like to race in a real offshore race. Waves pounding...heart pounding...surrounded by speed and spray...well, Harrison Offshore in S.E. Michigan is offering an opportunity to experience offshore racing from the inside. If you join the organization's founding member group you will also be entered to win a special race weekend you'll never forget.

Join Harrison Offshore as a member now for just $100 and you'll be part of a respected organization that promotes offshore racing in Michigan. You also get recognition in their Race Magazine as a founding member and receive a Harrison Offshore Race Tee shirt. The best part? One of these new founding members will be selected to take part in the complete race experience!

The Incredible "Bat Boat" / PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Offshore

The one winner - selected at random - will enjoy the following benefits at the 2nd Annual Harrison Township Offshore Challenge July 25-26th, 2009:

- Test and Race with a World Champion Throttleman
- Enjoy the Racer's Parties
- Attend the Racers meetings and physicals
- Complete the "Dunker Test"
- Hangout with the racers the entire weekend
- KEEP THE TROPHY YOU WIN
- Free Hotel room Friday and Saturday at the Racers Hotel
- All This For Only $100. That's right...just $100.

Email Harrison Offshore at wahoo214@comcast.net or rick@dirt-deals.com to get your membership now. Of course, there are a few other requirements. You will need to join the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA - the $150 annual fee gets you into all OPA races as well as "hot pit" areas for the season) and also have a recent CDL or FAA physical to race.

Now THIS is Offshore Racing...

There's been a lot of talk recently on the various offshore forums about the current state of offshore powerboat racing in the U.S., and the consensus seems to be that a shakeup -- or better yet -- a consolidation of some sort, is seriously needed. In the past, the sport was known for its high visibility, high payouts for race winners, and strong focus on a few classes of competitive boats. Today, while there is still a lot of enthusiasm among individual racers, and some international circuits like Powerboat P1 are seeing a solid level of success, the sport in America is diffused among a number of different racing organizations like OSS, APBA, OPA, SBI...and others. Many participants and former racers feel the sport is suffering from too many classes, too little prize money, a lack of sponsors and media exposure, and a high cost-barrier to entry for the "little guy."

With that in mind, I came across this promotional video for the Honda Formula Four-Stroke Association, a UK-based series that bills itself as "the largest offshore powerboat championship in the world."  Honda launched the Series in 1999 in order to prove the performance of their new BF130 4-stroke outboard engines. To make things simple, there are only two classes, a 150hp class with 21' boats, and a more aggressive 225hp class, featuring 28' Cougar hulls.  Both engines and hulls are standardized and cannot be modified throughout the series, to keep things competitive.  And it IS competitive. In 2006, there were 25 teams fighting it out in just those two classes. The boats are priced within reason as well, making the series one of the most affordable and accessible forms of motor sport out there, allowing an enthusiast with modest means to compete at a national championship level. 

PHOTO CREDIT:  Formula Four-Stroke Association

As for the quality of the racing, the video speaks for itself. There are lots of boats, racing close together, with plenty of "balls-to-the-wall" action. This is the closest I have seen to "Nascar on the water," with hulls banging together and trading paint (trading gel?) at speeds from 55mph for the 150hp class to about 75mph for the 225hp class. Those speeds are far below the 100+mph seen on some high-hp circuits, but that's pretty fast for the size of boat we're talking about and a single outboard. Again, one look at the video proves there's no lack of excitement here. If you want to talk offshore powerboating as an Extreme Sport, here's the proof.

Lessons to be Learned

It seems to me there's a lot that could be gained from studying the approach this series takes. It gets exposure on UK television through the BBC Channel 4, and they are also distributed and syndicated via networks such as Sky Sports, SNTV, Fox Sports and ESPN. They do a great job of supporting the media and involve journalists and celebrities with a special media race boat.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Formula Four-Stroke Association

Here in the U.S., there seems to be a natural bias against using outboard power in a series, as we just love our big V8's and stern drives. As a result, the cost to be truly competitive has risen dramatically, and while some committed individuals are trying to find solutions in this regard, it's still a struggle. This is powerboating, after all, and there are so many "A-type" personalities involved, it's hard to get people to agree on anything -- reflecting a strong tendency to focus inward for solutions instead of looking outward for real answers on how to improve the sport. While everyone agrees there will always be a place for the big, high-dollar competitors and series where the Big Dogs go to play, the Formula Four-Stroke Series seems to be something from which we could learn a lot.

America's Got Talent - and Fast Boats!

Offshore icon Bob Saccenti has recently spent time helping the NBC TV show America's Got Talent get off to a good start for it's Summer 2009 debut in Miami. New show host Nick Cannon, who is also married to Mariah Carey, got a ride in a beautiful Cigarette, with a little help from legendary throttleman John Tomlinson.

Nick got to enjoy some high-speed runs as the boat was featured in some video shots out of Government Cut. The show staff and videographers were on hand to help coordinate the filming; they were also aided by Phil Lipshultz of Lipship Cigarette, who helped ensure that the right people and equipment were on hand.

Cannon must have been taken with the experience - and who wouldn't be? Later that day he posted on Twitter "...just finished racing a speedboat in Miami. Gotta get me one of these!" Judging by the boat he got to ride in, we can see how he got hooked! Great job, guys...more opportunities like this will give our sport the special profile it deserves. Now somebody better hurry up and send Nick a business card so they can sell him a boat!

PHOTO CREDITS: Charlie McCarthy (top) and Bob Saccenti (bottom)

When it returns this summer, the 4th season of America's Got Talent will be hosted by Cannon and continue to be presided over by the combination of celebrity judges Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff. Cited by People Magazine as one of the "Top Ten most successful young people in Hollywood," the effusive star has been getting accolades from many corners of the entertainment community. For the fourth season, the show will travel to at least nine major cities to find talent of all kinds – singers, dancers, contortionists, comedians, jugglers, magicians and everything in between.