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.

Boat Apps: Knots Free Keeps You Sharp on Useful Skills

We've checked out a few iPhone apps that are useful for boating before, but it's been a while...so we thought we'd start taking a look as some useful examples we've come across lately. Let me preface this post by saying that if you are a veteran boater, you're probably tied enough knots you could probably tie them in your sleep. If that's the case, then Knots Free may not be something you need.

But if you are still refining your boating skills, training a young boater on the basics of docking, line handling and seamanship--or just plain forgetful, Knots Free may be pretty handy. Don't expect too much here; the program costs nothing and the selection of knots you can learn is not huge, but it covers the basics and is very simple to use.

To use the program, you simply open it up, click the name of the knot you want to learn, read the description and use the step-by-step pictures to learn how to tie the knot. Designed for iPhone and iTouch OS 3.0 or greater, some of the angles on the photos for a couple of the knots may seem hard to follow, but overall it's pretty handy, either at the dock or at home, brushing up on your skills. Check it out at the iTunes store 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."

Celebrating 50 Years of Mercruiser Stern Drives

Here's a great way to pass the time during a cold winter--check out Fred Kiekhaefer's Mercury Racing Blog, where he reviews the colorful history of offshore racing as well as the evolution of the MerCruiser and Kiekhaefer drives.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mercury Racing.

The the first part of the chronology, which covers the years 1961 – 1987 is a great read - and the series stretches into 2 parts. Check out Part One HERE. If you're interested in further reading, Fred recommends Jeff Rodengen’s book, Iron Fist, Chapter 26, The Great Stern Drive Conspiracy, pp. 360 – 379. He describes it as a fascinating work of investigative journalism containing creation, deception, disloyalty, honor and captivating personalities of the sterndrive’s history.

High Profile Dealer Shogren Drops Fountain Line

Clearly, things are continuing to change in the performance boat industry, and here's another sign...Shogren Performance Marine of Waukegan, IL has announced they will no longer carry the Fountain performance boat line after a long and successful relationship. Shogren had been the top Fountain dealer in the country for seven consecutive years—reportedly selling nearly $40 million worth of new Fountain boats. As an alternative, Shogren has decided to focus on the Nor-Tech line of custom performance boats and center consoles.

PHOTO CREDIT: Shogren Performance Marine.

“It was a great seven years,” said Scott Shogren, the owner of Shogren Performance Marine. “Reggie and Wyatt Fountain brought me into this industry and taught me a lot, which I will always respect and never forget. I wish the new Liberty group (owners of Fountain Powerboats) the best of luck in their endeavors in the future.”

Assessing the industry, Shogren says he believes that the market for go-fast powerboats is generally shifting in the direction of higher-priced custom boats, which are built to individual order. In addition to focusing on new Nor-Tech sales, Shogren also plans to develop other segments of the business, including used-boat sales and consignment services, which have grown dramatically over the past two years.