Speculation Abounds Whether Phenomenon will Show at LOTO Shootout

Little has been seen or heard about Al Copeland Jr. and his Phenomenon cat since the boat debuted at the Key West Worlds in 2009 and making a splash at the Miami Boat Show back in 2010. The 56-foot catamaran with four T-55 Lycoming turbines got a lot of attention when it was first seen, but technical problems encountered since that time seem to have put the kabosh on any speed record attempts or further trials over the last year. Recently, speculation has grown on whether the boat might turn up at this year's Lake of The Ozarks Shootout, on August 22-28.

PHOTO CREDITS: luxury4play.com.

Driver Al Copeland Jr., was hoping to follow in the footsteps of his famous boat racing father, who founded the Popeyes restaurant chain. Phenomenon is the culmination of his father’s wish to break the propeller-driven speed record of 220.43 mph...but there's some stiff competition out there from other powerful turbine cats, like Miss Geico--which has hit 210mph.

PHOTO CREDITS: unrealluxury.com.

With the 4 turbines, the boat was supposed to bust out with about 12,000hp--and on paper, it should be able to make a solid record attempt. The question is, will we see it any time soon? The project's Facebook page has plenty of fan questions...but no answers.

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.

New 42' Statement V in the Works

No, they don't fall into the classification of "spy" photos, but St. Petersburg, FL-based Statement Marine builds some pretty outrageous and good-looking boats. The designs are original, the technology is truly advanced, and every new boat they produce is highly anticipated. We wanted to feature some photos of their latest creation, recently posted on OSO by member boating37.

  PHOTO CREDITS: offshoreonly member boating37.

This green beast is reportedly heading to Lake Cumberland, where she will fly down the lake bearing the "Saddle Up" moniker. The paint work was done by Rodney at Pro Body Works in MO. ...but there's no word on what kind of power they're planning on putting into this thing. Whatever it will be we're sure it will do the paintwork justice.

To see more of this beautiful boat, check out the thread on OSO here. To find out more about Statement Marine and their boats--check out their website.

Sharp New Boats in the Works at Eliminator

Eliminator Boats is showing off some of the newest examples of their fine work on the powerboat forums, and it's nice to see some of the incredible craftsmanship this respected West Coast builder is offering. One example is a new 36' Speedster cat that is reportedly going to a customer in Africa.

PHOTO CREDITS: Eliminator Boats.

With a 108" beam, approximate weight with engines of 7800 lbs., 160 gallon fuel capacity and seating capacity from 4-6 people, the Speedster is truly an impressive boat. In fact, one of these boats with a pair of 1200hp engines was one of the fastest non-race boats that Powerboat Magazine has ever tested, at 169mph.


Not so big, but definitely badass for its size--is this 22' Eagle, which will be featuring a supercharged Cadillac CTS-V engine. LOA is 22' 11" - with an 8.25' beam and a 40 gallon capacity tank--which seems a little modest considering that supercharged Caddy engine.

Eliminator is turning out some mighty fine boats, and as a strong competitor in APBA Offshore 2 Competition, their boats are race-proven and built tough. Find out more at http://eliminatorboat.com - and check out more photos of these new boats under construction on Offshore Only.

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.

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...

German-Made Spider Powerboat Packs Turbodiesel Power in a Compact Package

Every once in a while we like to check out what performance boat manufacturers are doing in other parts of the world, and we recently came across this outstanding example from German manufacturer Spider Powerboats. The German-made Spider 24V may remind you of a wild psychedelic acid trip, but even if it does, you can bet are it will be a FAST trip. Certainly the paint job and some of the detailing are very creative and original, but the technology and hardware are impressive, too.

PHOTO / VIDEO CREDITS:  Spider Powerboats.

This 7.3m, 1800kg boat packs plenty of power into a modestly-sized package...and what power it is--a single, beefy turbodiesel that can propel this little beast up to 85mph. With a 200L fuel capacity and a price of about 86,000 euros, it's not a bad deal, either.

Spider also makes this boat with a 8.1L V8 for about 10k less. Both models feature a SARO Tunnelprop drive for efficient power, an advanced, double-step hull, Gaffrig controls and Auto-meter gauges. To see the boat at speed, check out the YouTube video below:

While this boat would look great on a place like Havasu, you can see in the power and the details that the approach is a little different from what we typically see over here in the US. The differences are subtle, yet interesting.  To see more, head over to the Spider Powerboats website. But better polish up on your German, first.

New Boat News: Latest from Skater & Sutphen

In the economic climate of the past two years, almost any news is good news - and it's especially good news to see some of our most respected boat manufacturers producing more great work. With a new boating season (for most of us Northerners, anyway) just kicking off, we wanted to share some nice examples of high performance boating by Skater and Sutphen.

SUTPHEN PHOTO CREDITS: OSO Member CMC.

This slick little Sutphen 21 SS is the latest creation from Rich Sutphen Jr.. Reportedly heading to Canada, this sharp looking boat features classic offshore lines and a simple yet effective GT- style paint job that reminds me of a Shelby Mustang.



This unit features a 6.2 Mercruiser and should be capable of speeds up to 75mph or more. It definitely looks great on top of that Myco trailer, and while it's not the biggest boat on the water, the clean looks, Sutphen name and top performance will win the respect of just about anyone.

Next we want to share some photos of Skater's latest 488 V-Hull, which is fresh out of the paint booth and ready for rigging. Of course, Skater is best known for their incredible Cats, but their V-Hulls have demonstrated wave-crushing performance and are keeping up the same standards that the manufacturer is already known for.

SKATER PHOTO CREDITS: OSO Member Tborisch.

You have to love this paint scheme (I'm particularly partial to any combination of black, red and white) and it looks great on this boat. Don't have any information on what the power will be for this boat, but you can bet it will be impressive.



Since Skater and Boatcustoms (also working on this boat) are sponsoring the Boyne Thunder Poker Run this year, you should be able to check out this beauty on Lake Charlevoix this July. Skater is set to have at least three boats there, as that run is shaping up to be one of BT's best ever. Mark Your calendar!

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.

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!

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.

New Mystic with V-16s to Debut at Lake of The Ozarks Shootout

We first wrote about Lightning Performance Group and their V16 engine about a year ago, and this weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, you can check it out. Lightning Performance Group will be debuting their highly anticipated 50’ Mystic Project with this incredible V-16 power. If you make it to the Shootout, you need to stop and see these engines for yourself--they're rated at 1700 hp on pump gas...at a mild 6100 rpm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Lightning Performance Group.

In addition, Lighting Perormance will also be showing off an innovative new trailer setup (see abov) with a separate boat cradle/trailer frame design. It’s a perfect combination for getting your boat safely transported down the highway and into the water. These and all of the company's “Next Generation” bolt-on performance items will be on display this weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout. Tell 'em [B3] sent ya!

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.

Blast From The Past: Offshore Florida WM 1990

Honestly. I'm not quite sure what this video is...hopefully one of the old-timers from HORBA can chime in and ID this footage, which is listed on YouTube as Offshore WM Florida 1990 on the page but dated 1981 on the video itself, which I might take as a more accurate label. The footage features some pretty slick old school racing action and some badass, twin canopy open water cats.

Part of the fun of this video is the accompanying music, which sounds pretty dated today but is kinda fun in a funky, goofy sort of way. Titled "Powerboat Racing," Ian Kussick's song helps complete this fun little blast from the past.

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.

Gawking at the Biggest, Baddest Pantera Ever - the New 41'

After months of being teased with various "under construction" shots, we're finally able to feature som photos of the new Pantera 41' - which has to be one of the sharpest boats we've ever seen. Built with twin Mercury 525 EFI engines and #6 drives, this hot, Ferrari-red boat was designed to compete in Powerboat P-1.

PHOTO CREDITS: Pantera Boats

The boat also features NXT1 transom plates, Stelling extension boxes and Arneson Rocker Plate tabs with a Zieger heavy duty polished tie bar. Stainless Marine fabricated a custom exhaust system, and the helm is finished off with Ray Marine GPS units, Momo "Trek" race steering wheel, custom push button ignition panels, Livorsi "monster" instruments, race throttles, Ritchie compass, pop up indicators and much more.

If you notice the stars of the Chinese flag at the rear of the hull, it's because the boat's new UK owner was born in China. While some observers on the forums have asked why Pantera went with a [relatively] mild 525 combination, Jo Nunez explains why it makes sense for P1:

"P1 racing in the Super Sport class requires the boats to weigh 4.5 Kilograms per H.P. so there is a lot of weight to carry. We did not build this boat real light becase it has to weigh approximately 10,600 pounds at the end of the race. The Supersport class has a limit of 90 MPH. Acceleration and handling have a lot to do with having a winning boat over there due to the rough water and turns..."

After testing, the 4-blade props were switched out for 5-blade props of a larger diameter. With that combination, hitting the Super Sport Class 90mph speed limit will not be a problem. With it's bulletproof design and substantial weight, the boat should be tough to beat in rough water.

Congrats to the Nunez Family and everyone else at Pantera!