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.

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.

Boat Tech: Pocket Gadgets to Make Your Life Easier

We recently came across a couple of items that could come in handy on your next boat trip; the first is the Freeloader Personal Solar Charger - especially useful because it's one gadget that can help keep the rest of your gadgets running.

It's true, you can always use your 12v cigarette lighter outlet to charge a lot of your items like cell phones, MP3 players and other small items. But if you're dedicating that outlet to your iPod to play music while you're running the boat, or powering a portable Nav unit, you might want some extra charging capacity. This might especially be the case if you've got a boatload of friends along on a poker run.

The freeloader quickly expands it's solar panels to gather available sunlight, and includes a charging cable that plugs into a USB port or almost any chargeable device with one of its 11 adapter tips. Once charged, the internal Li-Ion battery can power an iPod for 18hours, a mobile phone for 44 hours, PSP for 2.5 hours a PDA for 22 hours and much more. With its tough, rust-free aluminum body, it features a 1000mAh Li-on battery and can be charged in as little as 3 hours. Pretty handy in a pinch.

Our other item here is a floating keyring; nothing new in terms of basic concept, but extremely useful in terms of its added capability. The Waterbuoy Floating Keyring is only 3" long (not nearly as bulky as many floating keyrings) but can float up to 2lbs. That's a whole pocketful of keys, as opposed to the 2-3 that most floating keyrings can support. In fact, it provides enough buoyancy to support many waterproof VHF radios, mobile phones and some digital cameras.

The secret is inside: The Waterbouy has a tiny gas cylinder that inflates a puncture-resistant balloon after submersion. It won't go off if only splashed, and also has an LED light - visible at 850ft and lasting 24hrs - inside the balloon, so it can easily be found even at night.  Pretty cool.

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.

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.

Gimmick or Good Idea? The Stay Alive Life Jacket.

For high-speed powerboat racing or poker running, it's hard to beat the proven protection of a Lifeline jacket. Every offshore powerboater knows that Lifelines are unsurpassed for their ability to keep you alive--especially since they are built to stay on your body in a high-speed impact with the water. While they are expensive, a typical response when presented with this fact is simply, "what's your life worth?"

Nevertheless, other options are available for those on a more limited budget. Examples like the Mustang MV5600 high impact vest are available for about half the cost of a LifeLine and are claimed to be strength-tested to 100mph.

Another interesting option we recently came across may be the Stay Alive Life Jacket featured here. First of all, I would point out that for most high-speed powerboating environments, the jacket would not be my first choice; though it does appear to be well-constructed, and offers crotch straps to keep it securely on the wearer--there is no stated testing for high-impact performance, and I doubt it offers anything like the performance of a Lifeline.

Boat Apps: Miss Geico app Keeps Fans up to Date on AMF Offshore

There's probably no team more visible or more respected than the crew from AMF Offshore Racing and the Miss Geico team. In addition to being a major sponsor for series like OPA, Miss Geico is probably the most recognized boat in offshore--and they are known for bringing that extra level of excitement to every racing event in which they they attend.

That's probably why one of the first apps I added to my iPhone was the Miss Geico app, from appmii. Like the iTunes store description says, it allows team fans to interact in a whole new way, making friends, checking out exclusive content and staying on top of everything the team is involved in, as well as offshore racing in general.

In addition to lots of photos, audio and video clips - located in a Media section, there's some integration with Twitter and Facebook as well. It's a pretty neat app, and a nice complement to AMF's current website, which is also very cool. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't point out that the app links to Events and News currently include no content; hopefully that will be remedied as the 2011 racing season continues. To get the app, go HERE, or upload directly from your phone.

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.

One Big Bad Outboard: The Seven Marine 557

A lot of offshore performance boaters still refer to them as "eggbeaters," but there can be no doubt that for some applications--and for overall ease of maintenance, outboards may be the best way to go. One of the bigger stories at the 2011 Miami International Boat Show was the new monster outboards from Seven Marine. This 557 HP engine brings a whole new meaning to the term outboard power...but what else would you expect for a $70,000 price tag? They are especially good-looking engines, too; in fact, the red and black pair pictured here would serve nicely as the official [B3] versions!

The new engine is based on 6.2-liter V8, with an all-aluminum, supercharged GM powerhead that is basically the same engine used in a Cadillac CTS-V. It has closed cooling and a computer-controlled disc-clutch transmission with hydraulic shifting sourced from ZF Marine. The design is somewhat radical as well; the V8 powerhead mounted is horizontally, rather than in the usual vertical orientation.

PHOTO / VIDEO CREDITS: Seven Marine.

Reportedly the 557 will run on 89-92 octane pump gas, and other than the stainless steel exhaust and special computer programming, it's basically stock. The company is currently making some alterations to the design which will make the engine's final drive ratio more flexible. Sea trials are underway, and hopefully we will see this monster out on the water soon. If the design is successful, it may turn out that this egg-beater will be a world-beater...

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!

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!

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.

Slick Silver Merc 1350s for Nordic

Just featured on the Mercury Racing Blog, Fred Kiekhaefer has posted some pics of a sharp pair of 1350s that are being installed in one of Nordic's new boats. The new Super Silver color option also features rich, high-tech carbon fiber and plenty of old-fashioned muscle.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mercury Racing.

Fred's post also featured a picture of the matching M8 drives, which were being prepped for their trip to Nordic at Lake Havasu AZ. That's going to be one sweet combination - can't wait to see it installed! Check out the blog post HERE.

Boat Air Conditioning...Revisited

With snow blowing in the air, summer cooling may be the last thing on your mind. But that doesn't stop us from searching for useful items that will make next year's boating more enjoyable.

A while back, we took a brief look at some DIY ideas for turning regular beer coolers into reasonably functional air conditioners that would help make those summer overnights on the boat a little more bearable. Turns out the folks at KoolerAire have developed the idea a little more fully, providing a ready-to-go unit that provides reliable 12-Volt cooling for almost any boat.

The KoolerAire fits securely within the top portion of your cooler trapping the cold air inside. Once the unit is turned on the powerful, 100 cfm, brush-less fan draws hot air in through the large opening directly into and through the ice. The air is instantly cooled to about 50 degrees before being released through the smaller vent. The air conditioning unit is designed for their exclusive foam ice chest or fits the Igloo Marine & Family 25 quart brands.

To find out more - check out the KoolerAire website.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.