Cigarette Takes Balls to the Wall with Photo Print Gallery

Everyone knows Cigarette Racing has become synonymous with extreme powerboat performance, and Cigarette is clearly the most famous brand of offshore boat on the water. Since its inception under Don Aronow, the company has always had a rakish, sexy and notorious attitude--and no where has than been more in evidence than it's famous print ads.

With that in mind, and due to popular demand from fans and customers alike, the company has worked with professional printers to produce fine, high-quality art prints that are just the ticket for your home, office wall, garage or your boathouse. Each photograph in the series has been color-corrected, optimized for the professional printer, and printed on Kodak Professional Supra Endura VC paper. This archive-quality, fine art paper is rated for 100 years of home use and 200 years in dark storage.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cigarette Racing.

In addition to unframed prints, Cigarette is also offer framing, matting, glass, and a myriad of options that will put a ready-to-hang art print on your wall fast. Selected items are also offered as 1.5" standouts, a unique way to display. For more information on the Cigarette Print Gallery, head to the store HERE.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for June 27-July 3

Be sure to check out this week's issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about some of the advantages of outboard motors, Bonnier Communication's plans to re-launch Powerboat Magazine, Team Cintron's success at South Beach, and much more. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen every week!

Excuse Our Technical Difficulties...

It's good to be back online after the DNS servers at 1and1.com decided to stop forwarding our bigbadboat.com web address to the proper location. Never really got a good answer from them on why that happened, but we were planning to switch the URL registration to another registrar anyway.

That's done now, so we apologize to our readers (and advertisers) for the delay. In the meantime, we have plenty of material to catch you up on, so be ready for plenty of fast boating goodness in the coming days ahead. Sincerely - The Dude.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for May 16 - 22

Be sure to check out this week's issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read why Cocoa Beach is  ready For The Thunder of Super Boats, discover Lakeside Restorations' Mid-May specials, and find out why the interest deduction for boats as second homes is under fire. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen every week!

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for May 9 - 15

Be sure to check out this week's issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read a review of Formula's  new 37 Cruiser, argue over Boating Magazine's 10 Best Places to Live and Boat, or watch US Racers as they check out P1 Powerboat's new Panther. Plus, you can catch up on recent happenings with Class 1. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen every week!

No Shortage of Boat Drink Ideas with Voodoo Tiki Margarita Book

As always, it's great to relax at the end of a long day of boating with a nice cool drink--and if you're doing your own bartending, it's a good idea to have some solid cocktail recipes on hand. Smart mixologists know that one of the favorites among the ladies is the Margarita, and a free recipe book, now available from Voodoo Tiki Tequila, can help fill in any gaps in your Margarita know-how.

If you haven't come across it yet, Voodoo Tiki is a relatively new brand of tequila that takes the fun factor to a whole new level. Voodoo Tiki is made from 100 percent blue agave and comes in three main styles: Platinum Silver, Reposado and Anejo. It's a super-premium brand, featuring a unique and creative package. The result--which is something of a collector’s piece--is a hand-blown, numbered and signed glass bottle with a hand-crafted tiki statuette inside.

PHOTO CREDIT: Voodootiki.com.

“The taste is clean, not harsh, hot or woody,” says company head Donna DeCunzo-Taddeo, who expects sales of $1.2 million in 2009, up from about $240,000 in her first year. The Margarita Guide, available as a free PDF download, includes over 100 creative Margarita recipes. Get your copy HERE, and give the Voodoo a try.

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.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 25 - May 2

Another Monday is here...so it's your chance to review the new issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about Unlimited Hydroplane Racing in Detroit, Legendary Marine in Destin, FL, HORBA, and Lakeside Marine's Easter specials. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen!

Fast Boat Primer - Two Hot Minutes from Boating Magazine

It's no secret that in terms of the magazine and publishing industry, performance boating is going through some lean times. Some magazines covering the sport have disappeared altogether. Others are thinner, with fewer ad pages. We can hope that as the economy picks up things will get better, but in the interim, some of the mainstream boating magazines are picking up the slack...

Which brings us to the most recent issue of Boating Magazine, which includes several features about offshore powerboats and racing; if you haven't seen it on the local newsstand, stop by and pick it up. Also of interest is this brief video that the magazine posted on their website...it's only about two minutes long, but it's a slick introduction to the world of high speed powerboating.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 18 - 24

Another week is here...so it's time to check out the new issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about FPC's Naples Poker Run, Signs of Recovery in the Boating Industry, Class 1 Powerboat Racing, and more. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen!

In Print: Classic Offshore Racing Programs

With so much information available on the Internet and our unending fixation on modern web-based technology, it's still nice to see some fine examples of old-school offshore racing memorabilia. Old offshore racing programs are not only collectible, they're just fun to look at while we reminisce about the past. That's why it was such a delight to see this thread on Serious Offshore [SOS] recently started by forum member Bobcat. If you're interested in seeing an interesting and nostalgic blast from the past, then I'd suggest you check this thread out.

Most of the programs that he and some other members have posted are from Offshore Racing's heyday, back in the 1970's and 80's. There are a number of cool program covers from races like the Key West World Championships, The Northport 200 in Michigan, the Marathon FL Challenge, Lake St. Clair races, Trump Castle World Championships and many more, including some international offshore examples from Cowes and Guernsey in Great Britain.

It's really a great thread, and I'd like to personally thank those individuals who took the time to scan and post these great old program covers. They say to know where you're going, it's always good to know where you've been; seeing these covers is a great way to get a glimpse into offshore racing's exciting past. Take a look!

The Boat License: A First Step Toward Fun on The Water

Those of us who enjoy high performance boats know it's all about fun: the fun of owning a fast boat, sharing good times with friends, visiting new places and coming back at the end of the day with lots of great memories. But the important key here is coming back at the end of the day.

It seems that every boating season is marked at one time or another by tragic stories of operators who got a little careless, didn't understand the rules of navigation, or simply never took the time to understand what it takes to operate a boat safely. That's even more important with high performance boats, because speed magnifies the dangers and makes the margin for error so much smaller.

This is precisely why having the proper safety instructions, and obtaining any required boating license is so important. Offshore performance boaters sometimes have an undeserved reputation for being reckless and rowdy - but in truth, our group has always been supportive of strong safety measures.  That includes proper training, responsible behavior and protecting our passengers with quality safety gear. Fortunately, ensuring safety on the water with solid training is easier than ever....especially with resources like BoaterExam.com

Exam Time

Those of us who are older--or who have been boating for many years--often take our boating "rules of the road" for granted. But laws and requirements can change, and it's important to keep on top of changes, so you're always compliant with state and federal regulations.

But training is even more critical for younger boaters, as most states now require younger operators to obtain a Boater License or Boater Education Card to operate a boat legally on the water. In Florida, anyone born after Jan. 1 1988 needs one. In Wisconsin, it's 1989...in North Carolina, 1985...and in Ohio, anyone born after Jan. 1 1982 operating a boat over 10hp must have a Boater Education Card [BEC].

Online training courses like those offered by BoaterExam.com are not only convenient, comprehensive and fully-approved by state agencies, they are amazingly affordable. In fact, the online study guide and chapter quizzes are FREE - you only pay when you pass the course.

Best of all, these courses are actually FUN, and they are a great way to get younger people interested in boating safety and responsible operation. I sat through local Power Squadron training prior to purchasing my first high performance boat, and while it was okay, the classes took 6 weeks, traveling back-and-forth was a hassle, and the content seemed a little dated. If I'd had a great online option like this available,  I definitely would have used it; in fact, I'm planning on reviewing the online course as a pre-season refresher.

So, if you need to get qualified as a boat operator in your state...or want to introduce a son or daughter to a world of fun and fast boating...be sure to check out a top-notch education program like BoaterExam.com.

This Sponsored safety post courtesy of www.boaterexam.com.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 11-17

One of the things we've been happy about is the [B3] Powerboat Weekly News - which we set up to gather some of the more interesting happenings around the performance powerboating world. We've been publishing this for some time - now we will also start featuring the latest issue in a weekly post every Monday.

This week's edition covers news about the 2011 OSS Season, "Jimmy Buffet Day" in Florida, Boating Magazine's 2012 swimsuit model search, UIM Class 1 News and much more. Check it out HERE.

Video: Blast From Our Powerboat Past - 1990 Miami Race on ABC

No one would like to see powerboat racing come back to mainstream awareness than we would; in fact, a big part of our mission is to make the average boater...or the average person, for that matter...aware of the fun and excitement that performance boating has to offer.

Back in the day, offshore powerboat racing was truly a high profile sport, where well-known businessmen and TV/ movie stars hit the waves in an awesome show of power, speed and glamour. If you want a look back, then check out this video, posted on Vimeo by John Carbonell. Featuring Don Johnson, star of Miami Vice, it gives you a great glimpse of where the sport was at one time.

1990 Miami ABC Network Show from John Carbonell on Vimeo.

Will we ever see anything like this again? We can only hope. Once you get past the helicopter tour and Johnson's intro - the action really picks up. ABC sports does a great job of covering the race, and the footage is absolutely first-rate. Check it out!

Blogger Offers Awesome New Ways to View and Enjoy BigBadBoat

We're always trying to discover new ways to make our content more interesting and accessible, from providing an improved mobile site that's easier to read on the iPhone to audio posts from Odiogo and more. Thanks to Google and Blogger we can offer another site enhancement that will make it easier and more enjoyable to read BigBadBoat on the iPad or other tablet viewers.

Blogger's Dynamic Views allows you to access the website in several different ways, including Flipcard View, Mosaic View, Sidebar View, Snapshot View and Timeslide View. These views require modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 8+, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome or Safari. Many elements of these views will not work should you have an older browser. Here are what a few of them look like:

ABOVE: Flipcard view.

ABOVE: Sidebar view.

ABOVE: Mosaic view.

In all views, search is available in the upper right hand corner. Clicking on the ">" arrow in the very top left of the header bar will slide the header bar across and allow you to choose different views for the current blog as well as type in a new blog URL.

As you can see, these views lend themselves really well to reading on tablet devices like the iPad or any tablet PC. To read more about these views and how they work, check out this article: All about Dynamic Views for Readers.

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!

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.

Check out First Boat Linkedin Group for Boating Enthusiasts & Professionals

It seems that as the months grow colder and most of ourt boats head into storage, all we have left are our memories and a list of things we'd like to do next year! But you can still "talk boating" all you want, and a great place to do it is by joining up with the FirstBoat Linkedin Group.

Contrary to what you might think, it's not for people who have just purchased their "first boat" - but for folks from all industries who share the common interest of boats and boating. The group not only includes all types of boaters, but a wide range of experienced industry professionals, who are involved in a number of interesting discussions covering issues like Boat Shows, Marketing, Safety, Boat Design, Marina Operations and other related topics.

Of course, we all enjoy the latest talk about offshore racing and performance, but the FirstBoat group provides an excellent knowledge base and info resource, built on a very broad marine-industry foundation. Whether you're the proud owner of a high-powered offshore boat or an enthusiast who wants to find out more about boating and the marine industry, this site is a great place to start.

Miami Marine Stadium Renovation May Be Coming Soon...

After Hurricane Andrew's powerful winds shut down Miami Marine Stadium in 1992 due to severe damage to the roof, the structure has sat on the waterfront - empty and unloved - continuing to deteriorate and constantly embellished with graffiti of all colors and sizes.

PHOTO CREDIT: MarineStadium.Org

But a younger generation of preservationists and architects have begun to appreciate the design and the historic role of the stadium, which some now rank as a unique cultural icon, demonstrated by its placement on the World Monuments Fund's watch list for 2010 of monuments threatened by neglect or overdevelopment for 2010. Architectural experts both in Miami and around the world say the 6,566-seat stadium is a significant modernist structure -and the move to preserve it is not a joke.

PHOTO CREDIT: Don Sire under Off the Press

That notion matches up well with the feelings of offshore powerboat racing fans, who miss the high performance action that the stadium once hosted and who have been calling for its restoration for many years. According to a report on Miami TV Station CBS Channel 4:

"The marine stadium is unique because of its cantilevered, fold-plate roof and its construction of lightweight, poured-in-place concrete, which was popular in mid-century European and Latin American sports stadiums. The modernist design appears to float over the glimmering water of Biscyane Bay; when bands used to perform there, they would play atop a floating stage. Boats clustered in the water and fans packed the stands."

PICTURE CREDIT: www.archicentral.com.

The efforts to rescue the site are heating up, as Miami has awarded a historic designation for the stadium, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation added it to its "most endangered" list. On Oct. 1, singer Jimmy Buffett cut a public service announcement on behalf of the stadium, urging his multitude of fans to support a new restoration effort.

To keep up on the latest efforts involving fund raising and renovating the stadium, head over to the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium website.

Washington Redskin's Albert Haynesworth & Hell Razor Featured on ESPN E:60

It was nice to see well-known pro football player, powerboater and poker runner Albert Haynesworth featured on the ESPN show E:60 a few weeks back, and viewers were treated to some nice footage of Albert's incredible 44' MTI cat, Hell Razor.

PHOTO CREDIT: ESPN E:60.

Albert, who plays for the Washington Redskins, has a reputation for being a great competitor, both on the football field and on the water, and he normally takes in several popular poker runs each year. He also has a reputation for being a great guy and a lot of fun as well.

PHOTO CREDIT: ESPN E:60.

Though this boat reportedly will do about 160mph, word is that Albert is already having a new 48' boat built. To read the article online and watch the segment, head over to the ESPN website.