Time to Head North

Next week will be my fourth trip up to see Boyne Thunder, one of America’s premiere poker runs. The first couple of years I traveled up to Michigan, I had hoped to at least bring my Formula 242 up as a marshal boat, but ongoing trailer issues nixed that. Later, having sold my boat, my wife and I still enjoyed heading up to see the boats and check out all the activities, like the street show in Boyne City and the art fair in Charlevoix, which always seems to be held on the same weekend. There’s no doubt that the region includes some of the most scenic areas the Midwest has to offer.

The Street Party in Boyne City on Friday night is one you don't want to miss.

This year, my wife has declined to go, and being freed up, I decided to inquire about the possibility of volunteering at the event, which raises money for children with cancer and individuals with disabilities. Having secured a couple of opportunities to pitch in, I started to make plans.

I had thought about going about a month or more before, but we were invited to travel with some friends to Florida in the Fall, so I held off. When it later became clear that my wife’s job would not allow us to travel south in November, I looked again at coming up to BT, but by that time, no reasonable accommodations were available, and she was balking at making another trip north.

That meant going by myself, and since my needs are pretty modest (I just need a place to rest my head at night and take a shower) I figured I could find a convenient camping spot in the area. Finding campgrounds was not an issue; the only problem is that most non-electric tent sites can’t be reserved in advance, so it’s first-come-first served just about everywhere. I’m pretty confident that I won’t have any problems, and though I am not a big recreational camper, I think this will be a nice little adventure.

The continued popularity of this event is a real testament to the people who work so hard to put it on every year. When I first ventured up here in 2008, I think there were about 40 boats running; this year I believe the number of registrants is up to 120—and there are lots of people who are still on the waiting list. Since that more performance boaters are discovering this great Poker Run, it’s become a “must do”—not only for boaters, but for manufacturers who like to premiere their new boats. One I am especially looking forward to see is Catnip, a new classic wooden runabout from Van Dam Custom Boats, which is actually located in Boyne City. See you at the street show next Friday Night!


Catnip under construction at Van Dam Custom Boats

A Message from The Dock

How long has it been? Too long, I suppose. As I sit writing this, I am making plans to head up to Michigan and volunteer at Boyne Thunder, one of America’s premier poker runs, and which was the subject of my last post on this website, back in 2011. A lot has happened since then, so let me briefly review…

I bought my boat when I turned 50, as a gift to myself. Always loved boats – operated them, but never owned one. I enjoyed my Formula for the first few years, but never got to use it as much as I wanted, and hardly ever in bigger water where I could really enjoy it. In 2010, I was “downsized” from the best job I ever had, out of work for 9 months (due to the recession) and eventually found a job making about 1/3 of my previous income.

Financially we were fine, but with gas at about $4 a gallon and our disposable income lower, boating became a guilty pleasure that increasingly came in second to staying at home on weekends and hanging out at the pool with friends. My vision of how I was going to enjoy my boat sharpened as I realized a few things:

1)  The time I would have to enjoy boating would be more limited than I thought. With both a pool and a boat, we would generally be splitting our weekends between the two, not counting weekends here and there that would be lost to lousy weather.

2)  I bought a (to me) large boat with a comfortable cabin thinking we could overnight on it. Only after I bought it did my wife indicate she could not sleep on a boat. That eliminated any possible savings on overnight accommodations for our boat trips. Hell—I could have just bought a Donzi sweet 16.

3)  It eventually became apparent that the wife was not a fan of high speed on the water. She liked a boat that looked fast, but was not so interested in going fast, or—god forbid—getting any air under the hull. Seems strange for a woman who enjoys riding roller coasters.

4)   The closest lakes to me are nice, but a 26’ boat was really too much boat for them. Limited speed areas; mostly no-wake zones. Lake Erie was 30+ miles away – but opportunities to get up there were pretty limited.

As a result of all this, the boat spent more time on the trailer in my driveway than it did on the water. It was paid for, but winter storage, maintenance, insurance and other costs made me reconsider my situation.

I also must interject here that I eventually came to the realization that the “boating lifestyle” I had envisioned was one that demanded either a significant investment in money (deep pockets) or time (free weekends) that I could not fully devote to the cause.

Most of the folks I saw taking their big boats (and their friends) to poker runs have lots of disposable income. You don’t have to look at a newer 40’ offshore boat with doubles or triples to know that they own their own company or have a very high-level job. It’s like almost owning your own private airplane; these folks can spend several thousand dollars on a weekend poker run and not bat an eye, and then do it again the following week. I think it’s great that they can do this, and it’s fun to follow—but that would never be me.

Of course, we all know there are lots of other folks out there who also enjoy going to poker runs who don’t have big bucks to blow. They may have smaller or older boats. They may participate by volunteering as a marshall boat, or having pals help subsidize their entry fee. They may attend less expensive events, too. But what they also have is more time—time away from family, time (and skill) to repair and maintain their own boat, maybe just more time in general, since boating is their primary activity, period. Unless I happen to have a job related to the boating industry, that’s not me, either.

So it should be no surprise that I sold the Formula a couple of years ago. I plan on having another boat before too long—but it will probably be smaller, and hopefully, permanently docked on the water near wherever I decide to retire.

Saying so long to my beloved BlackJack. Hope she found a happy home.

While I may have been slightly disenchanted with my initial foray into performance boating, I certainly never lost interest. I still love fast boats, and being both near the water and on the water. That will never change. What has changed is the way I choose to enjoy the hobby/sport/lifestyle. That may mean volunteering at events, attending more races and finding more ways I can contribute while acknowledging my current “landlubber” status.

In the meantime, even though I stopped posting on this site regularly, I transformed the main website www.bigbadboat.co.nr into a weekly news update, with stories gathered from my Twitter Powerboat News list. That has allowed be to retain some presence on the web, in addition to my Twitter site www.twitter.com/bigbadboat - which now serves as the primary web platform for [B3]. My posts there are seasonal, but with almost 3,000 followers, it remains as one of the most prominent performance boating accounts on Twitter. I am happy about that.

P1 Superstock Series Featured at 2011 Madison Regatta

P1 SuperStock has launched their new head-to-head Match Race this weekend at the 2011 Madison Regatta. While primarily known as a venue for H1 hydroplane racing, Madison-area fans have eagerly embraced the new P1 Superstock racing formula, adding a new dimension to powerboat racing here.

PHOTO CREDITS: P1superstock.com.

Madison, Indiana, is located on the Ohio River; the earliest documented power boat regatta here took place in 1911. The steamship PRINCESS from Coney Island tied up in the middle of the river as power launches ran an oval track roughly around the boat. This was also one of the earliest examples of competition as it is currently characterized around a closed course.

Team Oregon Custom Marine of the number 15 Panther made history by becoming the first Match Racing Champion of all time. Oregon Custom Marine ran the course extremely well, hitting every turn tightly with ease and quickly crossing the finish line.

PHOTO CREDITS: madisonregatta.com.

With a first place finish in Saturday’s Match Race, Team Oregon Custom Marine earns the pole position of their choice for Sunday’s endurance race. Team JD Byrider of the number 14 boat finished second, receiving the second option for preferred pole position. Typhoon Racing and Pirate Racing were back and forth throughout the entire race and had fans on the edge of their seat until the final lap. Typhoon Racing finished just a few feet in front of Pirate Racing earning them a victory in the first of their three heats.

Be sure to check out www.p1superstock.com for results from the inaugural P1 USA Series event.

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.

Outerlimits' New Hull-Engine Package Powering Class 1 Fendi Team

Italian team Fendi Racing has been testing their new Outerlimits boat-engine package, which they are planning to run competitively for the first time in July at the Class 1 BMW Norwegian Grand Prix in Arendal. The American-made boat was put through a series of shakedown tests on Lake Lecco by throttleman Giovanni Carpitella, alongside team manager and crew chief Marco Bonomo.

The Fendi Team - PHOTO CREDITS: Class-1.com.

“This hull-engine combination is completely different to the Victory boat that Fendi ran in Abu Dhabi," explained Bonomo. "We have a lot to learn in terms of its handling characteristics and overall performance, and some work to do tweaking the engines.”

During test on open waters near Jesolo, Team owner Luca Fendi Formilli Fendi was there to get his first outing in the new boat. “I was very emotional when I saw the boat, even more so after going out to test,” he said. “The last time I saw it, it was just a mass of grey material in a workshop in America and to see it now is incredible. The team has done an amazing job. Now the project I started to talk about over a year ago has really come together.”

The decision by the team to run with the Outerlimits boat and twin 850 SC Outerlimits Powertrain engines sees the American high performance boat manufacturer making its debut into the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, swelling the ranks of different boat-engine manufacturers competing in the championship to five. The Arendal, Norway race is scheduled for July 15th - 17th.

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!

Operation Dry Water Promotes Safe Boating This Weekend with BUI Enforcement

Operated carelessly, any boat can be dangerous--but this is even more the case with high performance boats, where size, speed and power can quickly multiply the effects of a bad decision. Most responsible offshore powerboaters are aware of this, and take care to avoid the risks involved in drinking and boating; moreover, most organized events, like poker runs, have strict enforcement policies when it comes to drinking and participation.

 IMAGE CREDIT:  operationdrywater.org.

This weekend, law enforcement organizations across the country are joining together through "Operation Drywater" to raise awareness about BUI (Boating Under the Influence) promoting enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.Curbing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities is key to achieving a safer and more enjoyable environment for recreational boating. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, Boating Under the Influence is still the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use. 

No one wants to take the fun out of boating, or stop people from having a good time on the water. But the purpose of the weekend is to remind boaters that if you want to drink, do it after your boating day is over, or be sure to enjoy it in a responsible manner. Also be aware that drunken passengers can put themselves in danger, despite your best efforts--and they can be a significant distraction while you're operating the boat.Take care...and you'll take everyone back home at the end of the day.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for June 20-26

Be sure to check out this week's issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about how Miss Geico bested the rest in the Sunny Isles OPA race, a possible recovery wave in the boating industry, the Malta 2011 Grand Prix of The Sea, 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.

UK Powerboat Racer Shelley Jory Back behind The Wheel in P1 Superstock

We've highlighted Shelley Jory's efforts before - back in 2009, well before before a pair of dramatic accidents last July left her with some very serious injuries. Earlier last year, the 40-year old had become the first woman to win a Powerboat P1 Grand Prix event, but when her boat Spirit of Belgium sunk in Sardinia, she and throttleman Patrick Huybrieghts ended up in the hospital, wondering if they would ever race again.

Describing the accident, Shelley said it was easily the worst of her career: "The front of the boat just dipped into the water and shattered on impact. It's like driving a car into a brick wall at 83 mph," she recalled, recovering from head injuries and a broken nose.

After an extended leave of absence, Shelley has decided to return to powerboat racing, planning to announce her entry into the Powerboat P1 Superstock series in the UK. Though the boats don't have the power and speed of her previous P1 championship boats, they will offer her a significant challenge.

“P1 have always been a great support to me through my career, she says. "This will take me back to my Honda race days, which were by far the most competitive and fun racing I have done.”

Jory & Huybrieghts - the first wreck in Malta. PHOTO CREDIT: motorboatsmonthly.com

From Hampshire England, Shelley has always been a fan favorite, and when she's not boating, runs a very successful bridal business. Her first race event is scheduled for Jersey on June 11-12, and I'm sure we're not the only ones wishing her the best of luck. For more information on that race, go HERE.

Powerboat Magazine Ends Regular Publication Upon Aquisition by Bonnier Corp.

Long established as THE source for news, boat reviews and features covering the world of high performance boating, Powerboat Magazine will cease regular publication in August after being purchased by Bonnier Corporation, one of America's largest consumer publishing groups. With over 1,000 employees and more than $350 million in annual revenue, Bonnier Corp. ranks in the top 10 nationally among publishing companies. The company was formed in March 2007 when Sweden's Bonnier Group purchased 18 magazines from Time Inc. and combined those assets with its U.S. magazine partner, World Publications,

Rumors of a purchase offer had been floating around performance boating forums for about a week, but only today has the announcement of Powerboat's sale been officially announced on the Powerboat Facebook web page:

"Surely hope this isn't an end of an era, but it's still a sad day. After the July 2011 issue, which is being sent out this week, it looks like Boating will be coming your way if you're a Powerboat subscriber."

Bonnier currently publishes a number of marine-relate titles, including Boating, Sportfishing, Yachting and WaterSki, among others. Reportedly, Powerboat and Trailer Boats (also acquired from Affinity Media Group) will be offered from time-to-time as "special issues" during the boating season.

Of course, I enjoyed Powerboat as much as anyone else, and it has been hard to watch the magazine gradually shrink as the performance boat industry has taken a beating over the last few years. While the content has always been first-class, the fewer number of advertising pages sold has clearly had a significant impact on the cost of operation. While on the surface, it seems like the end of an era--it may be a sign that media coverage of performance boating is simply changing to reflect new technologies, new publishing models and new times. We're looking forward to being a part of that.

Video: It's 1972 All Over Again as Cowes to Monte-Carlo Race Shapes up for 2013.

They are calling it the longest and toughest offshore powerboat race in the world...and they are probably right. The 2013 Cowes to Monte-Carlo Race will cover 2,400 nautical miles in deep offshore water, from England and then off the coasts of France, Spain, Portugal, through Gibraltar and across the Riviera coast. It has only been run once - in 1972 - and is open to any powerboat from 26ft to 50ft, fitted with diesel or gas, inboard or outboard engines. Since the distance between some of the stopover venues will range from from 190 to over 300 miles, long distance tanks will be a must.

VIDEO CREDITS: cowestomontecarlo.com.

So far, about 40 teams from 12 different countries have signed up to participate, and the UK organizers are hoping USA teams will eventually be among them (we do see a USA Donzi entry on their web site). In any case, it's important to move fast, since the cap for participating boats will be set at 55. We'll keep you posted as news about the race develops - but you can always check out the latest happenings at the Official Race Site. In the mean time , you can check out the video here, posted on YouTube by nauticwebnews.

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!

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.

Cocoa Beach Ready for Super Boat International Season Opener, May 18-22

SBI is celebrating its second consecutive year racing at Cocoa Beach with next week's 2nd Annual Bright House Space Coast Grand Prix. In fact, it was just last Fall when SBI teams converged on Cocoa Beach and hit the water after what had been a 20-year hiatus.

PHOTO CREDITS: Super Boat International.

Extra good news is that even more teams are expected than last year, with some of the world’s fastest boats scheduled to race along the area's sandy beaches near the famous Cocoa Beach Pier. “2010 was a very good as a first year back, and we expect this to be an even more exciting race than before,"  says SBI Founder John Carbonell. "We're pleased again to see how excited and supportive the community is about Super Boat racing. This is really going to make for a great season opener for 2011.”

Cocoa Beach fans unable to attend the race in person can follow Sunday’s activities on superboat.com and watch it through the live streaming broadcast. Super Boat International is broadcasting the entire 2011 season online through live streaming and can be found at superboat.com/live-tv on the day of the race.

The week's events start off with a sponsor and VIP party, May 18th at the Paradise Cove Restaurant. Teams, boats and support equipment will continue to arrive Thursday, May 19th in the Dry Pits across from Fishlips, and race boats will be on display for the “Powerboats on Parade” in downtown Cocoa Beach at 3pm.

Friday, May 20th is team registration and boat inspections along with parties and live entertainment in the evening near the pits. Teams will be testing on Saturday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and the races are on Sunday, May 22nd at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

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!

Former Honeyparty Skater to debut as Geico Caveman Boat

Word has it that the former Honeyparty.com 399 Skater V-bottom that once competed in Powerboat P1's Evolution class is being re-worked and refitted to compete as the Geico Caveman boat during this year's offshore race season. No exact word on what class the boat is expected to enter; this may depend on the sanctioning body for each race the the specific rules involved.

PHOTO CREDIT: Honeyparty.com.

Known for his aggressive racing style, particularly in rough waters, former Honeyparty throttleman Richard Carr will be flying in to handle those same duties on the big 40' vee. Powered by a couple of 1350hp Chief engines and Arnseon surface drives, the boat was constructed back in 2008 of carbon/kevlar epoxy composites built to withstand the brutal environment of ocean racing.

Geico has had a promotional Caveman Cigarette in the past, so we may have a clue to what the reliveried Skater might look like. Whenever and wherever the new boat debuts, it's sure to be an exciting addition to the Geico racing team...and we'll be sure to bring you some photos when they're available!

Sustained High Winds Cancel Shoot-Out at Desert Storm

LakeracerLLC has announced that Desert Storm Shootout has been canceled for 2011, due to high winds on the lake and the fact that the weather conditions may extend over the rest of the weekend. The US Coast Guard and other public safety agencies in the area deemed the conditions too dangerous for high speed operation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Citydata.com.

The local weather forecast for Sunday is the same as today; boaters on-site have reported high sustained winds with severe gusting throughout the day Saturday. Nevertheless, safety always comes first - and the decision was a good one. Even though the shoot-out was cancelled, everyone at Havasu says Desert Storm was still a first-rate event. Here's hoping a new shoot-out champion can be crowned next year--for now, JBS Racing gets to retain their bragging rights!

OSS Race Season Continues to Take Shape

We told you about the upcoming OSS race coming up in Biloxi...and the organization's 2011 season continues to take shape as they have released their 2011 schedule. OSS will be joining Powerboat P1 USA at several venues, including classes within the P1 format under the sanction of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) and the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

“Whereas we are still working on a couple sites, we realized we had to get at least this partial schedule announced....we look forward to announcing the other sites very soon and appreciate everyone’s patience.” said Michael (Mike) Mares, OSS Board Chairman.

PHOTO CREDITS: Screamandfly.com.

2011 OSS Racing Schedule


May 12-15 Smokin’ the Sound Biloxi, MS.
June 10-12 TBA
July 8-10 Detroit, MI.
August 18-20 Morehead City, NC.
Sept. 2-4 TBA
Sept. 16-18 Hoosier Offshore Classic, Lk Monroe, Bloomington, IN.
Oct. 12-16 TBA

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!