Powerboat P1’s New Boat and USA SuperStock Series to Debut at Miami International Boat Show

The innovative versatility of P1's new 28' boat will be featured on the SuperStock exhibition stand at the Miami Boat Show, with both the race and leisure versions on display. The P1-28SS race boat was unveiled by Powerboat P1 USA at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando, Florida in December 2010. This will be the first time that the pleasure version has been on display.

PHOTO CREDITS: Powerboat P1.

The boat design was the work of Raimondo Luretig at Powerboat P1, hull design input came from Fountain Powerboats of the USA, tooling by Marine Concepts in Florida, high-tech production moulds supplied by Liberty Associates of North Carolina and Canada-based BRP Evinrude will be the exclusive engine partner. After ten months of development, the result is an eye-catching craft complete with the latest technology in safety, hull design, digital telemetry and data acquisition. The ability to switch between racing and pleasure is a unique feature of the boat; in just a 5-minute process, the cowling can be removed to deliver a comfortable 4-seat cockpit you'd expect in a leisure boat.

P1’s Director of North American Operations, Martin Sanborn says: “To be a viable motorsport, there has to be a credible competition model and that starts with the new boat. We wanted something unique and inspirational that would attract new racers to the sport. In the P1-28SS we have something that appeals not only to competitors but also to their families, friends and business contacts.”


Personally, I've admired this concept boat over the past few years since it originated with the former Honda Formula Four-Stroke racing series. I'm sure this updated version has a lot to offer - and if delivered at a price-point that makes sense, may offer a great option for regular performance boaters as well as weekend racers.

The P1 SuperStock Championship will run in both the UK and USA this year, with the American series scheduled to start in May and include events in Biloxi, Detroit, Cleveland and Morehead City. We'll definitely be there for the Cleveland debut!

New Racing Promoter is Bullish on the Future of Class 1

H20 Racing's Nicolò di San Germano is optimistic that the new direction of UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship will boost the sport and help move it forward. As head of Class 1 Promotion and the Championship’s newly appointed promoter, San Germano believes that strength in numbers, clear communication and implementation of fair rules will be a major element in getting things on track.

PHOTO CREDITS: Class 1 Racing.

"Our target is to have a minimum of ten boats and this part I think we have already overcome because we have interest from over ten boats for the beginning of the season." Past experience has demonstrated that racers and fans want clarity and fairness in the applicaiton of rules - and this is a top priority this year. "“First of all," he adds, "the rules have to be clear and they [UIM] have done this and now through strong independent referees they must be applied."

For San Germano, the move into Class 1 was a logical step - where he will be looking to draw on and exercise his 17 years of experience as a successful water sports promoter to reinvigorate the sports appeal. “In powerboat circles worldwide Class 1 represents glamour, and was the first class to have a series promoter, Mr Mauro Ravenna. The fact that we are involved in other marine sports, F1H2o, now the new Nations Cup and now Aquabike, it was a logical step to add Class 1 to our effort."

Celebrating 50 Years of Mercruiser Stern Drives

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

PHOTO CREDIT: Mercury Racing.

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

High Profile Dealer Shogren Drops Fountain Line

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

PHOTO CREDIT: Shogren Performance Marine.

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

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

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.

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.

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.