January 2020 Speedboat by Brett Bayne

S PEEDBO AT M A G A ZINE

INSIDE: RWO & OPA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

VS C

J AN U A RY / FEB R U A RY 20 20

JAN / FEB 2020 $4.99US/CAN

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TABLE OF

JANUARY 2020

COLUMNS

8 RAY LEE 10 BOB TEAGUE 12 INDUSTRY NEWS

30 OPA WATERFEST

FEATURES

Our test team puts four awesome party boats to the ultimate test—two West Coast deckboats and two East Coast center consoles.

14 KEY WEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

50 60 YEARS OF FLIBS

24 KEY WEST POKER RUN

56 MONSTER MASH

Race World Offshore officially takes charge of the legendary boat race in the Southernmost state.

Stu Jones of the Florida Powerboat Club takes a massive fleet of powerboat enthusiasts to Key West for a recordbreaking poker run.

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The Offshore Powerboat Association holds its annual offshore world finals in Englewood, FL.

34 PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

East Coast manufacturers showcase their wares in grand style at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Storm Productions delivers some frightening fun at the latest installment of the Monster Storm Poker Run.

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Cover Photos by Todd Taylor Table of Contents photo courtesy Florida Powerboat Club

Speedboat.com Published by DCO Enterprises, LLC Publishers

Ray Lee

ray@speedboat.com

Chris Davidson

chris@speedboat.com

As this issue went to press, the tragic news broke that Pure Platinum owner Michael Pierce, 39, had been killed in an automobile accident along with his father, Michael D. Pierce, in Baton Rouge, LA. The 388 Skater (left) was a massively popular fixture on the poker run circuit. The staff of Speedboat offers our sincerest condolences to Pierce’s family and friends.

BRETT’S COVE 64 ENDURO 300

Racers subject themselves to a grueling four-hour endurance race that pays tribute to the great marathons of the 1960s.

68 TO DIE FOR

Here are two vintage rides with a macabre common theme: Killer Candy and Death Wish.

72 THANKSGIVING REGATTA

61 boats in 12 classes came to Parker, AZ, to compete in the annual Turkey Day competition.

76 NJBA SEASON FINALS

Editor

Brett Bayne

Senior Tech Editors

Bob Teague

brett@speedboat.com bobteague@teaguecustommarine.com

Jim Wilkes

jim@speedboat.com

Tech Editors

National Sales Director Art Director Helicopter Services Photographers

Greg Shoemaker Jim Wilkes Valerie Collins Ray Lee

ray@speedboat.com

Gail Hada-Insley Fred Young

fyoung@live.com

Todd Taylor, Kenny Dunlop, Mark McLaughlin, Paul Kemiel, Jeff Gerardi, Daren Van Ryte

Operations Manager Michele Plummer and Subscriptions michele@speedboat.com

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Web Design

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Editorial Offices

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SPEEDBOAT MAGAZINE (ISSN#1941-9473) is published 8 times plus a bonus issue this year by DCO Enterprises LLC.

The National Jet Boat Association closes out the year with an action-packed bout in Bakersfield, CA.

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RAY LEE

racing organization known as Superboat International (SBI), led by John Carbonell, has put on the Offshore World Championships in Key West, FL. In that time, it had grown into the premier offshore boat race event of the year–bar none. Teams traveled from all around the globe to compete at the “southernmost point” of the U.S. and fans diligently followed and it was quite the spectacle in its heyday.

principal Larry Bleil and his team were bound and determined to make it work. Larry told me so himself so we made our arrangements to attend. When we arrived in Key West on that Tuesday of Race Week, the vibe was subtle but upbeat. The RWO staff was friendly and accommodating. The race fleet was smaller than in years past (28 registered boats), but that was to be expected. Many teams opted to “wait and see” how the new organization would do, while others chose to remain singly loyal to Ed “Smitty” Smith and OPA, who had a remarkable race season with record numbers of race teams competing throughout the year, well into the 70s. Their World Championships were also only two weeks later in Englewood, Florida.

The appeal was evident. It was a fairly remote destination in a beautiful locale with generally ideal weather and the racing could be viewed easily from shore, as the powerboats all came thundering by—just feet from the spectating crowds. Enthusiasts would plan their vacations around it each November and we, as media, made it a staple to attend and cover every year. This being the 39th year, however, was different. SBI’s race contract with the city of Key West had expired at the conclusion of the 2018 event and it was up for bid, to be determined by the powers that be in the small resort town. Earlier this year, SBI submitted their request to again acquire the contract for the next five years, but this time they were joined by longtime co-race producers Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) and newcomers Race World Offshore (RWO). After months of uncertainty, RWO was ultimately awarded the contract to put on the Offshore World Championships under their new moniker and prove to the city of Key West that they had made the right decision. Yet many questions remained unclear. Would the fans still come? Would the race teams still come? Would it be different? Could it be better? All we were sure of, was that RWO

But largely, the racers reported that they appreciated the new organization’s efforts and how they were received. They felt “respected” and were treated accordingly. A new and welcomed feature was an actual podium awards presentation after each race for each class, as well as a final awards ceremony near the pits, that even the fans could attend––an opportunity that was not available during the SBI events. RWO also collaborated with Stu and

For the previous 38 years, the boat

RWO Carries On the Tradition

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Jackie Jones of the Florida Powerboat Club (FPC) and their exceedingly popular Miami-to-Key West Poker Run, which also reported record numbers for this year. Bleil and company even managed to lure country music sensation Lee Brice away from Nashville to perform a concert near the race pits for one and all to enjoy, with plans to recruit another popular artist for next year. The always-impressive Key West Duval Street Party remained ever-impressive. It was as wild as ever and just as enthusiastic. While a bit condensed, one definitely couldn’t tell as throngs of fans congregated once more on the boulevard to meet their favorite racers and pose next to their vessels. One very scary moment was the dramatic double blowover of Super Stock competitors and friendly rivals Billy Allen (left) and Larry Minegar in Team Allen Lawn Care and Mike Wright and Loren Peters in Team LPC on Day One of racing––which all racers emerged battered and bruised but otherwise uninjured. The two boats were racing hull-to-hull down the straightaway right in front of the crowd on Mallory Square when both boats simultaneously flipped skyward and ultimately upside down, reminiscent of a synchronized air show act. The crash drew national attention, even being featured on TV’s Good Morning America. Another Super Stock race boat Team Jackhammer also flipped on Day Two of racing, with both racers being OK, as well. So, after nearly a year of battling for the coveted venue of the Key West and receiving it, despite a few growing pains and freshman lessons learned, we enjoyed Race World Offshore’s inaugural presentation of the Key West World Championships. What’s old now seems new again, fresh and exciting and we look forward to seeing how Bleil and his staff will improve upon their 2019 offering for Key West 2020. Congratulations to RWO World Champion Teams CRC, WHM, CR Racing, Sheriff Lobo, Speedster, Wix Filters, SimmonsMarine.com, Illicit Motorsports and Offshore Outlaw. speedboat.com

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BOB TEAGUE

Max-5 for Nordic Heat Dear Bob: I have a 2004 28' Nordic Heat with a stock 496HO and Bravo X drive. The only modification is a 1" drive spacer. Right now, the propeller is a Mercury Racing factory lab finished Bravo One 24" pitch 4-blade. With this prop, the engine runs a little over 5,000 rpm. The GPS indicates 60 mph, but that seems low. I am not sure I trust that. I just purchased the boat, so I do not have a lot of experience with it. I saw your Swoop Motorsports/Teague Talk video segment on the Mercury Racing Max-5 propellers for this boat. I was impressed. What pitch do you think I should purchase? I typically run the boat at sea level up to 1,500-foot elevation. Thanks so much for your help. Wayne Hofer Eagle Point, OR

Max-5 Mercury Racing RH propeller.

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Mercury Racing Max-5 partial inventory.

Fortunately, we have had a lot of experience with the Max-5 propellers on the 28-foot Nordic Heats. Most of them have had a lot more power than your stock 496HO. Your boat and power combination are probably not the best fit for a Lab Finished Bravo One. It is likely that the lab-finished propeller will result in higher top speed than a stock Bravo One propeller, but because of the size and weight of your boat, it is likely that the mid-range efficiency is not great. Originally, the Max-5 propellers were designed for the Mercury Racing 400R outboards and were only available in a 15" diameter. As we started experimenting with the propellers on inboard stern drive applications, we determined that more diameter would be beneficial. Ultimately, after some custom prototype 15¼" diameter propellers were made for us by Mercury Racing, our testing yielded the desired results. Because of this cooperative effort, the Max-5 is now offered in both diameters and the 15¼”

diameter seems to be the more popular size. Since your boat is a larger single engine boat, the 5-blade will provide benefits for overall efficiency. You are running close to the rev-limiter at this point. You may be up against it and not know it. The lab-finished fourblades are usually faster on the top end but mid-range efficiency is usually sacrificed a little compared to a non-lab finished version. The Max-5 in the proper pitch will be the best choice for both scenarios. You will be surprised with the speed gains compared to rpm in the midrange without sacrificing top speed. For your boat, based on your current performance information, I would select at 15 ¼ diameter in either a 23 or 24 inch pitch Max-5. I am leaning toward the 24"-pitch to help gain more mid-range efficiency even if you may not be able to get to the rev limiter in less-than-ideal conditions. speedboat.com

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NORDIC Reveals 2 New Models

ordic Boats of Lake Havasu, AZ,

has announced two new models nearing completion: a 48-foot vee bottom and a 31-foot catamaran. General manager Thane Tiemer told Speedboat that the new 48’ Poker Run has been a year in the making, with the first three already sold—one of which is for company president Randy Davis. Tiemer said the boat will be powered by twin Mercury Racing 1100 engines with M6 drives. Tiemer said that Nordic Boats owner Randy Davis, along with two of his friends, wanted to own fully gel-coated vee bottoms in the 46 to 50 range. “We had our 39, which ran amazing,” Tiemer says. “So after I designed that one, I based the new 48' off of that bottom. It’s got a full to-the-water bustle, the whole nine yards.” (Nordic’s 39 Poker Run features a pair of 700 SCis, yielding a top speed of 110 mph. IMCO Marine owns one of the Nordic 39s.) The first 48’ Poker Run out of the mold was originally earmarked as Davis’s personal boat. “But that might change because one of our customers is all over

it,” Tiemer chuckles. He said the new model will feature 100% composite construction with carbon Kevlar, all gelcoat, with a cabin sporting cabinets, sink area and cupboards all coming out of a onepiece mold. “No seams and no joining, no nothing,” he says. The 48' will also feature T-top doors in the front of the deck. “So when you park on the beach, you press a button from outside of the boat and they’ll lift up,” Tiemer says. “Then you can pull out all your lawn chairs and stuff instead of carrying everything from the back of the boat. There’s easy access onto the deck from the dash. There’s hidden bimini top that’s all tucked away, a flushable head, and so much more. It’s fully loaded.” The 48' models that are currently being built will also feature a “beach door” on the side of the boat, similar to the ones built into the Hallett 40-footers built by Nordic in recent years. “They’ll be electric, not the mechanical,” he says. “This boat will have a button you push, and the door will slide open.” In addition to the 48' Poker Run, Nordic is completing work on its 31'

Hustler Founder Paul Fiore Dies at 76

Paul Fiore, the innovator who created Launched in 1978, Hustler made an Hustler Powerboats—and whose son immediate impact on the East Coast offMike Fiore founded Outerlimits in the early 1990s—has passed away, according to Outerlimits National Sales Manager Dan Kleitz. He was 76.

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shore performance scene, and it remains a force today, with a rich line of upscale offshore vees and cats. Paul sold the company in 1993 and then went to work

Two new Nordics on the way: the 31' Flat Deck and the 48’ Poker Run.

Flat Deck catamaran (see photo above). The boat will be powered by twin outboards—Mercury Racing 400R or 450R motors—and will fill a gap between Nordic’s 28’ and 35’ catamarans. Both boats are expected to be shown at the upcoming Los Angeles Boat Show. Meanwhile, Tiemer said Nordic’s long-rumored center console model is “already well under way,” and in the works for more than six months,” he says. “That’s our next boat.” It’s expected to be the next model added to the builder’s stable, and measure between 36 and 38 feet.

for Mike at Outerlimits. Five years ago, Outerlimits’ President/ CEO Mike Fiore, then 44, died from injuries he sustained during a boating event in Missouri. The entire Outerlimits family was devastated by the the loss of their friend and company leader. Following the tragedy, Paul Fiore continued to play a major role in continuing to grow the company. Paul is survived by his wife, Diane; his daughter, Donna, who is part of the Outerlimits team; former wife Joyce (Mike’s and Donna’s mother); and grandchildren Nicole, Sophia, Jet and Moxie. A celebration of Paul’s life was announced, with details to follow. A celebration of Paul’s life was held on Dec. 7 at the Outerlimits facility in Rhode Island. The staff at Speedboat Magazine salutes this legend, icon and all-around amazing human being. [Continues on page 82] speedboat.com

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KEY WEST World Championships

photoography by Todd Taylor and Ray Lee

ore than two dozen race teams came to Florida to partici-

pate in the Race World Offshore Key West World Championships in November, an event that composed of three separate race days. Competitors faced off in seven different classes, three of which featured boats running unopposed. It was a week that saw three boats flip in Super Stock class—two running side by side. By Sunday’s final bout, Billy Mauff and Jay Muller in WHM Motorsports walked away as Offshore World Champions in Supercat class, Mike DeFrees and Jeff Harris of Team CRC/Spooled

Up Racing were the champs in Extreme Class, and Rob Unnerstall and Casey Boaz in CR Racing were victorious in Super Stock Class. Some of the battles were genuine heartbreakers, especially in Supercat class. Competitors Charles Broaddus and Chris Hanley in Broadco had finished second on Wednesday and won their class on Friday, so their chances of taking the world title were promising. Unfortunately, they dropped out of Sunday’s final competition about halfway through the race, while another condender, Dependable, also dropped out with a mechanical issue. WHM’s Mauff and Muller stayed out in front

for most of Sunday’s race before being overtaken in the final laps by both the New Zealand team of Wayne Valder and Grant Bruggemann in Pro-Floors Racing and Tyson Garvin and Tyler Miller in M-CON, who finished first and second, respectively. But WHM didn’t need to win Sunday’s race—they had enough points from earlier in the week to capture the world title. Pro-Floors wound up with a second overall finish; M-CON, third overall. Then there was the Super Stock carnage. On the first day of racing, the field of 10 boats included Team Allen Lawn Care and Team LPC, which at one point were running side by side when both [Story continues on page 61]

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It’s Race World Offshore’s show now, and they’re off to an auspicious start.

Extreme Class World Champions Mike DeFrees and Jeff Harris (top) of Team CRC/Spooled Up Racing. Below: The team accepts their trophy.

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SUPERCAT: Billy Mauff and Jay Muller of WHM Motorsports walked away as World Champions in their class.

SUPER STOCK Myrick Coil and Rusty Williams in Performance Boat Center/Auto Alert finished second overall.

SUPER STOCK Rob Unnerstall and Casey Boaz in CR Racing are World Champions in the class.

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

SUPER VEE EXTREME: Owner/ throttleman Shameel Mohammed of Trinidad and driver Mark Niemann of Phantom 9 Racing teamed up to take the World Championship in Sheriff Lobo.

BRACKET 2: Dan MacNamara and Eric Treadwell were the winners in Speedster.

BRACKET 3: J.P. Larkin and Ed Tamberino were triumphant in Wix Filters, a 38' Fountain.

CLASS 4: Owner/ driver Jim Simmons, with Jason Zolecki on throttles, took SimmonsMarine.com to the winner’s circle over Team Octane, which Simmons also owns.

BRACKET 6: Damon Marotta Jr. and Damon Marotta Sr. in Offshore Outlaw are the World Champions. BRACKET 5: Greg Bluttler and Mark DiDario are the World Champions in Illicit Motorsports.

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

DOUBLE TROUBLE

photo credit: Kyle Gilmour

photo credit: Bob Eddings

The first day of competition spelled trouble for Team Allen Lawn Care and Team LPC, both of which caught air and blew over simultaneously. The pilots escaped without injury, but the boats were pretty banged up.

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

D A: Team Wix Filters, the World Champions in Bracket class 3. B: Race World Offshore president and founder Larry Bleil. C: The podium finishers in Super Stock: the teams from Performance Boat Center (second), CR Racing (first) and FJ Propeller (third). D: Podium finishers in Supercat: the teams from M-CON (third), WHM Motorsports (first) and Pro-Floors Racing (second). E: Jim Simmons and his teammates from both SimmonsMarine.com and Team Octane celebrate their one-two punch in Bracket 4 class. F: The Speedster team accepts their World Championship trophy in Bracket Class 2.

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F speedboat.com

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Powerboat Nation is the world’s leading resource for Powerboating Videos, Photos, News and more!

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photoography courtesty Florida Powerboat Club

FPC T

Key West Poker Run

he Key West Poker Run— Florida Powerboat Club’s premier event—kicked off with

two departure days from Miami to Key West to encompass six days of fun, sun and speed. The group’s leader, Stu Jones, told Speedboat that 70+ teams left on Wednesday, with an additional 195 teams enjoying the adventure for the Thursday run. “These numbers were epic in proportion to previous years for this 27-year event, and we are very thankful to all the FPC members and our featured sponsors who continue to support this event every year,” he said. Jones credited the nation’s strong

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economy, coupled with the general growth in the performance boating sectors, in helping grow the popularity of poker runs exponentially. “People are finally starting to get it—that poker runs are fun, full of adventure and camaraderie, and there’s no better way to enjoy the powerboating lifestyle than to do poker runs,” he said. “The Key West Poker Run, beyond any other experience, captures that true spirit of performance boating. It’s a great platform to see the Florida Keys and really enjoy a few bursts of adrenaline. You get to meet people from all around the world and watch the powerboat races all in one bang-up weekend.”

One major challenge of FPC’s growth is dealing with the huge amount of participants. For example: What venue can serve so many people lunch at one go? “We figured out the solution,” Jones said. “With so many boats on the Thursday run, it just amounted to finding good lunch stops for some of the larger manufacturers. So Nor-Tech owners had lunch at Sundowners in Key Largo. Meanwhile, Cigarette owners dined at the Playa Largo Resort in Key Largo. And the majority of MTI owners opted to gather at the Faro Blanco Resort for their lunch stop. That took care of half of the fleet right there.”

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Left: The MTI-SV 42 Spooled Up Support, owned by Craig and Kim Hargreaves, is powered by four Mercury Racing 450Rs. Below: Brandon Purkiss’s MTI 340X, powered by Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Bottom: Built in Norway, this 447 Predator can reach 136 mph with twin Mercury Racing 1350 engines.

Club leader Stu Jones takes his Florida Powerboat Club members from Miami to Key West for the Offshore World Championships.

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POKER RUN

Above: Mark and Jennifer Schouten’s MTI-V 42 Bravo Zulu center console, powered by quad Mercury Racing 450R engines. Left: The 39’ Outerlimits Megawatts, owned by Bruno and Rebecca Perree.

Steve Armstrong in his 35' Draken Marine center console, Honey Badger.

Representing Jim Lee’s Christina yacht are “Devils and Angels” Kristen Lewis, Dee O’Dell and Rebekah Johnson with a copy of Speedboat.

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The 36' Skater Pipe Dreams, owned by Eric and Ashley Matzen.

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OPAWaterfest photoography by Jeff Gerardi • Freeze Frame Video

The Offshore Powerboat Association season reaches a dramatic climax in Englewood Beach, FL.

acing in Englewood Beach, FL, hit a fever pitch when 4-5 foot seas on the Gulf of

Mexico made for a barely navigable course as the OPA season held its World Championships event. It consisted of two days of racing, the first day worth half points, and full points on the second day. Due to strong winds, choppy waters and mechanical gremlins, numerous boats either didn’t make it to the final day of racing or had to drop out during the Sunday competition in November, including Miss Geico in Unlimited class, NJI Motorsports in Class 7, and Typhoon and FastBoys in ProStock Vee. FJ Propeller, with owner/throttleman Gary Ballough

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and driver Jimmie Harrison, flipped during Saturday’s race after hitting a rogue wave that catapulted them skyward. (The 32' Victory hull was largely undamaged, but was unable to compete on Sunday.) Some races on Sunday were shortened due to the extreme water conditions. With Miss Geico out of the running in Unlimited class, competitors DF Young, Team CRC and Scuderia Cazzani duked it out on Sunday. DF Young, with Rich Wyatt and Hugh Fuller, took their second consecutive win on Sunday to capture the World Championship. In Super Cat, driver Chris Grant and throttleman Billy Moore of CJ Grant led Sunday’s bout for most of the seven laps (shortened from 14). However, AMH

Motorsports overtook them close to the end of Sunday’s race, giving them a second win and the World Championship. Super Stock racing involved a fourboat battle between Shadow Pirate (Saturday’s winner), Wicked, Cape Haze Marina (Saturday’s third-place finisher) and Phase 5. Ryan Beckley and Greg DiRenzo in Cape Haze Marina finished first and took the championship. Also taking World Championships: LSB Hurricane of Awesomeness/RevX Oil (Pro Stock Vee), Tug It/LSB (Vee Extreme), Marker 17 Marine (SVX), #Living Right/ Team Woody (Class 3), Saris Racing (Class 4), Shoreline Plumbing (Class 5), Smith Brothers (Class 6) and Shadow Pirate (Class 7). Congratulations to all!

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Top: DF Young took top honors in Unlimited Class. Left: Driver Aaron Hope and throttleman Anthony Smith in AMH Motorsports (the former Stihl competitor) are the OPA World Champions in Super Cat class. Below: Brit Lilly and Kevin Smith of LSB Racing/RevXOil.com are the World Champions in ProStock Vee class. Bottom: #Living Right/Team Woody are the World Champions in Class 3.

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WATERFEST

Left: Super Stock World Champion Cape Haze Marina, with Ryan Beckley and Greg DiRenzo. Below: Class 4 World Champion Saris Racing.

Vee Extreme World Champion Tug It/LSB, a 40' Fountain with Brit Lilly and Kevin Smith.

Driver Garrett Moor and throttleman Derek Dawson are Class 7 World Champions in Punisher.

Shoreline Plumbing was victorious in Class 5.

Marker 17 Marine’s Vinnie Diorio and Brian Forehand are the SVX World Champions.

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285 Sport Deck

hen Nordic Boats purchased Hallett a little more than two years ago, it inherited a lineup

of well-respected thoroughbreds, although some required a bit of updating in the styling and design departments. One boat it largely left alone was the 285 Sport Deck. “We didn’t change one physical aspect of the deck or the bottom or anything like that,” explains general manager Thane Tiemer, who is proud of the boat’s performance.

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“If it had a single negative drivability characteristic, we wouldn’t sell the boat—we wouldn’t even make it. The Package: What the new builders did do was switch to an all-composite construction—no wood at all in the boat anymore—and they’ve reorganized the engine compartment, hiding away the fuel tanks and rigging, which was formerly left exposed. Hallett used to put their batteries under the rear bench seat, but now that area features ice chests, and the back seats themselves have been

done in a clamshell fiberglass style with the Hallett logo. So at least cosmetically, this deckboat has enjoyed some creative updating with some of the latest technology, and that’s a very good thing. This year’s tester featured a gelcoat with silvers and pearls and fades. It was deemed “very pretty but not overdone” by our dry-land inspection team. In the hatch was a Mercury Racing 600 SCi with a very sanitary standard installation; it’s coupled to a Bravo XR drive spinning a 26"-pitch four-blade Bravo prop. The speedboat.com

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HALLETT 285 SPORT DECK Length: 28'6" Beam: 101" Engines on test boat: Mercury Racing 600 SCi / XR Drive Standard features: 2 Odyssey batteries, custom canvas cover, bimini top, stainless rubrail, carpet kit, LED lighting, front washdown, insulated ice chest, Vessel View, 4-blade prop, triple-axle Adrenaline trailer, Livorsi gauges. Options on test boat: Extended swim step with dual boarding ladders ($3,400), upgraded stereo system—level 1 ($3,500). Price as tested: $186,800 Top speed: 79 mph @ 5,400 rpm HALLETT BOATS 770 N. Lake Havasu Ave. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 855-7420 hallettboats.com

performance evaluations

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Nordic has reorganized the Hallett’s engine compartment, hiding away the fuel tanks and rigging, which was formerly left exposed. This deckboat has enjoyed some creative updating with some of the latest technology. The boat sits atop an Adrenaline trailer and features some truly top-quality stitching.

“The boat has a decent throttle response and has a wide stance that goes across the bumpy water quite nicely. Since Nordic took over the Hallett line, they’re better.” —Bob Teague 36 S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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ACCELERATION DATA: 0-5 seconds: 25 mph 0-10 seconds: 42 mph 0-15 seconds: 56 mph 0-20 seconds: 74 mph 30-50 mph: 6.45 seconds 40-60 mph: 6.72 seconds 40-70 mph: 11.28 seconds Time to reach plane without tabs: 7.20 • with tabs 5.06 secs.

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boat featured outside ram steering a standard dualwater pickup, Imco hydraulic steering, stainless steel swim platform and Lenco trim tabs. We counted eight stainless-steel cleats on the boat, which proved to be very handy. Inside the cockpit, there’s a snap-in carpet. The engine hatch is opened electrically, with good access to the engine compartment. The upholstery, which is all done in-house at Hallett, was extremely well done. At the helm, we found an Isotta steering wheel, Mercury Race View, Livorsi gauges and controls and IMCO tilt helm. Other goodies aboard the 285 include two Garelick ladders underneath the extended swim platform, stainless steel rubrail all around the hull, JL Audio system, and a washdown station at the bow to shower off your feet after you’ve beached. Our crew noted that boat’s fit and finish and attention to detail are a step above how they were done previously. In terms of construction quality, this is one of the finest deckboats we’ve evaluated. The new manufacturers have hit the ball out of the park. Performance: Hallett has equipped this 285 with both the Mercury Racing 565 and 600 SCi packages. Our 600 was somewhat underpropped, which helped its acceleration but kept the speed to 79 mph. “With two more inches of pitch, it would probably go 85,” declares test driver Bob Teague. Despite that, “the boat runs pretty good,” he says. “No rattles, no deceleration reaction, no steering wheel torque. It’s got a decent throttle response and has a wide stance that goes across the bumpy water quite nicely. It doesn’t seem to be affected by the wind or anything.” Both Teague and co-test team driver Myrick Coil noted a slight hop at the very top end, but could be smoothed out with some trimming. “You only get it if it’s in really smooth water,” says Teague, who especially praised the boat’s performance in the midrange. Overall, the boat won high marks in acceleration, turning, handling characteristics and ride through all of the speed ranges. “Since Nordic took over the Hallett line, they’re better,” Teague says. Our test boat was actually owned by Rick Aguiar, a Chino, CA-based police officer, so we’ll let him have the final word on the Hallett. First of all, this is his first real performance boat, and he tells Speedboat that his purchase was influenced by the roominess for his family and his own need for speed. “The boat planes very quickly, and is pretty quick and nimble for a boat as big as it is,” Aguiar says. “When Nordic took over, they took the construction to a new level, especially the seats. They’re just beautiful—old school but with a modern twist. It’s a great boat. Sleek and elegant, but simple. ” S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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obra Performance Boats founder Jeff Bohn and his longtime general manager, Hernando Rodriguez, are

not famous for tirelessly selfpromoting their products or tooting their own horns. They prefer to focus on constantly improving their fleet of go-fast vee bottoms, deckboats and sport cats, which start with the 21 Viper vee on up to the 32 Razor. The builder excels at virtually every level in building big, fast, solid boats, and occasionally they introduce a new model to the stable, such as the 280 Venom—a closed-deck version of its popular deckboat. Introduced in 2014, the deckboat was originally known as the 270 Python. The

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280W PYTHON idea was to create a closed-bow cat, but Bohn decided that a deckboat would be a better direction. The boat was first reviewed in our March 2015 issue. Our test team was enthusiastic about its performance, noting the considerable effort that went into its creation. “This would be an ideal boat for a guy who wants something sporty and who needs the room to hang out,” said Bob Teague five years ago. “It’s a Havasu River style boat, and it’s pretty cool.” To properly acknowledge its full 28' length, the deckboat is now being rechristened the 280W Python (not to be confused with Cobra’s existing 280 Python.) In our first encounter with this model, our tester was equipped with a Mercury 565

and a Bravo drive, which yielded 84 mph at WOT. Fast-forward to 2020, and the Cobra team supplied us with a somewhat milder version with Mercury’s new 8.2 Mag HO (502) and Bravo One X drive with a total 430 horses, telling us to prepare for a top speed in the 73-mph range. (Spoiler alert: Bob Teague coaxed an extra 3 mph out of it.) “We’ve had very good success with the boat,” Rodriguez says. “We’ve built quite a few of them, and have had all of the different power ranges on board. So this time out, we really wanted to bring a mild 430hp package because we know that a lot of buyers aren’t looking to spend $200,000 on a deckboat. We’re confident that this model performs well with this setup.” speedboat.com

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COBRA 280W PYTHON Length: 28' Beam: 104" Engine on test boat: Mercury 8.2L Mag HO Standard equipment: Hydraulic engine hatch hinges, dual batteries with isolator switch, Alpine bluetooth CD stereo with six speakers, LED interior lighting, 6 quick pin cleats, boarding ladder, hideaway bimini top, dual soft coolers, 12 LED illuminated cup holders, wraparound acrylic windshield, etc. Optional equipment: 8.2L Mag HO upgrade, Gator Step flooring Price as tested: $134,400 Top speed: 76 mph @ 4,900 rpm COBRA BOATS 5109 Holt Blvd. Montclair, CA 91763 (909) 482-0047 cobraperformanceboats.com

performance evaluations

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One of the Cobra’s hallmarks is the nicely finished 100% acrylic wraparound windshield. Other cool features include a pull-down ladder underneath the swim platform, Gator Step flooring and an engine hatch with hydraulic Eddie Marine hinges that provides excellent access to the engine.

“As far as going over the bumpy water, it’s better than some of the bigger boats that we’ve tested. I’d give the rough-water ride between an 8 and a 9.” —Bob Teague 40 S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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ACCELERATION DATA: 0-5 seconds: 18 mph 0-10 seconds: 27 mph 0-15 seconds: 44 mph 0-20 seconds: 54 mph 30-50 mph: 9.51 seconds 40-60 mph: 10.60 seconds Time to reach plane with tabs: 8.97 secs.

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The Package: The 280W is a very attractive model that does not scream “deckboat” when you observe it from the side—you’d really have to peer inside the cabin to see that it’s a full-blown deckboat. That’s completely by design—in fact, one of the constant compliments Cobra gets is that they genuinely dig the look of this model, which more than anything resembles an aggressive sport cat until you get in and see that it has all of the amenities of a true deckboat. One of its other hallmarks is the “W” in the name—a reference to the nicely finished 100% acrylic wraparound windshield, which is perfectly sculpted and distortion-free. The 280W has a good amount of freeboard, which goes a long way to make passengers feel very safe and secure in it. It’s also got a very large bow with an expansive seating area. We also noted that the boat has great deal of storage space, as well as a hideaway bimini feature that Cobra’s other 280 Python isn’t able to offer because it lacks the full-length engine lid that the 280W sports. Other features of the boat include a pull-down ladder underneath the swim platform, grey Gator Step flooring and an engine hatch with hydraulic Eddie Marine hinges that provides excellent access to the engine—a fairly simple installation with a standard Mercury cable steering package. Everything on the boat is simple, straightforward, intelligently arranged and carefully rigged and appointed, with quality construction and nice fit and finish throughout. Performance: We sent two test teams out on Lake Havasu; Bob Teague was up first, followed by Myrick Coil. Their consensus—no big surprise here—is that the boat’s overall performance was better with the bigger power. The boat still provides a decent ride, with the most fun at WOT. Slalom performance was lackluster in the low to midrange, as the boat tends to lean a bit too much in the turns (especially turning left). However, the more you accelerate, the better the boat turns. “As far as going over the bumpy water, it’s better than some of the bigger boats that we’ve tested,” Teague commented. “We had a fair amount of wind chop out here today, so I’d give the rough-water ride between an 8 and a 9. I’d be curious to know how it would ride with more people in the boat, as we there were just two of us testing.” Teague gave better-than-average marks to midrange tracking, but said that the boat took a while to get on plane, and grumbled that the seats could be more comfortable. Teague was fairly emphatic that the Cobra should be outfitted with hydraulic steering. “Even though it’s an additional $5,000 expense, it’s pretty important for a boat that runs 77 mph to have hydraulic steering,” he says. “The boat has a pretty significant deceleration action, and I think most of that would be eliminated if it had a positive steering system.” Coil concurred. Bottom line: This is a fine deckboat that rides a lot better with more muscle. But there’s no denying that this package is more affordable, and the $134,400 price tag is going to be quite appealing to a boater who wants a family deck boat from the shop of a reputable builder. S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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M4200

y now, the vast majority of East Coast-based go-fast boat manufacturers either

offer a center console or *only* build center consoles. DeLand, FL-based Mystic Powerboats, which got its start in the late ’90s building both monohulls and offshore catamarans—its 48’ Tencara cat was the first boat to break the 200 mph mark at the LOTO Shootout—still offers boats in both configurations. But today, the company’s two vee bottoms are both center-consoles: the M3800 and the M4200. Climbing aboard these models, it’s immediately obvious that they come from a factory obsessed with high-performance and speed. “My first obser-

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vation is that it’s straightforward and simple, but also has a lot of complexity to it,” said test driver Bob Teague of the M4200 he drove recently at the Lake of the Ozarks. “It’s obviously built by a company that also builds race boats, because it has that kind of rigging flair.” The M4200 is the flagship of Mystic’s center console lineup: It’s big, it’s wide, and it’s deep. Consequently, there’s a great deal of room on the boat, so its owners are used to having a lot of passengers. You don’t generally see a boat like the M4200 with a couple of people on board—more typically, there are six to 10 passengers. And Mystic has crafted this hull with all of the right characteristics and amenities to make them as comfort-

able as possible, from high windscreens and doors on the side of the console to a reverse chine on the hull, lots of storage, a great stereo system, comfortable seats, cool lighting, great stereo systems—all of the creature comforts that we boaters appreciate in a comfortable day boat. Center consoles have become the East Coast counterpart to the West’s deckboat, as both offer loads of real estate, storage and amenities. The edge that the center consoles have is that many are able to offer some version of a cabin, and Mystic’s M4200 has one of the most impressive. Located beneath the helm, the full, deep cabin features a dinette that converts to a queen size sleeper. The cabin in our tester, which had a full 7 speedboat.com

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The Florida builder lent us a stunning veebottom center console that blew us away with its never-ending list of amenities.

feet of head room, boasted a head, wet bar, microwave, air conditioner, entertainment system, ample storage, refrigerator, etc. “Many of our owners that get the air conditioning or heat actually overnight in the M4200’s cabin,” says Mystic sales and marketing chief Greg Weber. “We can also install vents on the console to blow some cold air during the summertime or warm air in the fall or early spring.” Mystic’s cabins tend to be a bit more upscale than others, with more of a “yacht finish” look to them, with an impressive finish, cabinetry, Corian countertops, SeaDek flooring, etc. “We really try to make our customers feel comfortable,” Weber says. Our M4200 came equipped with four Mercury 350 Verado outboards (1.75 gear ratio) spinning 44”-pitch Mercury Rev4 props. Mercury 280S K-Plane trim tabs were also part of the setup. There’s access via a rear floor panel that allows you under-deck access to motor services, all very clean and sanitary. The boat’s silver gelcoat won a “10” from Teague, who raved about the Mystic’s beauty. He also loved the

MYSTIC M4200 Length: 42'10" Beam: 10'11" Engines on test boat: four Mercury 350 Verado outboards Standard equipment: Mercury Vessel View, LED lighting, stainless cleats, dive door, transom door, shower, queen size bed, seating for 15, fully infused epoxy hull and deck, three-person helm seat, 38" of freeboard.. Manufacturer’s estimated top speed in optimum conditions: 80 mph MYSTIC POWERBOATS 1848 Patterson Ave. T: DeLand, FL 32724 (386) 736-2247 mysticpowerboats.com speedboat.com

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Located beneath the helm, the full, deep cabin features a dinette that converts to a queen size sleeper. The cabin in our tester, which had a full 7 feet of head room, boasted a head, wet bar, microwave, air conditioner, entertainment system, ample storage, refrigerator, etc.

The Mystic’s silver gelcoat won a “10” from Bob Teague, who raved about the boat’s beauty. He also loved the rubrail, windshield, swim platform, seat construction and stitching, all of which earned a perfect grade. 44 S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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rubrail, windshield, swim platform, seat construction and stitching, all of which earned a perfect grade. Our team also admired the wiring throughout the boat, along with the engine installation and fit and finish. It’s a beauty. At the dash, we found two large Garmin screens, one for navigation and the other for the various engine functions, trim, etc. Hydraulic steering and throttle installation were courtesy of Mercury. There’s loads of seating, tables and lounges, all very comfortable and nicely arranged. Color-matching SeaDek flooring had been placed throughout the boat in a diamond pattern. With a retail cost of around $700,000, it’s a great value. Like all Mystics, this boat provides a very soft and comfortable ride. It’s an extremely dry boat—perfect for all water conditions. Depending on the number of passengers and how much fuel is in the boat, the quad 350s will get you from the mid to high 70s; with a lighter load, you’re looking at 80+ mph. If you opt for Mercury Racing’s new 450Rs, you could see 86 mph in the M4200. About 50 of this model had been built at press time, and many more are sure to come. Mystic is also due for a new model release in conjunction with the upcoming Miami International Boat Show.

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53' Sueños

he Sueños is not the largest center console produced by HCB Yachts (formerly known as Hydra-Sports). That distinction belongs to its sister ship, the 65-foot Estrella, which the company has alternately dubbed “the first-ever mega center console yacht” and “the world’s largest center console.” Well, if there’s a bigger one, we haven’t seen it. This behemoth typically zips around with five or even six outboards at the transom, and turns an awful lot of heads at the boat shows. Calling a 53-foot boat the “little sister” to any other craft is a bit of a brain-bender, as the Sueños is bigger than the biggest center consoles from any of its competitors. Introduced at the 2015 Miami International Boat Show, the Sueños fea-

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tures a beam of 13 feet, making it a rather slender-looking boat when you consider its 52'11" overall length. But that’s by design: these proportions are part of what keeps the Sueños a nimble performer. Another element: the power behind the 53', which often amounts to a rack of five Mercury Racing 450R or quad 425 Yamaha outboards. It should be noted that this is a true sportfishing boat, designed more for comfort than for speed. As you might imagine, many of the elements you’ve seen on other center consoles, including the basic layout, wiring, rigging, etc., are much the same on the Sueños, only bigger and more luxurious. In fact, the boat is so large that it’s difficult to know where to begin describing it. But since this is a center console, let’s start at

the helm. Standing at the control center, you’ve got full visibility, 360 degrees. But your attention immediately goes to the teak steering wheel and its wooden housing, which are extremely stylish. The driver has three Garmin screens at the helm from which to glean any navigational, speed or depth information, and above the windshield, next to six speakers, is an additional screen with all of the Yamaha engine data. (The speakers are part of a $115,000 stereo system.) It’s a beautiful helm with numerous hinged storage areas built in. There are three raised bolster seats at the helm and a sofa style bench with three individual seats behind the captain’s station. A large windshield completely protects the pilots from any breeze. Built into the reverse side of the speedboat.com

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The company formerly known as Hydra-Sports succeeds in building one of the most exquisite center consoles we’ve ever seen—and it’s not even their biggest!

second seating structure is a stunning refreshment area with two built-in sinks, cup holders, more speakers, refrigerator—the “nerve center” of what is essentially a gigantic party boat. There are actually four different refrigeration units on board, one of which is a deep freezer. All of the upholstery on the boat is beautiful, with perfect stitching throughout. At the rear, there’s a table set up for fishing poles and a rear bench to seat 3-4 passengers. The flooring is wood—and there’s a great deal of wood on this boat, which adds a lot of sophistication and class. We were impressed by the boat’s mold work, gelcoat, interior, and the fit and finish—all utterly outstanding. The bow section has seating for six up front and two large lie-down seats directly in front of the center console. Our tester featured a pneumatic table in the forward bow area that was raised hydraulically. It’s one of the dozens of delightful surprises we encountered on our tour of this colossal craft. Access to the cuddy is located on the side of the center console, four steps down. All of the creature comforts you could need are down here:

HCB 53’ SUEÑOS Length: 52'11" Beam: 13' Engines on test boat: four Yamaha 425 outboards Standard features: Two 60-gallon livewell, 1,000-gallon fuel capacity, 100-gallon freshwater capacity. Options on test boat: Extreme stereo, custom gold paint, teak flooring, custom teakpainted cowlings, teak counters, teak cabin. Manufacturer’s estimated top speed in optimum conditions: 58 mph HCB YACHTS 23 Excellence Way Vonore, TN 37885 (800) 635-3186 hcbyachts.com speedboat.com

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Everything about the Sueños is exquisitely appointed and executed, from the interior lighting, wiring, layout, appliances, attention to detail and workmanship. Our boat was equipped with quad Yamaha 425 outboard engines. At the helm (above), you’ll find three Garmin screens for all your navigation needs.

Our test driver, the notoriously picky Bob Teague, doubled as the dry-land inspection team, and we lost count of the number of times he graded the amenities on this boat a perfect 10. 48 S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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large bed, TV, sit-down toilet, stand-up shower, wooden cabinets, lockers, etc. Everything is exquisitely appointed and executed. Our test driver, the notoriously picky Bob Teague, doubled as the dry-land inspection team, and we lost count of the number of times he graded things “a perfect 10,” including the interior lighting, wiring, layout, appliances, attention to detail and workmanship. It’s beautiful boat. Our ride was a version with the four 425 Yamaha outboards, which were spnning 21"-pitch three-blade Yamaha props. Getting on plane, you’ll experience about 4 degrees of bowrise before taking a set at 17 mph, which is pretty darn impressive. HCB’s estimated top speed in optimum conditions is around 58 mph; on the Lake of the Ozarks, we got it up to 55 at 6,100 rpm. If you’re looking for a bit more performance, we’d recommend opting for quintuple 450Rs, but the standard boat does weigh in at 38,000 pounds. Even so, the Sueños delivers a smooth, clean, dry, fun ride. To quote Bob Teague: “If I were in the market for a boat like this, and had $2.3 million, I would definitely consider it.”

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60 Years ofFLIBS

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show hits a major milestone.

he Fort Lauderdale International Boat 1959.) Organizers said that this year’s show drew Show (FLIBS) staged its 60th annual serious buyers with an uptick in VIP ticket sales exhibit in November, with several high- and exhibitors reporting a significant increase

performance builders showing off their musclecraft both on the water and inside the halls of the convention center. The last week of October, leading into the first week of November, are typically fast and furious in Lauderdale for many in the boating world—especially for bigger boats in this “yachting capital of the world.” As usual, the city played host to some of the world’s most impressive boats and superyachts. The 2019 edition of FLIBS showcased $4 billion in products, with more than 100,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibitors and 1,300 boats in what is touted as the largest in-water boat show in the world. (For a little perspective, there were 13 boats being exhibited at the first Fort Lauderdale Boat Show back in

in sales and new prospects. Although FLIBS is mostly about the megayachts, go-fast boats get their own special area in this exhibit. Representing the muscleboat faction this year included Iconic Marine Group (with their Donzi and Fountain lines), Marine Technology Inc. (MTI), Mystic, NorTech, Statement and Deep Impact, all making their usual appearances, along with megadealer Performance Boat Center displaying three Sunsations and a Wright Performance 420 catamaran. Making their first-ever Lauderdale appearances were Mercury Racing’s 450R outboards; expect to see these engines coupled to numerous catamarans and center-console vees this year—and for many years to come.

MTI The Wentzville, MO-based builder displayed a pair of its popular 42-V center consoles: one 2019 and one 2020 model. In addition, they brought a 340X catamaran; all were powered by the new 450R outboards. And although it was not at the Fort Lauderdale show, MTI unveiled a brand-new model at a private event shortly following the Lauderdale exhibit (See Page 12). 50 S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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Sunsation The Algonac, MI, builder had all three of its center-console models on display at the Performance Boat Center booth: a 32’ CCX with twin 400R outboards, a 34’ CCX with twin 450R outboards and a 40’ CCX with triple 450R outboards. Sunsation co-owner Joe Schaldenbrand told Speedboat that he was “blown away” by the 34’s performance with the 450s. “It runs phenomenally,” he says. “We were extremely impressed.” Meanwhile, he also raves about the 40 CCX’s capabilities with the new outboards. “With triple 450s, you’re getting 82 mph out of it,” he says. “It runs excellent. The bigger the boat, the more advantageous the 450s.”

Donzi At the Iconic Marine Group docks, Donzi made a tremendous splash. First, the company celebrated the re-release of its 38ZRC, which was once “wildly popular in the 1990s and early 2000s and “continues to have a good following” according to Jeff Harris, chief operating officer of IMG. “It’s the quintessential performance luxury craft, and the interior really came out beautifully,” Harris says. “The fit and finish on the boat is second to none. It’s absolutely perfect in every way. People looking at it at the show just can’t believe it.” The boat is one of two models being relaunched to bring back the glory days of Donzi, the other being the 55th Anniversary Edition 22 Classic. The 38ZRC arrived in Fort Lauderdale with a number of new styling twists, including a high-tech carbon-fiber dash that allows for optional port or starboard steering. The model at the show was powered by naturally aspirated 860s from Mercury Racing’s game changing QC4v lineup.

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BOAT SHOW

Wright Performance In addition to the Sunsations, Performance Boat Center also displayed a model it co-created with Doug Wright Designs: the 420 Wright Performance. This version, powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards, belongs to muscleboat aficionado Win Farnsworth.

Mystic DeLand, FL-based Mystic— builder of the five-time Top Gun competitor at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, American Ethanol—showed off three brand-new boats just off the production line, including this M4200 center console powered by quad 450Rs (featuring Seakeeper anti-boat-roll system, bow thruster and stern thruster). “It’s a very decked-out model, very nicely loaded boat for a customer,” says Mystic’s sales and marketing chief, Greg Weber. Mystic also showcased its M3800 center console, the first to be powered by triple Mercury V8 300s, as well as a new C3800 catamaran with twin 450Rs outboards. Mystic will be at the Miami and West Palm Beach shows in the spring, and plans to attend at least eight poker runs during the 2020 season, including Boyne Thunder, 1000 Islands, Tampa Bay, and LOTO.

Fountain Joining the Donzis at the Iconic Marine Group booth were six Fountain cen-

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ter consoles: the 34CC, 34CC LS, 38CC, 38CC LS, 39NX and 43NX. The 39NX pictured was powered by quad Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Fountain called this “perhaps the most successful Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in company history.” speedboat.com

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BOAT SHOW

Latham Marine Best known for its high-performance hydraulic steering and tie-bar systems—all built in the USA—Lauderdale-based Latham Marine had a wide range of products on display, from trim tabs and sea strainers to the variable-speed full-power outboard steering system pictured above.

Nor-Tech

Nor-Tech, located in Cape Coral, FL, displayed boats both in the water and in the Broward County Convention Center. In the water, you could check out three center-console models: a 340 with triple Mercury Racing 350s (above), a 390 with triple Mercury Racing 450s, a 390 with quad Mercury Racing 450s and a 450 with quad Mercury Racing 450s. Meanwhile, in the Convention Center, Nor-Tech displayed a 340 with triple 350s and a 392 Superfish model with quad 400Rs.

Deep Impact The Miami-based builder of go-fast center consoles had four boats in the Broward County Convention Center, including a pair of 399 Open models (one with Mercury Racing 400R outboards, and one with 450Rs); a 369 Open (center cabin) with Mercury 350 outboards, and a 360 Open (forward cabin), also with Mercury 350 outboards. Three of these boats went on to participate in the Florida Powerboat Club’s annual Key West Poker Run Nov. 6-11.

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MONSTER

photoography by Tom Leigh

Organizers Christina and James Nichols Jr. hit it out of the park once again for the third annual Monster Storm poker run.

he third annual Monster Storm poker run, presented by Phantom Productions LLC owners James and Christina

Nichols, sneaked past a storm yet again. The event was hosted by title sponsor Octane Marine and Storage of Phoenix, AZ, their third consecutive year as title sponsor. “The weather had us nervous midweek prior to the run,” said James. “The lunch run down to Havasu Springs Friday was a bit windy, which made for some rough water. But the rest of the event shaped up to be perfect.” The welcome party and event check took place at Martini Bay at the

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London Beach Resort’s upper pool. The party was a blast, thanks in part to the entertainment provided by the Boom Bandits, who rocked the house. Drinks were flowing, participants were mingling and dancing and even having wars on the silent auction items. Excellent weather shone down on the poker run. “We always have a mandatory driver’s meeting to go over the day’s activites,” said Christina. “With 85 captains in attendance, and some crew members, you could hear a pin drop as I asked for a moment of silence. We honored the crew of Lickity Split and I reminded everyone how important they are to Jimmy and I and our boating

family. We appreciate each and every one of them and want to see them at card turn in later that day. It was a great way to kick off the morning.” Sponsors included AO Coolers, RDP Gift certificates, and swag from Prestige Marine and JLC Roofing. Meanwhile, the costume party at the LBR conference center was off the hook. “Jimmy and I felt that this was the best Monster Storm yet,” Christina said. “The atmosphere, the people, the weather, everything was so calm, energetic and fun. We enjoy Monster Storm because unlike Desert Storm, we get to chat and actually hang out with participants and sponsors.”

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Left: Christopher Martin of Surprise, AZ, drives his 36’ Nor-Tech Supercat, Layin’ Pipe. Above: The official Monster Storm “staff chariot,” Horseplay, a 46' Black Thunder, owned by the Truettner family. It was the pace boat for the lunch run, a card stop, and the helicopter photo boat. It’s powered by triple 850-hp engines.

Don and Karen Bliss in Blissful, their MTI 340X powered by Mercury Racing 400R outboards.

Above right: Thane Tiemer and John Lovell in Nordic Boat’s own 40-foot Ocean Sport. Right: Crystal Morse of Ellensburg, WA, in her 38’ Fountain Lighting, Mixed Emotions.

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M MASH Left: Brad Benson’s DCB M33R, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards. Near left: A 28’ Howard Bullet owned by longtime Monster Storm participant Evan Chapple of West Haven, UT. Below left: At the costume and awards party, everyone shares the iconic “Octane Marine” title sponsor pumpkin heads—always a great photo prop for this Halloweenthemed event. Bottom left: Title sponsor Charlie Brown of Octane Marine and sponsor Jason Bowers of JLC Roofing play some old-school limbo with the Boom Bandits’ LED light stick, keeping the party fun and exciting. Bottom right: Opposites attract! These two are famous for their YouTube videos. First-time attendee “Freddie Mercury” (left) and “Rosie” (the alien from the Area 51 Crew) represented the Hoffman and Cullen families.

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Don and Karen Bliss in Blissful, their MTI 340X powered by Mercury Racing 400R outboards.

Above right: Thane Tiemer and John Lovell in Nordic Boat’s own 40-foot Ocean Sport. Right: Crystal Morse of Ellensburg, WA, in her 38’ Fountain Lighting, Mixed Emotions.

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12/13/19 10:55 AM

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

[Continued from page 14]

appeared to take too much air under the tunnels, blowing both over simultaneously. Video footage of the accident immediately went viral; fortunately, Billy Allen and Larry Minegar of Team Allen Lawn Care and Mike Wright and Loren Peters of Team LPC were not seriously injured. (CR Racing, a Doug Wright catamaran with driver Rob Unnerstall and throttleman Casey Boaz, finished first on Wednesday, followed by FJ Propeller and Performance Boat Center/ Auto Alert.) With the field narrowed to eight boats, Friday’s race saw Gary Ballough and Jimmie Harrison in FJ Propeller take the lead in Super Stock when Jackhammer blew over in the fifth lap. (Reese Langheim and Ricky Maldonado quickly emerged, mostly unscathed.) The race was later restarted, and CR Racing grabbed the lead and finished first, followed by Shadow Pirate and Performance Boat Center/Auto Alert. FJ Propeller ended up finishing fourth. [Continues on page 62]

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Three teams jockeyed for the firstplace position in Super Stock during the final day of racing. For the first couple of laps, it was FJ Propeller, then Performance Boat Center/Auto Alert, and then finally CR Racing. Unnerstall and Boaz in CR Racing prevailed, managing to hold off the other six competitors to earn the checkered flag and the World Championship in the class. Nick Scafidi and Scott Porta in Shadow Pirate finished only seconds behind them, with Myrick Coil and Rusty Williams in Performance Boat Center/Auto Alert maintaining a third-place position—the same spot they earned in the first two days of racing. By Sunday’s race, Mike DeFrees and Jeff Harris of Team CRC/Spooled Up Racing—who had won in Extreme Class earlier in the week—ran unopposed in the class along with the Super Cat field, as their competitors Team Freedom and Huski Chocolate both dropped out with engine problems, sealing a World Championship for Team CRC. Sunday action featured bracket class racing that featured mostly competitors running unopposed, following the pattern set by the previously days’ racing. The only real drama came in Bracket Class 4, which pitted SimmonsMarine.com (the winner on Wednesday and Friday) against Team Octane; both boats are owned by Jim Simmons. The two boats traded the first-place position until Octane suffered a mechanical issue in the final lap, handing the win to Simmons and Jason Zolecki of SimmonsMarine.com. Other winners: Super Vee Extreme—Shameel Mohammed and Mark Niemann in Sheriff Lobo. Bracket 2—Dan MacNamara and Eric Treadwell in Speedster. Bracket 3—J.P. Larkin and Ed Tamberino in Wix Filters. Bracket 5—Greg Bluttler and Mark DiDario in Illicit Motorsports. Bracket 6—Damon Marotta Jr. and Damon Marotta Sr. in Offshore Outlaw. RWO president and founder Larry Bleil told Speedboat that the event went off even better than he had anticipated. “I had a vision of changing things up, and making

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Key West the World Championship that it should be,” he said. “We added concerts during the week. We added a VIP experience that had not been at any other race anywhere. We brought in a shuttle to take people to the VIP area. I was able to implement all of these ideas that I’d come up with over the years, and got nothing but compliments from the people who were there.” Bleil is now planning to expand the group’s racing season in 2020. The organization held its inaugural race season in 2018 with a modest lineup, including races in Mentor, OH, and Dunkirk, NY. For 2019, RWO dropped the Mentor race but picked up two events in Florida: the Clearwater and Key West competitions

formerly run by Super Boat International. “I’m working on two new sites, and we’re going to change our Dunkirk dates,” Bleil says. “We’re working with Orange Beach, AL, on an event toward the end of April, and a race on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, GA. We’ve applied for the Army Corps permit in Lake Lanier, so after it’s approved, we can move forward.” Dunkirk’s new dates will largely depend on the dates of the new events, he said; the 2019 event was held Aug. 16-18. Dates for the Hooters Clearwater Offshore Nationals will be Sept. 25-27, while next year’s Key West World Championships will run Nov. 8-15. “We’d like to do five or six races next year,” Bleil said.

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Brett’s

To Die For 1976 Tahiti Killer Candy

& 1981 Southwind Death Wish

Featuring NJBA Season Finals Parker Enduro speedboat.com

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Above: Team Nordic finished the Enduro with 58 laps in just over 4 hours, 5 minutes. #17 Justified, owned and driven by Gary Hairabedian and also driven by John Franklin. They finished second overall and first in their Division V with 55 laps.

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ENDURO photography by

Mark McLaughlin

300

Racers head to Parker, AZ, for a grueling four-hour endurance race that pays tribute to the great marathons of the 1960s.

he legacy of the Parker Nine-Hour Enduro—and other marathon events—live on

today, half a century later, thanks to the Enduro 300. Sponsored by Nordic and Hallett Boats and presented by Nick Rose Insurance, this revival launches from the BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, AZ, challenging participants to complete for 300 miles (60 laps on a five-mile course) to qualify for a win. The Enduro is open to all boating enthusiasts, from novices to seasoned powerboat racers. This year, #192 Nordic Racing finished the Enduro with 58 laps in just over 4 hours, 5 minutes. (The team is a frequent champion in this competition.) They finished in first place overall, and in the Division 7 class. The crew of Fred Brennan, Todd Haig, Billy Dunsmore and Mick Jones took the title of 2019 Kings of the River. Here’s a list of winners: Div. I—#34 Pop D’Cucci, Joe Masek, Matt Roach, and Tony Scarlata. Div. II—#007, Buckshot Racing, Mike Quindazzi. Div. III—#7 Angry Bird, Jeff Barrus. Div. IV—#30 Under Pressure, Pat Hoban, Cole Noble, and Mike Noble. Div. V—#17 Justified, Gary Hairbedian and John Franklin. Div. VI—#812 Buck It List, Steve Dennison and Jeff Mortis. Div. VII—#192 Nordic Racing, Fred Brennan, Todd Haig Billy Dunsmore, and Mick Jones.

Left: #812 Buck It List finished third overall and was first in their Division VI class. Steve Dennison and Jeff Mortis drove the first outboard to cross the finish line with 52 laps.

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Left: Finishing just behind Buck It List was another outboard called Tortuga Express. Randy Lewis and John Stewart took turns shoeing this machine to a fourth overall and second in the Division VI class with 52 laps as well.

Right: Going solo was Mike Quindazzi in his Buckshot Racing #007 outboard. Quindazzi finished fifth overall and was first in the Division II class with 49 laps.

Left: After last year’s record purse in the GN class, you might think the same would happen this year. Not so much. Only seven GN boats signed up for the purse which was a $1,000 buy-in. The first GN boat to cross the finish line was #30, owned by Pat Hoban and driven by Cole and Mike Noble. Under Pressure finished 6th overall and was first in Division IV, with 48 laps under their belts. The purse was split between the first three boats to cross the finish line. Below: Bounty Hunter, the second GN boat to cross the finish line, got second-place money in the GN purse. Dave Chivens and Mike Owens piloted their #82 boat to an eighth-place overall and second in the Division IV class, with 46 laps.

Above: Tony Scarlata drives the #034 flatbottom to a very respectable 7th overall finish and first in the Division I class. The Pop D’Cucci flatty, owned by Joe Masek and driven by him, Tony Scarlata and Matt Roach, was the first in their class to go 47 laps.

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Left: In Division IV, the third boat in the top 10 was the Booby Trap machine of Tom and Kenny Spring and Frank Randel. It was 9th overall and third in the division. Below left and right: Owned by Eric and Dave Sammons, the Crazy Horse flatty finished 15th overall and second in Division I. Steve Sequiera and Hoss Jones helped out with the driving duties; here Nick Nebeker rides along with Eric, getting close to their 31 laps that they finished. And then we have a wall of water going over Dave Sammons in the same boat. Apparently, he decided to take a roller, and it didn’t go over like he planned.

Mini Marathon Before the Parker Enduro started, the skiers took to the water. The first group out was the Mini Marathon, with a five-lap race. All 13 entries would take off at the same time, and first one to cross the finish line on the fifth lap was the winner. After 25 minutes, the first boat crossing the finish line was the #88 boat (below left), with Cory Ferguson driving and Ted Hoffman observing. Corbin Heinbuch was at the other end of the rope. The next set of skiers was the main event. Same start, but only 8 laps for the winners. The #193 boat of Freddy Brennan driving and Andy Klee observing pulled Trevor Wendt and Matt Klee to the victory. Congratulations to all the participants!

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To Die For

These two stunning show pieces were both restored and rigged by the owners at their Idaho marine shop. story by Brett Bayne photos by Shauna Boardman

eath Wish and Killer Candy are two different hulls, but they’re like

family. That’s because Death Wish (a 1971 Southwind) and Killer Candy (a 1976 Tahiti) are both owned by staff members at Lake City Marine in Post Falls, ID. Also, they were both painted and airbrushed by art wizard Chaz Mataz. And both boats share rather macabre names. Sam Landrum III, owner of the Southwind, is also the owner of Lake City Marine, while Tahiti owner Ken Johnstone is his shop foreman. They both worked on each other’s boats. Death Wish features widened stringers and a custom carbon fiber bottom modified by Jereme Elwell. The 540-c.i. engine sports Canfield aluminum heads, stainless valves, Comp roller cam, roller rockers, Icon forged pistons steel crank and rods and a 671 Weiand supercharger modified by The Blower Shop. Total horsepower is 1,600 with NOS. Killer Candy is powered by a 468-c.i. BBC with forged Keith Black pistons, Sig Erson JB300 cam, rectangle port heads and Edelbrock tunnel ram. The engine was built and balanced by Precision Engines (Grangeville, ID). All wiring, rigging and plumbing was performed by the owners at Lake City Marine. Speedboat thanks model Azia Johnson for posing on these two beautiful machines!

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Left and below: Ken Johnstone put twin Holley carbs in his Killer Candy Tahiti. Exhaust is courtesy of ceramic-coated Rewarder headers.

Lake City Marine specializes in supercharged engines. Death Wish owner Sam Landrum recently built a 2,000-hp engine for a 33' Eliminator Daytona formerly owned by Supercharger guru Dustin Whipple. The 540-c.i. engine in his 1981 Southwind (below and opposite page) includes a 400-hp NOS system integrated with Fitech fuel injection and a modified Berkeley jet pump from American Turbine.

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Both Death Wish and Killer Candy were displayed at a boat show in Spokane, WA, last spring. The boats won first and second place, respectively. Landrum and Johnstone have worked together for about 20 years. speedboat.com

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SCSC

Thanksgiving Regatta

61 boats in 12 classes came to Parker, AZ, to compete in the annual Turkey Day competition. story and photos by Mark McLaughlin

acers in the Southern California Speedboat Club came to Parker, AZ, for the 73rd

annual Thanksgiving Regatta, where 61 boats competed in 12 classes. It was cold and a little windy, but decent enough for racing. Some racers and spectators opted to stay home, due to one of the roads into Parker being shut down in the wake of some flash floods. Among the highlights were the Cracker Boxes, which put on a magnificent show,

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as did the three Formula 1 boats in attendance. These high-powered capsuled outboards run the circuit all over the USA. Every time the five classes of little boats came out, it seemed like Casey Jones and Andy Jones were right up front. Jones, in the 72C boat, finished first in the SCH class, second in the OAH class, and third in the SAH class, while Andy Jones wound up in second in the S20H class. Comp Jets were a handful all weekend. With only a four-boat field, it looked as

though there were 10 of them out there. They were all over the place—changing lanes, spinning out, running over each other, and bumping to get to the front. Overall winner for the weekend, Vance Lund, had to shake off the Dilworth clan to get the high points championship, which went right down to the last race of the weekend. There were several incidents (see Page 75), but fortunately, no serious injuries. We’re glad everybody was OK! speedboat.com

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Left: Paul Fitzgerald, driving for Mike Smith in the #24 boat, goes side by side with Charlie Hamill, driving for Danny Loveless in the #741 entry. Both were doing well in the Unblown Flat class until Charlie flipped the flatbottom on the back stretch. “Fitzy” would finish first overall in the class and Hamill spent the rest of the weekend warming up while boat sat on the trailer. Below: In the GPS 100 class, the Leonard Frederick/Tim Hoffman #717 boat took the overall win in the class, with Hoffman showing off his checkered flag. It was a nice turnout of seven boats, including a couple newcomers filling the program with two heats in each of the sessions before the last-chance race would determine who would make it to the finals.

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There were three Formula 1 Boats in attendance, including R.J. West in a boat of his own design.

Comp Jets were all over the place, changing lanes, spinning out, running over each other, and bumping to get to the front. Overall winner Vance Lund (above) had to shake off the Dilworth clan to get the high points championship, which went right down to the last race of the weekend.

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Top left: Cracker Box boats put on a great show. With the leaders of the pack, Matt Bookey and Richard Kendall coming around to turn 1, the newcomers, Tim (Harley) Ritson and Richard Miller in the background kept right up with the leaders. Above left: Casey Jones in the 72C boat finished first in the SCH class, second in the OAH class, and third in the SAH class. Bottom left: Sportsman Extreme flatbottoms were stacked with an eight-boat field, so two heats and a last-chance qualifier was the way to get into the final. Jamey Tavares in the #01 boat took home the overall win in the very competitive class. Bottom right: Stock 20 Hydroplane class had Kevin Curtis in the 7C winning over Tim Herman (far lane), who finished third overall.

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Left: Matt Bookey and Richard Kendall in the P42 entered turn 1, while the P6 hit a hole on turn 2 and flipped, tossing driver Tim Ritson and rider Richard Miller into the chilly waters of the Colorado River. Both racers checked out ok, just cold. Below: In Comp Jet, Vance Lund went airborne behind Joe Dilworth after they almost collided coming out of turn 2. Again, everyone was OK.

Above: Comp Jet racer Scott Dayley spun out so hard at Turn 2, his CJ169 machine spit him out. He tumbled a few times before hitting the water, but checked out OK. Right: On the warmup laps, #741 flat bottom driver Charlie Hamill hit a roller and his boat flipped, sending him into the water. He checked out OK. According to the ambulance team, the biggest complaint of all the incidents was the cold water. speedboat.com

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story and photography by

Mark McLaughlin

PRO COMP FLAT: The PCF class was headlined by the winner in the class, Steve Boyce (above, near lane). He would take out all the heavy hitters for the win and the first place trophy. Alan Asbe, in his beautiful painted flatty (far lane), would go out early in the rounds. Left: Boyce, shown here with family and crew, proudly receives his prize.

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The National Jet Boat Association closes out the year with an action-packed bout in Bakersfield, CA.

NJBASeason Finals N

ational Jet Boat Association (NJBA) competitors met up for the closing race of the season at the Roger Roadstrom Sr. Memorial

Finals, held on Lake Ming in Bakersfield, CA. Absolutely perfect, sunny weather graced the course as 85+ racers vied for a trophy in numerous classes. There was no wind and, gratefully, no mishaps. Boats from Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Iowa come out to play with the local California machines. Showcasing the Pro Comp Flat class speedboat.com

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was winner Steve Boyce, who managed to take out all the heavy hitters for the win and the first-place trophy. Meanwhile, there were 10 Blown Gas Flat entries, including Pete Fleming’s High Anxiety competitor. Driver Kelly Rhead took home the winning trophy after four rounds of watching fellow competitors either break off the starting line or lifting blowers at the finish line. Jim Shelton would end up on the podium in second place. In a field of seven jets, Tim Ortiz of Texas qualified #1 in the Unblown Fuel

Jet category, and never looked back. Also racing in the class was another Texan, Tyler “Gator” Goodrum. The Texans did pretty well, taking home the first- and second-place spots. Ortiz also got the new UBFJ E.T. record of 5.32 seconds. The 6.0 Quick Eliminator class had a very stacked field of 11 entries. As the top three qualifiers were ousted by the finals, Mike Davis, the #4 qualifier, would end Chase Greinke’s day. Davis ran a 6.00 to Chase’s 6.05 in one of the closest races all weekend. Congratulations to all the winners! S P E E D B O A T | January/February 2020

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WORLD FINALS

UNBLOWN FUEL JET: Tim Ortiz of Texas qualified #1 in the class and never looked back. With a sevenboat field that included another Texan, Tyler “Gator” Goodrum, the boys did pretty well, taking home the #1 and #2 spots. Ortiz also got the new UBFJ record of 5.32 seconds. Congratulations to the entire team!

BLOWN GAS FLAT: A stout field of 10 gassers were led by Pete Fleming’s High Anxiety, driven by Kelly Rhead (above), who took home the first place trophy after four rounds of watching fellow competitors either break off the starting line or lifting blowers at the finish line. Jim Shelton would end up on the podium with a second-place finish.

PRO COMP HYDRO: Dan Jensen (right) had to really put the pedal to the metal. He came in as the #5 qualifier to Blake Thurlow’s #1 position, but Jensen prevailed.

STOCK ELIMINATOR: The Scribner family did double duty most of the year, with Tara and Tanya both competing in classes. But there had to be a winner at some point, and by the weekend’s finals, Tara (right) not only won the 11.0-second Stock Eliminator class, but had also locked herself into the class championship.

PRO GAS FLAT: The Ron and Joey Grose capsuled flatbottom Wet Dream, with Tony Scarlata driving this time, came to break some records. Not only did Scarlata take the win in Pro Gas Flat, he also set a record and won the Top Alcohol Flat class.

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PRO GAS HYDRO: Owner Danny Day drove his own machine, as his full-time shoe, Josh Hayden, had other plans. Day (right) would take the #1 spot and the win as he collected his trophy in the uncontested class.

PRO GAS JET: Owner Kjell Adams (left) always drives his own machine, and he would take home the #1 trophy in the uncontested class with his Fluid Motion jet.

MODIFIED ELIMINATOR: The 10.0-second class gave Nick Pisciotta (above) in his Another Royal Flush machine the #1 seed and the win in the ME class.

PRO MOD: Bottoms Up, owned and operated by Ryan Baxter, took home the win and the #1 qualifying position in the field. Baxter was the only Pro Mod to enter the class.

PRO OUTLAW: There were three entries in this class. Tim Campbell in Hell’s Bells II (left) went from the #1 position to the class win over David Fuentes in his Money Shot hydro. Campbell was just blistering the course all weekend. Congratulations to the entire team! QUICK ELIMINATOR: The 6.0 class had a very stacked field of 11 entries. As the #1, #2 and #3 qualifiers were ousted by the finals, #4 qualifier Mike Davis would end Chase Greinke’s day. Davis ran a 6.00 to Chase’s 6.05 in one of the closest races all weekend. Davis (left) is shown here racing his way to a win.

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WORLD FINALS

TOP ALCOHOL HYDRO: The class had a single entry. Travis Tutle from Texas came out for some testing with new props and some changes. The Cody Childresstuned machine ran some big numbers—in excess of 200 mph. TOP ALCOHOL FLAT: Tony Scarlata goes up against Bob Fry (below), with Scarlata taking the win, and the records: 159.79 mph at an E.T. of 5.32.

TOP ELIMINATOR: The 9.0 second bracket boats had the largest field, with 13. Above, #3 qualifier, Sam Villavicencio drives his Fire Me Up flatty for the win.

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[Continued from page 12]

MTI Unveils 390X Outboard Cat

arine Technology Inc. (MTI), builder of luxury high-performance catamarans and deep-vee center consoles,

over. But I’ve got more to come!” Scism said he has taken about 10 orders for the 390X to date. “It’s basically

a 340X on steroids,” he said. “It’s bigger, it’s deeper, it’s fast as hell. It’s going to be great in rough water.” MTI sales manager Tom Stuart said the builder’s original plans were to create a 38-footer to bridge the gap between MTI’s 34 and 43 catamarans. These plans didn’t change until the 11th hour, when the team decided to create a 39-footer. Measuring 39'4", the 390X sports a 10'6" beam and weighs in at around 6,000 lbs. It was crafted using all-new CNC molds with integrated steps up the back; it features a fuel capacity of 150 gallons, seating for six and is powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards. The boat was in-water tested at Lake X, Mercury Racing’s testing facility.

has unveiled a brandnew model: the 390X, an outboard-powered cat capable of reaching speeds over 120 mph. The new release was part of a special gathering at Haulover Marine, the 180-acre marina located in North Miami Beach that serves as a satellite sales office for MTI that includes a 500-boat drystack facility. MTI invited dealers and journalists from across the country to witness the unveiling of the 390X, a supersized version of MTI’s 340X outboard cat. Debuting at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show, the 340X has become a popular model at poker runs from coast to coast; company owner Randy Scism and his daughter and head of client relations, Taylor Scism, have been driving the boat at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout since its release. “We did all new tooling and molds on this new boat, and it worked out great, Randy Scism told Speedboat Magazine at the event. “It’s not a cut and stretch. Everything we did was to improve what we thought was the best deal there.” The event, which featured the first 390X out of the mold being unveiled, culminated in an impromptu bidding war. “One of my customers conned me into putting it up for auction so we could have some fun, and somebody bought it for $700K,” he said. “So I’ve gotta start

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