July - August 2020 Speedboat

S PEEDBO AT M A G A ZINE

INSIDE: SEXY SPEEDSTER!

Victory!

VTX36 Performance Evaluation

Swimsuit Extravaganza!

Our Annual Bikini Blowout SPEEDBOAT SPOTLIGHT:

JU LY / A UG U S T 202 0

Visual Imagination J U LY/ AU GUST 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_001.indd 1

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:22 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 3

7/16/20 7:01 PM

110950_SpeedboatmagNov19_004,043,065,081,84.indd 43

10/18/19 10:27 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS July/August 2020

COLUMNS

8 RAY LEE 10 BOB TEAGUE 12 INDUSTRY NEWS 62 READER RIDES

34 KMG 22' PHANTOM

FEATURES

42 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

16 FAST FIVE

Our photo crew heads to Lake Elsinore once again to pair up hot boats with the hottest girls.

28 VICTORY VTX 36

Are you ready to go 140 mph in a hull that planes blindingly fast and always makes you feel safe and secure? Of course you are.

6

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_006-007.indd 6

The Southern California rocketship arrives at our Havasu test outfitted with a Mercury Racing 450R.

38 ORANGE IS THE NEW SPEEDSTER

The newest addition to the Eliminator Boats stable is this speedy 255, armed with a pair of 450Rs for when you need to go 120 mph.

The crew at Big Thunder Marine helps raise money for our men and women in uniform at this great Lake of the Ozarks poker run.

48 OUTBOARD FUN RUN

Assembled very quickly, for the first time ever, Performance Boat Center launches an event just for boats with Mercury outboards.

54 PURE IMAGINATION

Meet Mark Morris, the wizard whose spectacular paint jobs have graced the hulls of some of the most famous machines on God’s Earth. speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:23 PM

Cover Photo by Todd Taylor Table of Contents photo by Todd Taylor

Speedboat.com Published by DCO Enterprises, LLC Publishers Ray Lee

ray@speedboat.com

Chris Davidson

chris@speedboat.com Editor Brett Bayne

brett@speedboat.com Senior Tech Editors Bob Teague

bobteague@teaguecustommarine.com

Jim Wilkes

jim@speedboat.com

Tech Editors Greg Shoemaker Jim Wilkes Valerie Collins

National Sales Ray Lee Director ray@speedboat.com

Art Director Gail Hada-Insley

Helicopter Services Fred Young

fyoung@live.com

BRETT’S COVE 64 FOREVER 21'

How Joe Cassani revived a piece of his childhood by restoring this gorgeous 1973 Hallett daycruiser.

70 BATTLE IN BURLEY

Photographers

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

Operations Manager Michele Plummer and Subscriptions michele@speedboat.com

5840 W. Craig Rd Suite 120, #386

Las Vegas, NV 89130-2730

Webmaster Craig Lathrop

craig@speedboat.com

With most of racing a bust for the 2020 season, competitors trek to Burley, ID, for a spirited 45th running of the Idaho Regatta.

Web Design Blair Davidson

Market It Mobile, Las Vegas, NV

76 ECHO LODGE MADNESS

With the Colorado River open to the public, speed-starved boaters jumped at the chance to enjoy some much-needed fun..

blair@speedboat.com

Editorial Offices 9216 Bally Court

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (702) 313-1400

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

Postmaster: Send address changes to Speedboat Magazine, 9216 Bally Court, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

speedboat.com

Editorial: Speedboat Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, materials, photographs and artwork submitted are at mailer’s risk and must include self-addressed envelope with proper postage if requested to be returned. All letters sent to Speedboat will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes, and are subject to Speedboat's right to edit and comment editorially. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or part is expressly forbidden, except by written permission of the publisher.

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_006-007.indd 7

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Domestic $34.00 for 8 times plus a bonus issue, Canada $66.00 for 8 times plus a bonus issue, International $77.00 for 8 times plus a bonus issue. All prices are for one year and in U.S. funds. For subscription info: call (702) 313-1400.

PRINTED IN USA These rates represent Speedboat’s standard subscription rate and should not be confused with any special rates or premiums otherwise advertised or offered.

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

7

7/16/20 8:23 PM

OBSERVER’S SEAT RAY LEE In the words of the late Freddie Mercury of the classic rock band Queen, “Another One Bites the Dust.”

I’m referring to the unfortunate demise of the raucously rad event known as the Texas Outlaw Challenge, held every June out of Kemah, Texas. Head Outlaw Paul Robinson fought the good fight quite literally to the bitter end, trying valiantly to keep the event alive. But his efforts were ultimately overpowered by the reported resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the Houston area, with local authorities closing all of the venues, namely the ones associated with the poker run. The global pandemic has been responsible for the cancellation or postponement of countless 2020 events–boating or otherwise.

So, once that announcement came (which was less than 24 hours before we were scheduled to depart), we quickly scrambled to alter our travel arrangements away from Texas and set our sights firmly toward the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. With coronavirus cases as low as anywhere in the nation, LOTO has been the saving grace for people with a heavy hankering to go boating in a restriction-free environment on wide-open waterways. Flights were booked and our Redhead lakeside condo accommodations were graciously provided by Brett Manire and our good friends at Performance Boat Center / Redhead Yacht Club.

Two events were happening there in the Midwest, both on that Friday, June 26th. Big Thunder Marine was hosting the 13th Annual Support Our Troops Poker

8

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_008,47.indd 8

LOTO: A Sea of Normalcy Run, while Performance Boat Center, in a collaboration with Mercury Racing, was introducing the inaugural Outboard Fun Run––to capitalize on the mega-explosion of the über-popular 400R/450R engines.

Speedboat chief photographer Todd Taylor and I were going to split up and attempt to cover both events that were happening simultaneously. Todd would shoot from the air with Tom Cline of Tom Cline Helicopters and I would chase the respective fleets to their designated stops by car. We certainly had our work cut out for us, but it was a welcomed challenge. Especially since we haven’t traveled anywhere to cover anything since midFebruary for the Miami International Boat Show. We were long overdue and overjoyed to be working again.

The 13th Annual Support Our Troops Poker Run, which was based out of Dog Days Bar and Grill, was organized by BTM’s own Ed Champion, who has been affiliated with the run since its inception. The event takes active military personnel out on the lake for thrill rides in some of the baddest boats around. This year saw 74 registered boats to run 35 troops to five different stops; Bear Bottom, Paradise, Tap & Grill, Coconuts, then finally back to Dog Days to enjoy a delicious catered BBQ dinner. Captains that were motivated enough to hit all five stops were rewarded with a generous YETI soft cooler gift bag, filled with Big Thunder Marine swag.

The event raised an impressive $31,745 with all of the proceeds going to the non-

profit organization H.E.R.O.E.S. Care Inc.— an affiliation of program partners that work together to provide support to military families in the communities where they live. All poker run winners donated their winnings back to the event with Big Thunder Marine matching their amounts, dollar for dollar.

President Jon Jerome was moved to tears at the kindness and generosity of the speedboating community. (See page 42) At nearly same time, Performance Boat Center, along with Mercury Racing, was kicking off their inaugural Outboard Fun Run. It’s no secret that the majority of new boat builds have opted for the high-powered, highly efficient 400R/450R outboard packages that have adorned the countless transoms of the luxury, performance center consoles and the lightning quick catamarans. In single, double, triple, quadruple, quintuple and even sextuple configurations at a time, it’s no wonder that Mercury Racing is so excited about them.

PBC co-owner Mark Waddington told me that all of the new boats that the dealership has registered for 2020 have only been outboard powered. A stunning admission from such a powerhouse of power plants.

There were 50 total boats that registered for the first-ever fun run and not a sterndrive was in sight. The fleet left Performance Boat Center with only two scheduled stops; The Fish and Company in Camdenton and then to Franky & Louie’s in Sunrise Beach— presumably to enjoy each location (and each other’s company) a bit longer and to run at a more casual pace.

The run concluded with an awards presentation back near the PBC facility at the new, “adults only” High Tide Pool Bar and Grill, which is a cool hillside hideaway, just [Continues on page 47] speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:24 PM

114776_SpeedboatMarch20_003,005,09,011,013,014-15,021,081,083,084.indd 11

2/18/20 10:34 PM

TEAGUE ON TECH BOB TEAGUE

Dual Power Steering Pumps Dear Bob: I have a twin engine MerCruiser setup with an obsolete priority valve for the steering that has been disabled by the previous owner of my Grady White. The steering system does not have a hydraulic helm, but instead uses a cable that is routed to the Saginaw type steering valve located on the inner transom of one of the drives. Currently, there is one power steering pump on each engine, but one is currently disconnected from the system. Both engines are equipped with power steering coolers that feed the reservoirs on the power steering pumps. Since the Mercury Marine priority valve kit (part #79681A1) is no longer available, can I use the IMCO Priority Valve as a replacement? Would the existing OEM hoses and fittings be compatible?

Thank you!

Erin Marden Bingham, ME

pressure outlets on your existing Saginaw power steering pumps. From there, you will need to run high-pressure hoses from the pumps to the priority valve. If you use the existing high-pressure hose that is connected to the Saginaw control valve (which has an inverted flare connector), you could likely cut the hose and install a re-useable -6 AN hose end on it to connect to the outlet port on the priority valve.

The return hose from the Saginaw control valve does not need to be a highpressure hose. You can use push on barbed hose ends with Oneker pinch clamps on the return hoses. Route the return hose from the Saginaw control valve return port to the inlet “tee” port on the priority valve. Then route the hoses from the two return outlets on the priority valve to each of the power steering coolers on the engines. The outlets of the power steering coolers are plumbed to the inlet of the return ports on the power steering pump reservoirs.

Finally, you will need a remote reservoir that ties the two power steering pump reservoirs together that is positioned higher than the pumps.

Remote power steering reservoir.

Reusable -6AN high-pressure hose end.

The IMCO priority valve will work with some minor changes to the plumbing.

The IMCO priority valve comes with ½" FPT orifices that adapters can be installed in. The original plumbing used in your obsolete Mercury priority valve utilized inverted flare adapters and hose ends.

You will need to convert most of the adapter fittings to -6 AN JIC. I would place the IMCO priority valve where it is both easy to get to and where it would result in the shortest practical hose lengths.

You will need banjo type adapters for the Power steering pump banjo adapter fitting.

10

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_010.indd 10

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:24 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 11

7/16/20 7:01 PM

INDUSTRY NEWS

Perpetual Trophy Will Honor Supercat Winners

A

few years ago, competitors in

offshore racing’s Supercat class voted to conduct their own internal points championship.

It was agreed which races would be included in this championship, the races spanning across various organizations (OPA, Race World Offshore) they raced under. Now racers finally know exactly what they’ll be competing for: a state-of-the art trophy assembled by Tyson Garvin designed to expand with each new champion’s victory.

Garvin, the former driver of #06 M-CON with throttleman Tyler Miller, described the trophy as a “tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. It is something that will let our achievement be recognized for a long period of time beyond the next racing season.”

Thus, a “perpetual trophy” was fabricated—one that will accommodate the name of each season’s high point champions as they are added to it. The trophy will then be passed on to the winner of each season’s

winners, with their name displayed on another layer to the bottom of the trophy.

Garvin says that when he embarked on the construction of the trophy, he realized it was going to be a big undertaking. For months, his engineers at his company, Apex Manufacturing and Design, modeled hundreds of designs before striking upon the final one. From there, several more months were spent tweaking the design and engineering how it would be built and assembled.

Garvin wanted no external bolts or screws

in the final design, which would improve the look of the trophy while making it decidedly more difficult to design and machine.

The resulting trophy not only features triple chrome-plated pieces, but two extra “wow” factors: an internal red-and-blue light element and the addition of a motorized hub that turns a propeller at 2 rpm.

The first name on the trophy is the 2019 championship team of NZ-11 Pro Floors: owner/driver Wayne Valder and throttleman Grant Bruggemann.

LOTO-Based Businesses Surge During Covid-19 Pandemic As the Covid-19 panic continued to intensify across the country, more powerboating events have been cancelled. The latest casualties: the Thunder on Cocoa Beach offshore race was canceled, along with the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run and Texas Outlaw Challenge.

But it was quite a different story in Missouri, which continued to be fully open for business, unburdened by the restrictions being followed in other parts of the country. As a result, the boating scene in the Lake of the Ozarks has been enjoying [continues on page 14]

12

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_012,14,27,82.indd 12

speedboat.com

7/21/20 3:04 PM

INDUSTRY NEWS

MTI Unveils 8-Seat Version of 390X Cat

While attending the inaugural Outboard Fun Run by Performance Boat Center at the Lake of the Ozarks, the team at Marine Technology Inc. unveiled a brand-new 390X catamaran with a revised eight-seat interior that sports four front seats.

The idea began with a request from a customer whose family was always jockeying for the front passenger seat. “There’s

multiple people in the family and there was always a major discussion about who gets to sit in the front and who has to sit in the back,” explains Taylor Scism. “So the customer asked us to devise a way to put multiple seats in the front. Different ideas were tossed around, but we didn’t really have the time to do that kind of R&D until COVID-19 hit.

So we decided to use the downtime to make that happen.”

The challenge, she says, was to invent a way that would bring more passengers to the front without sacrificing comfort or accessibility. Judging from the model at LOTO, MTI pulled it off exceptionally well. Not only does it look great, “It runs fantastic,” Scism says. “I absolutely love it.

It’s so comfortable.”

FOX Sports Regionals to Air Powerboat P1 Races Race promoter Powerboat P1 has extended schedule—Cocoa Beach (Aug. 27) and its relationship with FOX Sports Regional Networks to air races from past, present and future in the USA, according to P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala. This move extends P1’s seven-year relationship with FOX to air powerboat races in the USA. Ever since sports ground to a halt globally in March of this year, top leagues, governing bodies and event promoters have struggled to find ways of getting their respective shows back on the road safely while managing the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Powerboat racing is no different, as it prepares to return in some form in the coming weeks.

Like all sports promoters, Powerboat P1 has been addressing both immediate issues and engaging in longer-term planning. Event postponements and cancellations have had to be made in the APBA Offshore Championship, including the two races that had remained on the 2020

14

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_012,14,27,82.indd 14

Fort Myers Beach (Oct. 10)—both of which were canceled in July.

Meanwhile, P1 has been focusing on ensuring a successful and widely visible 2021 season.

“The coverage that FOX Sports Florida has given to the locals races has been great,” Rangoonwala says. “We’ve been working on pushing them to expand thier coverage to the other regions, such as Michigan City, IN, and St. Clair, MI, and other venues. Our goal is to do six livestreamed TV shows for next year. This has always been our plan. They’ve given us some great times, and they’ll continue to do so,” he says. “The idea is for all 23 networks to give us some sort of coverage, with some states obviously giving us more than others. They would like to make the FOX Sport regional networks the national home of P1 Racing. The reach will be around 80 million homes.” [continues on page 27]

LOTO-Based Businesses Surge During Pandemic [continued from page 12] record-breaking activity and unprecedented sales.

Poly Lift owners Mark and Mike Maasen told Speedboat that their worldfamous boat lift company is doing gangbusters business—the combined effects of the kickoff of the summer season, the state’s relaxed coronavirus restrictions, and the fact that so many residents from elsewhere in the USA are coming to the lake to experience an air of normalcy. “People want to come and play and do their thing,” Mark explains.

“The minute they started talking about shutdowns and working from home, my phones started going crazy and it has not stopped.”

For the time being, Mark says that business at Poly Lift and surrounding companies on Lake of the Ozarks has been through the roof. “For example, I know that Surdyke Yamaha has absolutely no PWCs left—they’re the largest WaveRunner dealer in the area and probably the whole state, and they’re out. Zero. They’ve sold them all. A lot of boat dealers have empty lots, and if they get a used boat, it sells the next day.”

Indeed, Performance Boat Center bucked the trend by not only hosting its annual Cigarette Rendezvous, but launching a brand-new annual Outboard Fun Run (See Page 48), both of which were well attended.

As this issue went to press, the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout (Aug. 29-30) remained on the schedule, as did the Desert Storm Poker Run and Shootout (postponed to Sept. 30 to Oct. 4) in Lake Havasu, AZ. But if the Covid-19 pandemic has proved nothing else, it is that plans can change at a moment’s notice. Speedboat asks its readers to stay notified with the latest updates. speedboat.com

7/17/20 12:01 PM

101854_SpeedBoatMar19_02,07,09,13,15,17,23,53,57,83,84.indd 2

2/11/19 10:51 AM

Our photo crew heads to Lake Elsinore once again to pair up hot boats with the hottest girls.

THE A s Covid-19 wreaked havoc on businesses around the globe, the marine industry in the U.S. took a pretty sizable hit. But though the pandemic

caused the cancellation or postponement of uncountable events and races from coast to coast, some things are apparently invulnerable, and we’re happy to report that our annual swimsuit shoot is one of those things.

Spearheaded by Speedboat co-publisher Ray Lee, this year’s extravaganza took place once again at Southern California’s Lake Elsinore. Eight boats and five lovely ladies prepared for Ray’s close-up—and the results were, as always, spectacular.

Taking center stage this year was a 26'

16

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 16

photoography by

Ray Lee

Redline, a unique collaboration between RPM Powerboats and Lavey Craft Motorsports. This year, for the first time, Lavey has been testing a new 26' powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards. It’s the fifth model out of the mold in an extensive metamorphosis that began back in 2005, when Doug Wright first designed the hull, and it’s the first to feature a carbon kevlar layup. The boat employs the latest in CAD technology and fluid dynamics software borrowed from the racing industry, utilizing a sophisticated blend of composites, including advanced coring, multidirectional fiberglass, and composite bulkheads to yield a light yet strong hull capable of outstanding performance and handling.

(Text continues on page 26)

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:25 PM

Ron Franz, the owner of the newest 26' Redline by RPM and Lavey Craft Motorsports, says he’s excited about the reliability of Mercury Racing’s outboards: “I’m looking forward to having a go-fast boat whose motors and drives are under warranty for a couple of years.” Below: Our five beautiful models (from left) Akacia, Lindy, Kathy, Savannah and Mercy.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 17

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

17

7/16/20 8:26 PM

114776_SpeedboatMarch20_003,005,09,011,013,014-15,021,081,083,084.indd 41

2/18/20 10:34 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 15

7/16/20 7:01 PM

THE FAST FIVE This 2000-model 18' California Performance gullwing was acquired by John Griggs two years ago from its previous owner, Jim Penner. (It was last seen in these pages in 2016 as part of a SoCal Jet Boats feature story.) Griggs changed some of the wiring and added a back seat to the boat, making it more of a family-friendly hot rod. It’s powered by nitrousinfused 555 big-block Chevy with 13-to-1 compression.

It’s got a Berkeley pump with stainless impeller and inducer.

“It probably makes a little north of 1,200 hp,” he says. “It runs around 120 mph.” He uses it on the Colorado River.

20

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 20

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:26 PM

Chris Williamson bought this 1978 18’6” Hondo hydro from his uncle about 23 years ago. “He’s really who got me into the drag boat scene when I was a kid,” he says. He kept it original up until seven years ago, after his uncle passed away. “Then it became a memorial piece—that’s when I tore it down and redid it.” He’s kept the original 460 Ford, which packs about 700 ponies.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 21

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

21

7/16/20 8:26 PM

THE FAST FIVE

Gary Davis recently built this 2019 18’6” Bitz, known as Centsless.

It’s the third hull built for him by Bitz Custom Boats owner Rick Bietz.

Davis, who has been racing since 1985, participates in the Quick Eliminator class for ADBA and NJBA, while his 35-year-old son also races a blown alcohol Bitz in Pro Outlaw class. Everything on Davis’s rig is custom, including the super-cool scoop painted by Jeff Quigley.

The boat features a Lenco transmission and Casale V-drive.

22

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 22

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:26 PM

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 23

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

23

7/16/20 8:26 PM

THE FAST FIVE

James Rankin took his 1979 18’ Baker out of a junkyard four years ago and fully restored it—so be prepared to see a full restoration article on the project in an upcoming issue. “I did everything except the interior and build the motor,” he says. (The engine was assembled by Bryan Glidewell of High G Force Racing of Cerritos, CA.) The boat, dubbed Jam ’n’ Jewel, was transformed over a period of three and a half years, with new stringers, bulkhead, fiberglass, etc.

24

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 24

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:26 PM

David Gunn’s father, Michael, built his 18’6” Bahner back in 1986, and has been running it himself for the last six years or so. Originally powered by a 454 (punched out to 484) with an 871 blower and nitrous, it was repowered by Greg Shoemaker at GS Marine a year ago; it’s now pushed by a 540 c.i. Merlin block with aluminum heads and 1071 Littlefield blower. The boat still sports its original gelcoat; Gunn uses it up and down the Colorado River. “It performs great,” he says.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 25

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

25

7/16/20 8:26 PM

THE FAST FIVE

(Text continued from page 16) RPM owner Joe Malich credits the folks at Lavey Craft with finessing the design of the 26' to make it more user-friendly. “Chris Camire and his team at Lavey Craft ended up putting together a great piece here,” he says, referring to the latest incarnation with the 400Rs. “He’s changed the inside of the boat considerably—it has gained about three feet of room inside, about 18" on each side, because he tucked everything away. The throttles used to protrude about eight inches; now they’re tucked in. It’s a beautiful boat that has more freeboard than any other 26' boat on the market.”

At press time, the boat had just been delivered to attorney Ron Franz of Seattle, who plans to use it on Gig Harbor (part of Washington State’s Puget Sound) with his wife, Carmella. “It seems to handle rough water very well,” Franz says. “This is probably the finest gelcoat work that I have ever seen, and probably the greatest attention to detail on any boat that I’ve ever owned. Everything about it really exceeds my expectations.”

26

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_016-18,20-26.indd 26

Here’s a 1975 18’9” Sanger Circle Runner powered by 427 big block (bored .125 over) with AFR aluminum heads, roller cam, Dart tunnel ram with twin 1150 Dominator carbs and Casale V-drive with a Whirlaway.

Although the engine hasn’t been on a dyno, owner Joe Westwood estimates total horsepower to be in the 750 range, and deliver a 100-mph ride. Westwood relocated from Northern California to Southern California, and now uses the boat on the Colorado River near Parker, AZ. The boat has been in Joe’s family since 1987, and went through an elaborate restoration, off and on, between 2001 to 2011. speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:26 PM

INDUSTRY NEWS [continued from page 14] FOX Sports Regionals To Air Powerboat P1 Races Additionally, nearly two dozen regional sports networks across the United States will screen four one-hour shows beginning tomorrow (June 19), to feature race action from the three 2019 APBA Offshore Championship events staged in Florida together with a season review program.

The shows will be seen on channels such as Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports South and Fox Sports West (the full list with broadcast times can be viewed below).

Coverage will extend into next year, with plans underway for this collection of regional sports networks to cover the APBA Offshore series—plus a Class 1 season round-up—with additional livestreaming on P1 Offshore’s Facebook page.

[INDUSTRY NEWS continues on page 82]

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_012,14,27,82.indd 27

7/17/20 12:01 PM

photoography by

Todd Taylor, Kenny Dunlop and Tom Leigh

VICTORY

E

very reader of this magazine is undoubtedly aware of the Victory Team. Based in Dubai, the builder is world-famous

for having totally dominated the offshore race circuit, both in the U.S. and abroad. It’s impossible to imagine Class One racing without the likes of Miss GEICO, the 47' World Champion Victory hull, or the jewel of the fleet—the actual Victory Team boats, which have amassed hundred of awards and continue to be the most relentlessly successful offshore race team of all time.

It was inevitable that a pleasure-boat version of the Victory hull would make its way to the U.S., and our Speedboat test crew got a chance to drive the newest model,

28

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_028-32.indd 28

VTX 36

the VTX 36, at our most recent test event.

The 36 joins the VTX 30 as the flagship offerings being marketed by Victory Powerboats West, based in Temecula, CA. Heading up the dealership is Dale Dondel, a 20+ year veteran of speed-related vehicle businesses, including off-road race cars and sand cars (which he still builds as part of his Racer Engineering firm). Powerboating has always been his primary passion; he’s owned Eliminators, Skaters, Motions, MTIs, innumerable DCBs—more catamarans than you can imagine. So the Victory hull is a perfect choice for Dondel to sell. After flying to Florida to test-drive a couple, he decided to try his hand at marketing them in the U.S. “They’ve been building boats for years and have done lots and lots of testing,” he says. “I

think we’re definitely going to be a thorn in a couple of company’s sides over here, but I don’t ever want to sell 40 boats in a year. I’m hoping to sell one a month, tops. And we’re already on schedule to do about 10 this year, which was more than I thought we’d do in our first year.” The bare hulls are shipped over from Dubai, and rigged in Southern California. Ricky Maldonado is the Floridabased importer and exclusive distributor Dale and his team are working with to bring the Victory hulls to the U.S. At the time of this writing, our test VTX 36 was being used as Victory Powerboats West’s demo boat for the summer, after which it will be sold. (The white VTX 30 that joined our photo shoot for this issue’s cover has already been sold to a customer in Parker, AZ, and speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:32 PM

VICTORY VTX 36 Length: 36' Beam: 10'4"

Engines on test boat: Twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards Options on test boat: Carbon fiber layup, Mil-Spec wiring, BMRS plumbing, Alcantara interior, underwater lighting, three-layer Seadek flooring, paint upgrade, stereo upgrade, Mercury Vessel View display.

Top speed: 141 mph @ 6,470 rpm VICTORY POWERBOATS WEST 36750 Glenoaks Rd. Temecula, CA 92591 (951) 233-7275 victorypowerboatswest.com

performance evaluations

Are you ready to go 141 mph in a hull that planes blindingly fast and always makes you feel safe and secure? Of course you are.

VICTORY VTX 36

130 120

SPEED (mph)

100 80 60 40 20 0

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000 7000

6,470 RPM = 140 MPH 100 90 80

SPEED (mph)

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0

5

10

15

20

TIME (seconds)

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_028-32.indd 29

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

29

7/16/20 8:32 PM

VICTORY VTX 36

The Victory VTX 36’s interior has been tricked out with a three-layer SeaDek flooring that incorporates the Victory logo with matching colors throughout.

The color scheme is also part of the two front buckets and four individually molded rear seats, all of which feature plush Alcantara fabric.

The folks in Dubai have put an enormous amount of R&D into their hulls, and the results are nothing short of phenomenal. The VTX 36 is simply the fastest catamaran in its size range.

30

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_028-32.indd 30

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:32 PM

he’s been having a blast with it.)

The Package: The cockpit of the 36' is one of the larger ones we’ve seen; it’s very spacious, with a great deal of storage. It’s been tricked out with a three-layer SeaDek flooring that incorporates the Victory logo with matching colors throughout. The striking blacks and blues, with their diamond shapes, are also part of the two front buckets and four individually molded rear seats, all of which feature plush Alcantara fabric and rated a perfect 10 on the comfort scale.

One of the more noticeable differences between this cat and some of the other outboard catamarans we’ve driven is its unusually tall freeboard—the seating is up off the “ground,” as it were, so you’re sitting higher than you would be in a different boat.

As we discovered, this actually contributes to a much more stable ride.

The driver and passenger share a huge Garmin screen in the center of the dash, while each has access to the high-quality JL Audio system. Victory has loaded up the cockpit with all of the bells and whistles, including one of the coolest steering wheels speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_028-32.indd 31

imaginable. Behind the rear seat, there’s a large compartment for storage, with additional storage in the sponsons. From stem to stern, it’s just an exquisite creation, with amazing attention to detail. The boat’s paint job is also astonishingly gorgeous.

Additionally, it’s important to note that the hulls come fully capped from Dubai. This is typically considered a significant upgrade from most manufacturers, but comes standard on all Victory pleasure boats.

Performance: If you thought we were impressed with the boat’s appearance, we were positively mesmerized by the ride.

Say this for the folks in Dubai: they’ve put an enormous amount of R&D into their hulls, and the results are nothing short of phenomenal.

Getting on plane was a mind-blowing experience—it took only 2.32 seconds to get on plane, which is just insane—especially considering that we experienced zero bowrise. It happens so fast that it was almost difficult to recognize actually coming on plane.

The VTX36’s ride was incredibly stable

throughout all of the speed ranges, even in Lake Havasu’s choppy waters. Although the wind had picked up considerably during the morning of our test, the Victory never got upset, continuing to track well and make sharp, flawless turns in either direction, leaning in at all times. As we mentioned, a key component of the superb ride was the boat’s uncommonly tall freeboard. You really feel tucked inside and on rails, with a great feeling of security at all times. We took the boat to 141 mph at 6,470 rpm using the big 38"-pitch five-blade propellers (anything smaller would take it straight to the rev limiter).

Here’s the bottom line: The Victory is the first outboard cat in its size range to reach the 140+ mph range, and it planes lightning fast. But it’s so much more than just a speedy boat. It performs and handles exceptionally well overall; there’s no porpoise, it corners like a raceboat, it doesn’t require a lot of trim or other input to do what it’s supposed to do. And it feels safe and comfortable all the time. Simply put, the Victory VTX 36 is a true purebred animal. It’s a stunner.

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

31

7/16/20 8:32 PM

VICTORY VTX 30

Here are some detail shots of Victory’s VTX 30, the little sister of the 32' and 36' versions. Like the bigger version, the 30' has an extremely clean look. The stitching and upholstery were top notch, and the overall look and feel of the boat just screams out “luxury.”

Yes, the Victory hulls are fast, but they also perform and handle exceptionally well overall.

They don’t require a lot of trim or other input to do what they’re supposed to do.

32

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_028-32.indd 32

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:32 PM

photoography by

Todd Taylor and Kenny Dunlop

KMG

L

akeside, CA-based KMG Custom Boats offers a variety of engine packages and hull configurations of its 22' Phantom,

most of which our staff has tested through the years: it’s available both as a hard deck and a deckboat, and powered by everything from twin Mercury Marine 2.5 outboards up to a single 400R. This year, for the first time, company owner Kevin Mickaelian brought us a model equipped with a Mercury Racing 450R. Mickaelian launched KMG after expanding his thriving custom painting, repair, and fabrication station, having honed those skills at DCB’s rigging and finishing university. It was there that he helped to build more than 30 of DCB’s stylish Mach

34

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_034-37.indd 34

22' PHANTOM The Southern California rocketship arrives at our Havasu test outfitted with a Mercury Racing 450R.

22s before Dave and his crew turned their attention to the upper end of the size stratosphere. Mickaelian’s revival of the one of the purest-handling recreational hulls ever designed for high-impact boating has been nothing short of an inspiration to fans of this boat’s screaming fast bottom.

Our test team has been consistently impressed by KMG’s offerings, and always walk away impressed by Mickaelian’s solid reputation for creating a marvel of perfectly sculpted rocketry, which is always packed with performance and comfort.

“This particular KMG is extremely fast with the 450,” he says. “It’s just a night-and-day difference from the 400 to the 450—a lot more torque and acceleration. The boat really woke up with the 450. We’ve gotten 117

mph out of it at present, and I’m confidence that we’re going to hit the 120 mark. We’re proud to offer a boat that’s extremely safe and stable at high speeds. That’s very key.”

Immediately following our test, the boat was delivered to customer Mike DeVries of Bozeman, MT, who previously owned a 1998 23’ Cougar with twin 225 outboards, and was interested in upgrading to a boat with a 450R. Mickaelian helped DeVries sell the Cougar and started work on a 450-powered 22’ KMG. We asked him to describe the performance differentials.

“The KMG is just light years ahead,” he told Speedboat. “It gets out of the water a lot quicker, and when you’re cruising between 50 and 70 and give it to throttle, you can really feel it accelerate.” speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:35 PM

KMG 22’ PHANTOM Length: 22' Beam: 90.5"

Engine on test boat: Mercury Racing 450R Options on test boat: Alcantara interior upgrade ($4,000), level 2 JL Audio stereo upgrade ($2,500).

Top speed: 112 mph @ 6,230 rpm

Manufacturer’s estimated top speed in optimum conditions: 117+ mph Base price: $120,000

Price as tested: $150,000 KMG CUSTOM BOATS 11641 Riverside Dr. #107 Lakeside, CA 92040 (619) 733-0593 kmgboats.com

performance evaluations

KMG 120

SPEED (mph)

100 80 60 40 20 0

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000 7000

6,230 RPM = 112 MPH 90 80

SPEED (mph)

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0

5

10

15

20

TIME (seconds)

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_034-37.indd 35

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

35

7/16/20 8:35 PM

KMG

Standard equipment on the 22’ includes 100% vinylester, vacuuminfused layup, dual Odyssey batteries, electric hatch actuator, 9” Simrad screen and BMS hydraulic jackplate.

Our tester came with a plush Alcantara interior upgrade, as well as an upgraded JL Audio stereo system.

Despite the rough Havasu water, the KMG handled like a champ, thanks to its very strong layup—we noticed absolutely zero flex in the hull and deck.

36

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_034-37.indd 36

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:35 PM

DeVries will be using the boat on Hauser Lake, located on the Missouri River, where he owns a summer home. “Our lake is pretty calm, and that’s a big factor,” he says.

“We don’t have real rough water problems.

Havasu has some very choppy water compared to what we’re used to. But the boat is super stable, even on really rough water. And the best thing about that boat is Kevin’s workmanship. There’s not one rattle, not one squeak. It does everything light years ahead of what I anticipated.” speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_034-37.indd 37

The Package: To begin with, the rigging on the 22’ is truly impeccable.

The interior includes vinyl upholstery with Alcantara material, a $4,000 upgrade that really enhances both the visual and comfort levels of the boat. The hull arrived super clean and utterly flawless, with silver and pearls combined with white and orange graphics in the perfectly executed gelcoat. It’s certainly one of the most attractive KMGs we’ve ever seen.

We were impressed by how well the

inside of the boat matches the outside, and that consistency is carried through to the compartment occasionally occupied by the I/O; it’s been glassed up and fancied up with gelcoat and matching graphics, and is ideal for storage. (For additional storage, there are compartments up front, as well as glove boxes port and starboard.) Of course, KMG continues to offer the 22’ with sterndrive power, but those seem to be getting rarer as more customers opt for the reliable Mercury Racing outboards.

Standard equipment on the 22' includes 100% vinylester, vacuuminfused layup, dual Odyssey batteries, electric hatch actuator, 9” Simrad screen and BMS hydraulic jackplate. The driver uses Mercury DTS shifters.

KMG offers a front and rear cap standard with stainless rubrail on the sides. The boat sat upon an Extreme tandem-axle trailer with stainless fenders and 18" wheels.

In addition to the Alcantara interior, other options included an upgraded “level 2” stereo system courtesy of JL Audio ($2,500) that included subwoofers and an amp. The boat has that distinctive KMG look, with sleek styling and luxurious comfort our team has come to expect from the builder.

Performance: Predictably, the water conditions on Lake Havasu were pretty choppy, exacerbated by some significant wind gusts that really put the KMG to the ultimate test. But it handled like a champ, thanks to its very strong layup—we noticed absolutely zero flex in the hull and deck.

Our test team, led by co-publisher Ray Lee, agreed with the boat’s owner: the hull is unmatched in stability. The 22' handles the chop very well. “The 450 really pushes this boat with high torque, and acceleration is insane,” says Lee. “This boat would be ideal for somebody who loves to run it on the river.”

The cost of the KMG starts at $120,000; pricing on our 450R model was $150,000.

On the rough Havasu waters, we were content to take it to 112 mph at 6,230 and still feel safe, but there was clearly more speed to be discovered.

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

37

7/16/20 8:35 PM

photoography by

Todd Taylor and Kenny Dunlop

The newest addition to the Eliminator Boats stable is this speedy 255—and this one’s got a pair of 450Rs for when you need to go 120 mph.

Orange is the new

C

Speedster

ompany President Jake Fraleigh does not mince words when it comes to his vision of Eliminator Boats’ newest model, the 255

Speedster. “I’m trying to make this the most entry-level boat on the planet,” he says. And yet, the Speedster we’re featuring on these pages—ordered by repeat customer Jeff Ohai of Riverside, CA—is hardly deserving of that monicker. “I tried to do an entrylevel sale,” Fraleigh sighs, “but the next thing you know, he started throwing more and more money at it.” The result is a stateof-the-art example of modern Eliminator craftsmanship, one that’s sure to be turning heads wherever Ohai takes it.

38

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_038-41.indd 38

Among the options ticked off by Ohai included the Carbon Kevlar upgrade, WetSounds audio system, walk-through bowrider configuration, upgraded trailer, and the pièce de résistance—twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards spinning special Mercury round-ear cleavers.

Debuting at the 2019 Desert Storm Poker Run & Shootout, the 255 is the smallest of Eliminator’s Speedster lineup, which includes 27’, 28’, 30’ and 36’ models. “The 25 Daytona has a very long and rich history,” Fraleigh says. “It’s got a great reputation, and this 255 basically incorporates the 25 Daytona double step bottom that’s been around forever.”

Fraleigh says the fastest he’s driven

the boat so far is 122 mph, but the hull clearly has more to offer: Ohai boats around Parker, so there’s really not a runway long enough for him to really open up the boat.

Consequently, the X dimension was kept fairly conservative to enhance safety and drivability. (Having said that, there’s always a chance that a pair of 38”-pitch props might find their way on the boat at some point to squeeze out even more top-end speed.)

“It’s the perfect boat for Parker,” Fraleigh says, “but it can also handle any conditions on Lake Havasu. I call it the biggest little boat we make. It’s a real driver’s boat.”

Ohai, who owned a 25’ Eliminator Daytona with a Whipplecharged 502 sterndrive motor between 1999 and 2013, says speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:38 PM

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_038-41.indd 39

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

39

7/16/20 8:38 PM

SPEEDSTER

Above: Ohai’s previous Eliminator, a 25' Daytona, was featured in an ad for the Eliminator Regatta that appeared in the July 2000 issue of Hot Boat Magazine.

that boat’s typical top speed was between 80 and 85 mph. Ohai also currently owns a Premier tritoon powered by a 300 Yamaha outboard, and has also owned a 1970 19’ Howard flatbottom—in fact, he purchased the house once owned by Howard founder Howard Brown.

Ohai says he’s thoroughly enjoying the

40

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_038-41.indd 40

Speedster, which is performing beyond his expectations. “This boat is a lot lighter than my last one, because of its Carbon Kevlar layup,” he tells Speedboat. “So with a lot less weight, it takes off a lot quicker, and with the dual 450 motors and the dual 34” props, it’s unbelievable. Those props really yank you out of the hole. There’s no drag to it at all—

you’re gone.”

Another little performance trick Ohai had Eliminator customized was to move the gas tanks on both sides as far forward as possible. “This was because of the heavier motors in the back,” he explains. “On an I/O, your motor sits more forward, but the outboards are hanging off the back. So I told them to push the tanks up to get the boat a little more level.”

Of course, the key upgrade was opting for the Mercury Racing 450Rs. “We started with the 400Rs,” Ohai chuckles. “Then, during the build, they came out with the 450s, and I said, ‘Jake, can you get those for me?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, but it’s going to take some time.’ I told him it would be no problem, since it wasn’t even boating season yet. It was worth the wait to have the new technology that’s on the 450s as opposed to the 400s. They’ve got 40 percent more torque, they don’t have to rev as high, and they’re supercharged. It’s just a better engine overall.”

Ohai says his top speed so far has been 118 mph. “I’m happy with that,” he says. “It was riding really good.” speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:38 PM

Among the features of Ohai’s 255 Speedster: a Carbon Kevlar upgrade, WetSounds audio system, walk-through bowrider configuration, upgraded trailer, and the pièce de résistance—twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards spinning special Mercury round-ear cleavers.

“It takes off a lot quicker, and with the dual 450 motors and the dual 34" props, it’s unbelievable. Those props really yank you out of the hole.”

—Jeff Ohai speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_038-41.indd 41

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

41

7/16/20 8:38 PM

Support Our

ph

Ray

The Crew at Big Thunder Marine Helps Raise Money for Our Men and Women in Uniform.

42

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_042-46.indd 42

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:45 PM

Todd Taylor, Ray Lee and Brad Glidewell photoography by

T

hirteen years ago, Ed Champion launched the Support Our Troops Poker Run, but when he joined the staff of Big Thunder Marine, the demands of the

job resulted in him handing the reins over to others. This year, however, Champion was once again in charge of organizing the run (assisted by Monica Gust and Clint Schaffnit), which raises money for those in active military service.

The 2020 event, Champion says, was put together by Big Thunder Marine with relatively short notice, during a nationwide pandemic, and it was taking place during the same weekend as the Outboard Fun Run (see Page 48). Despite these challenges, participation was very strong.

“I was a little concerned about the boat count with Covid-19,” Champion tells Speedboat.

But we ended up with right around 74 boats. We had everything from Tri-Toons to milliondollar Outerlimits there.”

It was also an opportunity for the Big Thunder Marine mega-dealership to showcase a variety of boats they have for sale, including a 38 ZRC Donzi and a Fountain 47 Lightning with Mercury Racing 1550/1350s.

Champion says the best way to measure the success of the run is by the dollar amount donated to the troops. “We started off at about $29,000,” he says. “Then third-place in the poker run won $500, so Jeremy Anderson, our general manager at Big Thunder, offered to match it if it was donated back. They donated it all back. Then second-place was $1,000.

We made them the same offer, and they donated it back. The first-place team won $1,500, and Jeremy said, ‘I think you know what’s coming.’ They donated it back, so we matched it. Finally, the folks at Poly Lift said they wanted to match the $3,000 we had just matched.

Then other business owners started donating, and then individuals started donating. We ended up with around $33,000.” Co-sponsor WIA Insurance also donated an additional $1,000 to the cause.

A large share of the funds was presented to Jon Jerome of the charity H.E.R.O.E.S. Care Inc., which uses the money to benefit active-duty soldiers. “Ed Champion was facing a lot of pressure to cancel the boat party, but he was adamant that these men and women in uniform get their boat rides,” Jerome says. “He knows what these folks have sacrificed.

Every day they sacrifice, and they never have a chance to set foot on boats like these. Ed said, ‘We’re going to do it because they need to be on these boats.’ It was amazing what he was able to pull off in less than a month.”

Above: Dave and Connie Weyer of Advantage Marine in their 30' Advantage Victory, powered by twin Ilmor V10s.

Left: Jason and Amy Kinkaid drive their 2003 Donzi 33 ZX, powered by twin Mercury Racing 500 EFI engines.

Right: The active troops who participated in the run and who were given rides pose for this group photo.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_042-46.indd 43

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

43

7/16/20 8:45 PM

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS Left: This 2020 Statement 380 open-bow is powered by triple Mercury Racing 400R outboards.

Below: Ed Champion of Big Thunder Marine drives a 2007 47’ Lightning, originally owned by retired NFL running back Jamal Lewis. It’s powered by twin dual-calibration Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines.

Below: This 41’ Donzi GT features a specially retrofitted T-top that was recently added.

Right: Mike Maasen of Poly-Lift drives a 42' Cigarette Top Gun.

This 35' Lightning was one of several Fountains that participated in the run.

44

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_042-46.indd 44

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:45 PM

Above: Laryssa Maasen (daughter of Poly-Lift owner Mark Maasen) is proposed to by Dalton Miller.

Right: Ed Champion and Jeremy Anderson of Big Thunder Marine present a check to Jon Jerome (of H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, center).

Below (left to right): DJ Inna spins tunes at the run; one attendee receives a Yeti cooler filled with Big Thunder Marine swag; and Fred Ross, owner of Iconic Marine Group.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_042-46.indd 45

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

45

7/16/20 8:45 PM

THE FAST FIVE Doc Janssen’s SV53 Outerlimits is equipped with Mercury Racing QC4V dual-fuel 1350/1550 twin turbo engines.

Right: Burton Kirsten’s SC46 Outerlimits, Jet, powered by Mercury Racing dual calibration 1350/1100 engines.

Below: An overhead view of boats docked at Dog Days Bar & Grill.

46

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_042-46.indd 46

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:45 PM

OBSERVER’S SEAT RAY LEE [Continued from page 8] adjacent to PBC and the Redhead Lakeside Grill. It sports numerous pools and bars, tasty Mediterranean cuisine, competitive cornhole boards and a stage to host DJs, live music or awards ceremonies. Despite the imagery that the term “adults only” conjures up, it is merely a kid-free area to relax and enjoy time off the lake.

PBC’s other owner Brett Manire, alongside Mercury Racing’s own Michael Griffiths, emceed the awards presentation, handing out cool Mercury Racing 450R trophies for the several different categories, such as “Trendiest Crew” and “Best Classic Outboard Boat.” (See page 42.)

Both events were very successful in their own right and congratulations to both Big Thunder Marine and Performance Boat Center for planning (and executing) such cool runs for the masses to boat in. And for us to chase and cover.

In these bizarre and uncertain times, it’s good to know...that there’s always LOTO.

LS S.O.S. SuLtanS Of Spark

IgnItIOn COILS

Coil Near Plugs ThaT Work!

(From the people that make the D.U.I. Distributor)

• •

• • • • •

Open up plug gaps to .065” burning your fuel more completely 28,000 Volts Under Load, your “Acceleration Phase” compared to the stock coils 21,000.

That’s 7,000 more volts per coil under a load per coil - Which is 56,000 Volts More over a stock ignition per engine!

Compatible with Flash devices, programmers, etc.

Utilizes superior Thermal Epoxy for durability Bolts in OEM location LSX Crate Engines can use any of our LS part numbers Flex Fuel applications also available

Advanced technology in the LS S.O.S. Coils allow you to run a .065” plug gap improving combustion effi ciency. Of course, a more complete burn provides you with quicker acceleration, while not missing a beat on your top end.

Naturally, the ignition system in an LS motor plays a very predominant role. That’s why they can make such a big difference in your performance. A set of S.O.S. Coils produce 56,000 more volts over a stock ignition under load or your “acceleration phase!” Because LS coils “talk” to your computer, a lot of time was taken to develop the S.O.S. coils to ensure a product that WILL make a difference.

Because 8 coils are used in the LS engines compared to just one in older engines, the ignition system became more important to your boat’s performance than ever. Now you have the opportunity to beef up your spark on each cylinder, whereas, in the single coil engines, your spark was “spread out” over 8 cylinders.

And, if you re-tune your engine with a programmer or a flash device, you will need the additional spark at your plugs to take advantage of your new fuel mixture, timing curve etc.

Send $4.00 for complete Catalog and Prices.

2699 Barris Drive - Dept. SB • Memphis, TN 38132 Phone: 901-396-5782 • Fax: 901-396-5783 www.PerformanceDistributors.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_008,47.indd 47

7/16/20 8:24 PM

photography by

Todd Taylor, Ray Lee and Brad Glidewell

fun run Outboard Assembled very quickly, for the first time ever, Performance Boat Center launches an event just for boats with Mercury outboards.

48

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_048-52.indd 48

The Super Stock competitor Performance Boat Center, a 32' Wright Performance, was throttled by Rusty Williams and driven by Todd Crossley.

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:49 PM

P

erformance Boat Center of Osage Beach, MO, not only debuted an all-new powerboating event in June, but

managed to pull it off only one week after hosting the annual Cigarette Rendezvous. The first annual Outboard Fun Run came to the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday, June 26, and boats of all types and size ranges were invited—the only stipulation being that they needed to have Mercury Marine and Mercury Racing outboard power.

The crew at PBC was still in the process of loading and storing boats after the Cigarette Rendezvous on Monday and Tuesday before participants started showing up on Wednesday for the Outboard Poker Run. “We ended up having 45 to 50 outboard boats,” says PBC co-owner Brett Manire. “Then that run immediately ran into our Fourth of July events, so it was extremely hectic here.”

Joining in the Outboard Fun Run: center consoles, catamarans, go-fast pontoons, traditional vee bottoms and even a few offshore race boats, including Performance Boat Center, CR Racing and Team Allen Lawn Care. Represented brands included boats from MTI, Nor-Tech, Cigarette, Sunsation, Wright Performance and multiple South Bay pontoons. “We had the whole plethora of manufacturers that make outboard-powered boats,” Manire says.

The fun kicked off with breakfast, after which company co-owner Mark Waddington conducted a driver’s meeting to broke down the day’s agenda. The first meet-up was at The Fish and Company (Camdenton, MO), located about 15 miles north of PBC. After having lunch with live music at that restaurant, participants then took a 30-mile jaunt to Franky & Louie’s Beachfront Bar & Grill. Everybody hung out there for a few hours before setting course back to Performance Boat Center’s new High Tide facility, which is geared to a more adult-oriented crowd; the establishment serves Mediterranean-style food and two expansive parallel pools with multiple bars and more live music.

“It’s the first year we’ve ever done this, and it with relatively short notice,” Manire says. “To get 50 boats involved, that pleased me considerably.”

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_048-52.indd 49

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

49

7/17/20 11:38 AM

OUTBOARD FUNRUN Left: The original Wright Performance 360 was driven by PBC’s Myrick Coil and wife Missi (shown waving a peace sign).

Right: Super Stock World Champions Rob Unnerstall and Casey Boaz in CR Racing, a 32' Doug Wright. It was one of several Super Stock competitors that came to the event.

Left: Scott Rosenbach drives this 2018 Cigarette 42 GTO Reserve, powered by quad Mercury Racing 400Rs. Right: Patrons of Franky & Louie’s Beachfront Bar & Grill enjoyed cocktails served in a novelty bucket with shovel and giant straws.

Right: The Performance Boat Center crew rode in this 41' Cigarette Night Hawk demo boat, powered by quad Mercury Racing 450R outboards.

50

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_048-52.indd 50

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:50 PM

Left: Chris Hummel and family in their Sunsation 34 CCX. Below left: Brett Manire, Mark Waddington, Jenny Davis, Charlie Roll, Myrick Coil, his wife Missi and Michael Griffiths of Mercury Racing.

Below right: Rachel Waddington, Missi Coil, Alicia Larkin and Jennifer Perrin are photobombed by Rachel’s husband, PBC co-owner Mark Waddington.

The run welcome all types of outboard boats, including this South Bay pontoon.

Jeff Leckliter drives this Sunsation 32 CCX. Jeff’s son Jake is a PBC tech and the crew chief of MCON Racing.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_048-52.indd 51

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

51

7/16/20 8:50 PM

OUTBOARD FUNRUN MTI’s newest 390X catamaran features seating for eight passengers.

It was driven by company owner Randy Scism.

Billy Allen and Larry Pinegar in Team Allen Lawn Care, their 32' Doug Wright, run alongside Charlie Roll and Jenny Davis in their MTI 390X catamaran.

Left: The custom-built awards given out in various categories (i.e., trendiest crew). Below: PBC co-owner Mark Waddington drives a 420 Wright Performance demo boat.

Left: An drone shot shows the boats docked at the run’s second stop, Franky & Louie’s Beachfront Bar & Grill.

52

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_048-52.indd 52

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:50 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 47

7/16/20 7:01 PM

Speedboat

Spotlight Mark Morris

PURE Imagination Meet Mark Morris of Visual Imagination, the wizard whose spectacular artwork has graced the hulls of some of the most famous machines on God’s Earth.

This 39’ Supercat Light race boat was built for Randy Kent. It followed his original Speed Racer 44’ MTI.

54

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 54

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:13 PM

I

It’s one thing to design, sculpt and build a fast and functional hull; consider the MTI 52’ Catamaran, DCB’s M44, Skater’s 40SS, Cigarette’s 515—

all proven rocketships that have earned their reputations. Mark Morris, 53, takes these works of art to the next level—sometimes to many higher levels—by adding his extraordinary artwork to them. Each of these models has been his canvas, as he and his team at Visual Imagination (Peculiar, MO) transform them into eye-popping show pieces that define the expression “state of the art.”

This month, Speedboat talked to Morris to discuss some of his many designs, from the Lamborghini-themed 48' MTI to the thematically linked fleet of Spooled Up boats that include a 52' MTI, MTI-V42 and DCB M44.

Speedboat: Tell us about your early years, before you embarked on your current journey.

Mark Morris: I was born in Southern Illinois.

My dad was a graduate of Southern Illinois University and had moved to Grandview, MO, to work for Honeywell, so that’s where I grew up. I live a little farther south of there now.

Above: The 44' MTI Bat Boat, created for brothers Darain and Cory Atkinson, required Morris to spend about 2,000 hours painting, sanding and clear-coating. The imagery changes dramatically under different lighting.

Passblocker is a 52' MTI painted for owner Brad Benson, a former Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman for the New York Giants.

Inset: Visual Imagination founder Mark Morris. speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 55

SB: You actually raced motorcycles professionally on the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) circuit from 1990 to 1998.

What was that like?

MM: It’s a very, very dangerous sport. There’s a lot injuries and that’s what holds back a lot of people from racing. It’s not really a matter of if you’re going to crash and break bones, it’s just a matter of when and how many. I had hundreds of accidents that resulted in 21 broken bones. I lost track of how many concussions and other minor injuries. It’s really rough on your body. I didn’t want to get out, but in 1997, I was 30 years old. And you are literally an old man when you’re 30 in that sport. I retired on Sept. 12, 1998, when I was 31.

SB: How did you transition into a painter of boats?

MM: I started painting when I was 15 years old, and it wasn’t boats. During high school, I painted cars and small motor homes, followed by several smaller boats. When I turned pro in 1990 as a motorcycle racer, I ran into an old friend at a practice track. He had a 30-foot Chris Cat that he wanted me to [Text continues on page 60] S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

55

7/16/20 9:13 PM

PURE IMAGINATION

Left: “Randy Scism at MTI called me about doing a spec boat for the Miami International Boat Show in 2011. I don’t know who ended up owning it, but I really like it.”

Right: “One thing that we’re extremely good at is, when a project has to be done in record time, and the deadline is not realistic, we make it happen. All of the Black Diamond MTIs debuted at the Miami boat show were extremely challenging. Although they were one shade of black, making them look like a show piece for the MTI’s booth at the Miami boat show was no easy task. Most importantly, we had to perform in an unrealistic timeframe. The Black Diamond owners’ favorite words were ‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’.”

Left: “Ron Tomlinson wanted a satin finish. As a painter, you worry about satin on a 40’ boat, because what you spray is what you get. If you get dirt in it, the dirt stays. We spent extra time to make sure the boat was absolutely clean. I told my crew, ‘In a couple of hours, we’re either going to be heroes or zeroes, and I have no interest in being a zero. So let’s get this right.’”

Right: John Woodruff, who hails from the CocaCola soft drink’s founding family, owns Windship, a 2011 48' MTI painted by Visual Imagination.

Woodruff also owns a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger helicopter. “That is where the colors of the boat came from, to match his helicopter.”

56

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 56

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:13 PM

Craig Hargreaves of Vancouver, WA, is owner of a fleet of Spooled Up boats that includes a 52-foot MTI and DCB M44 (left), an MTI-V 42 center console and 30-foot Playcraft pontoon (top)—even his tow rig, a Freightliner Sport Chassis (above) sports the distinctive art devised by Mark Morris at Visual Imagination.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 57

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

57

7/16/20 9:13 PM

PURE IMAGINATION Left: “This modernized version of the 90-mph Cigarette has the most extreme detail,” says Mark Morris of Visual Imagination. “Every surface of the boat has polynesian tribal graphics including the engine compartment and cockpit along with custom painted billet parts that have a true anodized look.”

Right: Hammertime, the 44’ MTI, was built for Michael Craig. The side of the boat features a cartoon rendering of a guy slugging a Red Bull. “Michael is a dentist, so the whole idea is that the guy is a mad dentist. Michael loves Red Bull and vodka, so that’s where the can and the ‘mad dentist’ came from. He’s wearing a dentist’s coat. Michael wanted a carbon fiber checkered kind of effect. I think he wanted to kill me when we developed our signature carbon fiber that is so popular today. We call it ‘evolution of the carbon.’”

Left: This multicolored 36' Nor-Tech, Two Face, was built for Rich Evans. “He was a customer of Randy Sweers. The reason for the name Two Face is that it’s mostly orange on the side shown, with blue tribal graphics, but it’s exactly the opposite on the other side. It’s split right down the middle. It was a fun boat to paint, and Rich was a really fun person to work with.

Anytime customers get excited about their project, it makes it a really fun project to work on.”

Right: The Nor-Tech 40' Roadster Disturbing Behavior came about after the customer had seen another blue Nor-Tech Roadster painted by Visual Imagination (Kelly Sills’ Paper Chaser) and fell in love with it. “He wanted his own version of it, so I redesigned it and incorporated a lot of the same colors. And you can see that this one has our carbon-fiber effect on it. We did this one quite some time ago.”

Left: Randy Schultz founded Profile Boats in 1979 and built a steady stream of them for nearly 30 years.

In 2005, Schultz sold Profile and joined forces with Ryan Kratz to form Liquid Glass Powerboats to focus exclusively on catamarans. “We only did a couple of boats for Liquid Glass—they didn’t build very many of them. A lot of manufacturers call us because they’ve seen our boats at various shows and events, and know the quality work we do.”

58

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 58

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:13 PM

Left: “This is a one-of-a-kind Cigarette 515. This boat has a Visual Imagination custom-designed cockpit with a six-bolster seating arrangement. Add a Visual Imagination-designed dash and engine hatch that features a one-off LED carbon fiber Cigarette logo by InnoTech, and you have a Cigarette that covered all of the details. This Cigarette customer produced the best and most custom 515 on the planet.”

Right: “Optical illusion! On Gino Gargiulo’s first Lamborghini 48' MTI, everything was hand-painted and airbrushed to create the dimension and character of the Aventador car body. Although the side of the boat looks as though there are inset areas for vents and body lines, the side is totally flat. Other handpainted details include headlights, tail lights and rear hatch.”

Left: This DCB M35, Lickity Split, was built for J.P. O’Donoghue in 2015 and may be Mark Morris’s most famous creation for a West Coast boat. DCB founder Dave Hemmingson had been doing all his boats in gelcoat, but called Morris with a special request.

“He wanted me to do something that he couldn’t do in gelcoat.

He had seen our work many times at the Miami Boat Show— that’s kind of how he really knew of us.” Tragically, it crashed in Lake Havasu in 2018, killing the three passengers onboard: Brad Kloepfer, Connie Kloepfer and Paul Selberg.

Right: Visual Imagination has put its magic touch on quite a few Skaters over the years, including this beauty—one of three they’ve painted for Jimmy John’s sandwich restaurant founder Jimmy John Liautaud. “We did this 388, then we did his 318 Skater, his 308 Skater, and we also did his 32' Doug Wright. We also designed the original graphics that were on the Performance Boat Center/Jimmy John’s 38' Skater.”

Left: Iconic Marine Group, builder of the Fountain, Donzi and Baja brands, recently re-introduced its popular 47' Lightning, which has earned a reputation as one of the fastest boats in its class. Newly redesigned, the 47' is now available with a reimagined deck and refined bottom design.

Morris and his crew at Visual Imagination painted this brandnew boat, which is equipped with a pair of dual-calibration Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines. It was sold to customer who has owned four previous Fountains! speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 59

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

59

7/16/20 9:13 PM

PURE IMAGINATION [Continued from page 55] look at to see if I could paint it. I had been painting all of my own helmets and even my race haulers. One thing led to another and I ended up painting the boat for him.

That’s how it all started. I later painted my first graphic paint job for another friend shortly after we finished the Chris Cat. The boat is called Deuces Wild, a 30-foot Scarab. This was in the early ’90s; I was racing at the time, so sometimes I would

be out of town for months at a time. So I almost looked at it as kind of a hobby at that point. Eventually I realized, Hey, I like doing this. It was cool and it seemed like it could be a business.

So I started doing more and more of them, especially during the winter months or when I was home from the races. This went on for years. Then, when I retired from racing in 1998, I decided to do the

painting full time, and launched the Visual Imagination business.

SB: Did you have a lot of exposure to the Lake of the Ozarks scene at that time?

MM: A little bit during high school, but there weren’t as many performance boats back then. It was just kind of the beginning of it, and typically, the boats had very simple graphics on them. At that point, I never even dreamed of having a boat-painting business.

SB: Were you ever personally interested in the fast boats?

MM: We were boating since we were young kids, on smaller runabouts and JetSkis, and we waterskied a lot. Even today, the big thing is wake surfing, which has been our hobby for about five years. But even though I think they’re really cool, I’ve never been a performance boater or owned a performance boat. The only time I’m around them is when we’re working on them, or when we’re at a Shootout event.

I’ve driven them literally twice in my life.

SB: What were some of the first boats you painted professionally?

MM: At first, my customers were a lot of individuals. We were painting motor coaches for a company up in Canada—Prevost and MCIs and 53-foot movie-star rigs for people like Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Vin Diesel and Robert DeNiro. And that was just in the first couple of years. The first boat manufacturer that we really started doing work for was MTI, which started their business right around the same time I did and are also in Missouri. They were in Missouri, and the 44’ Speed Racer was the first one we did for them. Then Randy Scism had us do his personal demo boat, a 42' MTI. Then we started picking up others as people started seeing our work. We’ve done work for a number of the manufacturers over the years now. The ones we’re working with primarily right now are MTI, Cigarette and Nor-Tech.

SB: Which boat have you completed most recently?

MM: We just finished a 48' MTI cat. They had something special in mind. You’ve probably seen the carbon fiber effect that we’ve been doing for about 12 years. It’s

60

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 60

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:13 PM

actually the most-wanted effect that we’ve ever created, and everybody who’s painting is trying to copy it. Anyway, an MTI customer wanted to do a blue carbon fiber, so Randy Scism asked me if I could figure out how to do a blue carbon fiber, so after a few tests, we figured it out and it’s a really cool look—we ended up doing the entire boat in this blue carbon fiber, incorporating a little bit of our old silver/black carbon in with it with drop shadows.

into. We had that one at the shop between five and six months.

But there are more variables involved than just the size of the job. There’s also the complexity of it, and how many people you can have working on it at a given time.

Because there are certain things that everybody on the crew may not be able to do every part of. So there really are many different reasons why some projects end up taking more time.

SB: How long does it take for you to paint a boat, from start to finish?

MM: It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. Some of the center consoles we get, we only do minimal work on them, and some of them we can do extremely fast, especially on the smaller ones. We can turn those around in a week and a half. But when it comes to something more elaborate, it can obviously become more time-consuming. For example, we just finished a Cigarette 515, which we put an extreme amount of hours

SB: How many people do you employ at Visual Imagination?

MM: We have seven extremely talented people.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_054-59,61.indd 61

SB: What have been your favorites of all the boats you’ve painted?

MM: That is a very good question. People have asked me that from time to time, and I never have a good answer for it! Here’s what I’ve found: If I like something now, I won’t like it indefinitely, because we’re always trying to make things better, and styles con-

stantly change. So I try to ignore that part of it and just pay attention to the quality and the detail of the work. I take a lot of pride in that aspect of the work. I always tell my guys, “I don’t care what the design is. I don’t care if you don’t like the colors or if you don’t like the design or a combination of both. Our job is to make that thing as absolutely perfect as we can.” Because not everybody likes the same colors or the same design work.

SB: How much direction do your typical customers usually give you?

MM: Most of the time, the customer will give you an idea of the colors they want to start with. From there, they’ll tell you kind of the direction that they like, or they may show you a couple other boats they like, and they just kind of let me run with it. Of course, then you have a few who really want to give their input in on all aspects of the project.

But regardless of the input, every project tends to evolve with greater details and the communication between the customer and I results in an absolute work of art!

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

61

7/16/20 9:13 PM

READER RIDES

Chuck DiVine 19’ Youngblood

W

e’ll let developer and builder Chuck DiVine of Texas tell his story about

his Youngblood: ”My buddy had a 14-foot aluminum rowboat. We threw an old 25 Merc on it and learned how to waterski on Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey. When I was 20, I bought a 19’ Sutphen jetboat made in Jersey. It had a stock 454 in it; I pulled that and had a 14-to-1 600-hp motor built for it.

I ran that boat for a while and then bought a brand-new Cole Starfire jet. I ran that until I sank it in Lake Hopatcong. That boat was fast!

“Then I ended up moving to the Jersey shore for a construction job. In 1990, I ran into a guy who was selling a 1984 Youngblood TX19 built by Jet Boat Engineering. I bought it and ran it stock for a while, but saltwater ate it up. In 1999, I rebuilt the whole boat from top to bottom.

I bought a motor from Larry’s Performance in California and put that in it. It ran for about five hours until I spun the bearings.

“The boat sat for about 20 years until I

62

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_062.indd 62

rebuilt it again last year. This time, I had a motor built by Self’s Automotive Race Inc. of Durant, OK. We built to run at 8,200 on nitrous. The boat’s a real runner! I run it on Lake Texoma in Texas. I’ve run it up to 87 mph. It’s got a jet problem—it should be a 100+ mph boat, but I subsequently learned that the person I bought it from had somebody do work on it, and the jet was dropped down three-quarters of an inch, and a bubble was put on it. That’s kind of hindering the speed a bit, so I’m going to pull the jet out over the winter and redo it.”

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:52 PM

Brett’s

COVE

FOREVER 21' Joe Cassani’s 1973 HALLETT

Featuring Burley Regatta

Echo Lodge Flatty Fever speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 63

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

63

7/16/20 9:16 PM

photography by

Ray Lee

21’

Forever How Joe Cassani revived a piece of his childhood by restoring this gorgeous 1973 21' Hallett daycruiser.

64

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 64

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:16 PM

J

oe Cassani fondly remembers the Hallett daycruiser his father owned. He honed his passion for boating and waterskiing from his father at an early age. A few

years ago, he got the bug to find that old Hallett—or a reasonable facsimile—and completely restore it “to kind of bring back my childhood.”

The boat you’re looking at on these pages is the precise resurrection of that childhood. After launching his search, Cassani found the nearest approximation of his dad’s boat in the form of this 1973 21' Hallett daycruiser, practically a replica of that once-cherished ride. He found it in the Mohave/Vegas edition of speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 65

Craigslist at the end of 2018, ready for restoration.

“The floors were out, the upholstery was junk. It was old, worn out and the gelcoat was cracked,” he says. “It had an old Jacuzzi jet on it, but no motor, and it was a rough condition. It was exactly what I was looking for.” As part of the deal, Cassani acquired an Energizer kit to convert the Jacuzzi to a Berkeley jet, then hired Bostick Racing Engines (Santee, CA) to build a new motor for the Hallett. The restoration began in 2019, and ended earlier this year.

Originally, Cassani hired a gentleman in Rialto, CA, to work on freshening up the boat; he was slated to do a paint job and S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

65

7/16/20 9:16 PM

FOREVER 21’

Above: Cassani snapped this photo during the drive home from Bullhead City, AZ, after purchasing the boat. Right: A view of the well-worn upholstery, soon to be extracted from the hull and thrown into the garbage. Below: A view of the transom, including the dilapidated swim step and Jacuzzi jet drive, all in a state of disrepair. Below right: The boat’s dash seemed to sport gauges that had been replaced sometime in the last 25 years or so.

Above: The exterior of the boat was in pretty sorry condition; the faux wood “paneling” would eventually be scrapped. Right: The stringers are exposed as the new flooring is installed.

66

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 66

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:16 PM

Above: Upon inspection, the stringers appeared to be in reasonably good condition and did not need to be repaired or replaced. Right: The boat’s flooring has been installed.

Above right: The Hallett has been transfered to GS Marine in Norco, CA, where Greg Shoemaker and his crew start work on the boat in earnest.

The hull is flipped upside-down, and the arduous task of sanding it down, removing all of the blemishes and re-gelcoating begins. Everything got filled back in, including the transom and the dash; eventually, new holes would be cut for the exhaust, jet, gauges, etc.

restore the floor of the boat. But during this early phase, at the start of the summer of 2019, Cassani struck up a conversation with Greg Shoemaker of GS Marine (Norco, CA), and became convinced that boat was better left in Shoe’s hands. The problem was that GS Marine was already at capacity. “I’m way too busy,” Shoe told him.

“I don’t even have a place to store your boat. Call me in September and I’ll see what I can do.” So Cassani took the Hallett to a storage unit near GS Marine and parked it for a few months.

While waiting for September to come, Bostick finished up work on the new engine and delivered it to Shoemaker. When summer turned into fall, Cassani got in touch with Shoemaker. “What do you want us to do?” Shoe asked.

“I want you to do my boat,” Cassani told him. “I want to do a speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 67

full restoration—re-do the gelcoat to how it would have looked in 1973, but with today’s technology, all of the modern-day gadgets.” And with that, the boat was in Shoemaker’s hands. Over the months that followed, Shoemaker sent Cassani photos of the boat’s progress, many of which you see in the pages of this article.

“It was just a process from there on out,” Cassani says. “And it’s been great.”

A few weeks ago, Cassani responded to a posting on Speedboat’s Facebook page, and accepted an invitation to attend this magazine’s 2020 swimsuit shoot. We’re delighted to share his journey with you.

Cassani enjoys using (and co-owning) the Hallett with his girlfriend, Marcie Parslow.

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

67

7/16/20 9:16 PM

FOREVER 21’

Above: José at GS Marine lays down tape as part of the boat’s new design, which incorporates blue metalflake with a grey pinstripe.

Above: Patriotic Speedboat model Kathy poses at the helm of the Hallett at Lake Elsinore.

Below: Bostick Racing Engines of Santee, CA, built this 496 stroker motor that dynoed out at 600 lbs. of torque and 635 horsepower. The drivetrain includes AFR aluminum heads, roller rocker, cam, Lightning headers, Lightning rail kit and brand new 35-gallon fuel tanks.

Above: The gelcoat work complete, the boat undergoes the rigging process.

The boat’s jet drive and engine are installed, along with the gauges.

68

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 68

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:16 PM

The gauges were swapped out for a new set from Eddie Marine, which also provided the wheel, foot pedal and switch panel.

Above: The boat now sports an all-new interior, including seats, carpet, engine hatch, side panels, cup holders, etc.

Rene Hernandez did all of the upholstery work; the color scheme was designed

by Cassani’s girlfriend, Marcie Parslow.

Above: The boat is now more or less complete; the original trailer just requires some additional TLC. Right: Speedboat model Mercy poses on the deck of the restored Hallett.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_063-69.indd 69

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

69

7/16/20 9:16 PM

Casey Hoffman, driving for team owner and father Tim Hoffman in this newly purchased and rigged 1976 Biesemeyer, took home the win in the SE Class. The boat—its first time in the water— powered him to the overall title. In the far lane is Matt Mattson of Washington in the SE 76; he would finish eighth overall.

With most of racing a bust for the 2020 season, competitors trek to Burley, ID, for a spirited 45th running of the Idaho Regatta. story and photography by

Mark McLaughlin 70

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 70

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:57 PM

Battle in

BURLEY

I

nboard-powered circle boats headed to Burley, ID, in June for the 45th annual running of the Burley Regatta,

and competition was, according to tradition, truly insane.

The weather was in the 80s Thursday through Saturday, but it dropped like a rock into the 40s on Sunday after a big storm on Saturday night (with snow in the local mountains).

There were close to 80 registered boats, with two jet sprint boats doing exhibition passes as a bonus attraction. The weekend started off with the annual show and shine in the town of Rupert, ID, which is right up the street from the track in Burley. From the towns of Burley, Rupert, Heyburn, and Paul, mayors from all four towns acted as the honorary judges in the Best of Show trophies for the event. The overall Mayor’s Choice Award went to Kaylee Hiebert in her GN 18 machine, and the People’s Choice Award went to Jeff Doidge and his SS 15 boat named That Boat. speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 71

Retired H1 Unlimited Hydroplane racer Nate Brown climbed into his flatty and did fairly well until Saturday afternoon. On the last race of the day, he seemed to have his setup a little bit off. After turn one and skipping across the course into the next lane, he flipped the boat and was transported to the hospital with broken ribs. He did manage to make the trophy presentation Sunday night and earned a huge round of applause.

The most prestigous trophy of the entire evening is the Faulkner Trophy, given to the team with the highest percentage of the combined speeds of the entire weekend for their boat. This year’s winner, with 107% of the record, went to Scott Stump and Blake Stump in the P88 Cracker Box. The Idaho Cup went to Duff Daily, driver of Canary Pride; his percentage was over 98%. The Governor’s Cup is for the third place in percentage; it went to Dustin Daily, Duff’s son.

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

71

7/16/20 8:57 PM

BATTLE IN BURLEY

2.5 litre and 1 litre hydroplanes came to play in Burley, with H1 Unlimited hydroplane drivers wanting to race. As their 2020 schedule has been officially cancelled for the year, the guys brought out their other machines to compete with. Jeff Bernard and his #18 hydroplane boat took home the overall win for the weekend. Left: Bernard accepts his custom-made first-place trophy.

Cracker Boxes showed up to the Snake River in force for the first time in a few years. A total of nine in attendance with seven racing on Sunday. Driver Scott Elders and rider Dino Iacovino took home the honors in the Black Ice P30 Cracker for Elder’s first win. The Snake River was cold and rainy by trophy time, so the firsttime winner dunk in the river will have to wait until the next race.

J. Michael Kelly’s boy, Carson Kelly, came into the season after racing for about a year and a half. He did everything just like his dad taught him. Taking home the overall win, Kelly bested six other Junior Hydroplanes and got to hold up the coveted custom-made firstplace trophy (right). Although he was a bit shy on the microphone, his driving suggests that Carson will be a force in the field. Great to see them all traveling from Washington.

72

S P E E D B O A T | April 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 72

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:58 PM

Retired H1 Unlimited Hydroplane racer Nate Brown climbed into his SE 17 flatty for the weekend’s racing and did fairly well until late Saturday afternoon. On the last race of the day, he took a pretty good tumble and was hospitalized with broken ribs. Mike Purczynski in the SE 151 (driving

by Nate during the incident) finished third overall for the weekend.

Middle photo: The start of the GPS 100 race on Saturday. From the Heyburn side of the Snake River, the crowd could be easily seen as one of the largest in years. Above left: At Thursday’s show and shine in Rupert, ID, the Games Boys gathered around their P550 boat with Mayor Steve Ormond of Burley, agreeing with their status. Top Fuel Guru Eddie Knox, in attendance with his neighbors the Game Boys, poses with fellow racer Tony Costantino. Above right: The four counties surrounding the Snake River in Idaho—Burley, Rupert, Heyburn, and Paul—were represented by their mayors attending the show and shine Thursday night in Rupert. From left: Michael Brown (mayor of Rupert), Bruce Hossfeld (Paul), Steve Ormond (Burley) and Mark Rosa (Heyburn). The Mayor’s Choice Award went to Kaylee Hiebert and her GN 18 boat, while the People’s Choice Award went to Jeff Doidge and his SS15 flatty named That Boat. speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 73

S P E E D B O A T | January 2020

73

7/16/20 8:58 PM

BATTLE IN BURLEY Driven by Ty Newton, the crowd favorite K999 El Cid blows by the packed house on a bright and sunny Saturday aftenoon on the Snake River. Newton would take the overall win and custom-made trophy on Sunday at the packed-house trophy presentation.

Sportsman A Hydro had a field of six boats, with Sean Davison out of Long Beach taking the overall win in the #55 boat (far lane). Karly Hearne (yellow boat) took home second; Jeff Barrus (near lane) took the third-place trophy.

Super Stock racers Dale Baker (inside lane) in the #55 boat goes up against Jim Gregory (far lane) in the #75 boat making qualifying laps around the course. Baker would end up in second place in Super Stock class and win the GPS 100 Class over 10 other competitors. Gregory finished in fifth for the weekend in Super Stock.

Super Stock winner Tim Hoffman took down the field of six boats. This is Tim’s first attempt in the Super Stock class, and he showed the crowd that he is the man to beat.

Congratulations to the entire team!

74

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 74

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:58 PM

Comp Jet had a decent group of boats that also competed in the Nostalgia Jet class: six in the Comp class and five in the Nostalgia class. Randall Dilworth, with his newly acquired 357 jet from the legend, Harold Bruce, took the class win in both categories.

What can you say about the Grand Nationals? They have been nonexistent for the past few years... until 2020. Heath Hiebert brought his team of GNs with him, along with his daughter, Kaylee. They have not lost a beat since last year’s Long Beach race. Heath and Kaylee finished first and second in the class, and were pretty much side by side most of the weekend like this.

Unblown Flats were led by the always tough Duff Daily (above), driving for the Faulkner family in the Canary Pride machine. Daily piloted this boat like he’s been in it for years, earning him the overall win in the class. Right: The most prestigeous trophy of the entire evening was the Faulkner Trophy, given out to the team with the highest percentage of the combined speeds of the entire weekend for their boat. This year’s winner, with 107% of the record, went to Scott Stump and Blake Stump in the P88 Cracker Box. The Idaho Cup is the next-highest trophy to be handed out; that one went to Duff Daily in the Faulkner-driven Canary Pride. (Duff’s percentage was over 98%.) speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_70-75.indd 75

S P E E D B O A T | May/June 2020

75

7/16/20 8:58 PM

story and photography by

Mark McLaughlin

ECHO LODGE

Madness

With the Colorado River open to the public, speed-starved boaters jumped at the chance to enjoy some much-needed fun.

76

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_076-80.indd 76

B

arely a few months into the worldwide pandemic, boaters were itching to get together and make some waves. In mid-May,

the Colorado River was open to the public, and it seemed like the whole world showed up to participate in the Hot Rod Dam Float, headquartered at the Echo Lodge Resort in Parker, AZ. Never before have I seen so many boats going every which way on the Parker Strip. Drag boats and circle boats began running at 5:30 a.m., with a scheduled 10 a.m. run to the dam from Echo Lodge and the Sandbar Resort.

The Scott Steele-sponsored event was supposed to allow boats to run until the water got choppy, but at 5:30 a.m., the water was already choppy, so that put the kabosh on the scheduled “float down the river” to the Sandbar, as it was pretty much impossible for anyone to float down river. The weather was typical for the weekend before Memorial Day—hot as hell!

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:29 PM

Below: Boat guru Jerry Gilbreath brought out his 1978 Rayson Craft with its Lamborghini 12-cylinder motor in it. The 950-hp-powered machine is one of at least eight owned by Gilbreath.

Bottom: One of the many scenic views around Buckskin Mountain State Park in Parker, AZ.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_076-80.indd 77

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

77

7/16/20 9:29 PM

ECHO LODGE MADNESS

Above: This 427-powered 1978 DiMarco flatty is owned by Gary and Rick McCrummens.

Right: Kevin Morford of Palm Springs, CA, launches his 1986 Sanger hydro off a roller by Foxes Floating Bar. He uses a blown 496 on 100 octane fuel for power.

Below: Ron and Linda Pengru head down the river in his 1966 Poty. The boat is pushed by a 425-hp 427 c.i. Chevy.

78

S P E E D B O A T | April 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_076-80.indd 78

speedboat.com

7/16/20 9:29 PM

Jamey Clark is the owner of this 1976 Litchfield, License 2 Thrill, previously owned by NBJA competitor Rolf Sammons.

Above: This 1976 GT Sprint Hondo, rigged by Don Mumma, is owned and shoed by Sammy Fey. It’s powered by a Lew Larson 496 big-block Chevy.

Middle left: Another Lew Larson-built 500-c.i. BBC powers this 1985 Cole TR2. Tom Huff had his machine wrapped with orange and his original race entry numbers on the side make this Cole look fast just sitting in the water.

Bottom left: This 2019 TX19 is owned by Greg Burlile. He’s really liking his new toy, with its 598 bigblock Chevy engine.

speedboat.com

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_076-80.indd 79

S P E E D B O A T | January 2020

79

7/16/20 9:29 PM

ECHO LODGE MADNESS

Top left: Chris Schock’s magnificent Biesemeyer K Flat, powered by a 468 with 1,000 horses. Bottom left: Shane Kneisel cruises by Foxes Floating bar in his 2010 Cheetah TX18. Above: Event promoter Scott Steele drives his 2020 Biesemeyer wood deck, a genuine showstopper. The Jay Ershin-built 427 blown alcohol motor really makes this boat scoot.

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_076-80.indd 80

7/16/20 9:29 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,081,083,084.indd 81

7/16/20 11:06 PM

INDUSTRY NEWS [continued from page 27]

Industry Legend Arneson Passes Away at 99 tion that the turbine is the ultimate power for a boat, and his installations became progressively wilder. He built at least six of them for himself, including a spectacular 46-foot Skater powered by a 4,500-hp Lycoming turbine. It carries enough fuel (1,000 gallons) to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and cruises

comfortably and reliably at between 120 and 140 miles an hour.

Based in San Rafael, CA, his Arneson Industries developed the Bravo Conversion Kit, which have proved extremely popular over the years for boat owners who want an upgrade for their existing Bravo drives.

Howard M. Arneson, one of the marine industry’s greatest innovators, has passed away at the age of 99.

The recipient of more than 45 patents, Arneson revolutionized offshore muscleboating with the development of the Arneson Surface Drive in the 1980s, which has been produced under several licenses.

His own boats won two Open Offshore World championships, and on one fateful day in 1983, Arneson drives powered the World Champions in Open, Sport and Modified classes.

Arneson started out racing 225 Hydras, and owned a series of high-powered offshore sport boats before single-handedly exploiting the potential of turbine power in the pleasure boat arena. He became the undisputed “King of the Turbine,” having built plenty of them over the years. At age 68, Arneson climbed into the open cockpit of his 32-foot Skater, powered by a T-58 gas turbine, and shattered the elapsed time record between New Orleans and St. Louis by an incredible 7.5 hours.

In 1990, Arneson drove the thousand miles in 12 hours, 40 minutes by himself, nonstop— much of it in darkness—and became the 16th new record-holder in more than 1,100 attempts. The feat only reinforced his conten-

82

S P E E D B O A T | July/August 2020

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_012,14,27,82.indd 82

speedboat.com

7/16/20 8:25 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 83

7/16/20 7:01 PM

117887_SpeedboatJuly20_003,011,015,033,047,061,083,084.indd 84

7/16/20 7:01 PM