Eddie Knox Racing / PROBLEM CHILD Top Fuel Hydro ‘06, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13 World Champion TFH World Record: Speed 262.238mph / ET 3.3
Bad Attitude Racing 1st in Class 175 mph at 2014 LOTO
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These champions choose NRI. Tony Scarlata, NRI Team Driver 28x World Champion Top Alcohol Flat World Record: 5.168 ET
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TABLE OF CONTENTS May 2015
COLUMNS 7 CHRIS DAVIDSON 8 RAY LEE 10 ALEXI SAHAGIAN 12 INDUSTRY NEWS 54 NEW PRODUCTS
34 MIAMI BOAT SHOW
FEATURES
46 QATAR CUP
Outstanding attendance, strong sales and plenty of boats on display made Miami an exhibition well worth experiencing.
41 L.A. BOAT SHOW It may be a shadow of its former self, but the L.A. exhibit continues to hang in there.
16 STU’S CRUISE
Teams from across the globe gather at Doha Bay for the inaugural UIM race.
The Florida Powerboat Club parties in Islamorada after a memorable Miami International Boat Show.
50 TWISTED LIQUID MARINE
26 25 YEARS OF DCB Dave Hemmingson and his staff celebrate a quarter of a century as the consummate go-fast craftsmen.
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This mini speedboat provides big thrills without crippling your wallet.
58 FACTORY TOUR For 30+ years, Ron Hayes Jr. and his staff have been dedicated to putting your engine on steroids.
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Speedboat.com To find your nearest location to purchase a copy of Speedboat Magazine go to: www.WheresMyMagazine.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 Jim Wilkes jim@speedboat.com
Alexi Sahagian alexi@speedboat.com
BRETT’S COVE 66 HOT BOAT BASH Jordan Endler’s story marks yet another chapter in the neverending saga of immaculate boats that were found languishing in a barn.
72 COOL CANYON This T-Deck runner bottom is mighty appealing—especially with our model Sarah aboard!
Tech Editors Greg Shoemaker Jim Wilkes Valerie Collins National Sales Kerri Trapani Director kerri@speedboat.com Art Director Gail Hada-Insley Helicopter Services Fred Young fyoung@live.com
Photographers Todd Taylor, Jay Nichols Randy Nuzzo, Kenny Dunlop, Stu Jones, Jeff Girardi, Paul Kemiel, Andrew Gates Operations Manager Michele Plummer michele@speedboat.com
Subscriptions
subscriptions@speedboat.com
74 HERE WE JOE!
Webmaster Craig Lathrop
Racer Joe Morgan survives a horrifying double-blowover during an NJBA race last season on Lake Ming.
Web Design Element Media Design
76 ADBA RACING The BlueWater Casino hosts the season opener of the Arizona Drag Boat Association season in Parker, AZ. Cover photo by Todd Taylor 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 Performance Boats’ right to edit and comment editorially. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or part is expressly forbidden, except by written permission of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to Postmaster: Send address changes to Speedboat Magazine, 9216 Bally Court, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.
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SPEEDBOAT MAGAZINE (ISSN#1941-9473) is published 8 times a year by DCO Enterprises LLC. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Domestic $34.00 for 8 issues, Canada $56.00 for 8 issues, International $60.00 for 8 issues. All prices are for one year and in US funds. For subscription info: call (888) 577-2628. 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.
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MY VIEW CHRIS DAVIDSON
The Gamble Pays Off We get phone calls every day at the Speedboat Magazine office asking about what happened to: • Hot Boat Magazine. • Performance Boats Magazine. • Powerboat Magazine.
Hot Boat Magazine ceased publishing a print magazine in 2008. Powerboat was sold several years later to magazine conglomerate, Bonnier Corporation, which acquired the Powerboat name and subscriber base—only to stop publication. (Subscribers were absorbed by Boating Magazine’s massive database.) Meanwhile, we at Performance Boats Magazine simply changed our name to Speedboat for one purpose: to develop and promote one of the best domain names for high performance boating— Speedboat.com. A runner-up to Most Frequently Asked Question is: Will Hot Boat Magazine ever return in some form? Well, frankly, we never really left. I started publishing Hot Boat in the 1980s, and am still working with many of its core editors and writers (i.e., Brett Bayne, Jim Wilkes). So in several key ways, it’s the same great package with the same key players, with a new name. With this issue, we proudly celebrate speedboat.com
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the one-year anniversary of Speedboat Magazine and the launch of Speedboat. com. It appeared to be an impossible task at this time last year. The costs of designing and developing a new website, along with the accompanying promotional material including T-shirts, team jerseys, letterhead, business cards, etc., was an expensive proposition in an economy and industry that is still tight with ad revenues and profit margins. I remember fighting with Ray, Brett, and the rest of my crew about changing the name from Performance Boats to Speedboat. PB had been established in 2007 and had developed a respectable following. Nobody on the team thought we could do it one more time and establish a new brand to replace the previous tried-and-true one. In addition, there were immediate problems centering around posting content to our Performance Boats Facebook page instead of the Speedboat Facebook page. I informed all of them that there would be no way to ever launch Speedboat.com or the Speedboat FB page if we continued along this path. I understood their position—Speedboat was brand new with zero members. After all, who’s going to post content in an unknown forum that nobody is responding to or interacting with? Everyone works hard to get the best pictures and most interesting content, which should be seen and appreciated by those boaters who are interested. Fortunately, the gamble paid off after a number of time-consuming and expen-
sive changes. Everything is progressing extremely well. Our Facebook account now has over 2,500 members and Speedboat.com is reaching over 5,000 visitors a month. Those numbers will vastly improve when we launch our forums this September with the fulfillment of my noncompete with Vertical Scope, which purchased the PerformanceBoats.com website back in September 2012. Brett, Ray, Gail and the rest of the team have made wonderful contributions to what we have today as the only remaining high-performance boating magazine distributed on newsstands both here and abroad, including Canada. Costs relative to newsstand distribution internationally and in Canada are outrageous between the printing and additional shipping/ freight charges beyond U.S. borders. Now that we’ve covered the backstory, I’d like to address the topic of our cover price. Recently, we negotiated with our distributor at Kable to increase Speedboat Magazine’s circulation relative to its sell through and copies being sold. The end result: we reduced the cover price of the magazine from $5.99 to $4.99. For the past seven years, we were locked in a contract that forced us to be like many other magazines: to maximize revenues for the retail outlets that carried Performance Boats. However, with the Internet providing free content and consumers still watching value, being on various newsstands for under $5 will increase magazine sales, reach new readers of the magazine and bring new consumers to our industry. In addition, we have increased the number of issues printed for a oneyear subscription. Since its inception, we had been printing a magazine every other month or bi-monthly. However, starting in 2015, we have increased the number of our printed magazines [Continues on page 63] SPEEDBOAT |
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OBSERVER’S SEAT RAY LEE
From Miami to L.A.
While the rest of the nation was under a heavy blanket of snow and ice, boating enthusiasts were treated to sunny skies and amazing eye candy at the 2015 Miami and L.A. Boat Shows, hosted by the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association). The Miami International Boat Show was held Feb. 12-16 at the Miami Convention Center, as well as at Sea Isle, which hosted the on-the-water portion of the event. As soon as we arrived, we were treated to an overwhelming display of the hottest new boats, gadgets and hardware that the marine industry had to offer. If this show was any indication of the forecast of 2015, then manufacturers have good reason to be optimistic, as boat sales were reported to be better than the last seven years. The Miami Beach Show boasted an attendance of more than 95,000 people that took in the experience, spanning a total of five days. It was apparent that every manufacturer had stepped up their game, as the vessels on display were noth8
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ing short of spectacular. We were there for four of the five days, and it still seemed like we weren’t able to take it all in. One of the highlights of the show was the unveiling of four new engines from industry giant Mercury Marine on the first day of the event. The Verado 350 hp outboard, the Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard, the Mercury Racing QC4v 1550 sterndrive (with switchable power from 1,350 hp to 1,550 hp by way of a race key fob) and the Mercury 4.5 liter 200-hp stern drive. Peter Hledin and Skater Powerboats had some awesome boats on display as usual, but their highlight was the unveiling of super-boating enthusiast Bill Pyburn Jr.’s new 388, Pure Platinum. A stunning red, white and black catamaran with twin 1,947-hp engines by Goodwin Competition, it was apparent that no expense was spared on this boat build. From intricate custom paint by Dean Loucks of TAOD (The Art of Design) to a Ferrari-inspired dash panel and seating by Cutting Edge Interior,
Pyburn’s third Skater was the show stopper it was hoping to be. Outerlimits Powerboats revealed three new models to their lineup for 2015, including their first center console boat and squashed any erroneous rumors that the Rhode Island-based company would not persevere. Hustler Powerboats had an amazing 39' Rockit with twin Merc 700s on display, where fit and finish was the theme, and one that I simply fell in love with. Cigarette Racing’s booth didn’t disappoint with a gorgeous yellow and black 50' Marauder GT S with twin Merc 1550s and a matching Mercedes-AMG GT S road car alongside it, just for kicks. Sunsation Powerboats again stepped up their game with their growing line of beautiful center console boats, which Speedboat Magazine will be featuring in an upcoming issue. MTI showcased a pair of Black Diamond 52' Catamarans with Merc 1350s that looked as stealth and sexy as a boat can get. This was just to name a few! Miami really put on a show, and I’m excited to see some of these creations tearing up the water at the upcoming events. The L.A. Boat Show—the sickly kid brother to the Miami Show—was held the following week, from Feb. 19-22. It is not nearly the event it was in its heyday, but there was definitely signs of life again, compared to years past. The NMMA reported a 12% increase in attendance over last year, and more than 15,000 people came to the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown L.A. to see the offerings of the West Coast. Nordic Boats had a great booth set up, displaying six boats and even better boat sales over the four-day show. DCB Performance Boats brought their always-stunning array of catamarans and unveiled their first M29 with the new [Continues on page 63] speedboat.com
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ON THE DYNO ALEXI SAHAGIAN Blubbering Engine Dear Alexi: I have a 36-foot Skater equipped with a pair of big-block Chevrolet 572 crate engines converted for marine use. It's an older boat, but I really enjoy it. But here’s the problem:
is take a data log of that situation so you can pinpoint exactly where you need to go to make the adjustments for fuel your injection to confirm what you saw vs. what was logged. Once you make the adjustment and test your boat, you should notice a crisp off-idle response and a cleaner transom. You will need to adjust the “Wall Wetting” portion in the mapping layout in order to complete the proper tune. Re-data log by using the Hot Key CNTRL L to turn logging on and off to verify your adjustments. After a few fine adjustments, save the map and you should be on your way to better drivability and fuel economy— not to mention a cleaner transom!
Over-Boost Every time I go to pull away from the docks, the engine “blubbers” a lot and makes a lot of black smoke when coming up on plane. The engine has an AEM Infinity EFI system on it; however, I’m not the best at tuning it. The shop it was at did not finish it properly, so I downloaded the software and attempted to tune it. It got better, but I need professional advice! Can you please provide some insight? Thank you! Joe Costello Sunny Isles, FL The 36-foot Skater is a nice boat. Crate motors in general are usually designed for automotive, non-continuous duty use, but some people try to add fuel injection in an attempt to make them useful in a boat. It sounds to me like your off-idle fuel calibration is off a bit and needs some fine-tuning. Usually when you give it partial throttle, the engine will respond by running too rich. If you take the fuel map adjusting map in the Infinity tuning software and download it to your PC, you should be able to pull up your fuel curve strategy and see what the graphic fuel numbers look like. You will also notice the cells you are accelerating on plane, which can help pinpoint your location on the grid. What you want to do 10
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Dear Alexi: My boat is a 21 foot V-drive Schiada powered by a twin turbo 540 engine. While I like the boat, the wastegate doesn’t seem to blow off any excess boost. The boost gauge spikes 30 pounds when I shift second to third gear under heavy throttle. I am trying to regulate the boost to 15 psi. Do you know of a way to regulate the boost on an old twin-turbo carbureted system? Any help would be appreciated. John Medcalf Northridge, CA The Schiada V-drive is one of my alltime personal favorites! It sounds to me like when you get heavy into the throttle that you over-boost your current engine. I think it would be more beneficial if you could waste some of the turbine pressure to reduce the overall boost going into the engine. I am sure that is your goal as well. If we put a wastegate on the exhaust turbine side, it will slow the turbo down
and reduce the boost. By doing this, it simply bypasses the exhaust gases out a small secondary tailpipe to slow the turbo speed down. You simply regulate the boost with the diaphragm and vacuum line utilizing hoses to wastegate, or you can add an electronic wastegate even though you have a carbureted engine. There are several electronic wastegate actuators available with digital controllers to give you maximum flexibility with your engine. With the digital electronic waste gate controllers, you can simply close the wastegates to reduce turbo lag and, when needed, the wastegate will rapidly open allowing the engine to spool quickly but not allow it to over-boost. Sizing your wastegate is critical in how you set up your engine and it also will matter how fast it has the ability to blow off the turbos or slow the turbine speed down to regulate net boost to the engine. This very size of the wastegate is critical and will determine those two items. So tuning the proper wastegate sizing control system will determine how fast the boost comes up and how fast the boost comes down. To review: You have a mechanical option to slow down the turbine side of the turbo, which is the exhaust side, or you can use the pressure side compressor housing to blow off turbo boost pressure. On your system, you only have one choice efficient way of doing it, because it's carbureted mixing air and fuel through the turbo. Hence, you can only slow the turbo speed down. Once you determine what type of regulation you're going to use, then you can pick which type of wastegate you're going to use—one type being mechanical, and one being electronic. I hope this gives you some ideas on how to regulate your boost and save your motor from an over-boost condition and potentially thousands of dollars. speedboat.com
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Industry News BRETT BAYNE
Big Changes in Store for Miami Show, Poker Run While the Miami Beach Convention Center undergoes a major renovation and reconstruction, the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show will celebrate its 75th year Feb. 11-15 headquartered at the Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin—one of the most beloved and historic boating destinations in South Florida, located on Virginia Key off the Rickenbacker Causeway, just across from downtown Miami. Additionally, Sea Isle Marina, located adjacent to the Marriott Hotel, will no longer house the in-water section of the show. “The owners of Sea Isle Marina sent a letter informing us that they have changed their business model completely, saying that they would no longer cater to events like boat shows and poker runs,” said Stu Jones, president of the
Florida Powerboat Club. For nearly two decades, Jones and his group have celebrated the end of the Miami International Boat Show by gathering at the Sea Isle Marina just as the exhibiting craft are moving out—and then heading to Islamorada for a seasonkickoff poker run. Beginning in 2016, the club will be utilizing Grove Harbor Marina. “We always have used it, but we’re just going to give them more of our staging business,” Jones explained. “That fits in well with our plans, because they just bought the neighboring marina, Grove Key. So now they command a much larger footprint at Coconut Grove. They’ve assured us that they’ll be able
to provide a much larger space for us to stage from.” Additionally, there are new marina developments in Miami becoming available that FPC may utilize. “On Watson Island, a new marina is going in that will provide us with additional dockage, and we may get additional slips for transient dockage at Miami Beach Marina as well,” Jones said. The 2016 Miami Boat Show Poker Run destination will also change from Islamorada to Marathon Key, Jones added.
Todd Plate to Race Problem Child
The Eddie Knox Racing Team is welcoming Todd Plate as the new driver of Problem Child for the 2015 dragboat racing season. The announcement came fast on the heels of news that Top Alcohol Hydro world record holder Joel Weber would be taking the reins. “Joel had some business obligations change, and that was going to cause him to miss two or three races,” Knox told 12
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Speedboat. “He decided he didn’t want to prevent us from winning a championship.” Plate, who raced with Knox years ago in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is a former world record holder in Top Alcohol in the hydro Glory Days. “We won some races and then he drove for me briefly when we raced in fuel before he decided to relocate. Now he’s back…we’re putting the band back together!” Knox said. Plans are for Plate to race the entire season as the primary driver. “We’ve put a new boat together, made repairs to the old boat, so there’s a good chance we’ll run them both,” Knox said. “We’ll see if we can’t get that ring back.” Plate, who raced in Blown Gas Hydro
before setting the world ET record in Top Alcohol Hydro, told Speedboat he was “really excited” to be re-entering the world of racing. “It’s been about 10 years since I’ve been in a boat, but having the opportunity to come back and work with Eddie is just great,” he says. “We were really successful when we were teamed up together. I’m really looking forward to it.” Plate said he would be feeling the pressure to get up to speed and caught up with Knox, who has had Problem Child on a fast track for the last several years. “I have confidence that we’re going to be able to do it,” he said. “I’m optimistic because our working relationship and our communication is pretty good.” As for his competitors, Plate said, “Every last one of them is running really strong numbers. Spirit of Texas is the defending champion, so we’ve gotta do something to unseat him.” [Continues on page 14] speedboat.com
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Industry News BRETT BAYNE [Continued from page 12]
Andy Holthe Joins EP Insurance Andy Holthe, formerly of Wozencraft Insurance (Tustin, CA), has accepted a position at EP (Elton Porter) Insurance. EP Insurance, a division of Houstonbased Insgroup, offers insurance to the full range of watercraft (yachts, cruisers, fishing boats) and automobiles (motorhomes, motorcycles, campers). Holthe said he will take his expertise in high-performance boats to EP Insurance. “This company, which has been business since the 1930s, wants to remarket their name and start to sell more insurance,” he told Speedboat. “They’re very big, and they recruited me to go to work for them. It was a great opportunity for me, and it’s really a great opportunity for my clients.” Holthe, who previously owned a
brokerage firm based in Lake Havasu, has owned numerous muscleboats, including a 30-foot Spectre with twin outboards. He has also owned and sold numerous DCBs and driven 160-mph Skaters. “We have a new program that we’re going to be rolling out this year,” Holthe said. “I’ll still be writing policies for 200-mph boats and I’ll still have the ability to write nospeed-limit carriers at very competitive rates. I work 7 days a week and always try to get the most coverage for the best rate for my client. I might
quote you a policy that might be $200 more than my competitor’s, but mine would probably be the one that pays in the event of a claim.” Contact Andy Holthe by calling (310) 480-4285 or email AgentAndy01@gmail. com.
Performance Boat Center Adds Skater, Sunsation
Performance Boat Center, the speedboat dealer and full service marina based in the Lake of the Ozarks, has added three boat lines after attending the Miami International Boat Show in February. Sales manager Glenn Labor said that Performance Boat Center would be an official dealer of Skater and Sunsation powerboats, in addition to becoming a U.S. dealer of UK-based Princess Yachts. 14
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Performance Boat Center, which began as a small boat brokerage firm, was purchased by Brett Manire and Mark Waddington four years ago. Their original muscleboat line was Outerlimits; they added Statement in 2012 and then Cigarette last fall. Skater and Sunsation will be their newest gofast lines. Labor said the company has added two summer rental properties—each a three-bedroom two bath waterfront— across from their marina, while construction continues on the new Redhead Lakeside Grill restaurant, which broke ground last fall and is expected to be open by June. Performance Boat Center will be an
active participant first in the Ozarks’ Lake Race event June 6-7, followed by the Poker Run and Shootout, Aug. 22-30. “In the past, we’ve run the pace boats, and we’ll have a big display on land as well,” Labor said. “Being in the pace boat with the event organizers, you get the best seat in the house.” The Shootout in particular has grown to a weeklong series of events, and Performance Boat Center is intimately involved in the proceedings. “We open our doors to any Shootout participants who need support or a service department to help them get ready for the races,” Labor said. “We had a huge party here in the building last year, and we’ll be doing it again this year.” Labor added that business at the Center has been brisk, with record-breaking numbers in the service department and robust boat sales as well. “Business is just unbelievable,” he said. [Industry News continues on page 57] speedboat.com
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STU’s
CRUISE The FL Powerboat Club parties in Islamorada after a wild Miami International Boat Show.
Photos by Stu
Jones
Following the Miami Boat Show, Stu Jones and his Florida Powerboat Club gathered at the Sea Isle Marina as they prepared for their usual season-kickoff poker run to Islamorada. (Next year’s jaunt will feature a course change— see Page 12 for details.). “Literally one day after the closing of the show, we went home long enough to change our luggage, came back down and started setting up Tuesday for the poker run,” Jones says. “People were arriving Tuesday and Wednesday for the poker run, which began on Thursday.” Several of the boats leaving on Thursday (the first of two departure dates) were models that had been on display at 16
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the show, including the Outerlimits 46 cat, the Cigarette 41 GTR (the new quad 400 outboard boat) and Mark Fisher’s 52’ Nor-Tech powered by brand-new Mercury Racing 1350s—a boat that had been featured in the in-water portion of the show. It’s the shortest poker run on the Florida Powerboat Club roster, with less than 100 miles to their destination. Participants picked up their first card at Grove Harbour Marina in Coconut Grove, followed by lunch at Gilbert’s in Key Largo, with dinner and an awards ceremony at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina at Holiday Isle in Islamorada on Saturday night. speedboat.com
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David and Jenny Landsman of Maryland in the famous 50-foot Outerlimits cat Golddigger.
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Stu’s Cruise
Above: Michigan-based Ron Szolack pilots Tom Cat, a 2001 46’ Skater. Left: Mark and Eileen Fischer of Lake Worth, FL, in their Nor-Tech 527, powered by twin 1,350-hp turbocharged Mercury Racing engines. The boat was on display at the Miami show’s in-water exhibit.
Richard Gerth and son Daniel of Ontario, Canada, in a 42’ Outerlimits Legacy.
For 2016, the Miami Boat Show poker runners will head to Marathon Key, while the club’s winter poker run’s destination will be Islamorada’s Postcard Inn resort. 18
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Christian & Andrea McCauley of New Hampshire in Instigator, their 36’ Nor-Tech Super Cat.
Stu’s Cruise
Poker Run first-place winner Bill Napier in his 42’ Cigarette center-console, Shin Dig.
John Cosker and Scott Sjogren pilot Chris Walker’s brand-new 40-foot Mystic—another boat on display at the Miami show.
Karsten Melcher of Germany in his LaveyCraft EVO, Germany 1.
Britt Hawrylak and Jessica Sterrett of Texas in their 42' Cigarette Tiger, Tiger Racing Team.
20
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Benny D’Angelo of Ontario, Canada, tracks with a small plane in his 38' Cigarette Top Gun, Houdini.
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4/6/15 4:29 PM
Stu’s Cruise
Michael Ciasulli of New Jersey in Maxon Auto Group, his 388 Skater. Middle right: Tom Meshinsky and the crew of Official Business show off their trophy for Best Paint and Graphics. They are joined by the winners of the Sexiest Crew, Team Artemis. Bottom: The lunch stop at Gilbert’s in Key Largo.
Chris and Nicole Ryder of New York in Whiplash, their 2007 32’ Skater.
“Literally one day after the closing of the boat show, we went home long enough to change our luggage, came back down and started setting up Tuesday for the poker run.” —Stu Jones 22
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4/4/15 3:26 PM
25DCB Years of
Dave Hemmingson and his staff celebrate a quarter of a century as the consummate go-fast craftsmen.
Interview by Brett
I
Bayne
f you’ve never owned a DCB, and merely admired their exquisite, state-of-the art boats from
your own high-performance craft, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the company has endured for 25 straight years strictly on the strength of their incredible products. And while it’s true that the company builds among the best speedboats that our industry has to offer, what truly distinguishes Dave’s Custom Boats—what makes it such a force to be reckoned with—are the people behind the scenes and their 26
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devotion to making every boat out of the mold a true work of art. Advanced technologies, impeccable workmanship and ultramodern designs define the builder’s creations, and as the team celebrates its 25th year in business, there seems to be no limits to what DCB can achieve. San Diego native Dave Hemmingson got his start rigging bare hulls from various boat manufacturers (including Eliminators, STVs, Skaters, etc.), and when he struck out on his own, the reverberations could be felt throughout the industry almost speedboat.com
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Dave addresses his staff, including Tony Chiaramonte, Paul Miller and Deron Rettke, at a recent DCB Regatta.
immediately. The earliest models from his shop—the Mach 22, 24' Extreme, 28' Extreme—naturally evolved into larger hulls. His “F” series, featuring the F-16-style half-canopies, has included 26', 29', 32' and 34' models, as well as the F-30 Sport Deck, introduced in 2007. Beginning in 2010, Dave augmented his stable by creating the M series of Widebody cats, ranging from 29 to 41 feet. We recently sat down with Dave to ask him about his legacy, his crew and his plans for the future. Speedboat: Looking back at the last quarter-century, what speedboat.com
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have been the highlights of your career? Dave Hemmingson: My personal highlights have been developing the F series, followed by the new M series. All of the F series models were amazing boats; the F29 and F32 were truly phenomenal creations. Basically, the F series started with real F-16 bubble canopies—the “F” stood for the Fighting Falcon jet—and we would cut them to the perfect shape to generate enough air in the boat, but with a large enough wind block with good optics. That’s how the development started. The F29 was SPEEDBOAT |
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25 Years of DCB
Dave Magoo’s M35, Bananas, powered by 1350s (inset).
“My staff and my customers have become my best friends in life. Our world revolves around the guys here and our customers and our friends we’ve made through DCB.”
M41
—Dave Hemmingson
the first, followed by the F-32 and then we did an F26. We still offer every one of those. Then we launched and evolved our M series, which now features the latest, greatest and best technology DCB has to offer—no porpoise, no wiggle, easy to drive, fast. We’re just blessed to have such wonderful designs.
works of art. Our team is made up of skilled craftsmen who are passionate about what they do every day, and they want to make every boat perfect. But do I have an absolute favorite? They’re all my favorites. It’s fun to see each new boat come together. I spend hours just looking at them after the workday is finished.
SB: Are there any single boats or models that you’re especially proud of? DH: I’m really proud of them all. We’re so passionate about every boat we build, and building the relationship with our customers. You’re talking to one of the most passionate men on the planet about what they do, like Enzo Ferrari, the famous Italian motor driving racer and founder of the Ferrari automobile company. He’s passionate about every car that he builds. And they’re all super boats to me, whether it’s an M29 or an M41. They’re all
SB: What are some of the more recent and upcoming DCBs that you’re excited about? DH: We just built a new M29 with the new 400 Mercury outboards; I absolutely love that boat. It’s breathtaking. We’re building a new 41 for a customer that has a truly incredible paint scheme—blues, silvers, whites. I’m really excited about that boat. We had that yellow M35 at the Los Angeles Boat Show on a tilt dolly, and that boat was incredibly beautiful. We also built G-Force for my buddy Gary Williams in Canada.
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M41
Bob Teague drives his F32.
Customer boats raft up at the DCB Regatta. F29
M29
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25 Years of DCB
M35
That was the first 31 with 1350s. When it hit the water, it was when the QC4V technology was brand new. That boat was crazy fast! It really wowed the world and the industry. People were just amazed that a 31' boat could go 175-180 mph and handle that kind of horsepower. The boat is absolutely flawless with 1350s in it. Of course, everybody was ogling the M29 with the 400 Mercury outboards at the recent Los Angeles Boat Show. In addition, we built a very beautiful M35 with 1350s for Dave and Buffie Megugorac that was on display at SEMA and at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, and we’ve got a really neat M35 coming up for a buddy of mine, JP O’Donoghue, that’s getting a Mark Morris paint job on it. It will be called Lickety-Split and be powered with 1350s and feature a full cap job. JP’s friend Brad Kloepfer is quarterbacking that project. They’re all works of art. The most popular boat is whatever we’ve just finished and taken to a show. I’ve never been to a show when everybody isn’t blown away. SB: Your staff of about 30 employees is an exceptionally devoted group. Tell me about some of your key individuals. DH: I’ve literally been blessed to compile the best guys on the entire planet as far as manufacturing and building what we build. They are beyond spectacular, and that’s an understatement. They’re all very passionate about what they do. Obviously, Tony Chiaramonte is an amazing driver who does a lot of the poker runs and deliveries. He has thousands of hours of seat time in all of the DCB products. We were fortunate enough to have Rob Blair jump on board four years ago, and with his financial
M31
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25 Years of DCB
FX28 Extreme
F32 SD30
28 Extreme
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F29
F26
Mach22
Mach26
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Photos by Jay
Nichols, Jay Forbes and Brett Bayne
Boat Show MIAMI
Outstanding attendance, strong sales and plenty of boats on display made Miami an exhibition well worth experiencing.
I
f Miami had a vice over President’s Day weekend, it definitely wasn’t a fear of going to boat shows.
The Miami International Boat Show drew more than 96,000 visitors from around the globe, with more boats showcased than ever in the show’s 74-year history. That’s a 1 percent uptick from the 2014 edition, widely considered to be a successful exhibit as well. The show featured hundreds of product launches, as well as a new high-end pavilion showcasing accessories in the outdoor section of the Convention center. Exhibitors reported strong sales, and there were plenty of highperformance boat and accessory manufacturers on hand to give the show an extra blast of bling. Predictably, the lion’s share of speedboats represented were the typical East Coast builders (Skater, Outerlimits, Mystic, 34
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Cigarette, MTI, Nor-Tech, Hustler), one legendary West Coast brand—Schiada Boats of Long Beach, CA, with President Lee Spindler—made its first showing in Miami to display the company’s exquisite 43-foot “House on the Water.” For the power segment, Mercury Racing unveiled its longanticipated Verado 400R outboard engine, which, according to the manufacturer, uses a custom cold-air induction system for enhanced air flow and power development, while reducing intake noise. The motors will be a particular boon to the many center-console models that have mushroomed in the past several years; a pair of them were even seen a week later coupled to a DCB catamaran on display at the Los Angeles Boat Show (see Page 45). As the industry follows up on leads from the 2015 show, speedboat.com
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Douglas Marine unveiled its Pure Platinum 388 Skater on Friday. The boat, owned by Bill Pyburn Jr., is powered by twin 1,947-hp Goodwin Competition supercharged engines (right). The boat was painted by Dean Loucks’ TAOD (The Art of Design) of Elkhart, IN.
plans are already underway for the 2016 installment. While the Convention Center undergoes a massive reconstruction and redesign, the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show will celebrate its 75th year Feb. 11-15 headquartered at the Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin, one of the most beloved and historic boating destinations in South Florida, located on Virginia Key off the Rickenbacker Causeway, just across from downtown Miami. speedboat.com
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Miami Boat Show
Above: the 50' Victory Miss Geico offshore race boat appeared with matching motorcycle, PWC and ATV. Right: Goodwin Competition's 1,815-hp engine, which runs on 91 octane pump gas, at the Skater booth. Below: Statement's spectacular 380 Center Console, powered by triple 350 Mercury outboards.
Bel-Ray shows off its line of total performance lubricants.
The Outerlimits offshore competitor The Spirit of Qatar was a last-minute Miami attendee. The canopied 39-foot cat is powered by a pair of 750-hp Ilmor Marine engines.
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Sunsation Powerboats of Algonac, MI, made a strong showing both on land and on the water, giving test rides in the company's sleek new CCX 34 center console.
MTI's eye candy included the Black Diamond 52' cat and 42' center console, below.
Mercury Racing unveiled its long-anticipated Verado 400R outboard engine. speedboat.com
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Miami Boat Show
Nor-Tech also doubled down, showing off an outboardpowered 527 vee (top) on land, and an I/O version of the boat at Sea Isle Marina.
Top right: Stu and Jackie Jones brought half a dozen drop-dead gorgeous models to meet and greet visitors to their booth. Stu shot three segments of his new series, "Boat Show TV," at the Miami show. Bottom: Hustler Powerboats wowed the crowd with several masterpieces from their Calverton, NY-based digs, including the 29' Rockit, bottom left and right, and the 39' Rockit, below.
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Saber Marine of Grand Rapids, MI displayed its brand-new 34-footer, painted by T&D Custom Painting.
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Cigarette Racing teamed with Mercedes-AMG on a unique luxury sportscar and muscleboat, a 50 Marauder GT-S.
Left: Long Beach, CA-based Schiada Boats brought its second-ever 43-foot model to Miami. The boat, powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 700 with NXT drives, was custom built for a customer overseas. Below left: Midnight Express unveiled a gorgeous special-edition center console model with branding by Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin. The 43' features four Seven Marine 557-hp engines. Below: Custom Marine (CMI) Stainless Exhaust displayed its full line of mufflers, silencers, brackets, transom tips and other top-quality hardware pieces.
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Miami Boat Show
Sonic Powerboats of Fort Pierce, FL, showed off its luxurious 32' Fast Cat (above), which features a 10'6" beam. The company also unveiled its 42' Hyper Sonic (above right), powered by twin 1,100-hp Mercury Racing engines. Left: A Deep Impact 360 Cuddy Cabin Edition powered by three Mercury Verado 350 engines. Below: Company President John Cosker proudly displayed Mystic Powerboats’ C4400 catamaran Agent Provocateur, featuring twin Mercury Racing 1,100-hp engines and an 11-foot beam.
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Photos by Brett Bayne and Mark McLaughlin
LOS ANGELES
Boat Show It may be a shadow of its former self, but the L.A. exhibit continues to hang in there.
A
lthough the U.S. economy is showing some first real signs of steady recovery after some very tough years, there was scant
proof of that as exhibitors at the L.A. show once again endured very light foot traffic Feb. 25-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Not to suggest that the show was a total loss: Saturday (Feb. 27) was a relatively decent day, as Saturdays tend to be; some vendors took orders, and the staff of Speedboat gave away magazines and sold a good number of subscriptions. But it seemed obvious to all concerned that a return to the glory days of wall-to-wall attendees continues to be at least several years more down the road. Among the go-fast builders still making the trek to L.A.: DCB, which continues to act as a people magnet with its state-of-thespeedboat.com
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art catamarans; the builder—currently enjoying its 25th year in business (see Page 26)—gave showgoers an eyeful with its spectacular yellow M35 and a new M29 powered by Mercury Racing’s new Verado 400 outboards. Crowd favorites Nordic, Hallett and Shockwave were represented with the best boats in their respective lines, but Advantage, LaveyCraft, Essex, Eliminator and other longtime exhibitors had sadly opted out of the show this year. Here’s hoping they can be lured back for next year’s installment. On the accessory side, there were plenty of hardware, electronics and lubricant companies on display, along with muscleboat insurance mainstay Wozencraft. For a glimpse at some of the highlights of this year’s L.A. show, simply turn the page. Special thanks to Mark McLaughlin for his photography. SPEEDBOAT |
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LA Boat Show
Driven of San Clemente displayed its full line of custom detailing sprays and polishes.
Above: Tanah Kinsey worked the Wozencraft Insurance booth. Right: AO Coolers is celebrating its 25th year of offering high-quality soft-side coolers; its full line of products were on display in L.A. Below: Marty Alexonis and Tom Veronneau of Livorsi Marine brought their line of gauges and accessories from the Miami show straight to L.A., including a cool new exhaust tip in which a rubber flap works in tandem with the metal flap to reduce noise.
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Hallett Boats showed off its 290 (above and middle right) and 255 (top right) midcabin cuddies, as well as its new 21' Player electric boat (right).
Ron Almada of Aqua Lily Products, maker of fun party float Aqua Lily Pad. The company reported excellent sales at the L.A. show.
Shockwave displayed six models, incuding its beautiful 28' deck boat (above) and 25 Tremor (below).
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LA Boat Show
caption
Among TCM’s innovative products: replacement billet brass intercooler manifold for Mercury 850sci/1025sci/1075sci/1200sci engines (top left); an IMCO SCX4, #6 prop shaft drive and Velvet drive 72LHP transmission display (top right); Lightning Performance two-piece aluminum valve covers (above); adjustable water pick-ups, available in single, twin, triple or quad pickup applications (above right); and one of Teague‘s best-selling engine packages, the 825EFI (right), which comes standard with a one-year warranty. It's also CARB Certified, runs on 91 octane and offers turnkey power with ultra-low emissions.
Nordic Boats of Lake Havasu City, AZ, brought six models to the Los Angeles show, including an eyepopping 28 SX powered by twin Mercury OptiMax 300XS outboards (left) and two 26 Deck Boats: one powered by a Mercury Verado 400R (bottom left), the other with a 520-hp Merc for customer Gord Lindsay of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (below).
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Two of DCB's stunning boats on display included an M29 powered by Mercury’s new Verado 400 outboards (top) and an M35 with Mercury Racing 1100s (above and left). Andy Barker’s 21' Rayson Craft GN competitor (below left) was situated in the lobby. Below right: Western Marine Marketing sold ValvTect’s premium marine fuel additives and Meguiar’s waxes and polishes.
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Photos by Pete
Boden
QATAR CUP Teams from across the globe gather at Doha Bay for the inaugural UIM race.
T
he Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) joined forces with
the Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix (OPGP) Feb. 3-7 to launch the inaugural UIM Qatar Cup in the State of Qatar’s Doha Bay. Boats from the U.S., Turkey, Australia and the Middle East came together to take part in a series of 12-lap races and qualifying sessions over a four-day period, with competition in Super Cat, Super Vee, C1, C2, Super Cat Lite and C225 classes. Claiming the victory overall: Nasir Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zaffain in their Victory competitor, edging out pole runners-up Robert Nunziato (driver) and Dan Lawrence (throttleman) in The Hulk. Third place went to the Abu Dhabi team of Faleh Al Mansoon and Rashid Al Tayer, with fourth place going to the Wicked Performance Marine team of Jay Muller and Robert Wageman.
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Left: Joe Sgro and Steve Curtis in their #43 Outerlimits, winner of Thursday's SuperVee race. Above: The Victory crew (and other winners) gather at the podium. Below: Ali Al-Neama and Billy Moore in #20 Qatar.
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Qatar Cup
Overall winners Nasir Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zaffain in Victory.
U.S. competitors Grant Bruggeman and Gary Ballough in Smart Marine/Auto Mart S-110.
The New Zealand team of Wayne Valden and Chris Hanley in Pro Floors Racing were second in Super Cat.
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Twisted Metal’s Brett Furshman and Billy Glueck retired on lap six.
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Twisted Liquid
This mini speedboat provides big thrills without crippling your wallet.
Photos by Todd Taylor
Our TLM delivered a top speed of 33 mph with one test driver on board.
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Lake Havasu City is home to a wide variety of speedboats, and one of the coolest built in this desert sanctuary is indisputably the smallest performance boating has to offer. That would be Twisted Liquid Marine, the premier builder of mini speedboats. TLM brought us their Channel Kat, an 11’8” microdemon that looks a lot like a scaled-down version of your typical big-muscle catamaran. This pocket rocket is definitely a curio, guaranteed to raise eyebrows at any cove it sits in—there’s no denying it was a headturner at our fall boat tests, where it shared the stage with Eliminators, DCBs, Nordics and other full-sized cats. Despite its diminutive proportions, the boat wasn’t given any special treatment: we put the hull through the same series of rigorous test procedures that we gave every other rig on the roster. And though the boat’s single 30-hp Tohatsu outboard was never going to win the Channel Kat any Shootout trophies, we were genuinely impressed with the boat’s workmanship, styling and ability to show us a fun time on the water. Let’s start with the construction of this wee warrior. Like all of its larger neighbors, TLM’s craft are custom built, and use the finest gelcoats and fiberglass materials in their production cycle. Each mini speedboat built features hand-laid fiberglass, following a
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Twisted Liquid Marine Model name: Channel Kat Length: 11'8" Beam: 66" Engine on test boat: Tohatsu 30-hp outboard Base price: $15,500 Price as tested: $17,500 Standard features: Full interior with side pockets, gauge package, billet package, custom steering wheel, rotary helm steering, 3-color graphics, etc. Options on test boat: Motor upgrade ($500), gelcoat / graphics / rubrail ($1,000), custom interior ($500) Top speed: 33 mph Twisted Liquid Marine 1010 Empire Dr. #G Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404 speedboat.com
(888) 521-4626
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Twisted Liquid
“I had to sit in the middle to keep the boat riding level,” Sahagian says, adding that it turns exceptionally well and doesn’t do anything weird. “It’s just a fun little boat.” 52
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rigorous lamination schedule on par with performance boats twice their size. In his dry-land inspection of the boat, test driver Bob Teague seemed pleased by the builder’s attention to detail and solid construction of this two-passenger boat. “The tunnels are not very deep— about 6 inches tall, and the sponsons have a little strake in them,” he notes. “It has a little pad that sticks down to help divert the water away from the gearcase, but this is not a center pod-style boat. It’s really a full tunnel.” Cosmetically, both Sahagian and Bob Teague awarded positive grades to the boat’s gelcoat, mold work and paint job. It also drew raves for its installation and wiring, as well as the entire range of interior details (carpet, gauge, upholstery, throttle, etc.). Overall quality of construction, attention to detail and fit and finish drew a solid B+ from both of our inspectors. “It looks like a miniature version of a full-sized cat in both directions,” says Alexi Sahagian. Our Channel Kat belonged to a customer named Armando, who also owns a Domn8er deck boat painted to match the smaller runabout. His TLM features a right-hand drive, wraparound dash with Faria gauge package, fuel tank fill on the deck, pop-up cleats, running lights, cable steering for the outboard, billet pieces in the foredeck and some nice mushroom pop-up cleats in four places on the hull. “Gauge installation is perfect,” notes Sahagian. “You can see all four gauges when sitting in the driver’s seat, and you have access to everything.” [Continues on page 82] speedboat.com
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2/3/15 5:36 PM
New Products BRETT BAYNE Bootlegger Camshafts Lunati Cams of Olive Branch, MS, have unveiled its new line of Bootlegger camshafts—an aggressive new series of cams for hot rodders that “play by their own set of rules,” according to the manufacturer. The most powerful series of performance cams ever produced by the Lunati design team, they build on the builder’s
you need it. Better yet, these cams also provide a killer exhaust note that sends a message before you even arrive. When put to the test on an engine dyno, Lunati Bootlegger Camshafts provide proven gains of up to 40 hp (depending on the engine combination). Offering the perfect blend of today’s design advancements and old-school attitude, these cams embody the outlaw spirit of the bootlegger era. For more on the cams—including a unique seven-minute dramatic promotional film, complete with a storyline— visit bootleggercams.com.
High-Flow, High-Pressure Fuel Pump popular Voodoo Series, but feature even faster opening rates, a controlled closing and far more area under the lift curve. Bootlegger Cams are designed with a 108-degree lobe separation angle and a 104-degree intake centerline for optimum performance. This extremely aggressive design provides plenty of lowand mid-range power, exactly where
AEM Performance Electronics of Hawthorne, CA, has introduced a 380lph high-flow, high-pressure fuel pump for high-performance, naturally aspirated and forced induction EFI vehicles. The 50-1005 pump (PN 50-1005) can be installed externally or in-tank using optional hardware that is sold separately. It utilizes the industry standard “044 Style” envelope and -10 AN female inlet and -6 AN female outlet connections for
easy installation on new applications and for quick replacement of existing competitor fuel pumps. The 50-1005 fuel pump delivers incredible performance and value with an approximate street price of $155. AEM’s pump is capable of supporting over 1,200 HP normally aspirated and 1,075 HP at 30 psi boost. It flows 380 lph (100 gph) at 43 PSI, 340 lph (90 gph) at 73 PSI, and 270 lph (71 gph) at 120 PSI. Complete flow curves from 35 to 120 PSI and current draw vs. fuel pressure charts are available at aemelectronics.com.
Adjustable Pick-Ups
Teague Custom Marine’s adjustable pick-ups are a solution for all your water inlet needs. TCM water pick-ups are available in single, twin, triple or quad pick-up applications, and are capable of boat speeds of up to 200 mph. TCM has an adjustable water pick-up designed to fit every boat’s needs—and if they don’t have it on the shelf, they’ll build it to your boat’s custom specifications. For more information, please visit teaguecustommarine.com or call (661) 295-7000.
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Flexible Clamps
Auto Meter Speedos Auto Meter Products of Sycamore, IL, continues to expand its selection of speedometers equipped with the manufacturer’s award-winning integrated GPS technology. After the incredible successful launch of fully integrated GPS into the legendary Ultra Lite line, this exciting technology is now available in the Carbon Fiber, Traditional Chrome and Z Series. Auto Meter is marketing these speedos as the easiest, most accurate available. For more information on Auto Meter’s full line of GPS Speedometers, visit autometer.com.
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Burns Stainless of Costa Mesa, CA, is now selling its Hydraflow 14J21 flexible fluid coupling compatible with the industry standard AS1650 flanges. The threadless flexible coupling, originally designed to meet stringent military and aerospace specifications, is now available for motorsport applications such as air induction, water, oil and fuel lines. This lightweight coupling provides both axial (1/4") and angular (+/- 4°) flexibility allowing for misalignment and movement flexibility. The design uses industry standard tubing ferrules with O-ring seals (sold separately). The Hydraflow
14J21 flexible fluid clamps offer some innovative features not found on other flexible connectors, and most sizes are available for shipping within two days of placing an order. For more information, visit burnsstainless.com.
4/6/15 8:04 PM
Reader Rides
By Brett
Bayne
H
ere’s a 28' Howard Sport Deck sitting atop a
truly amazing trailer, courtesy of Bear Trailersports of Chatsworth, CA. This full custom trailer features 2x6 tube frame construction, custom “Semi” style stainless fenders (by Wolfe Industries), runway lights down the center for nighttime loading, alldiamond plate recessed into the frame, 4K electric tongue jack and a custom ladder with LED lights. (The lower section of the ladder is swept back to maximize the base stepping area and give a true custom look.) Other goodies on this trailer: a custom elevated equipment box that houses a hydraulic pump and full-size Interstate battery, charging system and control switches. For more information on this incredible trailer, visit beartrailersports.com or call (818) 727-1585.
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Industry News [Continued from page 14]
3 New Outerlimits Models for 2015
Outerlimits Powerboats of Bristol, RI, used the Miami International Boat Show to unveil several new models, including the SL41, which was “very well received,” according to operations manager Dan Kleitz. Powered by twin Mercury Racing 700 SCi motors, the SL41 featured a paint job by Stephen Miles and five steps on the bottom. “We were the only high-performance boat manufacturer to display four true high-performance models—all sold by the way, which I think says a lot in for our Industry,” Kleitz said. Outerlimits, a luxury performance driven brand, plans to release its center console SL 44CC this summer, and the company’s SC39 Pleasure Cat will be finished up over the next couple of months, he said. “It was an important boat show for Outerlimits to showcase our products and show the world that we are alive, and keeping Mike Fiore’s legacy going strong.”
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Factory Tour The Blower Shop
For 30+ years years, Ron Hayes Jr Jr. and his staff have been dedicated to putting your engine on steroids.
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Story by Brett
Bayne Photography by Ray Lee
hen it comes to all-out, raw power, blowers are an ideal way to get the most cost-effective,
pulse-pounding gains. And when you’re looking to supercharge an engine, one of the best places to obtain that extra, added big boost is from The Blower Shop in Simi Valley, CA. It all started in the early ’80s, when Ron Hayes Sr. teamed up with drag-race legend Larry Dixon Sr. to build blowers for top fuel and alcohol cars. Ron Sr. acquire Bowers Blower Co., and ran the shop out of the Odyssey Engineering facility in Chatsworth, CA. In 1987, Ron Hayes Jr. joined the business, bringing his love of drag racing and machine craftsmanship to the mix. By the close of the 1980s, responsibility for the blower operation had shifted entirely to Ron Jr. as the Blower Shop turned out 10-71 , 12-71 and
Top left: the reception area. Top right: carburetors are just one of the many components sold by The Blower Shop. Above left: a “wall of rotors” sit in the inventory. Left: Manifolds ready to be shipped alongside other manifolds waiting to be machined. 58
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Back row: Austin Doucette, Chris Nix, William Castro, Alex Hernandez, Juan Luna, Joe Vach,Jerry Martin, Ron Hayes Jr. and Julie Timchak. Front row: George Monroy, Ryan Sage and Mark Degroff. Right: Billet blowers await final machining (top) while others are being machined (bottom).
14-71 blowers exclusively for a loyal clientele of IHBA racers and other top fuel and alcohol customers. This expertise was instrumental in developing true cutting-edge supercharging technology, as the goal of the Blower Shop became increasing the performance of the roots-style supercharger, and making it the best choice for anyone in the racing industry. After 30+ years, the shop continues to dedicate itself to bringing that technology to the professional racing industry—both on the street and on the liquid quarter mile. Using the company’s proprietary UDA technology, the Blower Shop offers a complete line of big-muscle product, including hand-built superchargers, blower drive kits, intake manifolds, intercoolers, carburetors and various other components. The staff of Speedboat was lucky enough to view all of these amazing parts during our recent visit to their shop, which is jam-packed with eye-popping chrome and glitz—a one-of-a-kind overdose of pure bling. Our tour guides: Ron Jr. and Joe Vach, who explained that a great deal had changed since our last shop tour, conducted during the pre-recession days of Hot Boat magazine, when the company was based in Valencia, CA. The upgrade to the current 13,000-square-foot facility was “like going from a garage to an airplane hangar,” says Ron Jr. “In the old shop, we had two, and then three, units side by side—now we’re all under one roof.” Another major change since our last visit: the boys have speedboat.com
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have been bringing the CNC machine work in house over the last five years, a move that has afforded them much better quality control—as well as being able to offer their products at a better price point. “When we machine things ourselves, we pass that savings on to the customer,” Vach says. “But the major factor is the quality of the parts. We know what’s critical and what’s not, and we like to able to pay attention to the details that need taking care of. Also, when we’re low on inventory, it’s great to have the ability to machine products ourselves and have a quicker turnaround time.” Still another development for the Blower Shop has been the gradual transition from catering to the marine market to the automotive market—a change facilitated by recessionary times. “Back in the 1990s, we were probably 70 percent marine,” Vach says. “But obviously when the economy crashed, the marine side got hit hard. Right now we’re probably only about 30 percent into the performance boats.” It hasn’t helped that competing companies are horning in on the market share: “Even Mercury Racing represents a significant competitor, with its Lysholm 3.3-Liter screw-type supercharger, and that’s been hitting us a little bit,” Ron Jr. observes. Still, as the economy improves, the Blower Shop has seen a small uptick on the boating segment. “We’re only now starting to see a bit of a comeback,” Vach says. The Blower Shop crew are stoked about a new hybrid SPEEDBOAT |
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The Blower Shop supercharger line they’ve been working on in recent months that will be a cross between roots and screw type blowers catering to the EFI market. This rearentry, lower-profile blower will incorporate and combine the best of both technologies. “Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages,” Vach says. “Screw blowers generate peak horsepower, but they also present their unique problems and challenges, such as negative idle and throttle characteristics. Usually with the roots blowers, you’ll see more improvements in the low to midrange numbers over the screw-type blowers.” Meanwhile, the Blower Shop’s 250 low-profile blower and the 871 blower continue to be their most popular for boaters. “Once you start getting into the larger, twin-engine, higher-hp engines, then it’s usually a 10 or a 14, and most guys go straight to the 14,” says Ron Jr. “On the 14, we’ve been doing a lot of the high-helix rotor units instead of a 60-degree rotor, so that’s been allowing them to make a little more horsepower. They can usually pick up an average of 100 hp with a highhelix versus a standard. So that’s been a little more popular during the last few years.” We also watched the Blower Shop crew use its own blower dyno, which helps the staff do a lot of testing. “A lot of other blower companies don’t have that capability,” Vach says. The ability to test in-house results in optimizing performance: “We’re really listening to our customers and seeing what they use on the drag strip or the marine market and we’re catering to that a little bit more than we were able to before,” Vach says. “Now that we can control the machine work, we can make design changes on the fly instead of relying on a machine shop.” For more information, visit theblowershop.com or call (805) 581-1441.
Top: William Castro does final assembly on a blower. MIddle: Blowers await assembly. Above: Ron Jr. sets up a blower on the dyno. Left: Alex Hernandez performs CNC setup on a blower. 60
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The Blower Shop
Joe Vach in an area where photos are staged for website and catalogs.
Top right: broken blowers await repair in this rebuild section of the shop. Above: Competition intake manifolds. Above right: a CNC machine control panel by Haas. Right: Joe Vach in his office.
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My View
Observer’s Seat
CHRIS DAVIDSON
RAY LEE
from six to eight times a year. The two additional print months will be June and August, during the heat of a summer jam-packed with boating events and poker runs across the nation. Why is this important? We know through various resources that the primary demographic of consumers in our industry are baby boomers. And while this demographic owns their fair share of computers and do research through the Internet, many continue to want a print magazine to read and review purchases for their new boats with prices that start at $75,000 and run upwards of $2M. It makes sense. While there are numerous great boating websites out there, ultimately a buyer wants to show his friends his latest toy with high resolution pictures and printed words on a printed magazine. Our latest boat tests with high performance test drivers Alexi Sahagian and Bob Teague delivered constructive criticism for several well-established boatbuilders. New boat buyers should read those reports. We now know that the economy started improving in 2012 or so, and the effects of this have begun to trickle down to the high-performance boating market. Gas prices are finally both reasonable and stable. In addition, financing is also becoming more obtainable for the majority and not just the minority. Moreover, with all the used boat inventory now dried up and sold, both seasoned and rookie boaters will venture back into our niche industry to enjoy the last unbridled motorsport where you can jump in your boat and run full throttle on the waterways of the U.S. without worrying about being fined for exceeding the speed limit on most lakes and rivers. High-performance boating has been a staple on most waterways for the past 50 years. I am thrilled to say that what I once thought was going to become endangered will continue to flourish in the years ahead.
Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard engines, with gelcoat to match. Hallett Boats lineup included the newly designed 290-S with “V2D” technology designed to track the boat better and provide more stability in the turns, as well as their wildly popular 285 Party Cruiser deck boat with a single Mercury 520 DTS. Shockwave Boats displayed its armada including a new 24' SX jetboat featuring a 550 hp Marine Power supercharged LSA engine with an American Turbine jet drive. Interceptor Boats debuted their reconfigured 28’ Kool Kat deck boat with dual seats rather than their original wrap-around bench seating, which they plan to phase out eventually. Howard Boats had two of their 28’ deck boats in their booth that had a Merc 565 and a 600SCi, respectively.
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[Continued from page 8] Teague Custom Marine was present, as always, displaying their impressive set up, complete with several engines, outdrives, parts, props and TCM apparel. CMI/Livorsi showcased their vast collection of headers, gauges, bezels, shifters and much, much more. Speedboat Magazine also displayed a booth in L.A. where we had great subscription numbers and merchandise sales. It was gratifying to hear the positive feedback directed toward the magazine and we enjoyed meeting our readers. For a short time on Saturday, it even began to feel like the old days of the L.A. Boat Show, where friends would all gather to see the sights and plan upcoming trips together. Hopefully we can back to those “good ol’ days” real soon.
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25 Years for DCB [Continued from page 33] abilities, we’ve been able to take things to completely new levels. Paul Miller is our general manager, a spectacular guy who has been here forever. He does a wonderful job running production and as the general shop manager. Jeff Johnston has come on board, and we’re blessed to have him spearheading our sales and marketing. The world just loves Jeff; as far
as human beings go, they don’t come any better. Deron, Greg, Sean and all my guys in the back are absolute aces and then some. Carlos Lafarga, our interior guy, has been with me for a long time and he’s the best there is. Eric Winebarger, our service and rigging guru, is a guy who can do anything. Eric is one of the few Mercury Racing Certified Master Technicians in
the world—Mercury’s highest certification level. Jaime Reyes is an amazing and talented gelcoat artist. Daniel Alvarado, our lamination foreman, has been with DCB for nearly 20 years. And Tito Mora is our external gelcoat master. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think about how great my guys are, and that goes for my customers. My staff and my customers have become my best friends in life. Our world revolves around the guys here and our customers and our friends we’ve made through DCB. We’ve also been very blessed also with our relationships with our key vendors. It’s a long list, but companies like Teague, Mercury, Imco and Livorsi are crucial to our success. We’ve got wonderful vendors who have really always been there for us and given us lots of technical support. They’ve really made life nice and easy for us at times. SB: You’ve always been focused on building a club atmosphere for your customers. DH: We always want to keep that very family-oriented club atmosphere and feeling. That will never change. Will we ever try to build huge volumes of custom boats? Absolutely not. That’s not in our business plan. For DCB, it’s about quality and relationships. The growth is a very controlled growth with our skilled guys. We’re always growing and coming up with new thoughts and ideas to implement, and getting better at what we do. SB: Looking ahead, what kind of products can we expect from DCB in the future? DH: Probably another cat in the lineup. We’ve got a few things up our sleeves that we’re thinking about. We’re always evolving. We’ve had some people request some smaller stuff, and we’ve had requests for some different things. We’ve got our thinking caps on and our sketch pads out. In the next couple of years, you’re probably going to see one or two new models.
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Brett’s COOL
CANYON
ALSO: • Hot Boat Bash • ADBA Racing • NJBA Crash
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t a o B t o H
BLOWOUT Billy B brings the Needles community together for the 7th Annual Route 66 event.
Photos by Kenny
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T
he sun shone down magnificently on which was outstanding,” Berkenheger said. The event, he the classic boat and car aficionados added, does a lot to raise money for various charities.
who came to show off their rides at the seventh annual Route 66 Hot Boat and Custom Car Show, held Feb. 27-28 in Needles, CA. Organized by “Billy B” Berkenheger of Krazy Kolors (Upton, CA), the event also incorporates a golf tournament at Jack Smith Park in Needles. A record 160+ boats showed up at the show, as well as numerous street rods and muscle cars. “Attendance was off the hook,” Berkenheger told Speedboat, “and it was by far the largest boat count we’ve had.” He added that there was a healthy turnout of new boats not seen at previous installments. “A very nice assortment of street rods and muscle rods showed up, and again, we were blessed with great weather,
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“Without the boating community coming together and supporting this event, it wouldn’t go anywhere,” he said. “We had a whole new regime in place this year, with new standards of accountability, helping me out, so we know exactly how much money we were able to raise for charity, pretty much down to the penny.” The event helps raise cash for underprivileged kids in town and high schools in need of uniforms, among other things. Berkenheger thanks all of his sponsors, which include Pirate Cove Resort, Bradley Chevrolet, Colorado River Medical Center, River City Pizza, A1 Heating & Air Conditioning, the Needles Chamber of Commerce and HotBoat.com.
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Hot Boat bash caption
“Attendance was off the hook, and it was by far the largest boat count we’ve had. Without the boating community coming together and supporting this event, it wouldn’t go anywhere.” —Billy Berkenheger
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Hot Boat bash
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Photos by Ray
Lee
COOL
This T-Deck runner bottom b looks all the more app appealing with our model Sarah aboard a
CANYON
Paul Jenkin found his 1978 Canyon T-Deck run- pistons, Howards ultimate duty billet rods, Crane roller cam, ner bottom online in Redding, CA, six years ago—then got Crane gold 1.7 roller rockers, rev kit, stud girdles, Chevy to work enhancing and refreshing the hull. The 52-year-old plumbing contractor had the bottom blueprinted and speed coated; he also installed a new Lenco clutch and Whirlaway prop release. Jenkin, who previously owned a 1973 Sleekcraft Rebel jet and a 1968 Barron flatty, says he enjoys boating almost exclusively on the Parker Strip. The boat is powered by a 496 c.i. Chevy built by Heath Hiebert of Advanced Racing Engines of Bellflower; it features a block O-ringed with a 4/310 bore, steel ultralite Cola series crank, forged Venolia 72 S P E E D B O A T | May 2015
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bowtie aluminum heads, Stainless valves, Manly pushrods, Isky Red Zone lifters, BDS blower intake manifold, 671 blower, Hilborn injection fuel system by Ralph Gore, electric fuel primer system, Vertex mag, Rewarder zoomies, Dan Olsen wing and Casale 10 degree v-drive. Camshaft lift is 100; duration, 286; and lobe separation, 112. The boat was painted by the House of Colors, and sports a matching interior. The Canyon was laid up by Wayne Metler. As far as what the boat’s top speed is…“I dont know, and I’m not going to venture a guess,” Jenkin says. speedboat.com
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AWAY WE
JOE!
Photography by Mark McLaughlin
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Accidents on the liquid quarter mile are an inevitability, but fortunately Joe Morgan of Yorba Linda, CA, survived this horrifying double-blowover during an NJBA race last season on Lake Ming in Bakersfield, CA. The boat went airborne after a tiller arm broke on his boat’s jet drive. “It happened so fast, you really don’t have time to think, to be honest,” Morgan recalls. “When the nose came up, I just dropped my head, thought about my family. Then I hit the water real hard, and kind of blacked out for a second. It just happened so quickly.” Morgan was in the intensive care unit for 12 days, recuperating from various broken bones, a punctured lung and shattered shoulder. He hopes for a full recovery, and has turned his attention to racing go-karts with his two kids, ages 7 and 9.
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ADBA
Southwest Showdown
Top: Centless owner/driver Gary Davis launches his Quick Eliminator hydro off the starting line, qualifying for Sunday’s eliminations. Above: Mike DeClark (near lane) drives his Quick Eliminator F-Bomb, alongside Rick Barretta his Omelette Express hydro.
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Photos by Mark
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The BlueWater Casino hosts a season opener.
T
he Arizona Drag Boat Association (ADBA) racers gathered at the BlueWater
Resort and Casino in Parker, AZ, Feb. 20-22 for its season kickoff event, with testing and tuning on Friday, followed by Saturday qualifying and a noholds-barred eliminations event on Sunday. Among the highlights: in Quick Eliminator class, Centless owner/driver Gary Davis launched his hydro off the starting line, qualifying for Sunday’s eliminations. Davis jumped in the driver’s seat in place of his son, Brandon, on his birthday and won the class. It was the first time in the seat for pops in a long while. In Stock Eliminator, Wade Stanley took the first-place trophy, taking the win over Eddie Kirley in the Stock Eliminator final. Tim Demaret took the win over Rich Saindon in the second round of Modified Eliminator. Brad Simons was victorious in Pro Eliminator; racing for the first time in many years, and grabbing a runner-up trophy, was Brad Stewart. In Top Eliminator action, Adam Simmons not only took home the win in his Modaka jetboat, but got a hug and a kiss from the trophy girl—his wife, Donna. In the River Racer finals, it was a photo finish as Shawn Thomas edged out Mike Greenawalt for the first place trophy. Not only did Thomas win the class, it was also his first ever win, trophy—and, in keeping with tradition, first-time winners get thrown in the river. It was a quite a memorable weekend of racing for the newly crowned champion in River Racer.
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ADBA Southwest Showdown
Stock Eliminator Wade Stanley (above) took the win over Eddie Kirley in the Stock Eliminator final (left).
Eddie Kirley takes off from the starting line in qualifying Saturday morning, eventually going up against Stanley in the Stock Eliminator finals.
Modified Eliminator Winner Tim Demaret (below, and in the far lane, left) takes the win over Rich Saindon in the second round of Modified Eliminator.
Super Chicken owner/driver Joe McLemore (near lane) and Rich Saindon (far lane) go head to head in eliminations.
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Pro Eliminator Left: Tom Roberts in Outa Control qualifies in PE class. Below: Brad Stewart (near lane) battles Brad Simons (far lane).
Tim Goodwin, below, took the overall win in Pro Eliminator.
Top Eliminator Winner Adam Simmons (above and above left). Other TE competitors: Keith Funk (middle left), Bob Prigmore and Armand Labarre testing their equipment on Friday (bottom left) and Barbara Kunkle (bottom right) shoeing her beautifully painted hydro in qualifying on Saturday.
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ADBA Southwest Showdown
River Racer
Scary Helmets
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It was a photo finish for the finals in River Racer showed Shawn Thomas (far lane) edging out Mike Greenawalt (near lane) for the firstplace trophy. Not only did Shawn win the class, it was also his first-ever win.
Keith Funk wears a helmet designed by Jerry Parkhurst (below); Darin Moilanen’s Quick Eliminator jetboat with matching helmet (bottom and right), designed by Dead End Graphics.
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Twisted Liquid [Continued from page 52] It’s a simple but pleasing arrangement. This boat has a faring rather than a windshield, along with an extruded plastic rubrail. The Tohatsu spins a 10x12 four-blade prop. The boat’s small hatch cover, located on the center of the deck, opens up to provide access into the back of the hull. Seating basically boils down to a single bench that sits atop the floor of the boat; there are a couple of small cushions that each sport a cupholder in them. The carpet is glued to the floor and the gunnel sides (“good job there,” says Teague). From the gauges and steering to the dash wiring, everything aboard the TLM is straightforward and uncomplicated. It was time to take a ride in this tiny rocket. Anybody who’s driven a personal watercraft will tell you that there’s a unique thrill to zipping around the lake in a very small boat. And because the TLM is under 12 feet, the boat predictably delivers a special kind of ride. With the trim down and flooring the throttle, the Channel Kat comes up and hesitates for a fleeting moment before cracking over on plane, leading us to believe the boat may be slightly under-powered. (The owner told us he’d swapped props, which may have altered the performance.) Once you’ve got the boat on plane, you’ll need to give it some positive trim or risk burying the nose—you don’t want to drive this boat with the trim up. “And if you trim it where it really needs to be, an alarm goes off because you lose water pressure,” observes Sahagian, “so they definitely need to drop the motor a couple of holes and work on the setup.” Our TLM delivered a top speed of 33 mph with one 240-pound man on board. “I had to sit in the middle to keep the boat riding level,” Sahagian says, adding that it turns exceptionally well and doesn’t do anything weird. “It’s just a fun little boat. I’d love to drive it again after they put the motor down and trim it up, and maybe find a good prop for it. It just needs a little help on the setup. Overall, it’s a cool little boat.”
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