SPEEDBOAT MAGAZINE
DRAGBOAT SEASON OPENER!
FULL SPEED
AHEAD!
We Test 6 Incredible Muscleboats
APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017
MIAMI SHOWSTOPPERS Mercury Unveils New Power Packages 72252_SpeedBoatApril__001.indd 1
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Roomy, reliable and 100+ mph on GPS. Welcome to the quintessential deckboat. Your next boat purchase is an investment in both your family and yourself. Make the right choice.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS April 2017
COLUMNS 8 RAY LEE 10 JET TECH 12 INDUSTRY NEWS 62 NEW PRODUCTS
FEATURES 14 MIAMI BOAT SHOW Attendance gets an uptick for the exhibition’s second year at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin. We bring you all of the cool new boats and products.
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36 PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS Our next round of tests draws from muscleboats evaluated at Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and Lake Havasu City, AZ.
36 DCB • M41 40 SUNSATION • 32 CCX 44 SKATER • 426 48 CIGARETTE • 41 GTR 52 ULTRA • 27 SHADOW 56 FOUNTAIN • 42 LIGHTNING
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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 Jim Wilkes jim@speedboat.com
Alexi Sahagian alexi@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 66 TOMMY’S GUNS Meet Tommy Thompson, dragboat racing’s sweetest personality—and its most dangerous force to be reckoned with.
72 MIGHTY MANDELLA Veteran boat restoration guru Harlan Orrin reveals how he brought new life to a 1955 classic.
76 ADBA SEASON OPENER Drag racing’s season opener in Parker, AZ, paid tribute to competitor Wade Stanley, whose life was claimed in an accident last year.
Photographers Todd Taylor, Pete Boden, Randy Nuzzo, Kenny Dunlop, Paul Kemiel, Jeff Girardi, Mark McLaughlin 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
Web Design Blair Davidson Market It Mobile, Las Vegas, NV blair@speedboat.com
Editorial Offices 9216 Bally Court Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (888) 577-2628 (BOAT)
SPEEDBOAT MAGAZINE (ISSN#1941-9473) is published 8 times plus a bonus issue this year by DCO Enterprises LLC.
Cover photo by Todd Taylor; Inset cover photo by Mark McLaughlin 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.
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OBSERVER’S SEAT RAY LEE
Your Show of Shows
It was the best of shows… It was not the worst of shows. It’s a tale of two boat shows, and I’m referring specifically to the Miami International Boat Show and the L.A. Boat Show, respectively. Early each year is boat show season and time to prepare for the upcoming year on the water. Whether it’s a new set of dock lines, a new watercraft or just some beef jerky boat show season accommodates it all. While most of the nation is under a blanket of snow and ice, the opposing coasts usually remain comfortable and mild. Usually. This year, despite it being a La Niña weather season, California saw record amounts of rain this winter. While the precipitation was a welcomed phenomenon here on the west coast, especially to help ease the severe drought conditions and low lake levels, it hindered the potential success of the L.A. Boat Show, now under the management of the Duncan McIntosh Company. It rained steadily throughout three of the four days of operation. Newly transplanted into the later part of January from February and into the Pomona Fairplex from the L.A. Convention Center, the L.A. Boat Show had the potential of being bigger and better than in recent years. The hard-hit boating indus8
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try on the west coast still hasn’t fully recovered from 2008 but is showing signs of life and possible flourish. Spanning four separate buildings, the new show welcomes you into a massive first building with all the glitz and hardware that you were accustomed to, in years past. Mostly floored with tournament boats, pontoons and PWC’s and the sides lined with vendors and food stops, the activity felt electric. But then you had to cross into adjacent buildings to see the remainder of the exhibitors. Normally this is not a big deal but the heavy rain dampened the experience, along with my shoes. It was good to see the west coast performance manufacturers like Nordic, Shockwave, Interceptor and Hallett all returning to display their latest creations, as well as new looks at boats such as Adrenaline, RPM and Tahiti Offshore. Even parts-supplying giants Eddie Marine, CMI/Livorsi and CP Performance returned to L.A., with an optimistic view on the revised event. “It’s a better vibe, overall. We all have to support the industry and these shows. Otherwise, there won’t be any more shows to support,” said Scott Price of CP Performance. Then came the Miami International Boat Show in mid-February. This was the “best of shows” part of my opening line. It was apparent that the staff had been hard at work over the past year to correct (or at least, improve) the growing pains of the new venue at Miami Marine Stadium, now in its second year of hosting the show. We, as the team of Speedboat Magazine also learned the paths of least resistance
on how to best navigate the show. With the frustrations of last year’s experiences still fresh on our minds, we pre-planned our entrances and exits from the show to keep our collective blood pressure at a manageable level. With the addition of more shuttle buses and water taxis transporting attendees more frequently, the main problem of getting to and from the show was sufficiently relieved. Patience, however, was key. Even the exhibitors learned and grew with the program. The high-performance manufacturers Skater and Hustler Powerboats migrated from their landlocked booths of 2016 to the highly coveted on-the-water dockside displays. This allows them to easily take potential buyers on that ever-important sea trial to test their wares and ultimately take a deposit on a new build. They joined the fleet of MTI, Mystic, Cigarette, Outerlimits, Nor-Tech and Statement for five days of 80-degree weather in the Miami sunshine. Amidst all of the amazing hardware on display there, Mercury Marine / Mercury Racing introduced two exciting new sterndrive packages on Opening Day; the naturally aspirated 860-hp engine with the M6 outdrive (complete with a two-year warranty) and the outrageous super-charged 1750-hp engine with the M8 outdrive. The 860 fills an important gap in their lineup while the 1750 allows the extreme to push the boundaries that much further. While it is always awesome to see, touch and explore all of the new offerings from everyone, what I found most exciting was the overall vibe from both shows, both coasts. There was a fresh, positive outlook for a strong 2017 and it was palpable and it was contagious. And it is a far, far better feeling that we, as an industry and as a community, have felt in a long, long time. speedboat.com
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JET TECH GREG SHOEMAKER EFI Advice Dear Jet Tech: I am interested in the Holley Terminator self-learning throttle body and computer. Do you have any experience with this? I can get a good deal on the full kit with the fuel system. I am currently running an over-bored and custom two-barrel TBI with a pair of injectors on my 454. The
Van, The Holley Terminator computer would definitely be an upgrade from what you are currently running. The MEFI 1 I believe is no longer even being manufactured. You will have to come up with an O2 sensor because this system is laptop friendly. You can map you whole timing and fuel curve with the help of a laptop. I would see no problem on this program whether it’s a car or a boat—as a matter of fact, I just installed this system on a jetboat with a small block and had great results.
Floater Bar Setup Dear Jet Tech: I am thinking about modifying my trailer from the current floater bar setup to a bow roller and a winch setup. But before I do, I was wondering if there is any special reason that it needs the floater bar and not a hard tie-down in the front. If it does need the floater bar, I will just build a mount to get the winch to the same height as the bow eye. It is just a pain in the ass to load on a shallow beach, which is where we have to be for all the youngsters in our group and
MEFI 1 ECU is old-school technology. I know the thing isn’t getting enough fuel and air, so I wanted to stay injected as opposed to going carb. The O2 sensor mounting wouldn’t be an issue as I have already developed a dry adapter plate for the wet logs that has proven to work with the current wideband A/F gauge and sensor that I’m running. Would this unit and software function the same on a jetboat motor as it would on a big block in a car? Would it “see” engine load the same (impeller loading vs. tires on pavement), or is this a nonissue? Thanks for your help. Van Madsen Tuscon, AZ
I hate ramp launching— I once had an idiot hit the fender on my trailer once while he was backing in. There are just too many people on the ramps who have no idea how to pull or back a trailer. We had to load once with no motor due to bad alternator and we had to back so far in the lake you could barely see the trailer in order to hand push the boat onto the trailer. As you can see in the photos, the floater bar is flat, but I want a winch to load in shallower water and not trying to get it in the perfect spot by just driving it. It’s kind of hard to see, but there is a roller on the keel just above the plane of the trailer in the first picture. Thanks! Ken Manners San Diego, CA Ken, The floater bar was just a very easy way to get from the trailer shop to the boat manufacturer. Just put the boat on the trailer and get it down the road. A winch and stop was more money for the manufacturer, but it’s a better way to go by far. Don’t hesitate put the winch and roller on your trailer.
Berkeley Reverse Gate Dear Jet Tech: I will soon have a Berkeley L3828 race nozzle for my Sanger Hydro, and I need a reverse gate. Do I have any options or is the rams horn reverse gate the only gate that is compatible with this nozzle? I don’t need reverse, but I do need neutral. Thanks in advance for your help! Alan Edwards Sacramento, CA Alan, if you are only interested in neutral, then just modify the bucket you have like we do on the race boats. You can drill some small holes on the side of
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Industry News BRETT BAYNE
Hallett Boats’ Nick Barron Dies at 84 Speedboat Magazine mourns the passing of Nick Barron, who lost his battle with cancer in early March. Nick produced Hallett Boats for more than half a century. The Hallett story begins with flatbottom builder and fiberglass pioneer Rich Hallett and his fast 18-footer. The boat lit up marathon and drag courses everywhere in the West. Nick Barron and his family took Hallett to the next level, using his first basic design as a springboard to one of the most impressive lines of recreational performance boats ever created.
Nick emphasized quality and every turn in the production of upscale family lake and saltwater boats. Nick changed ski racing forever with Hallett’s 21’ V-drive. He was one of the earliest of the West Coast contingent to seize the potential of bigger, faster cruisers, where they continue to push the envelope. In recent years, the company has been run by Nick’s son Jerry Barron. In January, Hallett moved its factory headquarters from Irwindale, CA, to 180 S. Irwindale Ave., Azusa, CA. Nick Barron was 84.
Lucas Oil Powers ECR Engines to Rolex 24 Victory Eddie Marine Releases New Catalog
Since teaming up with Lucas Oil in 2014, ECR Engines has been a dominant player in sports-car competition, and the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway was no exception. ECR Engines, powered by Lucas Oil, finished first and second, capturing its second Rolex 24 victory while making its debut with the new Cadillac DPi-V.R. Since Lucas Oil signed on as the official provider of premium motor oil for ECR Engines and Richard Childress Racing (RCR), the race organizations have seen more than 50 victories in stock car and sports car racing. "Lucas Oil has a rich history in auto racing and we're proud of our partnership with ECR Engines," said Thomas Fredrickson, Chief Operating Officer for Lucas Oil Products Inc. "Several years ago, we set a goal to produce a line of high performance engine oils and gear oils that are second-to-none in the racing industry. ECR Engines is a testimony to accomplishing that goal. We're thrilled to play a part of this victory." ECR Engines has won IMSA Tudor Series championships for three consecutive seasons and won the Prototype Engine Manufacturer's championship four years in a row. In 2014, ECR swept the podium at the Rolex 24, with the Corvette Daytona Prototypes finishing 1-2-3. "Our relationship with Lucas Oil has been fruitful, to say the least," said Richie Gilmore, president of ECR Engines. "We know each time we go to the race track we're using the best possible motor oil for our high-performance vehicles. Whether it's stock car racing or sports car racing, we're confident in our engines' ability to compete at the highest level. Lucas Oil plays a major role in that success." Based on the campus of RCR, ECR Engines produces engines across seven types of stock-car and sports-car racing series, including production for NASCAR teams such as RCR, Germain Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing and Leavine Family Racing. In 2016, ECR collected 17 victories and powered GMS Racing to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.
Hot off the presses is the 2017 catalog by high-performance product manufacturer Eddie Marine of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The catalog is crammed full of thousands of accessories for the high-performance marine industry in literally hundreds of categories, including drive showers, exhaust components, fuel pumps, sea strainers, bow lights, starters, bilge pumps, battery boxes, V-drive parts, shifters, oil pans and much, much more. You can order your free printed copy, or download the latest digital version, by visiting eddiemarine.com. Eddie Marine is proud to be the leading manufacturer of quality performance marine hardware in the world, with 24+ years of experience providing high quality performance marine hardware to many of the finest high performance boat builders in the world including Fountain, Cigarette, Formula, Baja, Outerlimits, and Skater.
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MIAMI
boat show
Attendance gets an uptick for the exhibition’s second year at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin.
Photography by Todd Taylor
Our intrepid crew, left to right: Ray Lee, Jay Forbes, Todd Taylor and Brett Bayne.
S
peedboat’s staff was eager to see how well the Miami Boat Show would improve in
year two of its new home at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin on Virginia Key. Miami seemed to avoid the “sophomore slump” by making it a bit easier to get to and from the show via water taxi. As for the performance contingent, the docks were well represented by the usual East Coast manufacturers—Hustler, Mystic, Cigarette, MTI, Skater, etc., with the majority of them offering some form of center-console machine powered by Mercury Racing 400R Verado outboards. Fortunately, Mother Nature decided to cooperate by sparing showgoers with rain—it was mostly sunny skies, and for that we are grateful. By all appearances, attendance was remarkable—with nearly 100,000 visiting the exhibition, showgoers said that represented a 7 percent increase over 2016. Can’t wait till next year! 14
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Miami Boat Show
One of the biggest attention-getters in Miami was Craig Hargreaves’ Spooled Up, a 52' MTI cat with twin Mercury 1550s. Below: MTI President Randy Scism with Ray Lee of Speedboat.
MTI’s gigantic new MTI-V 57, powered by quad Seven Marine 627 outboards.
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Also on display in Miami was MTI’s 340X, outfitted with twin 400R Carbon Edition outboards from Mercury Racing. speedboat.com
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Miami Boat Show
Mystic’s John Cosker described this M4200 as the “classy Range Rover” of his center-console line.
Meanwhile, Cosker said this M4200 (with four Mercury Racing 400R Verado outboards) was Mystic’s “over the top, every option checked on the box” version. He said 84 mph was typical with the quad setup; triple 350s will see 74 mph, while three 400-Rs will result in top speeds of around 78+ mph. Mystic also displayed a fishing configuration of their center console model.
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Miami Boat Show
Above: One of Cigarette Boats owner Skip Braver’s greatest triumphs of the Miami show was the company’s new 42' GTO Huntress, a luxurious center-console model, powered by four Mercury Racing 400R Verado outboards. The boat is a full walkaround model with access to a large cuddy cabin with U-shaped seating, which can convert into a bed, and the same sized head as the original Huntress. Left: Also debuting at the Cigarette booth was a 50' Marauder inspired by the Mercedes-AMG GT R. With up to 3,100 hp and speeds in excess of 130 mph, this Marauder features an exterior graphics package designed by Gordon Wagener of Mercedes. 20
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Nor-Tech’s roomy 450 Sport, powered by four Mercury Racing 400R Verados. One of the coolest new features we saw in Miami was a glass window in the Nor-Tech cabin (left) that switches from clear to opaque on the inside—and black on the outside (right)— with the touch of a button.
caption
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Above row: Skater’s new 388 features twin Sterling 1100hp engines with #6 drives. It’s got an 11' beam. Left: Offshore racer Myrick Coil (of Skater dealer Performance Boat Center) with a dazzling 478 vee bottom that sports a custom interior by Waves and Wheels. S P E E D B O A T | April 2017
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Miami Boat Show
Above: Hustler’s eye-catching 388 Reloaded is powered by twin Mercury Racing 565s—and check out the cool underside of the engine hatch! Right: A scale model of Hustler’s new Shotgun model, due out this summer. The completely original design sports a hard top.
Outerlimits of Bristol, RI, displayed its new outboard-powered SL 41 SB, painted by Stephen Miles of Stephen Miles Design (Owensboro, KY). Powered by triple 400R Verados that are actually integrated into the unique design of the boat, the SL 41 SB features seven bucket seats arranged in three rows. 22
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Miami Boat Show
Midnight Express of Miami, FL, displayed half a dozen boats at the show, including its luxurious 43' Open, which has a cool wraparound seating design (above right) and four Mercury Racing 400Rs.
Statement Marine’s very colorful 380 Open, powered by triple Mercury Racing 350 Verado outboards, has a very cool cuddy/head area whose door doubles as two front-facing seats (right). The boat features a 10-foot beam and a fuel capacity of 257 gallons.
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Among Mercury Racing’s incredible debuts in Miami were the naturally aspirated 860 Sterndrive engine (above), a 9.0-liter giant that will run 6,800 rpm on 89 octane. Then there was the company’s biggest engine yet, the 1750 (below), a turbocharged powerhouse that delivers 1,750 hp at 6,800 rpm on 117 MON race fuel. Also on display were the company’s M6 drive (top right), K-Planes (middle right) and the new 400R Carbon Edition outboard (below right).
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Miami Boat Show
Ilmor Marine was the 2017 NMMA Innovation Award winner with its marine V8 GDI Engine Series (above right), which drew accolades for its innovative distinction in form, function, and affordability. Ilmor also previewed its new MV8 7.4L OPS recreational sterndrive engine (above left and middle). Paired with its revolutionary One Drive sterndrive system, this will be an entirely unique 480+ hp powertrain available in single and twin drive configurations later this spring.
Seven Marine featured cutaway views of its 557 (above) and 627 outboards. 26
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Tom Robinson of XVI Power and Scott Price of distributor Hardin Marine unveiled an allnew Marine V16 Engine marine production powertrain suitable for any vessel requiring high output and reliability.
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Miami Boat Show
The Miss Geico offshore race boat. BBlades introduced its 4–Speed prop (above), designed for stern drive engines, as well as its 4–Speed OB/FX, for outboards. Below: Livorsi Marine showed off its new stepped-bottom trim tabs—which, like a stepbottom boat hull design, increases speed, reduces drag and improves overall efficiency.
Above: Bob’s Machine Shop displayed its jackplate rated for a maximum 300 hp V6. Below: Marine Design Control (MDC) owner Mike Clesceri debuted the company’s Shift Control product, which reduces the stress of docking a boat equipped with an SCS Crashbox by using shift-by-wire technology.
Caldwell Racing Technology (CRT) showed off its billet aluminum outboard engine craftsmanship. speedboat.com
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Miami Boat Show
Above right: Custom Marine displayed its complete turnkey aftermarket replacement headers—the perfect purchase if your 1350 cast manifolds fail. Above left: CMI also showed off its new actuator technology on its Captains Call system. This actuator allows easy opening and closing and represents an advancement in reliability.
Above: BBlades’ Propeller Lock offers an affordable, easy-to-install system designed to protect your propeller from thieves. Right: Hardin Marine’s new products include (from left) a line of dualfunction light-up switches, a thermal oil filter, and a cool fender holder.
Miguel Narvarte, owner of the Opa-Locka, FL-based Outboard Paint Shop, displayed three cool examples of his custom-painted outboard engines, including one with integrated speakers (far left), a wood-teak design (middle) and a shark motif (near left) based on a P-40 fighter plane.
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Industry News [Continued from page 12] BRETT BAYNE
Lakeside Car & Boat Show Set for Aug. 19 in NorCal Last year’s event, which drew thousands of spectators and participants to Library Park, was featured in the November 2016 issue of Speedboat, and we plan full coverage again this year. More than 45 awards will be given out at the new event, which
raises money for military charities and features boats running along Clear Lake. To enter your boat or car, or for more information, please visit the official Facebook page: facebook.com/hotcarboatshow.
Held in Northern California’s Downtown Lakeport (northwest of Sacramento), the Lakeside Car and Boat Show will launch its latest event Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Racer Ben Robertson To Distribute Predator
Offshore raceboat throttleman Ben Robertson, who is president of South Carolina-based BAR Marine, will be the official American distributor of Norway’s Predator Performance Boats, seen recently in the January 2017 issue of Speedboat. Powered by Mercury Racing 1350 engines, Predator’s 447-R is capable speeds of 140 mph.
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Miami Boat Show
The Florida Powerboat Club party, held at Monty’s on South Beach, featured the group’s traditional swimsuit contest—certainly the sexiest event to occur in Miami all year long! Club President Stu Jones never disappoints in attracting beautiful women to his events across the Sunshine State. 32
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DCB
M41
Dave’s Custom Boats continues to dazzle our senses with a cat that reminded us of driving a fine exotic automobile.
Designed by company founder Dave Hemmingson, the M41 is the second-largest model in DCB’s acclaimed M Series of luxury catamarans. The boat incorporates Class A Surfacing, an automotive term for achieving optically and mathematically distortion-free highlights and reflections over a given surface or shape. Math aside, our test team boils the M41 down to a single word: perfection. “This boat is stellar,” says our dry-land inspector and test driver, Bob Teague. “First of all, the boat is all gelcoat—no paint. The gel is absolutely flawless.” He adds: “The mold work is as good as I have ever seen. It’s a 10. The windshield is ¾" and perfectly installed with a brace in the middle, where the two sides come together. They’ve done an amazing job with it.” The Package: Our M41 was powered by twin 1350 Mercury Racing I/Os with a M8 drives (1.309 ratio) spinning 17”x39”pitch five-blade propellers; the boat is also using TCM adjustable water pick-ups, as well as additional plumbing hardware for water and other systems. This DCB is a 170+ mph machine, and inspecting it on the trailer really whetted our appetite for some on-water action.
The engine installation is flawless: every inch polished, every screw meticulously lined up. The bilge finish is every bit as beautiful as the outside of the boat. We admired the black billet battery boxes and anodized, dry-sump oil tanks: everything matches the boat, right down to the hoses, which are done in black fittings. TCM Sea Strainers with the water cross-over system were used, in addition to a built-in flush system. There are just so many cool things under the hatch, like a custom bracket for the Fireboy extinguisher, mounted on the transom. Enginehatch covers are fiberglass with see-through windows; they open with electric screw jacks. Simply spectacular! On the sides of the M41, we found a stainless rubrail, while the front and rear of the hull has been capped. The remaining rubrail has been painted black to match the boat. DCB has provided a pullout ladder beneath the integral swim platform—a very nice feature. Inside the cockpit, the impressive seat construction was all done in-house at DCB. The seats actually sit on parts of the inner cockpit liner, so there are no seat bases per se—the cockpit liner is the seat base. The custom-built seats are adorned
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DCB M41 Length: 41'1" Beam: 10'10" Engines on test boat: twin Mercury Racing 1350s Drives on test boat: M8s Base price: $591,303 Price as tested: $1,059,088 Options on test boat: engine upgrade, Isotta steering wheel, TCM drive aerator kit, custom painted blocks, Stage 3 gelcoat design, gelcoated engine compartment, Aqua Step, Garmin touch screens, carbon Kevlar and foam coring (entire hull), etc. Top speed: 170 mph @ 6,500 rpm DCB Performance Boats 1468 N. Magnolia Ave. El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 442-0300 dcbperformanceboats.com speedboat.com
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DCB M41
Upholstery on the M41 is plush Alcantara—even the beautiful Isotta steering wheel has Alcantara on it. Other goodies on board: a pair of Garmin touch screens, boat-to-boat headset communications package and plenty of LED lighting.
“Driving the M41 is like driving a really fine, exotic automobile. There’s not one thing that I could find wrong with this boat.” —Bob Teague
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The engine installation is flawless: every inch polished, every screw meticulously lined up. The bilge finish is every bit as beautiful as the outside of the boat. Everything matches the boat, right down to the hoses, which are done in black fittings. There are just so many cool things under the hatch, like a custom bracket for the Fireboy extinguisher, mounted on the transom. Engine-hatch covers are fiberglass with see-through windows. speedboat.com
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32 CCX
Sunsation
The Schaldenbrand family hits its stride with a fast and fun family center-console machine. Speedboat’s first encounter with a Sunsation handles and seat frames. Sunsation dealer Performance Boat center-console model was back in 2015, when we tested Center also added a one-touch battery management system, the Algonac, MI-based company’s 34CCX (Center Console Extreme). Speedy, spacious and meticulously designed, the boat was an immediate and deserving hit. The Schaldenbrand brothers, Joe and Wayne, along with partner Jared Morris, now offer three CCX models: a 29 and 32 to join the 34. Designed by Tres Martin, the 32CCX features the proprietary Taper Ventilation Technology, dubbed the latest advancement in hydrodynamic science. The base model is powered by twin 300-hp Mercury Verados; our tester upped the ante with a pair of 350 Verados. The Package: Standard features aboard the 32 include twin heavy duty marine batteries, dual bilge pumps, trim tabs, six low-profile popup cleats, deck rails, stainless steel rub rails, frosted cabin sky light, head and Fusion stereo; our 32 featured a Mitcher T paint job, power anchor, SeaDek flooring, lots of LED lights, a pair of Garmin touch screens, Mercury Vessel View and upgraded billet package to replace some plastic 40
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allowing the user turn all the batteries off and on from the helm with just the touch of a button. We’re told that the hard top is great for sunbathing and jumping off into the lake. We didn’t do that, but your kids might. We admired the step-down cuddy, which featured facing loungers and tons of storage; it’s accessed from the side of the center console. Performance: While not a huge boat (it’s 9 feet wide), the 32CCX’s real claim to fame is that it gives a truly impressive rough-water ride. The bow stays very flat when you get on plane, with minimal bowrise. It’s extremely easy to run, and because it has a full-length keel, it provides an excellent ride through the big rollers—a necessity while boating in Lake of the Ozarks, which we were. “We’ve had a really good success with these boats because of how well they ride in rough water,” notes Performance Boat Center’s Brett Manire. We were able to reach a top speed of 76 mph with the twin Mercury Racing 350s. speedboat.com
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Sunsation 32 CC Length: 32' Beam: 8'1" Engines on test boat: 2 Mercury 350 outboards Standard features: twin heavy duty marine batteries, dual bilge pumps, trim tabs, six low-profile pop up cleats, deck rails, stainless steel rub rails, frosted cabin sky light, head and Fusion stereo. Options on test boat: Mitcher T paint job, power anchor, SeaDek flooring, LED lights, Garmin touch screens, Mercury Vessel View, upgraded billet package Top speed: 76 mph @ 6,400 rpm Sunsation Powerboats 9666 Kretz Drive Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4888 sunsationboats.com speedboat.com
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Sunsation 32 CC
The 32' CCX offers a massive amount of storage, including in the cuddy cabin, which is accessed through the side of the center console. Our tester featured a Mitcher-T paint job, power anchor, SeaDek flooring, lots of LED lights, Garmin touch screens and Mercury Vessel View.
The 32' CCX provides a phenomenal rough-water ride. The bow stays very flat when you come on plane, with minimal bowrise. It’s an extremely easy boat to operate. 42
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Skater
426
Performance Boat Center nabbed this brand-new cat and immediately gave it a dazzling makeover. Even for the unpredictable go-fast marine market, was formally displayed at the recent Miami International Boat this story is fairly remarkable. This Skater 426 was a cus- Show. tom build for a customer whose purchase was never finalized. Company President Peter Hledin finished the boat and sold it to dealer Performance Boat Center, which loved the boat’s speed potential but despised the questionable gray graphics. So, after keeping it stock for about seven months, “we whipped it into our paint shop, stripped the boat down and completely repainted it here at Performance Boat Center,” says PBC President Brett Manire. “It was a funky paint job, to say the least, and it had a funky interior in it, too.” (See photos, Page 47.) The interior got its own renovation as well, courtesy of Waves & Wheels (Osage Beach, MO), which designed and installed a new high-end, modern interior with a huge stereo. The results are nothing short of dazzling. Only hours after being finished, the boat was unveiled at the 2016 LOTO Shootout event, and 44
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Although thoroughly revamped, this Skater isn’t jam-packed with creature comforts. It was built primarily for speed—its 165-mph ride courtesy of its Mercury Racing 1350 engines— but it does offer three Garmin touch screens, large fusion stereo, custom Skater carpeting and Alcantara interior. It sits on a custom, self-contained Douglas Marine tilt trailer that sports its own generator and pumps. Performance: There are no tricks to driving the 426 Skater— just push the throttles forward. There’s no hop. When you get the boat up on plane, simply move the indicators up about half an inch and you’re set up for a full day of boating at top speed. Although Skater put trim tabs on the boat, we didn’t use them. This is one of the most pleasurable big cats we’ve ever driven— there’s nothing it can’t do. speedboat.com
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Skater 426 Length: 42'6" Beam: 12' Engines on test boat: Mercury 1350s Drive on test boat: M8s Price as tested: $850,000 Standard Features: Garmin GPS, wind reflection, analog gauges with Garmins Top speed: 165 mph @ 6,400 rpm Douglas Marine / Skater 6780 Enterprise Drive Douglas, MI 49406 Dealer: Performance Boat Center 1650 Yacht Club Dr. Osage Beach, MO 65065 (573) 873-2300 skaterpowerboats.com speedboat.com
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Skater F426
Primarily set up for performance, the 426 Skater does feature three Garmin touch screens, large fusion stereo, custom Skater carpeting and Alcantara interior installed by Waves & Wheels. Its 165-mph ride is courtesy of its Mercury Racing 1350 engines with M8 drives.
This Skater rides like a big pontoon. You just want to cruise around at 50 mph. It doesn’t have any hop to it at all when you’re accelerating to 90 mph. It loves 120, and it will top out at 165+ mph. 46
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Above and left: The original design of the 426. “We really liked the size and the ride and the speed ability of the boat, but we just hated the paint,” says Brett Manire of Performance Boat Center. “We kept it in stock for six or seven months before we decided the paint was really not to our liking. So we just fixed it. We put a new interior in it the way we wanted it. We painted it the way we wanted it.” speedboat.com
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41 GTR
Cigarette
Quality, precision and speed converge in this perfect package from the Cigarette Racing Team. With a few notable exceptions, most of the East standard features. Our one slight quibble was a bit of distortion Coast performance builders now offer a performance in the windshield’s corner views; otherwise, the GTR came away center-console rocket. And while Cigarette Racing may not have been the first to debut such a model, founder Don Aronow did actually build a center-console nearly half a century ago. Today, Cigarette offers more go-fast center consoles than their traditional vee-bottom hulls like their Top Gun or Marauder lines. They’re offered in various versions of 39' GT, 41' GTR and 42' Huntress models—and Speedboat was lucky enough to test a GTR at last year’s LOTO Shootout. The boat simply could not look any better. Our dry-land inspection team awarded perfect grades to nearly every nuance of workmanship, from the seat construction and quality of construction to fit and finish. A side door leads to an air-conditioned cabin with a large mirror, yacht-style cabinetry, granite counter top, electric flush toilet and a small berth, if you want to spend the night. It’s a gorgeous example of Cigarette’s commitment to excellence. There’s a JL audio system, windlass anchor setup, SeaDek flooring and diesel generator, along with numerous 48
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with the best set of grades from any East Coast manufacturer we’ve ever encountered. Note: During our encounter with the GTR, the boat sported a rather dull wrap job. Cigarette dealer Performance Boat Center has since pulled off the wrapping and done a full custom paint job on the boat, taking it from impressive to truly spectacular (see updated photo, Page 49). Performance: The GTR comes equipped with a quad 400-R Verado powertrain capable of pushing the boat to a top speed of 82.7. As soon as you hit the throttle, the torque is eminent and the boat comes up on plane very quickly. The bow stays nice and low, so you don’t lose sight of the horizon. We had a lot of fun cruising in the 35-45 mph range, but what’s really exhilarating is when you stab it at 45—it pushes you back in the seat and you’re gone. There’s not a lot of motor noise, either. It’s instant torque, and with those four engines pushing at 1,600 hp, the ride is superb. Even with a full load of people, this boat can put you in the 80-mph range. speedboat.com
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Cigarette 41 GTR Length: 41' Beam: 11' Engines on test boat: Quad Mercury Racing 400-R Verados Price as tested: $700,000 Standard features: Garmin displays, hydraulic steering, touch-start DTS (shift/throttle), billet arms, quad 400 outboards. Optional equipment: SeaDek flooring, JL Audio system, diesel generator. Top speed: 82.7 mph Cigarette Racing 4355 NW 128th St. Opa-Locka, FL 33054 (305) 931-4564 cigaretteracing.com speedboat.com
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Cigarette 31 GTR
Our 41' GTR came with four 400-R Verados from Mercury Racing. Our tester featured a JL Audio stereo, windlass anchor system, bow thruster SeaDek flooring and diesel generator with air conditioning in the cabin. The downstairs cabin is a work of art.
The 41' GTR loves to cruise at the 35-45 mph range. What’s really exhilarating is when you’re in the 45 mph range and you stab it, it pushes you back in the seat and you’re gone. 50
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Above: The 41' GTR after being painted. Brett Manire of Performance Boat Center recalls: “This boat came out of the factory without paint because we knew we wanted to find a custom buyer for it, and wanted to paint it to their liking. The boat was wrapped at the time Speedboat photographed it with that boring single stripe (pages 46-47). We pulled those wraps off and did a full custom paint job on the boat at our paint center here at the lake. It is spectacular.�
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Ultra
27' Shadow
The legendary West Coast builder stays true to the styling and workmanship of this 17-year-old midcabin-cuddy classic.
Almost without exception, the 27' Shadows test- batteries and switch, four-speaker stereo and tilt steering; ed by our team since Ultra released the model options on our tester included the power scissor hinges to 17 years ago have been midcabin cuddy configurations, make access to the engine compartment a breeze. and our newest tester did not part with tradition—same rear bench, same pair of bucket seats, same crawl-through passageway to the same box-shaped open bow. Happily, Ultra has also preserved the same commitment to high-quality workmanship and its passion for decent speed—or at least as fast a 8.2 Mag HO/Bravo package spinning a stainless four-blade prop could take it. Competitively priced at $111,200, this 27' sports a gorgeous gelcoat and has been painstakingly rigged. Standard features include offshore controls, Monster gauges, dual
Judging by the positive grades, our dry-land inspection crew was delighted by the look of the 27' Shadow, both inside and out. Gelcoat, mold work and rubrail were all awarded a 9; same goes for the carpet installation, seat construction, steering, throttle installation, under-dash wiring and virtually every aspect of the cabin. Overall workmanship, attention to detail and fit and finish all got a 9. There was simply nothing not to love here: inspector Greg Shoemaker also gave a perfect 10 to dash layout, gauge installation and access to minor services (pumps, strainers, etc.).
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Ultra 27' Shadow Length: 27' Beam: 8'6" Engine on test boat: single 502 HO V8 Drive on test boat: Bravo One Base price: $109,700 Price as tested: $111,200 Options on test boat: Power scissor hinges Top speed: 71 mph @ 5,150 rpm Ultra Boats 690 London Bridge Road Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404 (928) 855-7946 UltraBoats.com speedboat.com
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Ultra
The dash of our 27' Shadow was adorned with Livorsi gauges, including speedo, tach, water, fuel and trim indicators. This tester also features scissor-lift hinges on the engine compartment. Our 8.2 Mag HO engine / Bravo One drive spins a 24"-pitch four-blade prop.
“The Shadow is definitely for someone who wants a combination family and pleasure boat. It’s a nice entry level mid-cabin boat with the performance attributes.” —Bob Teague 54
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42 Lightning
Fountain Waves & Wheels took this 15-year-old vee hull and infused it with updated styling.
It isn’t our usual routine to test 15-year-old Performance: The boat drives as great as it looks—it’s as if it boats, but when it comes to the rich heritage of Fountain were on rails. Handling is simply exquisite; it’s easy to drive Boats, we’re happy to make an exception. We met Ernie Dampier, owner of this 2002 42' Lightning, at last year’s LOTO Shootout. (Dampier is also the owner of Marine Service Co. of Camdenton, MO, a transportation firm that specializes in hauling boats as large as 70 feet across the USA.) After purchasing the Fountain from its original owner and storing it for several years in Lake Cumberland, Dampier decided to completely overhaul the rig 18 months ago. Justin Wagner at Waves & Wheels (Osage Beach, MO) installed a new, updated interior that included new bolster seats, SeaDek nonskid flooring, stereo, InterTech dash, Livorsi gauges and a righthand throttle. Meanwhile, Boyd’s Machine (Norman, OK) built two new motors that produce 1,110+ hp. Finally, some of the colors in the paint were changed a bit. Suffice it to say that Dampier’s boat no longer resembles a 2002 model-year Fountain. 56
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and has a genuine “glued-in” feeling, partly because the drives sit pretty deep in the water. Having that element of stability may sacrifice a touch of top-end performance and speed, but for Dampier, the tradeoff is worth it for the excellent handling. The boat accelerates hard from about 40 to 100 mph, and it doesn’t take long at all to hit 40—the Fountain pops right on plane (again, thanks to the drives sitting low in the water). From a dead stop, the Lightning doesn’t take long hit speeds of 80-90 mph. “I don’t have a really big prop on it anyway,” Dampier says. “When I ran the shootout last year, I had 35 pitch, four-blade Mercury Bravo props on the #6 drives.” He adds: “I’ve always wanted a Fountain with #6 drives and the the old technology in it. They’re few and far between. And now that it has the new EFI motors, it’s even more rare. I just lucked out when I found this boat. I really love it. I’ll probably keep it forever.” speedboat.com
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Fountain 42' Lightning Length: 42' Beam: 8'6" Engines on test boat: Two 598-ci Boyd’s Machine Drives on test boat: #6 Options on test boat: Full Waves & Wheels interior, including new dash, Livorsi gauges, bolster seats, real bolster bench, SeaDek nonskid flooring, stereo, InterTech dash, etc. Top speed: 105 mph @ 5,200 rpm Fountain Powerboats 1653 Whichards Beach Road Washington, NC 27889 (844) 890-2676 fountainpowerboats.com speedboat.com
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Fountain
The Lightning’s original rear bench was chucked for a modern bolsterstyle configuration. In addition to changing some of the colors, Waves & Wheels installed a new dash with all new Livorsi instrumentation. The restored boat looks brand new.
The boat drives as awesome as it looks—it’s as if it were on rails. Handling is exquisite; it’s easy to drive and has a genuine “gluedin” feeling, because the drives sit pretty deep in the water. 58
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The boat was originally powered by Mercury Racing 900 SCi engines. They were replaced with a pair of 598-c.i. motors by Boyd’s Machine (Norman, OK) that produce 1,110+ hp.
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DCB M41 [Continued from page 37] with plush Alcantara upholstery. On the dash, an Isotta steering wheel also features matching Alcantara on the grips, and three Simrad screens make navigation a breeze. Our throttles were Mercury DTS units. The under-dash wiring was easily accessible and perfectly assembled. Underneath the deck is a beautiful cabin with a lounge and storage areas. The bilges are very shiny and easy to clean up. Our M41 also had a Racer X Motorsports communications system in it, along with a large custom stereo setup with Fusion speakers located throughout the boat. We made note of a lot of indirect lighting and beautiful features everywhere you could imagine. If we haven’t made it clear already, the level of workmanship on the DCB is at the top of the custom boat world. Performance: If you thought we were impressed by the boat on the trailer, that’s nothing compared to how we felt driving it on Lake Havasu. To start with, low-speed maneuverability around the docks is a perfect 10; maneuverability is a dream overall. Coming up on plane, you’ll lose sight of the horizon just briefly, but once it comes over, the ride is fantastic. “It’s like sitting behind a panoramic movie screen,” Teague says. At all the speed ranges, the M41 is uncanny. It’s great in the slaloms and turns equally well at 30 mph and at 130 mph. It’s incredibly easy to turn. Once you get the trim set at the ideal setting, there’s very little need to mess around with it—the M41 tracks well and performs incredibly at every speed. It decelerates fast, which is typical of the turbo motors. “Throttle response is low,” Teague reports. “It’s a little weak until the turbos come up, but once it’s in the midrange and higher, it’s blistering good.” There is no steering wheel torque whatsoever. The Bottom Line: The M41 feels immaculately dialed in. “It feels like you’re driving an exotic car,” Teague says. “It’s a very high-end feel.” So who should buy this boat? “The guy who wants everything perfect, and doesn’t mind paying for it.”
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Ultra [Continued from page 53]
Performance: On the plus side, the Shadow is reasonably comfortable. Controls have been intelligently placed and our dash layout was impeccable. The boat has outstanding low-speed maneuverability and it gets on plane easily and without a lot of obstruction. As we put the Shadow through our usual series of acceleration runs, turns and speed tests, we’d wished it had been equipped with hydraulic steering rather than old-school cable steering. High-speed tracking, sensitivity to trim and throttle response were decent if not truly outstanding. It’s a fun ride— we got her to go 71 mph, but it took a while a while to get there. On the downside, driver Bob Teague was not impressed by the turning. “It leans a lot in the turns to the outside, especially the slow turns,” he said. “After 50 mph, it’s a little better.” The Bottom Line: Ultra’s 27' Shadow is a tried-and-true mainstay of its lineup, which includes three models in the Shadow stable, as well as five Stealth models and four Shadow deck-boat offerings. Our 27' was extremely well built—it looks great, it’s comfortable and the ride is good without being truly exceptional. It’d be an ideal choice for families who dig the midcabin cuddy configuration and Ultra’s unique styling.
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New Products BRETT BAYNE
High-Output Ignition Coils AEM Electronics of Hawthorne, CA, has released a line of High Output Direct-Fit Ignition Coils for popular late-model Chevy, Ford and MOPAR V8 engines. These coils deliver increased spark energy over the factory coils and provide an OE look, fit and finish. They use the OE connectors, so there is no additional wiring necessary, and they’re 50-state legal when used as a direct replacement coil. In most cases, the AEM coils are less expensive than OE coils, making them even more appealing for upgrading coils on any application instead of simply replacing them. Whether your engine is stock or lightly modified, these coils deliver the spark energy you need to optimize combustion for improved performance.
Features F t iinclude: l d • Up to 15% increase spark energy over OE stock ignition coils. • Direct fit for popular Chevy, Ford and MOPAR V8 engines. • OE look, fit and finish.
• Uses OE connectors (no wiring necessary). • Coil boots are pre-lubed with dielectric grease (when applicable). For more information, please visit aempower.com.
Eddie Marine Gas Fills Eddie Marine of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is now offering a large selection of billet aluminum and stainless steel gas fills, available in vented and nonvented versions, with 2" and 1½" connections. Most of Eddie Marine’s gas fills are available in a bright polished finish or in a variety of anodized and Fusioncoat colors. The company also offers optional billet aluminum dressup bezels.
Precision CNC machined from high quality 6061-T6 aluminum, the gas fills are available in many distinct styles and custom finishes to choose from. They’re engineered and machined at Eddie’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga. Eddie Marine offers a large variety of high quality, American made products. For more information, visit eddiemarine. com or shoot an email to sales@eddiemarine.com.
Performance Fuel Injectors Few components are as vital to keeping your fuel injection equipped engine running at peak performance than the fuel injectors. When it comes to choosing new or replacement injectors, Fuel Injector Connection offers one of the largest selections of superior quality 62
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and high performance fuel injectors and components in the industry. Shown here is Fuel Injector Connection’s 1000cc EV1 model. Designed for new or replacement applications on engines requiring the early, 60mm tall EV1 plug, they are a direct fit requiring no speedboat.com
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plug adapter. Each injector is manufactured using NEW Bosch EV14 cores that have been modified and thoroughly tested for function and quality. These are a perfect choice for LS1, LS6, pre-’03 Ford, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Injectors flow 114 lbs. an hour in an LS rail running 58 psi. They are high-impedance; making them compatible with most ECUs, while delivering the most flow available in a HighImpedance injector. 1000cc EV1 injectors function at high fuel pressures without exhibiting high fuel pressure handling problems found with many other high flow, high-impedance injectors. Many tuners push these injectors to 6 bar and higher. Suggested retail is just $79.00 per injector. Get all the details by visiting fuelinjectorconnection.com or call (770) 888-1662.
Smart Intake Manifold
Edelbrock has unveiled a new intake manifold for the 2011-16 Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 engine. The Edelbrock Victor II intake manifold (#7180) is designed for use with Ford Coyote engines running in the 1500 - 7500 rpm operating range. It features long tapered, crossover-style runners with a large plenum for outstanding performance. The cast aluminum construction makes this manifold ideal for nitrous, supercharged and turbo applications. This intake manifold also includes provisions for all emissions equipment
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New Products BRETT BAYNE and retains the stock fuel rail. The Victor II also features cast bosses on the runners for a direct port nitrous system for competition applications. Plus, the low profile design allows it to fit all factory 2011-16 Ford Mustang hoods and strut tower braces. It's also compatible with Ford Performance Parts 90mm throttle body without the need for an adapter.
Engine dyno testing resulted in 27 more ft-lbs. of torque over a common aftermarket plastic upgrade intake manifold and an additional 16 horsepower over the stock intake manifold. Features include: • Designed for use with factory Ford Coyote 5.0L engines with stock style cylinder heads • Features long tapered, crossover-
style runners with a large plenum for outstanding performance. The Victor II made 27 ft-lbs. of torque over a common plastic upgrade intake manifold and 16 more horsepower over the stock manifold. They’re designed, cast and machined in the United States for unsurpassed quality and performance For more information, visit edelbrock. com.
20' and 22' Classics Cherubini Yachts of Delran, NJ, is offering two classic-style hulls, the Cherubini 20' and 22’. They’re built with fiberglass, but feature wooden sides, so you get the classic wooden look without the heavy labor costs. A
recent commission of the 20-footer is powered by a Mercury stroker engine and is capable of 78-mph speeds. According to Cherubini staffers, Super Boat International champion Johnny Stanch took her for a test drive and has highly endorsed her. For more information, visit cherubiniyachts.com, or look for Cherubini Yachts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. 64
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Drag Boat Legend
TOMMY THOMPSON See Page 66
ALSO:
• ADBA Season Opener • Harlan Orrin’s Mighty Mandella 72252_SpeedBoatApril_065.indd 65
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Tommy’s
Guns
Meet Tommy Thompson, dragboat racing’s sweetest personality—and its most dangerous force to be reckoned with.
Photos by Daren Van
A
Ryte
s a celebrated dragboat racer and an owner/sponsor of many other boats on the course, Tommy
Thompson maintains an exceedingly high profile in our industry. It’s virtually impossible to avoid his name, which is emblazoned on his boats and on his massive trailer, a landmark in any race’s pit area. And that’s only the half of it: when he’s not racing boats, he can be found racing top-fuel dragsters on the autoracing circuit. He also owns the dragster Cat Spot (named for the organic kitty 66
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litter that serves as primary sponsor), driven by Scott Palmer. Clearly, Tommy is a man with a passion for speed. “I’m just a very competitive person and I love the sport of drag boat racing,” shrugs the unstoppable force behind Tommy Thompson Motorsports. If you’ve never met the man, you’re likely to be disarmed by his personal magnetism and charm—the guy is a total sweetheart. “I like to be competitive, but I don’t have to win every race,” he tells Speedboat. “I just have to leave my house knowing that I’ve taken the equipment
that will win. I want to be competitive and be able to win if circumstances allow. That’s what I go to do.” In addition to driving his Pro Outlaw #245 For a Few Dollars More boat, Tommy campaigns boats in Top Fuel Hydro (#246 Nitrochondriac, driven by Bryan Sanders, as well as #5050 Liquid Voodoo, driven by Scott Compton), Top Alcohol Hydro (#542 Untouchable, driven by Steve Streeter), Pro Mod (#593 A Fistful of Dollars, driven by Kevin Helm) and, perhaps most famously, Top Alcohol Flat (#339 Shazam, driven by Tony Scarlata). These boats are champions, and the seasoned vets behind speedboat.com
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Above: Tommy in his trailer before a race. Left: the Top Fuel Hydro Nitrochondriac, crowned the World Champion in 2016.
the wheel count Tommy as among their closest friends and confidants. We sat down with Tommy to pick his brain about drag racing. Speedboat: What gives your boats the competitive edge when it comes to winning? Tommy Thompson: It has a great deal to do with all the folks that I work with. They’re all great people. The guys that I help along the way–I’ll have three or four this year—they really want to race. And we need that. I think one of these days, our sport is really going to break speedboat.com
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through. The NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) is starting to struggle, and so is NASCAR. SB: Speaking of which, what do you have planned in the auto-racing circuit this year? TT: Scott [Palmer] and I have teamed up and bought a new Top Fuel Dragster car. We ran a 3.83 and a 3.21 with it. Alan Johnson [of Alan Johnson Performance Engineering] got behind it just now and helping us out…we’re going to go with his heads. So I’ve got the water and Scott Palmer has the asphalt. Whenever he
can, he’s coming to the water, and when I can, I’m coming to the asphalt. SB: So you’ll be driving a boat again this year? TT: Yes, I’m going to drive For a Few Dollars More boat in Pro Outlaw this year. SB: Tyler Speer, who we profiled in last month’s issue, is like you—a doublethreat competitor who flip-flops between racing on land and on the water. TT: I know Tyler. He’s a good kid and he’s good for the sport. He’s a hard charger, wants to win and he’s going to debut that Top Fuel boat that he’s going to run. S P E E D B O A T | April 2017
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Tommy’s Guns
Left: Bryan Sanders, driver of the Nitrochondriac boat (right).
Right: The Top Fuel Hydro Liquid Voodoo, driven by Scott Compton.
It’ll be good. He’ll do good. He’s a great driver, he’s competitive and he wants to win. SB: One of your brightest stars is Tony Scarlata, who’s as close as we have to a bonafide celebrity on the liquid quarter mile. TT: He’s another guy who’s good for the sport. Tony’s probably the best alcohol flatbottom driver ever. He’s having a little trouble now since he broke his tendon, but he’s trying to get back on it. Incidentally, we’ll have a brand-new boat coming out. It’ll be called Shazam—the same name we’ve been using.
Top: Top Alcohol Hydro’s Untouchable, driven by Steve Streeter. (Photo by Michelle Marshall Percival) Above: Top Alcohol Flat competitor Bill Diez in War Party. 68
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SB: Congratulations on Nitrochondriac taking the World Championship last season in Top Fuel Hydro. Tell us about the boat and the team. TT: Well, Todd Haas is the crew chief and Tom Conway is the motor builder. I’ve got a really top-notch crew on the Nitrochondriac. Our philosophy is not to try to run numbers that speedboat.com
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Above: the Shazam Top Alcohol Flat competitor, driven by Tony Scarlata (below).
Below: Tommy Thompson driving his For a Few Dollars More boat in Pro Outlaw class.
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Tommy’s Guns
The Tommy Thompson Motorsports crew preps the boats for optimum performance.
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are unheard of. I just want to get out there and be competitive and run the number that I need to run. I don’t have to run those big numbers. I’m not impressed by them. I just want to be competitive with the class. That’s all I want to be. SB: I also wanted to ask you about Steve Streeter, who drives Untouchable. TT: We’ve got a brand-new alcohol boat this year; it’s got those new Noonan motors that make a ton of horsepower. I hate R&D’ing boats, but it’ll need a little R&D. The other boat is sitting ready if we need it—all I have to do is back it in the water and it can go racing. SB: Do you have a message for your fans? TT: Just that we appreciate our spectators and we appreciate our support. If ever any of my people would ever be hateful to somebody, I wouldn’t stand for it. We just want to be nice to everyone who comes to the races and love it when everybody comes by to talk to us.
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Mighty Photos by Brett
Bayne
Mandella
Veteran boat restoration guru Harlan Orrin reveals how he brought new life to a 1955 classic.
I
n 1999, I learned about a 1955 flatbottom V-drive, built by Joe Mandella, that
was for sale. Since I started building wood Mandellas in January 1957, my curiosity was aroused. My wife, Mary, and I traveled to Rio Vista, CA, and found the boat in a storage yard. It was in such poor shape that Mary offered to get matches to put the boat out of its misery. As I later learned, this boat was built for Rossie Barton of San Fernando Valley, CA. We purchased the hull, and after several years of looking, thinking and planning, I started the painstaking chore of restoring it at my home in Fallbrook, CA. I began by building internal bracing, making several patterns and then removing the complete bottom. I replaced the frames, stringers, three keels, battens and the transom. I was able to save the sides and part of the bow. The interior side sanding was a big job. Next, I replaced the side frames and varnished the interior. A completely new deck was built. I glassed the sides, redid the deck finishing and side primer for paint. Warren Robbins rebuilt the 1955 Olds engine. The four-shaft V-drive allowed a single engine to run twin counter rotating props. 72
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Harlan Orrin (left) displays his restored Mandella (above) at the 2016 Flat Bottom Boogie event at Club Royal Oak in Kingsburg, CA.
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a
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Mighty Mandella
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The engine in my 1955 Mandella (opposite, top) is a 1956 324" Olds, courtesy of Steve McElroy. The Edelbrock manifold and the 3 Stromberg 97s came from Clyde Dedrick. The front timing cover is from Moon; the breather is from Stellings. I plan to replace the alternator with a period-correct generator. Opposite below: The bare shaft on the top right runs an idler gear to allow counter-rotating props to work with a single engine. The handle is for the in-and-out unit. It is only used to warm the engine at the dock or while on the trailer. Above right: The seat slides forward so spectators at shows can see the 4-shaft V-drive built in 1955 by the original owner, Rossie Barton. Below: The 4-shaft V-drive was built by Barton at his machine shop. The cases are cast aluminum. The shafts, locking nuts, and washers are similar to those used by Hallcraft in their V-drives. It was in good shape, needing only one bearing replaced.
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I had two new struts made. Most of the hardware needed to be rebuilt. The boat was originally built with no neutral. I found an in-and-out unit that bolts to the rear motor plate, and drives off the crankshaft. The trailer was rebuilt using tandem axles, and a telescoping hitch by my son in law, Steve Lalanne. I restored the boat to as close as I could to original. I used the same paint design and color—1956 Oldsmobile turquoise/white. The boat was towed by the original owner with his 1956 Olds that had the same colors and design. It took several years to refurbish this boat, as I was working part and full time. I display this boat at various shows and participate in vintage and historic events. Restoration information was provided by Rossie Barton’s daughter, Karen Barton Garnsey, and Jack Jackman. The boat was raced in speed skiing events at Clear Lake, CA, among other venues across California and Arizona. Rossie Barton was a member of the Pasadena Boat and Ski Racing Club. The club decided they wanted to have permanent race numbers that owners could paint on their boats. Barton was the vice Commodore. The Commodore received #P-1; Rossie chose #P-2. The numbers were applied with tape or painted on permanently. S P E E D B O A T | April 2017
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Below: Joe Martin takes the win in Top Eliminator going five rounds in a 20-boat field. Left: The Wade Stanley Memorial Season Opener event shirt proudly featured Wade. Bottom right: More than 60 of Wade’s family members attended to pay tribute and show support.
ADBA Season Opener Drag racing’s i ’ season opener in i Parker, P k AZ, AZ paid tribute to competitor Wade Stanley, whose life was claimed in an accident last year.
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Photography by Mark
McLaughlin
W
hen the American Drag Boat Association (ADBA) launched its 2016
season at the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, AZ, the outcome turned deadly for one racer. During the “Showdown on the River” event, competitor Wade Stanley was killed in an accident. Reportedly, the driveline of his boat broke, making the bow drop under water at speed; he was ejected over the bow into the water with fatal head and neck injuries. He was remembered by the club as a father and a husband who loved the sport of drag boat racing. This year, the ADBA kicked off its season with a rechristened Parker event: the 6th Annual Southwest Showdown is dubbed the Wade Stanley Memorial Race. Fortunately, there were no major mishaps; the race was chock full of robust and exciting action, notably in the Top Eliminator category. The victor in the 20-boat field proved to be Joe Martin, who went five rounds to take the checkered flag. Jeff Swigert, meanwhile, qualified third and ended up in the runner-up spot for the weekend. Check out the following pages for complete coverage of drag racing’s kickoff event for 2017.
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ADBA Season Opener Bob Holloway (far lane) and Trevor Grisenti (near lane), square off in round one of eliminations. Trevor, the #4 qualifier, took the win en route to the first place trophy for the Stock Eliminator class.
Left: #6 qualifier Wally Nocks takes the runner-up trophy in the Stock Eliminator class. This boat will be featured in an upcoming issue of Speedboat Magazine. Below: The River Racer class had a field of nine boats with #3 qualifier Scott Dolezal going all four rounds to take the win in the class.
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Quick Eliminator qualifiers Jeff Luehring (far lane) in his Sucker Punch hydro and Kevin Cornelius (near lane) in his Bad Moon Risin’ hydro battled it out to the end with Cornelius taking the win. The #1 qualifier ran the numbers all weekend to grab the first-place trophy.
Above: With only a threeboat field in the Pro Eliminator bracket, Duane Thornton nabbed the #1 spot and handed him a bye right into the finals against Tom Roberts, the #3 qualifier (left). Tom’s Outa Control hydro finished up in the runner-up position by the end of the weekend to Duane’s Born Insanity hydro.
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ADBA Season Opener
The final round of Modified Eliminator paired up the #3 and #6 qualifiers. Don Blayney (far lane, #6), and Mike Munoz (near lane, #3) took down the 12-boat field to face off in the finals where Munoz’s Rat Bastard jetboat took the win.
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JET TECH
[Continued from page 10]
GREG SHOEMAKER the bucket, which will relieve the water, and you have a neutral.
Pressure Problem Dear Jet Tech: If you wanted to try and lower the upper suction pressures just a little on a drag-type jetboat, how would you do it? What effect would it have on performance if that was the only change? My boat has an R intake. Let’s say you have an upper suction pressure of around 80 lbs. at 130 mph and still on a slight incline, and the lower pressure was 40 and has leveled off. Would you want to try and raise the lower pressures or lower the upper? I am not having a performance or handling problem; I’m just curious if this is something that would help performance. Charles Steele Plantation, FL
issues in a 19’ gullwing hull? The engine has or will have aluminum heads, so I’m guessing it would be close to a standard, all-iron 454 long block, but I wanted to ask anyway. The boat will have a Jet-Away, and I know a lot of gullwings run them. But I’m curious if other steps have to be taken to overcome the weight being moved forward, or if it actually helps the boat’s overall performance. Would I be hurting the ability for it to carry the nose with the engine moved forward? I’ve heard some say it helps with the launch so I’m just curious. Assume the bottom of the boat is straight/flat. Thank you! Steve Harrington Farmington, NM
Steve, whenever you move the engine forward in a gullwing, you will have to compensate by using more up nozzle. I run a Bowtie block and a Jet-away in our gullwing and have had good results on shut down. Remember, whatever goes up has to come down, so landing a gullwing is very important. On a premature shut down, you have weight forward, so it can get pretty ugly depending on how the boat lands on the center keel. Moving the engine forward will help on the launch at the same time. The further you move the engine forward in a gullwing, the shutdown can certainly become more of a problem.
Charles, do you run data on your boat? If not, the upper pressure seems to be an accumulation of the loader and the shoe. We don’t really use the upper as much as we use the lower pressure. The lower will tell us if we are running out of water or getting to much. To change any of these numbers will usually come in shoe depth changes. You would be surprised how well you can fine-tune once you have the hardware close. Is the loader you are running closed or has it been modified in any way. Does the loader fully extend all the way across the intake opening? The numbers 80/40 are in the ballpark. We have never been able to get both the numbers anywhere close to being the same. We have over the years have come up with a formula that we use to come up with our shoe changes. Looking at suction housing, you would think they would all perform the same, but the readings will vary depending on which housing you are using.
Gullwing Setup Question Dear Jet Tech: Would the extra weight (about 115 lbs.) of a Bowtie block cause any performance 82
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