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Yearly Archives: 2015

It’s pretty obvious why phones no longer have wall cords, or why V-Belts are only found on farm tractors. It’s because there are better, more efficient methods of doing things. Serpentine belt driven accessories are a perfect example of true innovation, ensuring the durability and longevity of a Serpentine accessory drive system.

Emphasized by quality aesthetics and design, the true heart of the matter lies in the top notch performance of each individual part. The folks at BoostPower USA spec their own products when it comes to everything in their engines. This Serpentine accessory drive kit developed by Hardin Marine for their 800 cubic inch engine package is just another example of the high quality products going into their engines. Here’s a quick glance at Alexi the President of Boostpower USA torture testing one of their monster motors to show how stable the Serpentine accessory drive system is.

Hard to believe it has been 25 years! This past weekend at Lake Havasu over 60 brutally loyal DCB owners gathered for the epic 25th DCB Regatta.

DCB’s Jeff Johnston reported it was HOT! A very hot but very good time at the lake.  DCB set up beach bar-b-ques, scheduled runs, and the opportunity for the owners to spend time with the dedicated DCB Team who love to build the best boats in the country.

The parade was a blast with over 60 DCB Craft cutting through the water, each one as unique as the next. Unbelievable designs and owners proud to show them off made it a truly fantastic gathering. With no two alike it showcases the high level of craftsmanship DCB continues to deliver, as well the cult like following and dedication their brand garners.

We’re looking forward to see what next year brings! There’s no doubt we will surely be impressed.

DCB Regatta 2015
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Skater is upping the ante and throwing in a game changer with their new approach to building V Bottoms.

Skater’s National Sales Manager, Tony Cutsuries emphasized many of his previous customers really enjoy V Bottoms and in turn, offering a newer,  stylish, and larger V to those powerboaters was a no brainer.  Skater’s next step in the evolution of high performance powerboating could provide an elite class of V Bottoms to another group of performance powerboaters who really enjoy big, fast V’s

So the 478 was born and now thanks to graphic designer Thomas Kulesia from No Coast Design and Skater’s house painter, the incredibly talented Jake Schulte, beautifully painted as well. Their expert design and next level craftsmanship came together flawlessly to create a one of a kind,  standout craft in a sea of redundancy.

This brand new V from Skater is sure to “make waves” in the V bottom world and in a few weeks after interior and final rigging with Mercury Racing 1100 Turbo Engines is completed, things will really start to take off!

Stay tuned for more!

Skater's New V
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Regardless of your favorite choice of color, there is just no denying the infectious luster of polished aluminum. Polished is such a favorite  most of our industries products are manufactured to a brilliant lustrous finish.

Polished works of art are nothing new for the Boostpower USA Team as they continuously  dazzle the industry with much more than just powerful performance marine engines, but engines that literally become hi-performance jewelry for boats.

Much of BoostPowers clientele come to them because they demand a product that wont be overlooked. This is the same clientele that custom order their exotic automobiles, furniture, bikes, and boats.

Boostpower founder Alexi Sahagian told us how his team produces a full line of traditional production engines but it is the attention to detail and hi quality craftsmanship of the companies unique products that fuels their passion for the marine industry.

While following up on another project they shared some of their latest showmanship with these entirely custom built all polished aluminum supercharged 900/1175 horsepower engines with a reliable 6400 max rpm. The 600 cubic inch foundation sporting hand massaged “spare no expense internals”. The engines also featured state of the art billet serpentine accessory drive systems, multi stage water pumps, and a proprietary oiling system.

Being what would be considered a veteran of the EFI world the Boostpower Team installed one of the latest EFI controllers that they have been in development with from AEM.

Boost Power points out that the luxury of modern technology allows them to offer numerous selectable engine tuning maps for a host of top horsepower choices based around a customer choice of fuels. These guys were one of the first in the industry to recognize the advantages a selectable tuned engine map could provide their customers and give much greater HP and fuel selection options.

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For as many years as most of us can remember Jimmy Lee has been the highlight of most poker runs.  Always happy, always smiling, and always surrounded by beautiful woman and fast boats.

Jimmy is the guy that leads the way and makes everyone else take a double look at him with his entourage.

This year at LOTO was no different having just recently traded his renowned 46 SKATER Freedom for a newer  46 SKATER, “Double Take”. Jimmy made sure it was all over LOTO and we were lucky to be able to capture him running hard on the water and take some photos of his bevy of beauties…..

Double Take Ladies
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Like most powerboaters, Chris Overkamp of Bow and Stern Marine in North Tonawanda, New York was just looking to pick up a little more speed on his 2000 Spectre 30 running triple Mercury 2.5 Outboards. Perusing the various boating forums most people with the same application claimed that 110 MPH was the most you’d get with that setup.

Chris wasn’t having any of that, he knew this boat could make 120 MPH but just didn’t know how to get there. He raised and lowered the drives a few times, played with the toe and the cowlings, but none of that helped get to the magic 120 MPH mark. The only thing left to try was the props. He started doing his research, checking out websites and calling various prop manufacturers. One day Chris gave a call to BBlades Propellers and spoke with Brett Anderson. Chris knew that day he’d found his Prop Man:

“What I really like about him is that he would spend the time with ya, no matter who you were or what you did or anything and I really liked that.”

Chris and Brett worked together for two months using BBlades Prop Exchange program trying out various props to see what fit the boat just right.

“We started at a constant 108, 109, 110 playing with prop diameter. What I liked about him was when he sent me a prop with the program that wouldn’t work, we would continue to work and keep working.”

Their persistence paid off and with vigorous testing and work. Eventually they found the right props for the job. They settled on a pair of 14-1/2×33 3 blade custom cleavers on the outside motors. But the coupe de grace was the center prop:

“We tried his 4 blade Blaster props. We tried different cleavers, different everything and the 2.5 was spinning at 7800 RPM. So a cleaver was determined the best candidate, that’s just what this boat loves. He made me a 15×34 custom offshore race finished cleaver, and at the end of the props is their little signature move. They put like a 45 on the end of the blade so it will create a little less drag and reduce slippage.”

Brett, Brad and all the staff at BBlades went to work. Through vigorous production, testing and adjustments, the props were finished and sent on their way. Once installed Chris couldn’t wait to give them a test run.

“I got my boat speed on the GPS, 4 people with full tanks of fuel, 120 MPH”.

After further tests Chris was able to pull out a full 13 MPH gain on his previous top speed. The sheer magnitude of the speed gained was quite apparent soon after.

“We just had a Buffalo Poker Run here. There was 102 boats with some serious stuff here, and I was the 3rd boat in the harbor. Everyone was like, “Holy mother!” Cause that thing runs.”

You don’t pick up 13 MPH and not turn a lot of heads. At Bow and Stern Marine, Chris wasn’t short of inquires from his own customers and how to prop up their boats for more speed. Chris knew just the guy, and now Brett and the BBlades team are hard at work on a 308 Skater trying to push it up over 100 MPH when 90 is the best it could do after a recent re-power. We’re sure Brett and BBlades team are up for the challenge.

Overkamp - BBlades Prop Job
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The new 318 SKATER just hit the water at Lake Winnebago near the Mercury Racing plant in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and blasted to a 110 MPH right out of the box.  Skaters sales and marketing guy Tony Custuries knew right away that they needed more propeller.

A few weeks ago while at Skater Tony let us know that Mercury was building some new prototype five-blade  props with 14-1/2-inch-diameter, 33-inch-pitch cleavers and everyone was anxious to take the boat to Mercury Racing for testing.

Today’s tests gave them a lot of data and it looks like they are going to need some 34- or 35-inch pitch Bravo props so they can go out again and move the needle up.

Beyond the speed numbers the big take away from today’s testing was how well this 31ft 8 inch boat with a 61 1/2 tunnel handled and ran.  This new Skater is sure to be a winner all the way around….

UPDATE 9/22 @ 5PM: Latest test run reaches 114MPH:

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318 Skater
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23rd Annual
KEY WEST POKER RUN
November 10 – 16, 2015

It’s been more than two months since we’ve bombarded any of our club members and performance enthusiasts with email blasts, and that’s simply because we’ve been “Out of the Office” visiting all of our boating friends around the country since June!

After a fabulous FPC summer tour that traversed dozens of states and visited the top poker runs around the nation, the FPC staff staged the Emerald Coast Poker Run in the Florida Panhandle, and soon returned to our Pompano Beach headquarters to focus on the Fall and Winter season! That places our signature event, the 23rd Key West Offshore Poker Run, as a top priority for the next two months!

For this year’s Key West event, some big changes have been implemented to accommodate the ever-changing landscape in both Miami and in Key West. This email hopefully will set the record straight for all of you who plan to attend, and clear up any misconceptions about where to launch, where to stage, and where the starts are taking place.

So please talk a moment to get up to date and current on these important venue changes, so that you can hit the ground with your feet running, when you arrive in South Florida this fall!

TWO Staging locations will be utilized for the Key West Poker Run.

NORTH LOCATION
Haulover Park, North Miami (Sunny Isles Beach)

**This location will be utlized for ALL FPC events originating in Miami, and we highly recommend you familiarize yourself with this new format.

We continue to use this site as a launching location and staging for many out-of-town poker run attendees. For 2015, we will expand our operations here, with full-time staff on site for seven days, parking trucks & trailers in a secure lot, with additional lighting, gated access to the lot, and launching assistance.

POKER RUN CHECK-IN & CAPTAINS MEETING WILL OCCUR HERE!

HOTELS: Newport Beach Resort & Doubletree by Hilton, Ocean Point Resort

This staging location will now provide participants with a place to CHECK IN for the poker run..then attend the mandatory captains meeting,on the night before the run. Then on departure next morning, they can leave directly from Haulover Park, via Haulover Inlet, to start the poker run. There are (2) hotels on the menu selection when registering for the poker run. The captains meeting will be staged at the NEWPORT RESORT.

STARTING POINT for the poker run on Wednesday and Thursday departures.

SECURITY/STAFFING/LIGHTING/GATED LOT: This service is being provided by FPC, and is not paid for by Haulover Park officials. Poker runners will pay a security fee of $ 50 for this enhanced service to offset costs, and will continue to pay Miami-Dade County for the actual cost of launching permit and daily parking for trailers. These fees have not changed from previous years and are very reasonable.

Haulover Marine Center is located here also. The marina can provide minor service assistance and has two fuel docks, but does not provide transient dockage. The other marina on site, is BILL BIRD Marina at the south end of the park, which is managed by Miami Dade Parks. This office is providing a limited number of transient slips for overnight docking. Launching on the morning of the poker run is quite acceptable. Any boats in the water by 9:30am will be able to make the morning departure from Haulover.

Other Marinas Nearby: TNT Marine Center is nearby at 135th & Biscayne, therefore any boaters launching at TNT many use this staging/starting point for the poker run.

NET Result: This NEW Location provides an attractive one-stop staging location for all out-of-town poker runners, providing excellent boat launch ramps, moderately priced hotels, a poker run checkin venue with captains meeting, and support staff with 24 hr security to watch your equipment while you are away in Key West on the poker run!

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SOUTH LOCATION:

Grove Harbour Marina / Coconut Grove

Hotels: Courtyard by Marriott & Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove

GROVE Harbour Marina continues to be a Key West Poker Run sponsor and a #1 choice for staging by many poker runners on a variety of FPC Poker run events. As always, Grove Harbour will also be Checkpoint #1 for the poker run, and all boats that travel down from the North departure at Haulover Inlet, will come to Grove Harbour for their first poker run on both the Wed and Thurs departure groups.

Facilities: Grove Harbour Marina does not have a boat ramp, but specializes in custom lifting and launch by appointment, using forklifts and marine Travel lift equipment. A public boat ramp is located nearby, however no trailer parking is allowed at this ramp. The marina also has a complete service department and fuel for poker runners to stage and prepare for the run.

Caution: Please do not assume you have a spot to launch and park your truck and trailer here. Grove Harbour is a full service marina and boat yard, with monthly slip rentals and limited transient dockage, and a somewhat limited dry-land footprint to manage any excessive overflow. If you are already using Grove Harbour Marina for FPC poker runs and you have made your reservations, you will probably be safe. For all others who have NOT yet utilized Grove Harbour, you must MAKE your reservations there for dockage and/or staging. There are NO other marinas in the area that you can work with for dockage, so please be sure to make your arrangements directly with the Grove Harbour staff.

Call Marina manager Tony Zamora: 305-854-6444

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Do Not Book Poker Run- related activities at SeaIsle Marina or Biscayne Bay Marriott!

We have made it very clear in the past at Captains meetings, in our club media materials, that the management at SeaIsle Marina ended their relationship with Florida Powerboat Club, and with the NMMA, which hosts the Miami International Boat show, effective March 201.

The Miami Boat Show and the FPC’s Miami Boat Show Poker Run that followed, were that last events to be staged at this venue. The marine’s owner, Florida East Coast Realty,had chosen to make this marina strictly an annual lease-holder marina, with no transient dockage, and specifically no special events, going forward in 2015 and beyond.

FPC will therefore have NO operations at this venue, which specifically means:
NO Dockage at SeaIsle
NO hotel rooms at the Biscayne Marriott
NO poker run checkin, and No Captains meetings.
SADLY, we are very unhappy to have to move from this venue. For well over 15 years, we have utilized the Biscayne Marriott and their staff has been first class in so many ways!
We made these plans very clear to our members and participants in the past, and we urge you to make any necessary changes to your agenda if you have already made any plans directly with this property.

CLOSING SEA ISLE MARINA TO FPC EVENTS?: These owners are free to do as they please with this marina…after all it’s a free enterprise world we live in.
That said, if you are unhappy with their decision to essentially “kick out” the poker run, just call or write to them with your opinions.

Contact: Property Manager,
Florida East Coast Realty : Call (305) 358-7710
Lee Swerdlin : lee@fecr.com

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The Speed On The Water 2015 Special Collector’s Edition Print Magazine is ON SALE NOW

The hard writing duo from Speed on the Water Matt Trulio and Jason Johnson have created a print book worthy of significant recognition.  In this age of declining value in print media the professional journalists have created a incredible book.,

In December they will have available a  132-page, photo-intensive 2015 Speed On The Water Special Collector’s Edition magazine.

This will be a Perfect bound book and it is on-sale now, the 2015 Speed On The Water Special Collector’s Edition magazine will capture the year in pictures—with a few well-placed words here and there—with images from the best photographers in the go-fast-boating game, including Pete Boden, Jay Nichols, Tim Sharkey and others. The magazine will be printed in early December and distribution will begin shortly thereafter. Priced at $20 per issue including postage, copies will be limited so we encourage you to order early.

At ​Powerboat Nation ​we are relentless in our efforts to reward all of you that provide so much support to making PBN the greatest Powerboating community worldwide. Since our inception, giving back has been our goal and when we can team up with supporters that believe in what we do and pass along real tangible member rewards, well it’s a home run for all of us.

We recognize the world is full of media choices and recognize that to be at the heart and soul of it all you have to have feet on the ground that are participating at events, developing unique editorial content, building the largest new video offerings anywhere.

Were extremely proud to be bringing the powerboating world to the masses through National Media outlets like MTV, ABC, and very soon you will see us on NBC…

Recognizing economics is a key to the success of powerboating and how fuel plays one of the biggest roles in those economics. As a huge fan of what were doing the PILOT FLYING J has partnered with us to support Powerboat Nation members through FUEL DISCOUNTS to help make things just a little easier for our members.

Swipe your Preferred Powerboat Nation Pilot Flying J Card and get .03 off gas and .05 off diesel.   While three or five cents may not seem like a lot you know how much hauler and boat fuel we burn a small savings can add up to a good chunk of change.  Your Pilot Flying J card can also be used to get additional discounts on food and other items at Flying J travel centers across the country.

How do you get one?

Simple;  Every new charter member, renewal member, and apparel purchase will be sent a card.

If you aren’t a PBN Charter member yet start here!

Just another example of how Powerboat Nation does something for our members!

PBN-JET-PILOT-FLYER

My Formula 233 raceboat, “Challenger”, had finished 2nd overall twice, 5th once, and last once in four attempts. I would have done almost anything for an overall victory. In that day, there were only a couple dozen men who had won an offshore race overall. In the fall of 1964, I was about to leave my cushy General Manager job at Challenger Marine in North Miami, Florida, and go to work for upstart boatbuilder Don Aronow at a new company called “Donzi”. Having a few brews one evening at Tony Roma’s, someone mentioned that there was a new, poorly attended, obscure “Offshore” race from New Buffalo, Michigan to Chicago and back. I was planning to take my family on vacation to my ancestral home in Indiana anyway. What a deal! I could sneak up there, win the race overall, pay for my vacation, be hero, etc. What could possibly go wrong? I talked my friend Mike Collins, who worked at Challenger also, into going with us. We set off in my speedy, chrome laden 1958 Oldsmobile station wagon with my family aboard and the Formula behind on a trailer. The Turnpike only went to Yeehaw Junction in ’64, and then it was US 41 the rest of the way. We were in high spirits, with huge expectations and a small bankroll. We didn’t blow the first trailer tire for almost 30 miles. An omen? We drove for what seemed forever, and passing through Farmersburg, Indiana, at midnight. Mike was driving about 70MPH on US 41. The rest of us were snoozing, dreaming of a bed and a hot bath at my Dad’s house, 20 miles further up the road. We crested a small hill on a very straight stretch of 41, and came upon a herd of Black Angus cattle wandering on the highway, directly in our path in the black night. Mike did the most masterful job possible in getting the station wagon through the herd at 70MPH, but the Formula was in a four wheel drift back there, swatting championship prize bulls every which way.

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The boat stayed right side up, but all the wheels, axles, light harnesses, etc. were ripped off the trailer and scattered into the blackness. When we skidded to a stop, the light wires shorted out in the car. We were sitting “dead in the water” stretched across US 41 in the blackest of nights. I woke up in the middle of all this, and after I was able to shove my heart back down my throat, I leapt into action. The farmer’s house was nearby. He was still awake, having just come from the Vigo County fair, where his (late) half ton bull had won first prize! Mike ran to the top of the hill with some flares to warn oncoming traffic, and my wife and I grabbed the kids and carried them 100 yards away from the highway. We feared that a speeding semi might come barreling over the hill and finish the job.

The farmer brought out his back-loader tractor set-up, and started hauling away his former prize herd. Some were dead, some injured beyond repair, and some unscathed. He and his family immediately started slaughtering the dead ones, making some extremely crunchy hamburger, one might imagine. We also used the back-loader get our mess off the road. After repairing the wagons electric system, we pressed on to the sanctuary of my childhood home. After some sleep and blessing counting, we returned to the scene of the crime (Literally. Indiana is an ‘open range’ state. Cattle can go anywhere, and always have the right-of-way). We tallied up the damage. Boat and trailer, not too bad! After a few tires, wheels, one axle, lights and such, we were back on the road, less the family and plus my boyhood friend Mo Hart. The Angus group, not so good. I was responsible for the value of all the bovines.

I had been telling Mo what a terrific driver I was, and now it was time to put up or shut up! It was about 200 miles from the house to New Buffalo, and we cruised there in great anticipation and high spirits, drinking beer and telling racing stories. We arrived at dusk, and found an inexpensive motel to crash. There were just a few boats there, nothing that we couldn’t handle, rough or smooth. We slept like babies, with visions of silver cups and money dancing in our heads. After a big breakfast, we drove toward the pits and launching area. New Buffalo is near Dunes State Park, and the topography is very sandy and, well, duney. We drove up the last dune before Lake Michigan, and just as we crested the dune to get a view of the lake, we were sitting beside a never-ending line of trucks and raceboats. It was the entire Mercury Marine offshore racing team. I was sitting window to window with Odell Lewis, who had just won the Miami-Nassau race. Behind him on the trailer was “Mona Lou” a 25’ Bertram with twin racing Mercruiser engines and drives. Probably the fastest offshore boat on the planet. He stuck his head out the window, and yelled “Hey Brown! Some days you eat the bear, and some days it eats you!”

Debbie Bull has just about any boat option you could imagine available to her and when it comes time to leave her waterfront home to get some groceries or go to breakfast. The usual choice is the 52 MTI with Mercury Racing 1650’s capable of pushing her to speeds in excess of 180 MPH.

Just before the recent Lake of the Ozarks shootout some of the local girl talk suggested she should make it official and lay down a record run for her to claim the title:  Fastest Women on the Water!  Well, she did just that and just like going to breakfast on any other morning at the lake Debbie wheeled the powerful catamaran perfectly down the course to a max speed of 180 MPH to claim the title.

We look forward to more and more female boaters showing how well they can manage all this horsepower!

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