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Yearly Archives: 2015

World Products has and continues to be the pioneer in aftermarket cast iron engine technology. Now by demand World Products is expanding their big block Chevrolet engine block offerings by delivering a block with an additional .050 of deck height. This provides for larger area above the piston’s top piston ring and results in superior durability.

This new version block features all of the same engine block features that make World Products the choice of Americas best engine builders. This block is recognized as part # PN#081102, press release follows:

For Immediate Release

April 8, 2015
World Products
Louisville, KY USA

World Products Merlin III Block with Added Deck Height. World Products American made Merlin III cast iron big block is now available with an extra .050″ of deck height. This new feature allows greater versatility in selecting connecting rods and particularly in selecting pistons with additional compression height to keep the ring grooves and wrist pin bore isolated.

The new Merlin III variant is available with a 9.850″ or 10.250″ deck height. Cylinder bores are semi-finished at 4.595″ allowing for a finish hone to suit the specific pistons and ring packages chosen by the engine builder. Cylinders can be safely bored to 4.625″ and with minor clearance the 9.850″ deck Merlin can accept up to a 4.375″ stroke crankshaft and the 10.250″ deck can accept up to a 4.750″ stroke. Nodular iron 4-bolt main caps are used with ARP fasteners for maximum strength.

The Merlin III is cast from high strength iron alloy and precision machined on CNC machining centers for dimensional accuracy. World’s priority main oiling system delivers lubrication to the critical main bearings first for reliability at high rpm.

Head bolt holes are blind tapped and do not go through into the water jackets. The valley has bosses machined for four extra head bolts to accommodate race heads which utilize this feature. The oil pan rails are machined to accept both stock pans and aftermarket race pans. World’s Merlin III big block is an ideal choice for a wide range of performance engine configurations.

Part numbers for the upgraded blocks are:

081107 MERLIN III bare block, 9.850″ x 4.495″ Nodular splayed 4-bolt caps
081117 MERLIN III bare block, 10.250″ x 4.595″ Nodular splayed 4-bolt caps

Like all World’s blocks and heads, The Merlin III is 100% American made. World blocks are cast from high-strength iron alloys and are precision machined on CNC machining centers for unmatched accuracy. World’s new digital inspection equipment and quality verification procedures ensure dimensional accuracy and mean you can be assured of total quality and superior performance.

Often the simplest mistakes lead to the most catastrophic disasters and this week on PBN’s Tech TV series we want to cover something as simple as proper supercharger belt tension for standard idler applications.

Roots superchargers and most competition applications run a Glimer or cog style belt. This belt system needs to be carefully adjusted. While very simply done accuracy is critical. On so many occasions we have seen where an improperly adjusted supercharger or blower belt has caused enough load to cause broken snouts on crankshafts to smoked bearings on blower snouts. We hope this quick tech tip is something that will save you from damaged engines or parts and makes for a trouble free boating season.

While a lot of news has been generated about all of the New 388 Skater Pure Platinum Skaters that are being built now at The Skater factory in Douglas Michigan truth be told that there is just as much excitement around the Chief Performance facility in South Florida and the predecessor boat to the new ones. You know the World Record holding Platinum Skater that Bill Pyburn stunned the industry with its performance. Well Tommy the owner of Chief Performance was one of the key people behind that performance as he built numerous bigger and badder supercharged engines for it. But if the truth be told Tommy is the Turbo King to the East Coast of the country and his goal was always to show just how remarkable this boat would perform with his own Chief Performance Turbo power. So recently we visited Tommy and the Chief Performance Gang to see how the progress is finishing up and getting the final details dialed in for new owner David Southern who took Tommy’s advice and gave free reign to the Chief Performance crew to build him some brand new power and its super close to being done.

Chief Performance founder Tommy Hofstetter has some new 1350/1550 Turbo Engines that have been dialed in with the Chief Performance Propriety Engine Management System. Fact of the matter is the jury is out because many say this new combination just may very well take the previous Pure Platinum to a whole new level of performance and reliability its never even seen before.

For this build Chief spares no expense and starts with the very best of every component such as Dart Steel Billet Main capped Big M Block with very intricate machining and special adaptations by Chief for these state of the art engine that will go from 1350 to 1550 with a simple plug and play electronic control module change.

The Chief Performance Engine Management System has long been one of the key factors that has kept Chief performance at the head of the game. These systems off the most intricate tuning options of virtually anything on the market and superior to OEM systems. Consumer creature comforts brings these features of the complete engine management system to life through a with a high function color LCD dash display for monitoring of every vital function of the engine and its performance. The key to reliability is having a system like this that provides automatic safeguards to the engines warning the operator at any time of concern for example a plugged sea strainer is starving the engine of water this system warns the operator of a low water pressure situation through highly visible alarm features.

David Southern's Pure Platinum Skater
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The Florida Powerboat Club has recently completed their 2015 Season kickoff with exciting poker runs to Marathon and Islamorada, and there’s plenty great poker runs just around the corner!

The 5th Annual Tampa Bay Poker Run returns to the St Petersburg waterfront in just two weeks, and in May, we’ll return to the Florida Keys, for the 2nd Annual Key West Air Land & Sea Poker Run.

This event allows non-boaters to join in on the fun, with a sports car, motorcycle or even their own private aircraft!

Join the Florida Powerboat Club on these great spring adventures! Due to limited dockage and hotel accommodations, its important to register well in advance, call the club office if you have any questions and be sure to let everyone at PowerBoatNation know how much fun you had!

DCB is always leading and being innovative. The Custom West Coast Boat Builder just launched a brand new website that has been in the works for months. This site is specifically mobile friendly and trends toward modern web viewers.

DCB Marketing and Sales Head, Jeff Johnston told us they have put a tremendous amount of effort and work into the new website and takes users through all the stages of the building a DCB.

DCB’s are known for their fabulously detailed rigging and attention to detailed perfection in all aspects of each boat. It is hard to capture and communicating this dedication to building a Zero Defect product and this new website brings potential new customers that much closer to how great these custom boat builders really are.

CLICK HERE TO LAUNCH YOUR NEW DCB EXPERIENCE

The final stages of the next Platinum Edition 388 coming from Skater Powerboats are underway. This 388 has returned from paint at TOAD and the rigging process begins. Fitment of the 1850 Goodwin Competition engines, hanging the drives, dash layout, and design and construction of the custom interior are all in the works.

This boat is similar to Bill Pyburn Jr.’s Pure Platinum with a few differences. The cockpit is six inches wider and six inches shorter. The rear bulkhead has been moved six inches forward to reduce back seat wind and add space to the engine room. Center Steps will split the back seat for easy access and the cockpit arrangement will include side consoles in addition to a reconfigured center console. A single forward hatch on the deck allows for one large access to the area below, which will have a similar fit and finish as the cockpit as well as provide a chaise lounger style backrest with removable pads for the ladies.

The boat will have some unique styling cues and a variety of subtle changes that will make it unique. The pictures give you a little glimpse of the paint but you will just have to wait for the full reveal. It is going to be cool and, of course, with 3700 horsepower on tap, power and speed should not be an issue.

Ready to be Powered
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Powerboat Nation is set and ready to go for the 2015 Tickfaw 200. May 1-2 will bring a huge following of powerboat enthusiasts to the largest powerboating event in Louisiana and everyone will be there.

The entire event is set up and run by Casey Harrison and Joey Fontenot and they work tirelessly to make sure everyone is set up to have a great time.

If you haven’t made your Tickfaw Plans you need to get on it because this is going to be FUN! Powerboat Nation has also teamed up with SunBuns to bring you the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run Party on Friday the 1st!

While LED position indicator technology has been around for a couple of years until now the cost was steep. Thanks to Mayfair and a significant investment in electronics technology the cost of these systems now rivals that of old cable driven systems. LED electronic technology eliminates the need for old school mechanical cables which have been the main method used for years. The downfall of cables has been deterioration in corrosive environments and the huge issue of replacement. That compiled with the slack caused by cables has lead an industry to settle for just “close enough” as the measurement we have lived with, but no longer!

The Mayfair by Hardin Marine LED indicators allows the old system of mechanical cables to be replaced by more reliable wiring that allows for easier installation into existing trim tab and drive position sensors. Best of all is Mayfair has designed numerous retro-fit systems allowing the conversion of earlier mechanical outdrive trim or trim tab sensors for a one stop solution.

Mayfair designed these units to be NEMA 2000 RX + TX compatible, Smartcraft with Gateway compatible, and offers these units for both trim tab as well trim and outdrive applications in a array of color options.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association has reported that new powerboat registrations increased in 2014 for the third consecutive year — up 8.7% over 2013. However it is Personal watercraft, Jet Drive boats, and Ski boats that led the growth (up 21.1%, 15.7%, and 14.7% respectively).

The Pacific region led the sales growth, going up 15.9%, followed by the South Atlantic and East South Central regions (up 15.2% and 10.5% respectively). Together, these three regions accounted for 41% of total sales.

One of the more common questions thrown around the boating communities revolves around Hydraulic steering how it works and why some systems work better that others. Fact of the matter is helm choice is critical in controlling the correct amount of fluid flow to your boats steering rams. This function plays a distinct roll in the lock to lock turning revolutions as well as how fast a steering system responds to driver input. In this clip our Tech Pro will look at the size differences as well as how to identify a hydraulic steering helm by its size.

 

The 2015 Poker Run season is upon us and it is going to be a great year! The Tickfaw 200 is an absolutely fabulous run and it cant and wont be missed by Powerboat Nation.

This year PowerBoatNation has teamed up with SunBuns and we are ready to bring you a Party that as well cant be missed. SunBuns has undergone a renovation and is the place to be. Located on Manchac Pass. Sunbuns is a bar in Manchac like none other on Earth! They serve the best food , the best drinks and bring the best fun! RULES?? The only rule is you MUST HAVE FUN!

The entire PowerBoatNation is anxious for this one. LIve Music-Girls, Fast Boats-Girls, Fun in LA-Girls, and a Bikini Contest with CASH prizes-Girls…….

We cant wait to get back to Louisiana and everyone that rolls out with Powerboat Nation is sure to have a GRAND TIME.

Check out SunBuns early at the Grand Opening 18 April! and prepare to May!

CLICK HERE TO EXPERIENCE TICKFAW 2014

Boats Direct USA told us in a statement today about their excitement for the Upcoming Palm Beach Boat Show and the boats they intend to have on Display. They are especially excited about two new Blackwater 36 Center Consoles and at 36 Deep Impact Center Console that will be on display at the show. We’re looking forward to seeing these boats on display. Here’s some more information about Boats Direct USA’s offerings and their show details:

WEST PALM BEACH – Whether you’re a hard-core fisherman or a pleasure cruiser with a taste for luxury, boating enthusiasts will love Boats Direct USA’s gorgeous Black Water Boats and Deep Impact Boats at the 2015 Palm Beach International Boat Show. The show runs from March 26th to March 29th in downtown West Palm Beach.

Our line-up of Black Water Boats and Deep Impact Boats will be on display in spaces 703, 704, 705 & 706 just south of the Evernia Street entrance near Fern Street. Our stunning Black Water 36 Sport and Boats Direct USA Blackwater 36 Sportfish are custom fishing machines with a fit and finish second to none. Looking for sexy? Our freshly-minted Boats Direct USA 36 Deep Impact Cuddy Cabin Edition is the brand’s latest offering since Boats Direct USA owners Mark and Eileen Fischer acquired the trademark and assets of Deep Impact in August 2014.

The new Boats Direct USA Deep Impact is painted with bright blue “moving paint” that shimmers and appears to change colors and shades. Also new is an extended hard top to match, equipped with accented lighting, speakers, and beautiful machined, heavy-duty hardware. This boat has a user friendly cabin with a full appointment of luxuries usually found on pleasure cruisers of much larger proportion. The interior cabin upholstery is stunning and the fit and finish of the optional equipment is flawless. Also on display will be the Fischers’ Lamborghini orange and white Deep Impact 399 Poker Run Edition.

Our Boats Direct USA 36 Black Water Sportfish is a center console, with beautiful ice blue paint. It’s powered by matching custom painted Mercury Verado 300 four strokes and is loaded with features. The boat has an upgraded Audiopipe sound system with Fusion head unit and dash remote, I-Com VHF radio, Compass, and clear dash cover panels.

“These are amazing boats that would appeal to any boating enthusiast,” said Boats Direct USA sales manager David Pease. “Stop by and check them out in person. Climb aboard to see up-close how incredible the fit and finish of these custom boats really is. And if you are looking for creature comforts, Boats Direct USA’s Deep Impact brand is your answer.”

Stop by Boats Direct USA’s booth at spaces 703 to 706 south of the Evernia Street and see how Black Water and Deep Impact can change a good boating experience into a great one!

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