Yearly Archives: 2015
Lightning Headers Support New World Record Attempt for a 22 Donzi at 112MPH
If there’s one thing at Powerboat Nation that makes our blood pump, it’s the ingenuity of the powerboater to take a good boat, rip out that old dog of a stock engine and pack the bilge full of horsepower to turn it into a dazzling performance power boat. Lightning Headers forwarded us this video of power boater Bjorn Carapi documenting a world record speed run of his 22′ Donzi power boat blistering the water powered by a home built centrifugally supercharged 600CID engine fed through an intercooler into a custom throttle body fuel injected BBC.
Among many components Bjorn used were the standard 2″ primary Lightning freshwater series headers which helped reduced back pressure and helped Bjorn perform so well that the boat saw a jump in peak speed of nearly 9 MPH over the original EM manifold system. At 5900 RPM the boat is laying down a dazzling 112 MPH pass. Congrats to Bjorn Carapi on a super performance testament.
DCB Launches Breathtaking New M31 and M35 Widebody into Inventory
“Good enough” is not in the DCB playbook. Leave it to the boys at DCB to continue to push the limits of creativity and performance. The ORANGE M35 Widebody rigged with Mercury Racing 1100 Turbos and number VI drives is another showstopper. Showing off its custom graphics and turbos this monster is sure to be the envy of any true boat enthusiast. DCB Sales and Marketing rep Jeff Johnston told us the DCB’s in house interior guy Carlos went nuts on this interior and the entire boat is Carbon and Kevlar.
Testing this week at Lake Havasu during the Monster Bash Poker Run brought in numbers in excess of 160 MPH.
Were not sure if we’re more excited about the boat or the fact that DCB has committed to building the boat for inventory purposes. This means if your in the market for one of these that DCB can deliver with no wait. At $765,000 this can be your next dream boat.
If the Orange is too big for you then another Red M31 is ready. Running 128 MPH with Mercury Racing 700 SCi’s this is a reliable performer year after year. This boat is ready for a new owner as well for only $498K.
DCB never fails to deliver the baddest looking and best performing boats in their class, and they continue to improve upon the look and detail of these new rides with each model released.
Sunsation Joins Mercury’s X-Site Test Fleet
Sunsation Powerboats’ popular 29CCX model has been chosen as the latest addition to Mercury Marine’s test fleet. Dating back to the 1950’s under the direction of Carl Keikhaefer, Mercury has conducted year round engine tests on various model designs of the world’s major boat manufacturers. Since that time it’s been an uninterrupted exercise in gathering data for ongoing performance and reliability improvements of their propulsion products.
In June of this year, Sunsation Powerboats was commissioned by Mercury Marine Engineering to build a base model 29CCX as a test platform for twin configurations of its 150 -300HP outboard engines. Company owners Joe & Wayne Schaldenbrand and Jared Morris were contacted by Phillip Magee, Manager of Mercury’s Environmental Research Center located at the X-Site Facility in Florida. Magee, laid out the requirements for the build and Sunsation delivered the boat by October.
In the following Q&A, Magee explains Mercury’s criteria for choosing the Sunsation 29CCX as one of it’s newest test platforms.
Why did Mercury engineers choose the specific Sunsation model 29CCX ?
Mercury – “The boat has a trailerable beam and is at the high end of the speed range for it’s class and has an open recreational style seating design. Plus, the quality of the hull will insure long term testing of our engines.”
What specific tests are planned for the boat?
Mercury- “We will perform performance, NVH, and various Engine tests & Calibrations. We’ll also provide demonstrations of how this boat performs with the different outboard horsepower configurations and setups.”
Where will the testing take place and for what time period?
Mercury – “Primarily In Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Panama City FL over the next few years. “
Phil Magee continues, “ Mercury has had a long time relationship working with the Sunsation Team . Both with their line of performance V-Bottoms and for the past few years, their new CCX center console designs. They were one of the original manufacturers to qualify for Mercury’s T.E.A.M. program and have provided us valuable data over the years from their own R&D efforts.
For more information on Susnsation’s complete line of high performance V-Bottom and center console boats visit us at www.sunsationpowerboats.com
Photo and content credit American Performance Media
New Chief Turbo Dyno Results Trounce the OEM Offerings With Over 1700HP
Chief Hi Performance’s latest turbo engines throw down the gauntlet against OEM turbo engine packages with dozens of proven pulls at 1740HP and PBN brings you the exclusive details.
Here is the latest in remarkable dyno pulls of the new Chief Hi-Performance Twin Turbos on pump gas… and just now we have the exclusive copies of the pulls on VP Fuels X15. 1739 Hp at 5900 pulling 1548 lbs of torque. This incredible engine was run through a series 55 dyno pulls while all of them displaying incredible consistency of the same numbers, not some anomaly, some very serious HP.
Click Image to See Results
Remember the beauty of these engines is you can literately flip a switch on the dash and change from 1350 HP on regular pump gas to 1520HP on premium fuel to an incredible 1740HP on race fuel. That’s nearly 200 HP more than the OEM engine can produce on the same fuel. Tommy and his team have created a foundation of HP levels that allow them to match an engine combination to most anyone’s needs. These turbo engine are changing the direction of where people look for turbo engines that are reliable and use a serviceable infrastructure.
With the Florida Powerboat Club premier event in Key West coming soon, Chief tells us they will be there on hand providing the power boater the opportunity to compare their product and their incredible engine management system to the OEM packages. Like at most boat shows were sure to see the other guys all around this package deciphering just how the chief engine crew is delivering such impressive number from a common engine architecture. Chief is building more and more of these ultra reliable engines and at a cost of installation that’s 40% less than retrofitting an OEM engine. Get yourself to the Key West Poker run and see these incredible engines first hand.
If you didn’t catch it last week we caught one of these monsters on video being tested at Chief’s Dyno Shop. Check it out below:
Bikinis, Boats, and Booze
This year’s Key West shaping up to be the best yet. Join us!
Push the limits of speed and safety
“We were made to fly across the water”
FPC’s Key West Poker Run Approaches Sellout
Florida Powerboat Club’s annual Key West Poker Run is already set to exceed expectations with over 140 teams already signed up and ready to hit the water. With a record number of boaters planning to attend the festivities, lodging and dockage are more limited than ever, and according to President and Founder, Stu Jones, a complete sellout is approaching quickly.
In recent years FCP’s Key West Poker Run has seen attendance in excess of 200 boats, but a group that size is not doable this year. The rising economy has created the perfect environment for boating enthusiasts to acquire new crafts, creating an influx in the amount of people delving into the world of true powerboating. Stretching the limits of every dock will only make room for a mere 10 more boats, causing everyone not yet signed up turn to the next best thing, the waiting list.
Although by no means guaranteeing a shot at entering the event, with over 800 people in its entirety there are sure to be last minute cancels and changes. The club is encouraging all members that want to attend to make sure to register and check the waiting list religiously. With the the club on will call with every hotel, motel, and marina in the region, those willing to take the chance and register will surely be accommodated with whatever becomes available. Everyone needs to to experience this phenomenal event and lack of 1st choice lodging or docking is no excuse.
This year’s Poker Run will allow boaters to take to the water from 3 points of entry on Wednesday the 11th and Thursday the 12th. The northernmost departure venue will be North Miami Beach near Haulover Inlet (180 miles from Key West), while the southern point of entry will be Grove Harbour Marina (165 miles from Key West). A smaller group of boats will also depart from TNT Custom Marine located in Miami. Haulover will have both experienced staff and a forklift to help participants launch their boats, courtesy of Stu Jones and the FPC, while those at Grove Harbour will launch boats using the facility’s dedicated Travel Lift and staff. Participants leaving from Haulover will depart 30 min before those at Grove Harbour in order to tackle the timing challenges created by 3 separate entry points. Stu Jones and the planners at FPC expect everything to go smoothly despite the hairy logistics that naturally come with an event this big.
Jones will be hosting driver’s meetings prior to the Wednesday and Thursday morning departures to Key West at each of the main host venues. Haulover departees will meet at the Doubletree in
Sunny Isles, while those at the Coconut Grove will convene at the Courtyard Marriott. A last minute group of boaters will also be leaving Friday, led by Active Thunder Boat’s Patrick Haughey.
This year’s Key West Poker Run is shaping up to be a truly phenomenal event that you’re not going to want to miss!
Sky View of Key West 2014: What to Expect This Year
We took to the skies at last year’s Key West Poker Run
Join us and the PBN Playmates at this year’s Key West Poker Run!
Join Powerboat Nation at this year’s Key West Poker Run!
A quick recap of our experience heading out to last year’s Key West Poker Run
Testing on Sunsation’s New 32 CCX Goes Perfectly to Plans
When you plan the build, and then build the plan, things really work well. For over a year Sunsation Powerboats and Tres Martin have been working the plans and details of the brand new 32 CCX and last Saturday hull number one went wet. The results according to Sunsation Owner Joe Schaldenbrand are exactly what they expected plus more. The 9 ft beam ran flat, true, and fast reaching 75 MPH with twin Mercury Verado 350 HP outboards.
Sunsation has long been known for continuing the creation and innovation of new builds with unique features and designed performance that makes them that much better than the competition. The Sunsation slogan of “When Performance Matters” actually means something to not only the Schaldenbrand brother owners of Wayne and Joe but the entire Sunsation Team who are dedicated to what they build and the customers who buy what they build.
Already seven of this new 32 CCX are sold, one coming with 400 Verados and the rest with 350’s. The 32 CCX joins the already successful 29 CCX and 34 CCX Models in Sunsation’s Sport Center Console offerings. If you want the chance to see one right away make plans to attend the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Running November 5-9, Sunsation Booth is H/I Dock 15-16.
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