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Yearly Archives: 2019

Vern Gilbert of Lake Havasu City, AZ-based West Coast Drives—owner of the iconic 1990 40’ Skater known as Predator 1—has put the boat up for sale.

Originally owned by Gary Smith, Predator was purchased by Gilbert about a decade ago. It’s famous for having taken the Shootout trophies at both the Lake of the Ozarks and the Texas Outlaw Challenge. The Skater is powered by twin Carson Brummett engines putting out 2,300 hp, and is capable of exceeding 200 mph, according to Gilbert. “Gary Smith took it out and got it up to 202 the other day,” he told Powerboat Nation.

“The boat is all set up,” Gilbert says. “I spent $17K just on the hoses in this boat. The interior was redone two years ago by Becca Main Liska of Main Stitch Upholstery. It’s all fresh and ready to go.”

Regarding the boat’s outdrives, Gilbert says he recently installed his own modified M8 uppers with 1:21 gears, Wilson lowers and is set up to run around 220 mph. “The boat’s ready to go and is competition ready.”

Predator took top honors in their class at the 2017 Texas Outlaw Challenge Shootout and was Top Gun in Non-Professional Cat class at the 2017 LOTO Shootout, where it was clocked at a blistering 182 mph.

Want to own one of the fastest and most competitive boats of all time? Call Vern at West Coast Drives: (310) 995-1670

 

 

The new Wright Performance 420 is the second collaboration between Performance Boat Center and Doug Wright Designs, after 2017’s game-changing 360 catamaran.

With the Miami International Boat Show a month away, muscleboat builders are having to make some hard and fast decisions about which boats to display at the world’s most massive exhibition of marine wares. Undoubtedly, one of the most high-profile exhibitors will be Performance Boat Center of Osage Beach, MO, which plans to show off models by Sunsation, MTI and Wright Performance.

According to co-owner Brett Manire, the performance retailer will be debuting the new Wright Performance 420, the second collaboration between Performance Boat Center and Doug Wright Designs (after 2017’s game-changing 360 catamaran). PBC received the bare hull from Wright about two weeks ago and has been painting it and building the boat’s interior. After that, it will be rigged, tested and then finally prepped for the show. “This will be the world’s largest outboard cat,” Manire told Powerboat Nation. “Powered by a pair of 400R Verados, we’re hoping to see speeds of 115+ mph.” The boat will be housed in Dock 2 at the Mercury Racing test booth, where it will be available for demo rides. “We’re very excited to be debuting a new new model and thrilled to be part of the Mercury Racing experience.”

Back at the PBC booth, PBC will feature one of its 360 Wright Performance boats: “It’ll be a customer’s boat that we borrowed, to show all of the latest and greatest features and upholstery and paint options,” Manire reports. In addition, they’ll be showing an Marine Technology Inc. (MTI) 42V center console with quad 400Rs, as well as a Sunsation 32CCX that sports an all-new dash and rear-seat configuration, powered by 350 Mercury outboards.

Although PBC is an MTI dealer and will be displaying one of its boats, MTI will also have its own separate booth. “As an MTI dealer, we wanted to have a boat available for demos and to take orders off of,” Manire explains. “So MTI will be represented in two locations.”

In addition to getting boats ready for the Miami show, Manire and his crew will be flying to MTI’s manufacturing facility next week to check on the progress of their new canopied race boat that will be campaigned by John Tomlinson and Myrick Coil later this year on the offshore race circuit. Meanwhile, PBC has been contracted by speedboat enthusiast Ron Szolack to retrofit its previous raceboat, the World Champion 388 Skater, with 2,200-hp PSI engines for its new owners.

 

Powerboat P1, the world’s leading marine motorsport brand, has unveiled an extensive 2019 race program that will see the international promoter stage more than 20 events across three continents from April through to November.

The season will comprise powerboat championships in the United States, as well as personal watercraft racing in the shape of P1 AquaX action and the Jetcross stand-up ski series in a total of nine countries.

“Since we began racing in 2003, we have staged more than 600 races in 18 countries and, without doubt, the coming season is going to be the most challenging, competitive and entertaining,” said P1 chief executive Azam Rangoonwala. “Our aim has been to put together an expanded program of powerboat action, featuring one-design and multi-hull offshore racing, and personal watercraft racing across our two disciplines.”

A significant development this year for P1 is a new partnership in the United States with the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) to create the APBA Offshore Championship. The aim is to strengthen the future of racing in the country by delivering an expanded, cohesive, world class race series split equally between northern and southern states. The six championship venues feature major, high profile events in Florida, Missouri and Michigan, with the action kicking off at Thunder on Cocoa Beach in May, and the belief is that the partnership will deliver significant results commercially and also in terms of the sport’s organization and profile.

This year, the P1 Panther race boats in the SuperStock USA national championship are going to look very different. Following the P1 fleet being fitted with new carbon hulls a year ago and the announcement last June that the boats will be repowering in 2019 with the new Mercury Racing 4.6L V-8 four-stroke 300R outboard, P1 announced plans to revolutionise the one-design series and attract a new set of racers by converting the Panther to a canopy race boat. That upgrade program is in full swing, with on-water testing in Florida commencing later this month.

The SuperStock series will run from May to September, with racing on East Lake Tohopekaliga in Central Florida getting the season underway before the action moves to Cocoa Beach a week later. In early July the teams will head to southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast where the 35th Annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival will once again attract tens of thousands of spectators to enjoy the outstanding racing and carnival atmosphere.

In some American venues this year, P1 will serve up a double bill of powerboat and personal watercraft AquaX racing. Global Head of P1 AquaX, Lisa Barsby explained: “In the eight years since its launch, AquaX has grown significantly and achieved its goal of staging a world championship event in 2017. Discussions are taking place to stage another world championship in November and we will be announcing details within the next few weeks.

“It’s been a natural progression from the opening race season in the UK in 2011 to the series expanding to the USA two years later and then into mainland Europe in 2017,” she continued. “The rapidly increasing number of riders, partners and fans has been tremendous and our close relationship with the leading manufacturers has added considerably to the legitimacy of our series. We attract world class riders to all our championships in the USA, Europe and UK, and we are expecting a great response from riders to the season opener in Daytona Beach in mid-April and to the first round of the EuroTour in La Seyne-sur-Mer in south-eastern France in early May.”

The 14-event AquaX calendar includes four race weekends as part of the EuroTour, with the riders competing in countries across Western Europe including France and Spain. The Sprint series will feature at several events in Florida and Europe. Feeding riders into the EuroTour, the UK race series will consist of three rounds, with Colwyn Bay in North Wales hosting an AquaX event for the first time.

Continuing to reinforce P1’s growing personal watercraft presence in Europe, the Jetcross series features stand-up circuit racing on rivers, lakes and the sea. The French-based personal watercraft promoter joined the P1 family of marine racing brands in July 2016 in a move that was a significant statement of P1’s commitment and expansion plans for personal watercraft racing.

P1 2019 CALENDAR

P1 AquaX

2019 AquaX USA Pro Series
Round 1: Daytona, April 13-14
Round 2: St Pete Beach, June 15-16
Round 3: Michigan City, Aug. 3-4
Round 4: TBC, Sept. 7-8
Round 5: Ft Lauderdale, Oct. 26-27

2019 AquaX European Pro Series
Round 1: La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, May 4-5
Round 2: TBC Europe, June
Round 3: TBC France, Sept
Round 4: Port Balis, Spain, Oct. 19-20

2019 AquaX USA Amateur Series
Round 1: Daytona, April 13-14
Round 2: Kissimmee/St Cloud, May 11
Round 3: St Pete Beach, June 23-24
Round 4: TBC, Sept. 7-8
Round 5: Ft Lauderdale, Oct. 26-27

2019 AquaX UK Pro & AM Series
Round 1: Colwyn Bay, North Wales, June 8-9
Round 2: Torquay, Devon, July 13-14
Round 3: Porthcawl, South Wales, July 27-28

P1 Jetcross 

2019 Jetcross Pro Series
Round 1: La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, May 4-5
Round 2: Basse-Ham, Luxembourg May 25-26
Round 3: Eau D’Heure Lakes, Belgium, June 22-23
Round 4: Vichy, France, July 20-21
Round 5: Le Bouveret, Switzerland, Aug. 24-25
Round 6: TBC, China, Oct

2019 Jetcross Amateur Series
Round 1: La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, May 4-5
Round 2: Basse-Ham, Luxembourg May 25-26
Round 3: Eau D’Heure Lakes, Belgium, June 22-23
Round 4: Vichy, France, July 20-21
Round 5: Le Bouveret, Switzerland, Aug. 24-25

2019 P1 Superstock USA Championship

Round 1: Kissimmee/St. Cloud, May 11
Round 2: Cocoa Beach, May 18-19
Round 3: St Pete Beach, June 15-16
Round 4: Sarasota, July 6-7

Round 5: TBC, Sept

APBA Offshore Championship

2019 P1/OPA Championship

Round 1: Cocoa Beach, May 18-19

Round 2: Lake of the Ozarks, MO June 1-2

Round 3: Sarasota, July 6-7

Round 4: St Clair, MI, July 27-28

Round 5: Michigan City, IN Aug. 3-4

Round 6: TBC, Sept. 28-29

Mercury Marine will celebrate its 80th anniversary throughout 2019, reflecting on its strong heritage of innovation and leadership in the marine industry. 

On Jan. 22, 1939, E. Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a bankrupt engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, WI. Now, 80 years later, the business that emerged from those modest beginnings, Mercury Marine, is a company with 7,000 global employees that is heralded as the world’s leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems, as well as marine parts and accessories. 

“80 years ago, Carl Kiekhaefer had a vision for Mercury and that was based around product innovation and technology—and it’s that vision that built the foundation for us to continue to innovate today, said company President John Pfeifer. “Mercury has come a long way over the past eight decades because of the hard work and dedication of everyone who has been a part of our journey.  While the past 80 years have been fantastic, we are looking forward to continued growth over the next 80 years and celebrating throughout 2019 with everyone that has made our success possible.”

Rick Mackie of Mercury Racing told Powerboat Nation that the advancements made just in his time at the company have been nothing short of extraordinary. “From carbureted two-stroke engines to electronic fuel injection and digital throttle and shifting, these were big advancements,” he said. “Then, of course, the move to low emissions, which was part of governmental regulations. In 1996, we went from the ‘dirty two-strokes,’ as we called them, to the low-emissions four-stroke outboards and direct-injection two-stroke OptiMax technology. Later, the Verado outboard, was a game-changer. On the stern-drive side, the evolution of the Quad-Cam, 4-valve (QC4) engine revolutionized that market with a combination of high horsepower and durability of the valve train. And then the M8 drive was another great innovation, with its robust internal drive components, dry-sumped for maximum efficiency and power output and an all-new lower gearcase.”

Mackie acknowledges that outboard power has become “the new ruler of the roost today, because they’re so darn good, with their power-to-weight and reliability. The our new V8 outboards offer a whole new platform to build on.”

Mercury, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), has invested more than $1 billion globally since 2008 into the expansion of research, development and manufacturing capabilities.  In 2018, Mercury successfully launched its largest engine platform in its 80-year history with 19 new four-stroke outboard engines covering the 175-300hp range in both V6 and V8.  The global launches of this engine platform, both in February and May, we heralded in the marine industry and featured in national publications around the world.  

Mercury will celebrate its 80th anniversary throughout the year and showcase some of its strong heritage during the 2019 boat show season.

“We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to celebrate,” said Pfeifer. “I’m looking forward to sharing those celebrations around the world.  2019 will be yet another exciting year with more innovations to introduce.”

 

 

 

Mystic's M3800 Center Console is constructed with a carbon reinforced infused epoxy, the first of its kind.

Mystic Powerboats of DeLand, FL, is building on the product growth and dealer expansion it enjoyed in 2018, and has a variety of strategies to ramp up that success in the year ahead.

Last year, company owner John Cosker and sales and marketing chief Greg Weber shifted Mystic from a direct-distribution system to a dealer network, adding five dealers around the country. “That was a big change for us—a real growth curve,” Weber says. Now, with a solid dealer network in place, Mystic is working with a sixth dealer, to be located in the Southwest part of the country, to come on board this year. “We hope to have them here with us very soon,” Weber told Powerboat Nation. “We feel that 2019 is going to be a good growth year for Mystic.”

The builder has been actively hiring key staffers, and now employs around 45 people. In addition, they’ve expanded their production space by about 15 percent. Mystic finished and delivered 16 boats in 2018, and projections for the year ahead are somewhere between 30 and 32 boats to build and deliver—just about double its production compared to last year.

Also on the Mystic docket is to put their boats in front of a a more diverse array of boat-show attendees. As the winter show season gears up, you’ll see more Mystics in several shows that the company has never displayed in before. “We’re looking forward to good things coming from those winter shows,” Weber says. First up will be the Cleveland Boat Show (Jan. 17-21). “We’ve never been to that show before. That’s a big show for the Great Lakes area.” Shortly after that, you can find Mystic at the Detroit Boat Show (Feb. 16-24). Mystic will also be displaying at a few shows up in the northern part of Florida, in the Sarasota, Bradenton and Tampa areas.

“And of course we’ll be in Miami,” Weber says. “We’re planning to have a 42’ center console, a 38’ center console, and the 38’ outboard cat. It’s one that’s in production right now—it’s not finished yet, but it will be in time for Miami.” The factory is in the process of finalizing the paint scheme and fine-tuning the interior. “We’re doing some different stuff on the interior that we haven’t done on a boat before. We’re very excited to have that boat on display in Miami.”

Speaking of Mystic’s product line, Cosker and Weber are stoked about the runaway success of their two newest models, the 38’ center console and the 38’ outboard cat. “We have a very strong production footing with both of those models,” Weber says. “We’ve already got several orders on the books for each of them. Then, of course, our 42 center console continues to be very strong for us. We’re going to continue our product innovations with our boats and will continue to improve those and add new features to those boats. They are are going to be our base. And, then as we move forward, we’ll be looking to expand our product line even further.”

The C3800 catamaran features a unique interior that gives Mystic the flexibility to change its configuration. “We can build a different style boat for each buyer,” Weber says. “When you do the traditional ‘two plus four’ configuration, there’s not a lot you can do with that—two in the front, four across the back. But with our ‘open’ configuration, there are so many ways to arrange the seat placement, and where things are positioned, to accommodate the way you use the boat.” To date, Mystic has either sold or has orders for a total of eight of the C3800s. Given that the boat debuted at the Lake of the Ozarks in late August 2018, its sales have been exceptionally strong in such a relatively short period of time. “We’ve been able to really get that boat up and running, and it’s been getting some really strong support,” according to Weber.

Rounding out Mystic’s plans for 2019 are to plan a few customer/owner-oriented events. “We want to do one in Florida, so we’re working on some of the details on that to take place sometime this spring,” he says. “Several of our owners have volunteered to help on that. We should know more details soon.”

Marine Technology Inc. (MTI) of Wentzville, MO, has invited its customers to attend its 4th Annual Owners’ Fun Run March 21-24 from Miami to the Florida Keys.

Departure day will be the morning of Thursday, March 21; participants are advised to arrive on Wednesday to get their boats prepared to facilitate their departure. The fleet will chart course for Marathon Key and Key West.

As with last year’s event, the host hotel will be the Hyatt Place Hotel, which is now accepting reservations at (305) 743-1234 (mention group code G-MTI3 and that you’re part of the MTI family). MTI has secured a 75-room block at the hotel. Boats may once again be harbored at the Marina and Yacht Club; call (636) 639-1166 to get an assigned slip. MTI has 19 secured slips; after they’re gone, boats will be rafted off on a first-come, first-served basis. Docks and rafting locations will be assigned at the end of February; limited single slips are available and will go to those who reserve them first. Everyone following will be rafting. Rates are set by the marina.

Additional hotel and dock information, as well as more details about the event, are available at the MTI Owner’s Fun Run homepage.

 

 

The team at Powerboat P1 reports that the upgrading of its new Panther powerboat—which is at the heart of the P1 SuperStock one-design race series—is in full swing, and the focus this month will be on carrying out an extensive and rigorous testing program both in lake conditions in Florida and on the challenging waters of the Atlantic.

Following the fitting of new carbon hulls to the fleet last year, the boats will be repowering for the 2019 season with new, four-stroke outboard engines and converting to closed canopy craft. Last July, Mercury Racing announced that their all-new 300R V-8 outboard will replace the legacy two-stroke 300XS as the exclusive power for the 2019 P1 SuperStock USA race series.

Rick Mackie, PR & Communications Manager at Mercury Racing, believes the SuperStock teams are going to be impressed: “They will experience a noticeable improvement in acceleration – particularly useful when powering out of turns—together with an increase in top-end speeds. Our Mercury propellers will deliver best performance and handling—racing is not all about straight line speed. It’s exciting to have our consumer products used in this highly competitive, one-design racing environment. There is no better way to prove their performance and durability.”

Having carried out the hull replacement work on the P1 USA fleet last winter, specialist boat builders Wilson Custom Composites—whose owner Craig Wilson has almost 20 years of racing experience—is now focused on fitting the boats with a closed canopy, which involves the use of cutting-edge technology and materials. Working closely with Martin Sanborn, who was one of the lead developers of the P1 Panther some eight years ago, Wilson is now taking the boat to the next level through utilizing the resources of the Performance Boat Center in South Florida. He explains that the move to the canopy configuration will have a number of important results including enhanced safety for the crews, improved race performance and the change from a mechanical control system to a digital throttle and shift system which will increase responsiveness and simplify the rigging process for the boats.

Sanborn points out that the work being carried out is compliant with current UIM and APBA certification, and he is keen to highlight the safety and performance benefits that will result from the canopy system: “The canopy and cockpit feature a carbon composite structure that’s both light and exceptionally strong. Engineering, that includes a complex integration of a polycarbonate windscreen and receiver together with recessed carbon hatches, is targeted with aerodynamic, hydrodynamic and mechanical impact considerations to provide maximum protection for the racers. On top of the significant weight loss from the hull replacement programme a year ago, the boats will see another reduction resulting in a lowering of the vertical center of gravity and better handling.”

Wilson adds: “Powerboat P1 is leapfrogging the marine industry by having the most technically advanced, full safety canopy system and interior available. The DD-compound racing seats are carbon/glass with billet aluminum brackets and stainless steel runners. They are tested to withstand huge G-forces and we fit a 6-point harness and full SCUBA system.”

While this upgrade work progresses, the race crews will be undergoing specialized training and certification that will include ‘dunker tests’ in the new Panther. Similarly, members of the Powerboat P1 safety team will undergo familiarisation training in all aspects of the new safety systems.

P1 chief executive Azam Rangoonwala describes the upgrade program as a “world-class team of specialists harnessing advanced technology and materials to produce a high-speed racing work of art.” He concludes by saying: “The principal objectives are to improve the race performance of the boats, enhance safety on the water and attract new racers to the series. The 2019 Panther will look sleek and stylish, but maintain the character of the original deck design. It’s going to be fast and nimble, and will require 100% of the skills each crew brings to the series.

Marine Technology Inc. (MTI) of Wentzville, MO, hosted a dozen boats for a pre-New Year’s Day fun run lasting two days through the Florida Keys, with most boats departing this morning (Tuesday, Jan. 1). Along for the ride were MTI owner Randy Scism and MTI Sales & Marketing chief Tim Gallagher. The event gathered a nice array of its customer’s rides, including:

• Bob Bull‘s new 52’.

• Don Verkuylen in his 52’ Lamborghini-inspired Super Veloce G7 MTI.

• Six 340X outboard cats, including Pennsylvania-based Nissan dealer Ron Schwartz in his 340X Special Edition, which was displayed at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

• Mark and Jennifer Schouten in their ElGato Patron 43’ cat.

In addition, Paul Reddish had his 340X out for his maiden voyage.

Most of these boats are stored at MTI’s facility at Haulover Marine Center, located in North Miami as part of the company’s White Glove program. Each day, the boats would depart from North Miami and head south. “We just bopped around, had lunch at a couple different places. We wound up at a sandbar one day,” Gallagher says.

Among the eateries visited: Boaters Grill Restaurant in Key Biscayne, Sundowners seafood restaurant in Key Largo and Islamorada Fish Company in Islamorada, FL.

MTI’s next event is its main annual owner’s rally in March. “I’ve got 40 boats signed up for that already,” Gallagher says. “That’s going to be a real handful.” Boats will leave Haulover Marine and travel for four days through the Florida Keys.

Before that, though, MTI will be displaying boats at the Miami International Boat Show (Feb. 14-18), where it will show off a new 34’ company demo boat (to replace the familiar red model), a 42V, a new 48’ for a repeat customer and a 57XSF center-console fishing boat.

MTI brought in Luc Fuel to help them keep fresh 93 octane in the boats. Special thanks to Rich and Don from Luc Fuel.

 

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