Taking 5 (maybe ten) with the West Coasts Premier Engine Builder BOOSTPOWER USA. Owner Alexi Sahagian answers our questions:
PBN: For those that have either been in hiding or have never seen one of your glossy full color advertisements in every Performance boating magazine over the last twenty years can you give us some insight into what makes BOOSTPOWER USA so unique and so resilient that you have not only just weathered the storms you are prospering and coming out with new products?
Alexi: BOOSTPOWER has been around for over 25 Years now, so we area healthy and strong company. What has kept us there is innovation and investment into technology so that we have always been at the forefront of what the customer wanted. We have been EFI Specialist for a long time. Long before other engine builders around even considered it. I mean most West Coast engine builders aren’t even doing their own tuning. They rely on the supercharger manufacture to provide them some conservative pre-programmed tuning which shorted their prospective client by quite a few horsepower. We have a reputation with our clients when you buy our power or services you always stay with us as no one near us delivers this level of service.
PBN: So what exactly does that mean? I mean hasn’t the whole CARB emissions deal wreaked Havoc on your guys?
Alexi: We are not like most others, we have all of our data in house where most others sub out their data in which this allows us to spend more time finding more reliable legal horsepower without being rushed off a machine. All of our engine families are simply awaiting completion of manuals for final certification. We are glad we waited as the rules changed several times throughout the process.
PBN: You were involved in engines, EFI, and turbo engines long before the current rage. How much did having all of that experience play into your current efforts and offerings?.
Alexi: I was mentored by my father mostly and my drive to learn electronics. His racing inspiration got me excited. I started to tinker as a child with my father it was ingrained in my blood from there on! I started outbuilding and tuning Automotive drag race application’s but my love for boats brought me to where we are today. I have never been happy with just production parts that I knew could be improved. So we bought and built a state-of-the-art Dyno tuning lab. What came next was an understanding of the components and that has given us an edge.
PBN: So what kind of edge? What do you see Boost Power as being recognized for?
Alexi: Ultra custom big power plants and EFI sophistication and services! We don’t just build engines were capable of complete rigging from Engines, Transmission and Drive train related operations, partial, complete or full on custom builds.
PBN: So basically you’re a kind of one stop shop type facility for performance boat services?
Alexi: Well that’s a little broad probably but when a customer is seeking unique or exotic it seems they end up at us. We enjoy helping a customer build his dream. But there are a lot of customers around the world that we also support with hard to find specialty parts. From our B2 Product Line. This consists of our EFI systems and Supercharger systems made in house in our facility here in Newbury Park CA facility.
PBN: Recently there seems to be scuttlebutt about the fact you’re bringing staggering horsepower to the marine industry. We’ve noted on the forums some “Unicorn” type references by the nay-sayers that have left the industry in disbelief of this kind of power you’re churning out. Where and how did you evolve to these levels, what is the most power you’ve developed?
Alexi: Well for development –merely- and testing to create baseline horsepower ranges for our new 800 cube engine series. We used some knowledge from a few Top Fuel Engines that we have done , the most Horsepower on any endurance package is really in the 3000hp range. It has become common to go over 2000 these days,
PBN: As an avid boater and a guy that has spent time behind the wheel in virtually every aspect of form of boating, boat racing, stunt work, and Magazine test driver . What boat do you find your most personal pleasure in?
Alexi: Don’t get me wrong a 200+ mph pass in a 40′ Offshore catamaran is a thrill but I love my 21′ Schiada. Its like a Lamborghini on the water. Great handling of big power and tons of fun to drive. I love 100 mph 90 degree turns-ski race style! I also love the big boats, however way more adrenaline in the little ones!
PBN: So your corporate headquarters are based in Sunny California, but we’ve seen your power in boats coast to coast. Is your primary business West Coast or East Coast based?
Alexi: There are a lot of name brand builders that support the domestic USA, But our business model is much more world wide. We ship and perform services around the world. In fact, we export over 70% of all engines, drives and powertrains. Many have told me I am crazy to go overseas to the depths. But my response is my entire family is from abroad, therefore it is normal for me to travel and support our products worldwide. I travel to Kuwait, Southern Russia, Croatia, Dubai, Malta, UAE etc. and feel safe there, I enjoy it and it allows us to serve some of the world’s most Elite and wealthy customers. Our business really knows no geographic boundary.
