Our good friend and supporter BBlades just released their latest press release. And while we have a few customers it may not be an issue for the thousands of others the shear dread and fear of the gas pump bill is daunting. This season with premium fuel running in the $4-$5 per gallon range we recognize better fuel economy could make a big difference in the amount we get to use our boats.

BBlades points out a bunch of great idea’s but one thing that’s pretty obvious is propeller efficiency. If the propeller really doesn’t perform at its optimum level the wasted slippage is just lost propulsion and a big waste of fuel. If some improved fuel economy is important is just the best performance from your boat we suggest you visit the guys at BBlades their the secret to the fastest and best performing boats in the country.

“Summertime and the living is easy,” unless you have kids in sports, a yard to maintain, or worse—a boat to repair; sometimes it’s a wonder we can get out on the boat at all. So when you do hit the water, prepare yourself to make the most of it, and we can help. We have some great gift ideas for dads, grads, birthdays or even weddings. Stand out from the crowd and give a gift that shows you know what’s important to the important person in your life, and if you can’t decide, a BBLADES Gift Certificate puts the decision making in the hands of the receiver. There is an entire summer of boating-related activity around the nation this summer, and you can check-out what’s happening on the Poker Run scene in this great preview from Speed On The Water Magazine. Looking to kill some time on a rainy day? Swing by our Facebook page, where we offer a mix of serious and funny stuff. We’ll also share your run, race or tourney info if you give us a heads-up. BBlades will answer questions atwww.PowerboatNation.com if you would like to join us there. Read on for some money-saving, performance-improving tips.

SAVE AT THE PUMP WITH THE RIGHT PROPELLER, SET-UP

One way to beat back rising fuel costs is the right propeller and the right boat set-up.

With 80 years of combined propeller know-how, the pros at BBLADES can help squeeze the most efficient performance from your boat, and help you achieve the maximum fuel efficiency for your performance goals.

Obviously, flat-out top speed and “fuel efficiency” don’t always add up, but there are steps every boater can take to get more miles per gallon and use fewer gallons per hour. It is important to remember that these are general rules, and there are exceptions. Although the model and size are the same, there is no such thing as two identical boats. Each has its own personality.

Slow it down

Lower engine RPM equates to less fuel use, that’s true. However, high engine RPM that is the result of an inefficient set-up, or the result of a high prop slip percentage can often be corrected by changing to a propeller that has more blades, changing the depth of the prop in the water or changing the pitch, diameter or other prop geometry. It is also important to establish the optimum cruising RPM for a given boat. This is done by testing the engine in 500 RPM increments and applying the efficiency formula. There are a number of devices available on the market to calculate prop slip and BBLADES can provide assistance in calculating both slip and efficiency.

From a dead stop, the natural inclination is to slam the throttle forward, then adjust the speed and trim as the boat comes on plane. The right propeller – usually a four or five blade, as compared to a three bade – will get a boat to plane more quickly, at a lower RPM, and reduce fuel use.

Right tool for the Right Job

Stainless steel props provide versatility; they are stronger and maintain prop geometry better, which translates to improved performance and longer life. Stainless is the optimum material for “blueprinting” or “lab-finishing” a propeller to achieve specific performance goals, but aluminum, nibral and even brass propellers for ski boats and big cruisers can be tweaked to improve performance and help reduce fuel use.
Set-up (how high or low the propeller sits in the water) and the number of prop blades can maximize efficiency and the experts at BBLADES can provide guidelines on what might work best. In addition, BBLADES offers the marine industry’s best propeller test programs to help determine exactly how a specific choice will work on a specific boat.

Propeller manufacturers are constantly adding new choices to their prop line-ups. For example, Mercury Marine has the new Enertia Eco Prop, designed and proven to deliver up to 10% better fuel economy.

High-performance boaters running SSM #VI or similar drives have a variety of five and six blade options. Both Hering Propellers and Mercury offer models with prop diameters in quarter-inch increments. Mercury now offers different blade thickness on these screws based on engine horsepower, allowing for the thinnest, safest blades. Hering Propellers also offers forged propellers for that added assurance of strength for boats with HP levels in the 1300+ horsepower range.

Both companies offer these so-called “surfacing propellers” with aggressive rake angles that will determine how much water the blades “bite” with each revolution of the prop, while adding trim angle. A higher rake will generally mean more bow lift, reducing hull drag and increasing boat speed with lower fuel use.

The best way to determine the right prop is to consult with the pros at BBLADES and take advantage of our various test programs, or by calling 920-295-4435.

Keep an Eye on Your Prize

Okay, so you have the right prop and set-up combination, but maintaining you props is almost as important as maintaining your engines. Even the slightest imperfection in your prop can not only negatively affect performance, but it can lead to more serious problems farther down the water.

After every great day on the water – or certainly every couple of trips – consider the following:

Inspect the leading edges for nicks, gouges or other damage. The longer a damaged blade goes undetected and un-repaired, the greater the risk of impaired performance, or worse, blade failure. Props with large, deep dents, gouges or torn material should be replaced or, give us a call to see if it can be repaired. Sand and silt can affect a propeller’s trailing edges and reduce cup. This will lead to longer planning times, higher engine RPM, more fuel use and lower top-end speed. While BBLADES can add or remove cup, this type of damage is often un-repairable and you should seriously consider a new prop. Mineral deposits on stainless wheels can be removed with cleaning products like Lim-A-Way (or save some money and use vinegar), but be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions carefully when using these products. Transporting and stowing your props correctly can also prevent damage. BBLADES offers a number of different options from prop covers to cases to the B-Stow stationary mount.

While everyone is trying to keep their latest engine offerings under wraps, the fact of the matter they can’t hold on to the secrets much longer. President Mark Schwabero of Mercury Marine just let the cat out of the bag that they are about to debut several of their latest all new offerings that will bring a whole array of features.

Fact of the matter when you cut through the “Grey Area”, Mercury continues to move away from their Automotive counterpart, General Motors. The new engines will be using engine blocks produced for Mercury only. Mercury claims the opportunity to start with that engine block where they have complete control of integration, the product the can bring forth can be more than what was offered in the past.

The same group of engineers that came up with Mercury’s 150 Four Stroke are using the same development processes in creating a new stern drive product. So this will be a great opportunity to see how well that technology transcends to the Stern drive market.

But Mercury isn’t the only game in town making this journey. We know of applications currently doing exactly the same thing and in production of their own engine blocks and cylinder heads that are arrow focused on bringing massive (Think 1100HP) naturally aspirated production engines to market. These new products are touted to step out from behind the cloak of secrecy prior to years end. So what does this tell us? That modern manufacturing technology is allowing a whole new segment of engine development to change the marine propulsion industry.

Keep in mind that GM and the LS engine production continue to deliver the biggest bank for the pound when you look at their latest LT4 product at 650HP in a compact aluminum light power plant. So stay tuned and rest assured were committed to keeping you on the cusp of everything new at Powerboat Nation!

In 1979 Martha Ford bought her husband a boat with custom paint to match the NFL Team he owned. William Clay Ford Sr loved his boats and had many. Before his death earlier this year the boat was sold and fortunately its caretaker since it was new was able to buy it.

Now with the boat in full control of Chip Miller, owner of Miller Marina, in St Clair Shores Michigan this extreme renovation is nearing completion. Chip has done an incredible job keeping the balance of originality and modern tech for reliability and safety.

One of the more remarkable parts of the renovation was that Chip was able to find a brand new Mercury TRS drive in a brand new box. Small attention to details have really made a difference.

More remarkable is that Chip slipped to let us know we has another even more significant renovation in his sights and that this boat just “MAY” be for sale at some time in the future. Take a look:

Everyone at the Jacksonville River Rally Poker Run got a glimpse of some behind the scenes of reality TV being shot. Following the success of the CNBC show “Secret Lives of the Super Rich” featuring Gino Gargiulo and his over the top Lamborghini MTI, the producers thought that it might fit really well into a new reality TV show.

Following Gino everywhere was a full crew of with cameras, sound, and lighting equipment capturing the reality of powerboating on an extreme boat. From Captains meetings to leaving dinner the regular poker run attendees
got a glimpse of the behind the scenes activities surrounding what it takes to put on a show.

Gino showed us he was a good sport when we crashed the show a little bit taking pictures of him having his picture taken!

Of course Larry Goldman of Xtreme Powerboats who takes care of the boat for Gino was on hand to coordinate and support the effort as well as throttle the boat in the poker run.

We followed Gino before when his boat and car first featured on TV. Click HERE to read what happened on that occasion.

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This year’s Jacksonville River Rally Poker Run was a huge success. Powerboat Nation trailered the Cigarette Top Gun up to Jacksonville and ran as a registered entry in this year’s event along with just over 65 other boats. Fridays sand bar raft up and Bar-B-Q was a great start to a wonderful weekend. The Pyburn family were the best hosts along with their great group of volunteers who work hard to raise money for Camp Amigo.

While there were threats for rain for the Saturday Run the weather held and it was a perfect day on the St Johns River. Starting without a hitch all the boats paraded past the downtown Jacksonville Waterfront and cruised to the cards stops. Action at the Outback Crab Shack was full on with great food, live band and a spectator fleet that pushed the attendance well over a hundred boats.

The next hard stop was at Bill Pyburns Jr’s home where he graciously opened his fabulous home to the poker runners. A added bonus was John Woodruff who flew the event in his Bell Long Ranger IV. John landed at Bill’s house and gave a bunch of party goers rides in this extreme helicopter.

The run finished off at the River City Brewery for the card turn in and awards dinner. The City of Jacksonville pulled all the stops and put on a spectacular Fireworks Show just because the boaters were in town. This kind of community support makes such a difference for these events. Free dockage, free ramp fees, courtesy shuttles. All of these small gracious items really make a difference and showed off the hospitality and appreciation the community had for us to be in Jacksonville. We will have to work on the Florida Fish and Wildlife guys a little who handed out speeding tickets for a few of our friends who were caught doing about 30-35 in a 25 MPH Zone.

At the end of the night a private VIP section of Mavericks rock and roll ho down was enjoyed all courtesy of the Pyburn’s.

You can bet next year’s event will be bigger as plans are already underway to set up an expanded Poker Run Village at Metropolitan Park and you can be sure Powerboat Nation will be there with a boat or two or more.

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For the last 21 years, the Emerald Coast Poker Run has been making waves in Northwest Florida! Boat Week is a week-long boating celebration on the Emerald Coast that rounds out with The Emerald Coast Poker Run. Benefiting the Emerald Coast Foundation, an organization that supports children’s charities and youth organizations in Okaloosa County, the Emerald Coast Poker Run and Boat Week events, have raised over 2 million dollars to date for its cause. Boat Week events and activities have been designed for the participation and enjoyment of the local community and all of our area visitors.

Boat Week Highlights Include:

• Tues: Harborwalk Village Pardi Gras Parade -Open to Poker Run Boats!
• Wed: Helen Back Ladies Night Luau Party
• Thurs: Miss Boat Week Contest at the Swamp Nightclub
• Friday: Fun Run and AJ’s Rock the Dock Party
• Saturday: Poker Run: Sandestin to Pensacola Beach- Protected waters!
• Sat Night: The Big Poker Run Bash with great food and Open Bar!
• GRAND PRIZE: A FORD F150 PICKUP!

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday August 13, Luau Ladies Night at Helen Back

• Get Boat Week 2014 off to a start by pulling your boat up to the dock at Helen Back!
• Join us for a Luau on Wednesday, August 13 during Ladies Night at Helen Back on Okaloosa Island.
• Enjoy a Hawaiian buffet from 7 till. Ladies, buy your $10 cup for All You Care to Drink from 9-12.
• Play Beach Bingo, Black Jack, and Roulette for prizes, donated by our sponsors.

Thursday August 14, Miss Boat Week Bikini Contest at The Swamp

• Watch Emerald Coast Beauties compete for the Miss Boat Week Bikini Contest at The Swamp on Thursday, August 14.
• A panel of judges will vote to crown Miss Boat Week 2014.
• Think you have what it takes to be Miss Boat Week? View the registration form.

Friday August 15, Captains Party at AJs Seafood and Oyster Bar

• This party is for Emerald Coast Poker Run Captains and their crews!
• Feast on Destin’s finest oysters and seafood.
• View other Emerald Coast Poker Run registered boats at this party just for Poker Run participants on Friday, August 15 from 7pm-10pm.

Saturday August 16, Poker Run and Poker Run Awards Party

• The Emerald Coast Poker Run runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, August 16.
• Make your way from stop to stop, collecting hands to play at the Poker Run Party at the Emerald Coast Conference Center.
• Everyone is invited to participate in the Poker Run Party, an All-You-Can-Eat, All-You-Can-Drink party with music, dancing, a silent auction and highlights from the week’s events.
• Registration Form for Emerald Coast Poker Run 2014

Emerald Coast Poker Run Accommodations:

We are now registering boats for the poker run… FPC Registration office open all summer Mon-Thurs – 10am to 5pm
Currently we still have 4 BR units at Emerald Grande Resort, Destin. Still have a number of 2 & 3 BR units left, so register soon to get the unit you prefer. Fort Walton Beach also a great choice too! Location is Close to Boardwalk truck-trailer parking lot and to all the poker run parties at Helen Back, the Swamp and the Convention center! Fort Walton Beach properties are all directly on the sandy beaches of Emerald Coast….with great rates and availability at Ramada and Destin West Condo resort!

In any industry there’s always a few bad eggs roaming around trying to scam businesses and follow enthusiasts. The latest culprit, an individual using the name, David Del Valle or Juan David Del Valle, has been using stolen credit cards to fund a project to build a high performance powerboat in the Miami / Hialeah area of Florida. He claims to be building a “28′ Jaws”.

He has used two different phone numbers, 786-457-2958 and 786-286-4865 for his illicit practices. He’s also used the name “Joe” and has request that sellers ship parts to his “business” “Joe Tire” located at 10535 NW 27 Ave, Miami. So far he has acquired through fraud possession a Speedmaster #3 drive, serial number B860527. The said drive has been added to the NCIC database as stolen property – recover with prejudice. He has signed for said property as David Del Valle and Joe Baez.

An accomplice, a hispanic female who claims to be “Barbara “Babs” Gomez” works with him and states the stolen credit cards are in her name. It is not known whether these are actual or assumed names. If you have had dealings with or have been contacted by these individuals, please contact the Miami-Dade Police Department.

The Performance Boat School is so much more than safety and a insurance hurdle.

For nine years now I have been a part of and partner with Tres and the Performance Boat School. In this time we have gone from push back to great support and the battled the reluctant who don’t understand the value and true benefits of the programs.

This past weekend I had the privilege of going back to Detroit and Lake St Clair where I served for four years at the Coast Guard Station and presented a class for two new catamaran owners. The session was hosted by Chip Miller of Miller Marina. This session brought out very similar and repeated circumstances that I find at almost every session .

In too many situations the new boat owners are having difficulty with the boat or were told or shown by the previous owner or dealer what to do and not to do in regard to driving the boats. This is often done with strong authoritative tone or reputation giving the words an almost reverent authority. As a result of this the boats are uncomfortable and just don’t live up to the expectations of the new owners. I usually recognize in short order what was told or demonstrated was completely wrong and in some cases the set up on the boat was modified or changed resulting in poor performance or ill handling characteristics.

Now my mission is to politely and properly rebut the bad tribal knowledge and demonstrate the proper operation. The easy part of this is that I don’t have to have an opinion about it, I don’t have to do a sells pitch, I don’t have to speak to convince the new owner. All I have to do is drive the boat. Roll it on plane, run it to 50 MPH and hold; Zero Hop, 60 MPH and hold; Zero Hop; 70 MPH and hold; Zero Hop and continue this all the way through the speed range and then run the boat to its full potential whatever that is 120 MPH-180 MPH using demonstration as the convincing factor to make sure the new owner is happy and confident with their new great purchase.

I find it very rewarding leaving the customers with this new confidence and ability to run their boats because now I know they are going to use the boat, stay in performance power boating, and hopefully grow to buy other boats as they grow with the sport.

My wish and hope is those that dismiss the value of our programs really understand what that means. The leadership shown by manufactures and dealers that support the principals of human performance based training will be rewarded over and over again from the customers that understand and value the training because its not safety that makes the difference it is how much fun the boat can be when set up right and ran properly.

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Powerboat Nation proudly welcomes PIER 57 on board as our newest Advertiser / Sponsor. Pier 57 is one of the most recognized giant performance boat dealerships and full service centers in the USA today. Pier 57’s reputation has been built on providing thousands of power boaters with boats as well as every boating need from the bow to well beyond the stern.

A lot of people have come and gone in the boating industry but the true test are of the leaders. The people that build more than a sales relationship but a true customer experience. These are the people that customers continue to come back to time and time again. This is not a sales pitch but a mere recognition to Pier 57 team as they continue to change the way modern boat ownership happens in today’s world. I personally have a number of friends who have bought and sold with PIER 57 and they have consistently provided top level service and shown the highest professionalism and integrity. But best of all, Pier 57 is committed to make the boating environment prosper, grow, and provide the level of excitement that makes their customers enjoy boating to the fullest. For that were really proud to have Pier 57 acknowledge the Powerboat Nation commitment to the sport and excitement that we bring to the industry.

We need to clarify something here and that is that not all boat buying experiences are the same. Some people just sell boats like some people sell perishable goods, as once its gone its gone. Pier 57 is the modern era of boat buying and ownership. Through the result of combining both Pier 57 and and Shogren Performance Marine, Scott Shogren’s vision of bringing the same consumer experience found at a modern premium level automotive dealership could be experienced in their facility in Waukegan, IL and alternate location in Tennessee

To be the best you need to sell the best and Pier 57 is the official dealer of the iconic Cigarette Racing Team brand of custom V-bottom sportboats and center consoles as well as the renowned Marine Technology, Inc., catamaran series. In addition to selling new models from Cigarette and MTI, Pier 57 carries the largest inventory of pre-owned, fully inspected performances boats in the world from almost every major builder.

Besides sales, Pier 57 operates an award-winning service center (Mercury Marine and Mercury Racing certified) as well as offering brokerage, consignment, full concierge, transportation service, and pre-owned boat inspection/certification and restoration.

Pier 57 prides themselves on the TEAM of professionals who work to make Pier 57 the very best.

Again we want to thank the folks at Pier 57 but most of all we look forward to sharing with you all that’s happening with Pier 57 so stay tuned as no one is more in touch with the pulse of powerboating than PowerBoatNation.com

Since 1967 Lifeline has been loyally dedicated to make boating safer. From the best poker run jackets you can buy to new advanced air systems for the boat racing elite they have always gone above and beyond to make things better.

Recently Lifeline owner Kent Fauntleroy has worked extra hard to develop the very best air system for boat racing. We were fortunate enough to meet up with Kent at Lake Havasu during the Desert Storm Poker Run where he showed us this great new advancement in boat racing safety. Take a look:

Being able to run a small boat to the Bahamas is one of the greatest boat adventures one could ever make. I have been lucky enough to be able to do this a few times and while this last trip was a short one, it still burned memories into our minds.

Weather always plays a big part into these trips and we were lucky to have great weather; calm seas, clear skies and a perfect temperature. We hope you enjoy this short video and use it to make your own plans to run your boat to the islands. If you find yourself at Staniel Cay, make sure to feed the pigs nicely as they have been known to take more than food from your hands.

Special thanks to the Bradly Family for hosting us aboard “Road Warrior” and to Stu and Jacky of the Florida PowerBoat Club for coordinating the event!

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A Deep Impact 36 Center Console, valued over $240,000, was stolen in broad daylight over Memorial day weekend from a storage unit in East Naples, Florida. The boat, named Alto Mare was just purchased by Michael Mateja, with Aqua Motorsports on Friday. He had brought the boat to the storage facility he intended to keep it at and had it parked there for just one night before thieves struck and took off with the boat. The truck that pulled away with the boat, also thought to be stolen, was a white Ford truck, with a back cab cover, and a front vanity license plate that looks like a NASCAR plate with the number 51. The thieves took off in such a hurry, that they damaged Mateja’s RV that was parked nearby. Mateja said he wants his boat back and he needs your help, so much so that he’ll give out a large reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“I’m willing to offer a ten thousand dollar reward payable upon the prosecution of the individual. It’s a very sought after boat, it’s in high demand, very nice condition, value over 240,000 dollars.”

If you have any information or have seen the boat of truck, please contact 239-450-3493