Last week PowerBoat Nation made its third trip in four months back to Skater to ride along with the 388 Platinum build project. This trip included the Rainmaker Crew, Chris and Angela Bradley. Braving miserably cold conditions they met with Peter and some of his crew to go over many of the particular details of the build for what will be the new RAINMAKER which will be hull number 3 for the 388 Platinum builds.

What are those details? Well many of them will be kept close for now, but they included. Deck profile, transom/bustle cut,cockpit size and arrangement, engine and drive selection which dictated forward engine bulkhead, fuel load, hatches and arrangements, and many other smaller details that will lead to boat performance and arrangement. I guarantee you will be blown away with some of the specific details that are going into this build.

While we were there we got to get a glimpse of the progress on Bill Pyburn’s boat and saw some changes to the paint graphics going on Kelly Sills boat.

Enjoy the pictures and rest assured we will be going back again and again to document these great builds. The team members at Skater are the ones who are making this all happen and I think they are just as excited as we are!

Stopped by the Bean for some fun before the flight home!

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Yesterday Tony Chairamonte from Daves Customs Boats let us know the results were in from the first water tests of the new M29 set up with Mercury Racing 565’s. 120 MPH on the limiters running 33 pitch, 5 blade Hering’s on a 1:35 gear through Mercury RacingBravo XR ITS Sportmaster Shorty.

If you are in Los Angeles Febuary 6-9 you can see this boat plus every other model produced from Dave’s Custom Boats on the floor of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

If you are in Miami for the Miami Boat Show look for Tony walking the Show on Monday if he can get our of LA in time and for sure he will be at the Florida Powerboat Club, Miami Boat Show Poker Run onboard Win Farnsworths M41 “Silver Lining”.

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In another Miami Boat show Sneak Peek, BBlades is set to debut Gear Case Blueprinting to the public. As with anything that has to do with technology it always starts out expensive, exotic, and difficult to obtain. Then it eventually finds its way in toward the mainstream. Sometimes we get lucky enough to be a little bit on the inside to get the information on the advancements that the leaders and innovators set in motion in the beginning. Speed secrets, well they are secrets, are the same whether you were Smokey Yunick of the NASCAR early era or a top offshore race team. There’s always been an edge based on ingenuity. In the last decade there have been teams that have sought to fine tune or blueprint their production based outdrive or outboard lower gear cases. One of the first to do this in the early era were the same folks that were massaging race propellers for Mercury Racing. This process started from a customer requests which turned into APBA requirements for limitations on what modifications could be done. It was apparent that blueprinting made a difference and it was something that many didn’t want to discuss.

The guys that were part this early development were a little stealthy, one of them was Brett Anderson who in the early days was a force behind Mercury Racing propeller department. Today Brett is the owner and force behind BBlades Propellers which is know around the country as the premier aftermarket propeller guru.

In recent years gearcase blueprinting found its way into the mainstream and Brett decided it was time to reveal the fact that he has been doing this for over 15 years. With so many new customers asking his thoughts about the service it was one of those moments when he realized his customers didn’t recognize he provided this service and has provided it for a very long time. .

BBLADES blueprints Mercury outboard Sportmaster cases, Bravo Drive Sportmaster cases, NXT cases and Mercury #6 and #8 gear cases. BBLADES also does the full line of IMCO cases. Brett can also customize a blueprint for any gear case or lower unit. Because BBLADES has special templates designed for each of the gear cases mentioned they can offer deluxe full race version or they can offer a semi-custom version and do just the most important piece which is tuning the skeg thicknesses and its progression.

“I feel we have the most comprehensive knowledge of skeg uniformity adjustments.” said Brett “I have been dealing with the Mercury castings in house at Mercury Racing and then perfecting them since each ones inception.”

“It is most important to maintain uniformity between cases on twin engine applications and we are capable of delivering the customer a perfect product.”

BBlades will have an example of a blueprinted gear case in their booth at the Miami Boat show and they welcome the opportunity to discuss your performance desires for your boat, so be sure to stop and see them at booth 4063.

One thing for sure is that Powerboat Nation as a brand and as online community has exploded in growth since its inception as have the the level of effort we have gone too so that we can keep you abreast of everything happening around the country. From our participation and support at boating events,boat manufactures visits, boat show participation, and of course our parties it became very apparent our team needs to grow and we wanted a star to help us continue on under acceleration.

While Ross Edwards might be new to our team he is certainly not new to boating, he’s been an enthusiast and boater since he could swim. Originally from the West Coast Ross recently transplanted to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to join our team. He cut his teeth on blown gasoline hydro’s and then on to larger cat boats so he’s no stranger to the sport. But, that’s really not why we wanted him, we wanted him for his expertise and what he can do to not only support Powerboat Nation’s growth but to pave the way for a host of projects that we have geared towards the growth and revitalization of the entry level part of the boating market.

Ross brings experience with member reward programs, social media initiatives, and a marketing background that will provide valuable insight to help our advertisers support and grow their brands to a younger and wider demographic and that’s good for the future growth and sustainability of the sport of powerboating.

When you are at the Miami Boat show or any of the upcoming boating events across the country, Ross will be on site with Powerboat Nation and reaching out to all of you to talk about power boating and the lifestyle around it.

As the industry is evolving so are the powerboats of today, and what makes this so significant is the fact the the engine and propulsion providers are really focusing on the 520, 525, 565, and 570 horsepower ranges. The primary reason is we’ve gotten to a point with engines that making those numbers reliably has been proven to be economical by no use of a supercharger and are still maintaining the best performance to fuel consumption ratios.

But the real key reasons are we believe that these engines can provide such strong performance and speed levels from today’s OEM engine builders at a more affordable cost than before. Especially in the case of the Mercury Racing 520. Modern hull construction and designs are making today’s power boats faster and more stable with less power than before. These power levels are powering numerous boats into the 80-90mph range which makes for some truly exhilarating boating.

From our stand point as an enthusiast, gear head, or horsepower junkie we find the most exciting point of view that these engines represent an amazing foundation to build from. Whether you look at the coming advancements of the LS family of engines what the folks at Ilmor 570 are building with that product or the latestMercury Racing offerings.

When the new Mercury Racing 520 was released we stated it was one of the most significant new engine to come in some time. From many that was uncertain if that was taking a poke at it or truthful. So let me clear this up: It was most certainly truthful. Mercury has again, whether intended by design or not, provided the next foundation for performance engine building. These engine are built from excellent components and capable of far more than the originally intended application. These engines as time goes on will bring life to or the foundation of modified new 600, 700, and ??? horsepower versions.

We as boaters did not have that option with the previous 8.1L 496 engine family as that engine was weak and merely a derivative of one of GM’s truck engines. But Mercury’s choice to built their own platform is going to make the new engines a hit not only because of the fact their an excellent product but that they will be in the future as well.

From all points of view it is clear to see the boating industry its going through some pretty huge transformations. The facts are YOU as power boaters play a big role in the growth and ultimate success with how you support the industry. We are in a time in history where the value of an individual might seem irrelevant, but as a collective voice we are in fact very powerful. In recent surveys one of the biggest challenges facing our industry was an aging demographic and getting new people into the sport of power boating.

Many in the industry are starting to take a hard look at how to attract new blood. There are two components to this equation one being cost and another being participation. We believe there are very few if any newcomers that have been introduced to the sport that don’t fall in love with the feeling that boating provides them from exhilaration to relaxation. At Powerboat Nation we are asking you for 2014 to make a resolution to bring someone new to the world of powerboating. If all of us as individuals made just a small contributions the collective benefit could be something much bigger that we could have imagined.

Next we need to look to the boat manufacturers and even more to the power providers of this industry to drive affordable entry level options. These aren’t the most profitable of boats or engines but they are the future of our survival. I can tell you the desire by some to accomplish this out there but these boat manufacturers need to hear from you so when you’re at the boat show ask them and talk with them you may be amazed what’s on their minds.

In a recent interview with Peter Hledin of Skater Powerboats he acknowledged how his business had grown from small, more entry level boats and his desire to help drive that market segment again. He has some great ideas for some new models in the mid 20″ foot range that could be powered by some new more affordable engine options.

There are some new and unique options and the manufactures need to know there is an interest and they will make the investments to support the market The Miami boat show will be a buzz with some new power plant options in the 400-525HP range that should definitely have everyone asking and wondering what is possible.

The bottom line is if you love the sport then support the sport in whatever way that may be. Get involved by just sharing your thoughts in our forums and yes our forums are different. We are actually boat owners and we love this sport and hope you share all of your experiences with us as we do with you. Above all we really do care about all of this and we will champion your messages to the industry.

Dave’s Custom Boats had a great showing at Barrett Jackson where they introduced DCB to thousands of new potential well heeled customers.

When talking with Tony Chiaramonte from DCB you can tell he is excited. Tony tells us the display and interaction at Barrett Jackson was incredible. DCB set up along with other very notable brands in Powerboating, MasterCraft and StanCraft.

As I have said before selling boats to the high end car crowed is not an easy task, but I have to think that the trio of these elite brands with their incredible attention to detail are the ones who can really make an impression.

Tony told us he was slammed busy laying the big cat flat for perspective buyers and answering thousands of questions about the boats and power boating in general.

Look for Tony to be in Miami to answer all your questions about DCB and at the Miami boat Show Poker Run to Islamorada.

We saw our first copters flying at this years Lake Lanier Poker Run from which they produced an incredible event video. Then at the Key West run the Florida Powerboat Club had a professional crew flying the copters around Gilberts at Key Largo and they just released this great piece.

Just wait a little while and I promise you are going to see some great videos with unique perspectives. As this new technology becomes more accessible and refined you’ll see it employed in all sorts of media production in the performance marine industry! We know we want one!

For your Friday jollies we thought we’d bring back one of the funniest boating videos from the last year. You may have seen it already, but if you haven’t you’re in for a treat, as three trucks and a tractor are needed to recover this poor guy’s boat!

As much as one might be inclined to whine about the cold and snow of being on location with PBN, we can’t whine about it. We know this is what really gives PBN the edge in covering things for you. Being deeply involved requires more than sitting behind a computer it requires being on location and we know you have seen the beautiful pictures of boats and bikini’s and we often say if you’ve got to have a job it should be this one! Well with the sun and fun comes braving one of the most brutal winters in years. But the Gods again shined down on us and we were fortunate enough to hit a high 30’s degree day and sneak into lovely Michigan without getting trapped in another blizzard, so, yes well were feeling damn lucky these days.

The trip is just another piece of the continued coverage of the evolution of the new Platinum SKATER’s that are progressing rapidly. Additional development decisions are constant in the quest for “The Ultimate Driving Machine” (to steal from auto). If you’ve followed this story at all you know that Bill Pyburn and Chris Bradley are in the middle of building an entirely new designed 388 Skater Platinum Series which will go well beyond what the current boat that Bill has piloted around the country and achieved world record speeds with.

If you’re in the game you already know SKATER’s are recognized for their extreme performance but what each SKATER really is is a one off, hand built, work of art. Unlike production boats that have a standard hull and deck that are laminated together SKATER actually use a hull or bottom mold and each deck or top is hand crafted to a specific design.

Many questions have risen from this project and our story, so here are some examples of some of the questions we have been thrown; (A) why would someone takes what would seem to be the perfect boat and build another? (B) Is this just another SKATER with a new paint job? (C) Is this just another boat salesman’s dreamed up idea making up names to create new hype to sell new boats?

What we can do is draw a line in the sand about what the new Platinum Skaters are and what they are not. What they ARE NOT are posers, fluffed standard offerings or name gimmicks. Bill is the man fueling SKATER’s enthusiasm and everyone else’s interest about these new 388 SKATERS’s, known as the Platinum series. Now don’t get me wrong, Bill may be fueling the passion but it’s still 100% the man Peter Hledin who is crafting the boat and making sure all the details are covered. Bill has probably spent more hours behind the wheel of the 388 than any other human. That experience has brought invaluable data that is being shared to develop these new Platinum 388’s and if you have never seen the current pure platinum boat via one of the say 50 YouTube videos then you should take a look as this boat and its astonishing performance characteristics.

The Platinum series boats are the real deal and let me just share a handful of the changes that are shaping these new boats. Starting with the boats proven running surface the decks have been cut down to aid in aerodynamics, they have had hundreds of pounds shaved through the use of one of Skaters special laminate schedule construction lay ups. They feature newly designed tunnel extensions and transoms design. Even the leading edge of the windshield has been laid back and other subtle changes that are designed to provide better performance have been integrated.

These features aren’t just communicated via some renderings or Skype communications; this is a hands on collaboration between Bill and Pete that bring real performance value not just some aesthetics. Bill and Pete talk about details in a way that creates a unique language about the cause and effect of each tiny change like they are two crew chiefs in a quest to win Indy or Daytona and its really astonishing to witness.

By blending the design changes with the performance characteristics they are bringing a true masterpiece to the water. Pete details and confirms center of gravity measurements and Bill speaks to the effects of how the bustle will allow airflow to bring the boats top performance. Transom angles, engine placement, exhaust exit design, engine room bulk head placement, engine hatch operation, windshield height, seat positioning and the way down to the stowage of anchors is discussed, not a single aspect of the boat doesn’t go evaluated.

Pete’s ongoing passion is incredibly inspiring, he always wants to make the next one better and we can’t help but give credit where credit is due. The Douglas Marine crew is truly a whole team of craftsmen. But don’t take my word for it, we are going to show you numerous things that we are presently sworn to secrecy about but in the very near future you will all know. . One thing for sure is these new 388 Platinum Skaters of Bill Pyburn and Chris Bradley are going to set the bar again in the history of SKATER’s legacy and its perpetual forward motion.

The Miami Boat Show is much more than a walk through the Miami Beach Convention Center. For all of us in the Performance boat world it is a special gathering as friends from all over the world come to Miami to spend time together before and after the show.

Much of our time is spent preparing for the Florida Powerboat Clubs Miami Boat Show Poker Run taking place the week after the boat show.

Powerboat Nation is excited and proud to announce the big south beach parties of the past are back. Last year’s PBN party on Ocean Drive was great but this year we are at the CLEVELANDER! February 15^th, Saturday Night, Powerboat Nation and the Clevelander are bringing you THE Miami Boat Show Party.

We have some serious surprises in store and this will be an event not to miss. To make it even better, if you are a PBN Charter Member or PBN Original, you can get a special reduced room rate with 10% off your room if you book before Jan 31st and 20% off your food and beverage tabs charged to your room at the Clevelander. (Members, Click here to get the Promo Code!) Make the show easy. Book a room at the Clevelander for a real South Beach experience.

This is another example of how Powerboat Nation brings you the party and saves you money at the same time. Party on South Beach like a real VIP with Powerboat Nation and the Clevelander.

Make sure you go the the Florida Power Boat Clubs Friday Night Party to get warmed up for the rest of the weekend.