Those who crave tear-duct draining, cheek-smearing velocity on the water know there is only only one king: Skater! When it comes to performance, the automobile world has Ferrari and Lamborghini, while motorcyclists long to ride a Ducati or BMW.
The Number One builder of high-performance catamarans in the world has been in business for 50 years.
Skater is the standard by which all other high-performance boat manufacturers are compared. The sleekest in design, the fastest, and the most sought-after Skater is the Bugatti of the water.
Founded and led by Peter Hledin in 1974, Skater prides itself on being at the leading edge of technology. The Skater, Michigan-based company that covers 95,000 square feet was the first to perfect the use of vacuum-bagging technology, S-glass, kevlar, carbon fiber, epoxy resins and other construction techniques in the high performance industry and we use those construction techniques on every boat we build.
Skater does not build ‘off-the-line’ boats. From the interior to the paint to the power package and everything in between, every catamaran is fully customizable to meet each client’s needs. From subtle to spectacular in design but always stunning in performance, Skater excels above the rest.
Handling Like No Other
Every Skater has world-renown on-rails handling and incredible responsiveness
The Standard Bearer in the Offshore World
Even though others have tried to replicate the Skater hull countless times, we’re still the industry leader in all-around performance and speed
No Duplicates
Like human DNA, no two Skaters are the same. Each one is built to the precise standards and expectations of our clients
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Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains
Head of Engineering, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering, Solent University
Disclosure statement
Jonathan Ridley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Sailing used to be considered as a rather sedate pastime. But in the past few years, the world of yacht racing has been revolutionised by the arrival of hydrofoil-supported catamarans, known as “foilers”. These vessels, more akin to high-performance aircraft than yachts, combine the laws of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to create vessels capable of speeds of up to 50 knots, which is far faster than the wind propelling them.
An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of just 19.3 knots (22.2mph). F50s are 15-metre-long, 8.8-metre-wide hydrofoil catamarans propelled by rigid sails and capable of such astounding speeds that Sail GP has been called the “ Formula One of sailing ”. How are these yachts able to go so fast? The answer lies in some simple fluid dynamics.
As a vessel’s hull moves through the water, there are two primary physical mechanisms that create drag and slow the vessel down. To build a faster boat you have to find ways to overcome the drag force.
The first mechanism is friction. As the water flows past the hull, a microscopic layer of water is effectively attached to the hull and is pulled along with the yacht. A second layer of water then attaches to the first layer, and the sliding or shearing between them creates friction.
On the outside of this is a third layer, which slides over the inner layers creating more friction, and so on. Together, these layers are known as the boundary layer – and it’s the shearing of the boundary layer’s molecules against each other that creates frictional drag.
A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. The waves form two distinctive patterns around the yacht (one at each end), known as Kelvin Wave patterns.
These waves, which move at the same speed as the yacht, are very energetic. This creates drag on the boat known as the wave-making drag, which is responsible for around 90% of the total drag. As the yacht accelerates to faster speeds (close to the “hull speed”, explained later), these waves get higher and longer.
These two effects combine to produce a phenomenon known as “ hull speed ”, which is the fastest the boat can travel – and in conventional single-hull yachts it is very slow. A single-hull yacht of the same size as the F50 has a hull speed of around 12 mph.
However, it’s possible to reduce both the frictional and wave-making drag and overcome this hull-speed limit by building a yacht with hydrofoils . Hydrofoils are small, underwater wings. These act in the same way as an aircraft wing, creating a lift force which acts against gravity, lifting our yacht upwards so that the hull is clear of the water.
While an aircraft’s wings are very large, the high density of water compared to air means that we only need very small hydrofoils to produce a lot of the important lift force. A hydrofoil just the size of three A3 sheets of paper, when moving at just 10 mph, can produce enough lift to pick up a large person.
This significantly reduces the surface area and the volume of the boat that is underwater, which cuts the frictional drag and the wave-making drag, respectively. The combined effect is a reduction in the overall drag to a fraction of its original amount, so that the yacht is capable of sailing much faster than it could without hydrofoils.
The other innovation that helps boost the speed of racing yachts is the use of rigid sails . The power available from traditional sails to drive the boat forward is relatively small, limited by the fact that the sail’s forces have to act in equilibrium with a range of other forces, and that fabric sails do not make an ideal shape for creating power. Rigid sails, which are very similar in design to an aircraft wing, form a much more efficient shape than traditional sails, effectively giving the yacht a larger engine and more power.
As the yacht accelerates from the driving force of these sails, it experiences what is known as “ apparent wind ”. Imagine a completely calm day, with no wind. As you walk, you experience a breeze in your face at the same speed that you are walking. If there was a wind blowing too, you would feel a mixture of the real (or “true” wind) and the breeze you have generated.
The two together form the apparent wind, which can be faster than the true wind. If there is enough true wind combined with this apparent wind, then significant force and power can be generated from the sail to propel the yacht, so it can easily sail faster than the wind speed itself.
The combined effect of reducing the drag and increasing the driving power results in a yacht that is far faster than those of even a few years ago. But all of this would not be possible without one further advance: materials. In order to be able to “fly”, the yacht must have a low mass, and the hydrofoil itself must be very strong. To achieve the required mass, strength and rigidity using traditional boat-building materials such as wood or aluminium would be very difficult.
This is where modern advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre come in. Production techniques optimising weight, rigidity and strength allow the production of structures that are strong and light enough to produce incredible yachts like the F50.
The engineers who design these high-performance boats (known as naval architects ) are always looking to use new materials and science to get an optimum design. In theory, the F50 should be able to go even faster.
Engineering
Aerodynamics
Scholarships Officer (FBE, EDUCN, MLS)
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Yachting World
Digital Edition
Performance cruisers: the best new catamarans for racing and fast cruising 2018
Toby Hodges
August 20, 2018
This is where the worlds of racing and cruising multis meet, where we see high-tech lightweight craft that use exotic materials and daggerboards to help produce electrifying sailing. Gunboat was arguably the first to identify this market on a luxury level, and has since been joined by HH, McConaghy, Ice Cat, and ITA.
And then there are the performance multis that are more minimalist and lean more towards the offshore racer than cruiser – like Marsaudon, Dragonfly, Banuls, Dazcat, and Rapido… fun factor guaranteed!
Just launched: McConaghy MC50
Fresh from the Australian composite wizards McConaghy, the MC50 is the smallest series catamaran in a new range that runs up to 90ft. Drawn by Jason Ker, renowned for his IRC winners, the MC50 has performance in her DNA, designed as a fast cruising cat, capable of crossing oceans. The MC line has incorporated input of experienced owners and sailors, and includes some impressive features. For example, the doors between the saloon and the cockpit concertina, while the saloon windows slide open electrically for al-fresco living. A skylight down the middle of the coachroof lets light flood in, and can be specced as a large ‘solar glass’ generator to keep batteries topped up. Then there is the standard cross brace between the bows, which has been eliminated by using a carbon fibre longeron down the boat’s centreline, tensioned with Nitronic rod stays. The first hull launched in time for La Grande Motte boatshow in April and the performance predictions are bold. Polars from McConaghy suggest speeds of over 10 knots in a stiff Force 6, at 30° off the true wind. Bear away onto a broad reach and she is expected to manage 21 knots-plus. Upwind performance is boosted by 3.5m-deep hydraulic daggerboards in each hull, which include a fail-safe in the event of underwater collision. “We expect her to track upwind extremely well,” says James Kinloch of McConaghy. And yet this is no pared-down raceboat. The saloon has deep seating to starboard and an extending table gives dining space for at least eight, and can convert into lounging room if you drop the table and install the fill-in cushion. The galley and island unit to port are more penthouse than deckhouse, with induction hob and moulded-in sinks. Sensibly, there is a navigation station at the forward end of the saloon, with good visibility ahead and access to all the systems. The styling was undertaken by Design Unlimited. “The concept was to create a penthouse apartment on the living deck,” says Ole John, director of McConaghy Multihulls Europe. “The 35-40m2 of space must be the biggest for a 50ft yacht.”
First impressions
The MC50 is a clever boat. A Ker/McConaghy project, it might be expected to be all about the performance. That has yet to be proved, but the first MC50 to launch stole the show at its La Grande Motte debut in April thanks to the sheer amount of open-plan living space it offers. The natural light and ventilation offered by using sliding doors and windows needs to be seen to be believed, and the general feeling is that of a condo/apartment on the main deck. The view from the helms on the aft flybridge is excellent, but I wonder how these relatively high positions will feel in a rolling sea. The most impressive aspect for me, however, is the engineering detail, something Ker is known for. It can be seen in the length to which he and the yard has gone with the mast base and bowsprit longeron supports, and the hydraulic centreboards that swing into the hulls. The latter offer a clever solution to the problem of providing the performance benefits of 3.5m-deep boards without swallowing excessive accommodation space. The boards have fail-safe pins that break in a collision without risk of leaking hydraulic fluid; and they take just 12 seconds to raise. This is a boat that we are itching to sail.
Italy’s ICE Yachts has been on the scene since the turn of the millennium, but it is only now making a foray into multihulls. And it is starting big, with a 61, and a 67 further down the line. Its calling card has always been style at the service of performance, and the cats will be no different. Enrico Contreas has designed a dashing hull with just a hint of reverse bow and a long, curved quarter. It’s stylish, but also practical. “Avoiding highly reversed bows allows for easy recovery of the mooring lines,” says Marco Malgara, ICE Yachts’ CEO. Likewise, the shallow curve of the coachroof is more than just a flick of the designer’s pen: it is intended to reduce windage and help the catamaran go to windward. This is one reason that she can reportedly manage near 30° true wind angles. Another is the manually-operated carbon foils that reduce her displacement by about 15 per cent, and the way the rig is designed. “The angle going to windward is almost like a monohull,” Malgara says.
The yachts are built using ultra-modern techniques. On the standard version, the hull and superstructure employ a mix of glass and carbon fibre vacuum-infused with epoxy to ensure that just 35-40 per cent of the final weight is resin. Everything on the boat is foam-cored. Customers have so far unanimously opted for the RS version of the 61, which uses all carbon fibre. ICE has tried to mitigate the handling of a large, technical boat with electric winches and a self-tacking jib. The sheets of both sails are on travellers, giving maximum sail trimming options and a tighter sheeting angle for better windward performance. The helms are towards the aft end of the cockpit, behind a pod-like console, giving the skipper more the sense of a monohull. Dispensing with a raised helm station keeps the boom and the centre of gravity low, making for a more comfortable ride and better performance, predicted at 25 knots. The interior is more architectural than your average luxury yacht. Expect more of a kitchen than a galley in the large open space of the saloon. The configuration allows for three, four or five cabins, including a compact crew berth in the starboard bow.
HH Catamarans has been turning heads since 2012 with a line of sporty, high-tech boats that feature a luxury fit-out. What started off on the drawing board as a fast 48ft cruising cat has grown to 50ft in the building. “One of the biggest reasons was the addition of a second helm station aft,” explained marketing manager Will Hobbs. “That and, during the design review, we found we were able to increase sail efficiency by 6 per cent if we lengthened the hull.” The lay-up is all carbon, with twin bulkhead helm stations and long-skirted hulls. With a self-tacking jib and push-button controls at the helm station, she should be a breeze to sail short-handed. Her accommodation all looks very elegant – dark teak contrasting with lighter fabrics. The saloon windows are huge, letting light gush in, with a semi-horseshoe galley to starboard, a navstation forward and dining table to port. There are configurations allowing for three or four cabins. Morelli & Melvin’s design generally looks modern and aggressive (even if we question the aesthetics of the hard biminis above the helms).
Even if you haven’t heard of Marsaudon, you’re likely to be familiar with its work. The Brittany-based boatbuilder is responsible for some of the world’s biggest and fastest multihulls, including the trimaran IDEC 2, in which Francis Joyon demolished the round-the-world record in 2008. Operating out of an old U-boat pen in Lorient, France, this composite expert has only been crafting its own brand of cruising catamarans for a few years, but it has already become its mainstay. It began with the TS42, which has reached 10 units, then the well-regarded TS50. The new TS5 is a remodelled version of this, with all-new tooling and a length overall of 55ft. Even before the first one hit the water, half a dozen boats had been pre-sold, such is the reputation of this builder.
ITA Catamarans is a new brand, but the team behind this 14.99 are no strangers to the trade and have experience from many of the major Italian shipyards. The naval architecture is by Francois Perus, whose Yacht Design Collective has worked with brands such as Catana and North Wind on their multihulls. The result is a sleek-looking craft with stylish dreadnought bows and refreshingly low-profile coachroof. This sets the tone for the boat, due to launch this summer, which is all about stellar performance within the envelope of a fast cruiser. Take the twin helm stations, for instance – they are perched on the aft coaming. This frees up the cockpit for socialising, without compromising the boat’s stability by putting the weight of the helm on the coachroof. The result looks as if it could feel exposed in bad weather, although there is a wraparound seat, and the Jefa pedestal can swing inboard if necessary. The outer position gives you optimal views ahead and to windward. The dreadnought bows are designed to give extra waterline length for speed, while the long, fine underwater profile of the hulls is optimised for comfort through the waves. The flatter sections aft mean that she should plane at speed, and the winch-trimmed daggerboards improve performance to windward. High-tech foam sandwich lay-up and the use of carbon fibre in key areas keeps the hulls light and stiff.
There should be plenty of power from her fathead main and self-tacking jib. “Since most cruisers consists of one couple for sailing, the deck and running rigging had to be of a design so that one person can easily manage all sailing manoeuvres from the safety of the cockpit,” says Sonia Segato, head of marketing at ITA Catamarans. The mainsheet runs back to blocks on the aft crossbeam, where Harken 50 winches are within easy reach of the helm. It is a set-up that has worked well for monohull sailors, and this boat’s low profile coachroof makes it possible here too. The designer’s ambition is clearly bluewater, because the boat’s equipment and latest technology includes a Schenker watermaker and Oceanvolt electric propulsion, backed up with twin regenerating props that allow you to recharge the lithium-ion batteries as you sail. There’s scope for owners to choose their own interior design. “Nothing is set in stone”, says ITA. The heart of the boat is its comfy saloon, which has wraparound toughened glass windows, and the starboard hull is turned over to the owner’s suite. There are several configurations to choose from, including one with an office and another with bunks. Weight management is taken very seriously. The complete hulls weigh 2,250kg, and the whole boat is infused in one shot to come in under five tonnes. The first 14.99 will be shown at Cannes, before the owner takes it on a circumnavigation.
Gunboat is back to what it does best with a show-stopping design for a 68ft oceanic catamaran. An all-carbon build again, the new 68 has heavily reversed wave-piercing bows and super low-profile coachroof, giving it an elegant but muscular look. There’s something of Gotham City about this yacht. Gunboat, which is now under French ownership, has brought in VPLP design for the naval architecture. They are veterans of some of the world’s biggest, fastest racing multihulls. The design team has broadened the beam of the boat and moved the mast further aft to make her more stable and easier to handle. That said, she’ll be no slouch, particularly if you select some of the turbo options, including longer rig for bigger sails, lighter weight and longer daggerboards. Speeds in excess of 25 knots in a blow, and up to 16 knots in a Force 4 are predicted. Benoit Lebizay, Gunboat’s managing partner, says: “500 miles per day is an achievable target”.
Vittorio Malingri, Italy’s first Vendée Globe sailor, is the nautical brain behind a new fast cruising catamaran, christened the Unlimited C53. With no website, his is a stealthy operation, but the first hull is sold and already in-build on the Adriatic coast between Ancona and San Marino. The boat has been designed with an experienced navigator’s eye, so the beams connecting the two hulls are an unprecedented 1.3m above the waterline, to minimise slamming in heavy seas. Tankage and heavy equipment are all positioned low and in the centre of the hulls for balance. And there is a heavy longeron, which makes for a stiffer forestay and therefore better windward performance. The twin helms are on swinging pedestals, and the boat uses foils and T-shaped rudders to provide lift to windward. There are three broad specification levels, depending on budget, with the top spec including full carbon lay-up.
Dazcat D1295
Launched at the end of last season, the D1295 is a potent new addition to the cruiser-racer cat market. It is the smaller sister to the very impressive D1495 we tested two years ago and leans on more than three decades of successful offshore racing builds from this Cornish yard. These cats can outrun weather or look after crew if caught out. Weight is kept low and central, including the engines, to create a fast smooth ride. It is also minimised wherever possible, with carbon used for the rudders, spinnaker pole V-striker, davits and bimini sections. “She points really high and is the fastest tacking Dazcat so far,” says Dazcat designer Darren Newton. “We did a two-second tack where she lost no momentum at all, which for a cruising cat is phenomenal!”
Nacra F18 Evolution
The evolution of sailing
Record-breaking winning design. The next step in Formula 18 sailing. (r)Evolutionary on every level.
Using the most advanced technology in Formula 18 sailing, the Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built to win – a sophisticated design combined with 45 years of experience make it the best all-round performing Formula 18 multihull, across the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.
The literal evolution in Formula 18 sailing, it’s the next iteration of the boat that won it all, the Nacra F18 Infusion . Using the same unique construction process, this catamaran will take you to heights in performance you’ve only dreamed of.
Usage Competitive One Design racing
Crew 2 Sailors
EVOLUTION IS THE SECRET TO THE NEXT STEP
The main purpose of the new F18 Evolution design was to build upon the unique pedigree of the Nacra F18 Infusion MKII as the previous best-in-class allrounder. Taking all the best parts from its predecessor, redesigning its flaws, improving where we could, we’ve created a worthy successor. The main visual difference is of course a completely new hull shape, but the real improvement is
in the details. Built to push through in even the toughest conditions on the water, the Nacra F18 Evolution is truly the next step in Formula 18 sailing. Built upon a great legacy, it’s only a matter of time before the F18 Evolution makes its unforgettable mark in Formula 18 sailing.
NEW HULL DESIGN An already winning design. The Nacra F18 Evolution has the same overall specifications as the Infusion MKIII , but incorporates a new hull design with reverse raked stems. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The hulls feature transom-hung carbon fibre rudders controlled by a tiller and dual retractable carbon fibre daggerboards. The rudders are a kick-up design.
CONFIGURABLE SAIL PLAN Next generation sailing performance. Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sail plan which features the regatta proven Pentex™ Decksweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail. A tough polyester spinnaker, available in 3 colours and 2 types of different strength cloth, completes the sail plan.
Nacra Sailing strives to always be on the forefront of development. We don’t get it right all the time, but the F18 range has been a benchmark in design- and construction processes for decades, and the front line of box rule racing. The Nacra F18 Evolution truly reveals our DNA, everything Nacra stands for. As an early adopter of the since perfected Infusion process, our development has taken a rapid flight that allowed us to be on the bleeding edge of Formula development limits. And we’re unabashedly proud of that. Not only have we poured 45 years of knowledge in this boat, we coupled that with feedback from pretty much all F18 legends and engineers, some of whom have since evolved to America’s Cup teams. From fluid dynamics to optimizing hull strength, to working with optimal sail shape and weight rules, ‘Scuderia’ Nacra’s 9th (!) generation F18 is built on a rich history of strife, success, hardship and perseverance.
Nacra Users & Owners Manual
Trimsheet Nacra F18 Evolution V2 (2024)
Assembly Manual F18 Evolution
Specifications
Standard ● Optional ○
Design
Nacra / Morelli&Melvin
⬤
Hull
5.52m (18')
Glass foam sandwich FRP epoxy resin
⬤
Beam
2.6m (8'5")
⬤
Mast length
9.15m (30')
Aluminium
⬤
Boat weight
180kg (418 Lbs)
Ready to sail
⬤
Trapeze system
2 person
⬤
Mainsail
17m² (183ft²)
Pentex™
⬤
Jib
4.3m² (46ft²)
Pentex™
⬤
Spinnaker
21m² (226ft²)
Nylon
⬤
Spinnaker retriever system
⬤
Mainsheet system
1 to 10
⬤
Mainsail cunningham system
1 to 16
⬤
Jib cunningham system
1 to 4
⬤
Daggerboard set
Full carbon FRP epoxy resin
⬤
Curved daggerboard set
Full carbon FRP epoxy resin
◯
Rudder
Full carbon FRP epoxy resin
⬤
Rudder system
Kick-up aluminium / Cassette aluminium
⬤
Rudder & daggerboard cover set
⬤
Standing rigging with adjustable turnbuckles
⬤
International Formula 18 Class Association
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Every model from our 32 XR to the 40 XCC is handcrafted by the Chris Schoenbohm team.
Smart Performance Marine
Blending Art and Science
The Phoenix lineup of catamarans by Smart Performance Marine may be new to the consumer market, but their design and construction are the product of two decades of modifying, designing, rigging, and building high-performance outboard catamarans for offshore racing and pleasure boating.
Founder, owner and designer Chris Schoenbohm bought his first race boat in 2003 and won the Super Boat International (SBI) World Championships in 2014 driving a Doug Wright-built catamaran that he had cut in half, widened and modified heavily for better turning.
That boat’s modified running surface was the genesis of today’s Phoenix Variable Speed Running Surface, a third-generation design that places primary importance on handling, turning and driver feedback without sacrificing world-class acceleration, speed and efficiency.
Every Phoenix is built to the highest standards in the industry with state-of-the-art engineered laminates and coring, epoxy resin, and full vacuum infusion of hulls, deck and bulkheads, yielding not only an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio but also class-leading safety. We back our hulls with a limited LIFETIME warranty.
Explore our lineup of performance offshore catamarans, including the purebred 32XR race boat, the 34XPR and 37XPR race-inspired poker run boats, and the innovative 37XCC and 40XCC, high-performance, air-packing catamaran with a versatile center console layout. The Phoenix offshore racing and poker run boats are the premier performance catamarans. Contact us to get details on your next performance boat .
The Smart Performance Marine Difference
There are numerous catamaran speed boat manufacturers offering racing, poker run, and even center console configurations. they vary widely in performance, build quality, aesthetics, amenities, and, of course, price point. most of them represent a good fit for the right kind of buyer, whether that buyer is most concerned with speed, versatility, luxury, value, or some combination..
So where do Smart Performance Marine and the Phoenix line of catamarans fit in? We’re guided by an unwavering commitment to several key ideas and characteristics:
Safety and Strength
Building safe, strong boats is our utmost priority. Our designs, materials and construction techniques are tested and proven on the offshore racing circuit under the most rigorous conditions on the planet. No production Schoenbohm-built hull has ever failed on the race course or anywhere else. We’re so confident in our hulls that we offer a lifetime warranty against structural failure.
Superior Drivability
Anybody can go fast with enough power hanging off the transom. We emphasize speed and performance through design. The Phoenix running surface has been exhaustively refined not just for acceleration and straight-line speed but also superior handling, especially through turns. Our hulls provide proper driver feedback for comfort, confidence and fun behind the wheel.
Personalized Service
Higher-volume production builders can turn out more boats for fewer dollars than a smaller, semi-custom shop like Smart Performance Marine. But it’s important to us that buyers have the opportunity to see everything about how we build boats and to be an integral part of the construction of their own. Each of our boats is personally built by owner Chris Schoenbohm and a core team of craftsmen.
Solid Value
We’re not trying to be the lowest priced performance cat on the market, but we do strive to offer the best value. Counterintuitively, our 100% vacuum resin infusion process helps us do that by dramatically reducing waste of resin and other consumables and streamlining lamination. With resin infusion, we’re able to produce a lighter, stronger product using roughly half the resin and far fewer man-hours than would be required for conventional hand lamination or even vacuum bagging.
Racing Pedigree
Owner and founder Chris Schoenbohm is a widely experienced powerboat racer with a world championship under his belt. He has personally refined the Phoenix platform over the span of nearly a decade and is directly involved in the construction and rigging of every Smart Performance Marine boat. The Phoenix catamarans we build for our customers are identical in design and construction to the catamarans we race in the superboat stock class.
Innovation and Science
We innovate every day. Our team has a proven approach to creating some of the highest-performing catamaran boats available, but we never miss the to improve on everything we do. We constantly pay attention to our chemical mixtures, our infusion process, flow rates and ultimately weight and rigidity of every boat. Each boat includes a lifetime warranty that we fully back due to the quality, innovation and science used to hand-craft Phoenix boats.
Every Phoenix Boat has the DNA of a racer embedded right out of the mold.
Hull one from seven years ago launched a new breed of Phoenix boats with the industry's best running surface.
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The V8 FourStroke 450R cranks out the highest level of outboard power ever offered by Mercury Racing
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The rugged Advanced MidSection (AMS) features heavy-duty guide plates and stiffened engine mounts to stabilize the outboard for enhanced high-speed handling.
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A 2.4-liter belt-driven, twin-screw supercharger delivers zero-lag pressure charging for instant throttle response.
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The surface piercing Sport Master gearcase delivers race-proven performance for boats capable of speeds exceeding 85 mph, with low water pick-ups and a crescent leading edge to maximize efficiency and speed.
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By Charles Plueddeman
November 16, 2023
In this age of 70 mph pontoons , 90 mph center-consoles and 150 mph sport cats, it’s pretty easy to experience eye-popping velocity on the water. So, there you are, the wind flapping your cheeks as you hold that throttle to the stop, one watering eye on the speedo as you bump the trim hoping to squeeze out the last bit of speed it will take to be the first boat to the poker-run card pickup. Maybe you even imagine that’s Reggie Fountain , Steve Curtis or Shaun Torrente at the helm of the boat you are pursuing, and instead of a king of hearts, there’s a big trophy waiting at the finish line. Well, dream on, Speed Racer. You’re going fast, but you are not racing, and your production-built motorboat is no race boat.
Steve Curtis throttles a real race boat. The Victory catamaran Huski Chocolate carried Curtis and drivers Travis Pastrana and Brit Lilly to the 2022 UIM Class 1 championship in the Powerboat P1 Offshore series. Last summer, we met Curtis and this boat, now rechristened Huski Ice Spritz, at the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the fourth event on the five-race 2023 P1 schedule. The boat is owned by SVEA Racing Inc., based in Stuart, Florida, regarded as the benchmark in professionalism and experience in Class 1 and led by technical director Gary Stray, director of operations Scott Colton and crew chief Patrick Cleaveland.
Curtis, a 59-year-old Englishman and the son of Cougar Powerboats founder and racing catamaran innovator Clive Curtis, claimed his first Class 1 world championship in 1985 in Key West when he was 21 years old. In his career, Curtis has throttled more than 20 world champions. Who would be better to show us under the cowl of a Class 1 race boat than the acknowledged master of throttling racing cats?
Class 1 is the premier category of international offshore powerboat racing. A P1 Offshore event can include a number of classes, but only the Class 1 Championship is sanctioned by the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique), the world governing body for all powerboating activities. Basic rules for Class 1 dictate a minimum boat length overall of 12 meters (about 39 feet) and a minimum weight of 5,400 kilograms (just over 11,900 pounds). There have been seven boats in the Class 1 field in 2023, ranging in length from the 43-foot Skater Monster Energy/MCON to the 51-foot Mystic dfYoung. The Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA Victory is 47 feet length overall, with a running surface of 41.5 feet, according to Curtis, and a 12-foot beam. Curtis explains that the bigger boats often have an advantage in rough conditions, but the smaller boats can be nimbler in a current on flatter water in a tight, multiturn closed course—the 5-mile course at Sheboygan had 10 turns.
“Courses have become smaller to make the event more spectator-friendly,” Curtis says. “We used to run 40-mile laps and 200-mile races.”
The age of the Class 1 fleet is also surprising. Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA was built in 2007 by the Victory team in Dubai to a Michael Peters design.
“The boat has been rebuilt and repowered a number of times,” Curtis says. “I believe it was originally powered by Lamborghini V-12 engines. The boat has been crashed and repaired. The entire deck has been replaced, and the running surface adjusted as the engine package has changed.”
Carbon, Of Course
The overall theme of a race boat is that every element is functional, and this is the key difference between Huski Ice Spritz and your go-fast rig. Speed and safety are all that matter. The hull and deck are laid up with a combination of carbon fiber and Kevlar composite, with foam coring of various density. Bulkheads are carbon fiber, molded in a combination of triangulation and U-channel shape, and bonded within the hull. Each sponson has a pair of steps that are about 1.5 inches deep and a single strake. The tunnel between the sponsons is designed to trap and compress air, which lifts the boat at speed. The tunnel is about 33 inches deep at the bow but only 22 inches deep at the transom.
A V-hull boat could run in Class 1, but the catamaran offers a significant advantage, according to Randy Scism, who helped establish the Victory team as a force in offshore racing before returning to the United States in 1998 to start performance boatbuilder Marine Technologies Inc.
“A comparable V-hull boat will be 20 to 30 mph slower at top speed,” says Scism, who designed the 48-foot MTI Class 1 cat XInsurance/Good Boy Vodka. “In some conditions, it might corner better, but it could never make up the difference in total lap time. The air cushion under a cat can carry 30 to 35 percent of the boat’s weight, so the bottom is not even touching small waves and chop.”
Builders seek to produce a boat that is significantly below the class minimum-weight specification. This allows each team to make weight using lead ballast—water ballast is not allowed—that can be positioned right on the stringers to keep the center of gravity as low as possible to enhance handling and help trim the boat. Weight, either lead bars or bags of lead shot, can be placed aft to lift the bow in calm conditions or forward to hold the bow down in rough water. Fuel tanks are located directly on the boat’s center of balance so that balance does not change as fuel is consumed. At race venues, a crane fitted with a scale lifts the Class 1 boats from the trailer to the water; this way, each boat is weighed every time it goes in and comes out of the water to prevent cheating.
At Class 1 speeds, aerodynamics becomes critical. The boats literally fly over the water, and the deck is flush with the top of each sponson. The enclosed cockpit is a teardrop blister, hatch latches and cleats are carefully recessed and faired, and air intake is accomplished with low-drag NACA ducts. When conditions are ideal, these huge boats appear to levitate with a grace that belies the brutal thrust required to reach speeds that can exceed 160 mph on the open ocean.
Prescribed Power
There are no surprises below the engine hatches of a Class 1 boat. Since P1 led a revival of the class in 2019, the Mercury Racing 1100 Competition engine has been standard power, a spec engine for the class. The 9.0-liter V-8 engine features Mercury Racing QC4 quad-valve cylinder heads and is boosted by twin turbochargers. Power output is 1,100 hp and 1,100 lb.-ft. of torque per engine on 93-octane pump gasoline. Each big V-8 turns 6,000 to 6,500 rpm. The transmission is the stout model designed for the Mercury Racing 1750 engine with a stronger input shaft and internal components.
“Before the switch to the Merc 1100, we were running engines making 1,850 to 2,000 hp at 7,500 rpm,” Curtis says, “and top speeds pushed 190 mph. Those engines needed a rebuild after each race.”
The point of a specified engine for the class is to reduce cost and ensure power parity among teams with unequal resources. With that in mind, the engines are tightly controlled. Teams are not allowed to make any adjustments or modifications to the engines. With the exception of the valve covers, the engines are sealed with special fasteners. At the beginning of each race weekend, the Mercury Racing support team delivers propulsion control modules (PCM) to each team. The PCM units are painted bright yellow so they are easy to identify. Mercury Racing also installs a data logger on each engine.
“After every practice and every race, we download the data to make sure it makes sense and that nobody has tweaked on the engines and turned the power up,” says Steve Wynveen, Mercury Racing manager of development engineering. “The idea of Class 1 now is that winning is dependent on driving and boat setup, not on who has the most money to throw at an engine.”
The expectation is that if teams don’t abuse these engines by constantly banging into the rev limiter, each can last the season with just basic maintenance. Teams will put between two and three hours of run time on the engines at each race weekend. Teams are free to install their own PCM for testing between races.
The Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA team engineered a number of quick-disconnect fittings that allow it to remove an engine in about 20 minutes, according to Curtis. This team pulls its engines after each race for maintenance and inspects the bilge and engine mounts below the engines. Typical maintenance includes an oil and filter change, checking the valve lash and adjusting with shims, a compression and leak-down test, checking the turbocharger waste-gate adjustment, and torquing all fasteners and clamps.
Six of the boats in this Class 1 fleet use surface drives based on a BPM model to put power to the water. The Italian drive only articulates in the vertical plane, which provides a limited range of trim, generally less than 15 degrees or, according to Curtis, about 1.5 inches at the propeller. The prop is located about 58 inches abaft the transom. A drop box located on the exterior of the transom allows teams to quickly change gear ratios to best match engine torque to the prevailing conditions. Curtis explains that on today’s short courses, acceleration out of turns is often more important than top speed. Teams using a surface drive are limited to three prop sets but have unlimited gear ratios. Steering is accomplished by a center-mounted rudder—a knife-sharp polished stainless Italian Flexitab model on Huski Ice Spritz—and teams can change rudders based on water conditions.
A sterndrive is also permitted in Class 1, but if the sterndrive can steer, the boat is not allowed to use a rudder. The MTI XInsurance/Good Boy Vodka boat is rigged with modified Mercury Racing M6 sterndrives. Trim is retained, but the skegs are cut off and steering is locked. The boat is equipped with a rudder. Teams running sterndrives are allowed an unlimited number of propellers.
“The problem with trying to steer these boats with the sterndrives is that when you turn the drive, one prop is pushed into water and the other into the air coming through the tunnel,” Scism says. “The prop in the air loses thrust. You want to keep both props centered behind the sponsons. I prefer to use the M6 drives for the added trim authority. That drive is plenty rugged for these engines.”
Read Next: How to Boat Safely at Any Speed
Curtis throttles with his right hand gripping a pair of Mercury Zero Effort controls topped with red plastic knobs molded to the shape of his hand. To his left is a fixed, molded grip with radio/intercom control buttons, trim control, and a button to change the screen display. Curtis can communicate with his team using VHF and UHF radios, and a cellular connection. Below is a pair of Mercury ignition keys, which we were surprised to see.
“When we went to the standard Merc 1100 engines, we wanted to retain the entire stock wiring harness to prevent any sort of tampering,” Curtis says. “So, there are the keys, just like on your fishing boat. It was the easiest solution.”
Facing Curtis are a pair of Livorsi turbocharger boost gauges, a Livorsi trim indicator, and a multifunction display usually showing tachometers. In the center of the dash is a Garmin MFD split between navigation and a rearview camera. The driver sits before a quick-release steering wheel with a lap counter on top of the dash, which will also display a yellow-and-red flag signal from race control.
I wish I could describe the sensation of driving Huski Ice Spritz at speed while looking through the slit of a windscreen. But as it turns out, there is not enough liability coverage or legal cover to ever make that happen. Scism says MTI will build you a new 48 Race model to Class 1 specs, with a price tag of $2.2 million to $2.4 million with power. A $500,000 budget will cover a bare-bones Class 1 team for a season, Curtis says, with a well-financed team spending more than $1.5 million. SVEA Racing Inc. brings a crew of 10 to each race with a 70-foot race trailer, a tilting boat trailer and its Kenworth hauler, and a world-champion throttleman. They are not going to a poker run.
Safety First
When Steve Curtis won his first Class 1 championship, he was standing in an open cockpit. “There was very little concern for safety in those boats,” Curtis says. “If you stuffed the boat, it was very likely you’d be killed.”
Today the driver and throttle work in an enclosed cockpit that is all business. This is not your pleasure boat—there is no Alcantara upholstery, no bass-pumping audio system, and no LED-illuminated drink holders. Cockpit entry is through a hatch secured with four sliding bolts like a bank vault. In Huski Ice Spritz, Curtis throttles from the port seat, and the driver is at the wheel to starboard. Deep bucket seats have 2 inches of suspension travel, and the crew is strapped securely in place. “During a race, it can actually get rather violent in here,” Curtis says. “It’s not very noisy, but there is a lot of vibration, even in smooth water, because the boat is so rigid. We can feel pretty beat up after a race.”
A cage of carbon channels surrounds the cockpit, which Curtis says is backed by a very thick bulkhead. Crush zones around the cockpit are designed to absorb energy on impact. The interior is raw and black, with no thought of cosmetics. The forward portion of the cockpit structure is formed by a ¾-inch-thick polycarbonate shield modeled after a fighter-jet canopy. The clear portion is minimized for further crew protection. There’s an emergency escape hatch in the floor for egress if the boat flips. The driver and throttle have a 10-minute emergency air supply.
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Current models: 38' power cat and a 52' sailing cat
Developed by anchor yachts, built by pacific seacraft in the usa, razor cat 38 – foiling performance power cat.
The Razor Cat 38 is your “escape pod” for adventure cruising. Providing performance, efficiency, and comfort on the water through the unique features and well thought design. The foil system increases efficiency by up to 40% over non-foiling boats, while improving performance and ride comfort. With 400 gallons of fuel aboard you have a 500+ mile range cruising at 30 knots, with a top speed of 45 knots. A key design element that the Razor Cat 38 shares with the Razor Cat 52 is the central inside helm station and 360 degree views throughout the bridge deck from both the sitting and standing positions.
The Razor Cat 38 provides seamless indoor/outdoor living with the Vista Door, which enables the entire aft wall of the salon to raise into the cabin top when desired. This combined with the near 17 foot beam creates a very spacious “single level” living space that is larger, and more usable, than most 50′ monohull powerboats. The innovation does not stop there, the cockpit has a built in electric grill station on the port side (with a 12 volt icemaker beneath) and built in beverage fridge opposite on the starboard side. The aft cockpit seat spilts into two benches that can be relocated next to the deck steps when you want to access the transom. The transom folds down to make a large swimming platform or boarding area. The fold down transom has the added benefit that it extends beyond the end of the outboards when they are tilted out of the water which allows you to board from the transom when you are stern to a dock. You can also board the boat from either side with the convenient side cockpit access just forward of the outboards.
The salon has a linear galley to port that spans almost 8 1/2 feet and features a 24″ work station sink, Vitrifrigo DRW180 stainless steel fridge/freezer drawers, induction cooktop and oven, along with generous storage. Opposite the galley is the settee which has a high/low folding table (when lowered forms a coffee table or a double berth). The settee seat backs can flip forward or aft facing depending on how you wish to use the seats. The settees also have large slide out drawers beneath providing easy access to provisions. The central helm station commands the forward portion of the salon, with a large sliding hatch directly above the helm. There is also a removable co-pilot seat that locks in place on the starboard side of the helm chair.
Each hull features a standard queen size berth with an opening hatch at the head of the berth. The large hull window features an opening port, providing ventilation and light that will be appreciated those aboard. The cabins also have a generous amount of storage with slide out drawers at the foot of the berth, inboard hanging locker, and outboard storage shelves. Moving aft past the steps from the hull to the salon you come to the head compartment and separate shower stall. Both the head compartment and shower stall have opening ports to add to the ventilation.
Forward of the salon is the systems room which is accessed by a large deck hatch that opens on gas struts. This is where the Lithium Ion batteries, inverter/chargers, and air conditioning units are located. This allows all the systems to be easily accessed and serviced while keeping them separate from the rest of the living area. Forward of the systems room is the comfortable forward cockpit which has storage beneath the cockpit seats. There is also large storage lockers in each bow which can be accessed by deck hatches and feature watertight bulkheads for added safety.
With the Razor Cat 38 you enjoy the journey as well as the destination!
The focus of this design is elegant performance. An offshore capable multihull which is easily controlled and operated by one person from the safety and comfort of a central inside helm station, featuring 360 degree views throughout the bridge deck. All lines (with the exception of the genoa/spinnaker sheets) lead to two electric reversible winches located either side of the helm. The genoa/ spinnaker sheets are handled by the two electric reversible winches in the cockpit (that can also be controlled remotely at the helm). Couples that have spent time cruising know how critical it is to be able to handle the boat easily while on watch without having to wake your partner, this is not possible on most catamaran designs.
A properly designed and constructed catamaran can be a very fast, but only if it remains light and easily driven. This design has relatively narrow hulls with dagger boards, along with simple powerful rig. The high bridge deck clearance minimizes pounding in a seaway and greatly adds to the comfortable motion aboard while sailing. All systems are designed to be easily accessed and maintained, a critical feature on any true cruising sailboat.
The bridge deck offers indoor/outdoor living at its finest, with excellent sight lines when sitting or standing, in the salon as well as on the aft deck. While the inside helm is the control center of the boat, the large U-shaped galley is the heart of the boat and is located on the bridge deck across from the dinette with easy access to the aft deck. The galley features a bar, under counter fridge/freezer drawers, a large sink, a proper stove with oven, along with substantial counter space and storage.
The accommodations in each hull are configured to provide a generous aft cabin with a queen berth that is easy to get into from the foot of the berth, along with ample storage. Moving forward is a modified queen midship berth (which folds up to reveal a work bench when needed). Next is a large forward head compartment with separate shower stall and large hanging locker. On the occasion you have additional guests the dinette also converts to a spacious double berth.
The market has seen an ever increasing demand for catamarans, particularly among sailors who have previously owned cruising monohulls. These buyers are looking for a catamaran that is well built offering: speed, comfort, and safety that is easy to handle while remaining a joy to sail. They also want a design that allows them to enjoy indoor/outdoor living (while underway and at anchor) in a way that is not possible on a traditional monohull. However, most catamarans on the market are designed and built for the charter market, which focuses on maximizing the number of berths and interior accommodations without concern of the adverse effects it has on sailing performance. The Razor Cat focuses on what experienced sailors are looking for in a performance cruising catamaran.
RAZOR CAT - PERFORMANCE CRUISING CATAMARANS
Origins of the Razor Cat
The development of the Razor Cat is the result of my personal experiences cruising with my wife aboard a performance catamaran, as well as my nearly 20 years selling new and used yachts. During that time I have been listening to what my clients have been searching for in a cruising catamaran, and the Razor Cat is the culmination of those experiences.
I am excited to be working with such a talented team to bring the Razor Cat to life:
Schionning Designs has been designing performance multihulls for over 25 years. Credited with over 400 boats on the water and cruising the world and zero failures on record, speaks to the success of their designs.
Pacific Seacraft has earned a reputation as a highly skilled builder of ocean going yachts, which they build with pride in Washington, NC USA. Their passion for boat building will be evident from your initial contact, throughout the entire build process, and after you take delivery of your new Razor Cat.
I am confident that the Razor Cat’s combination of innovative design, remarkable performance, and exceptional build quality, will bring joy to her owners and all aboard.
Elevate your time on the water.
Josh Hodgson – Owner of Anchor Yachts and Principal of Razor Cat
The Razor Cat Team
Anchor Yachts – Developer of the Razor Cats
Anchor Yachts was established in 1998. Providing international yacht brokerage services, as well as authorized representation for number of high quality build to order yacht lines, for both sailboats and powerboats. Our experience saves our clients time, money, and mistakes when purchasing and selling their yachts.
Josh Hodgson is the proud owner of Anchor Yachts. His love of boats started early in life while living aboard a catamaran in the Virgin Islands with his family when he was young. Boats have always been a presence and a passion in his life. He even met his wife while water skiing!
Applying his own sailing experiences, from living aboard a sailboat, to offshore voyages and coastal deliveries aboard a variety of boats, he has gained a firsthand appreciation of what makes a boat ready for sea. In addition, as the owner of Anchor Yachts since 2004, Josh has gained valuable experience by working with boaters to determine what they need in a boat to best accomplish what they are looking to do on the water.
Josh has listened to the comments and concerns of hundreds of boaters and have learned what it is that both men and women want in a proper boat. Through his long standing relationships with previous clients, he has come to know what they love about their boats and what they would like to change.
Josh is proud to have a long track record of helping people get what they want and maintaining positive relationships with his clients long after the sale. He looks forward to helping you expand your horizons on the water.
Pacific Seacraft -Builder of the Razor Cats
Pacific Seacraft was conceived more than 40 years ago in Southern California and has over the years become the preeminent builder of heavy weather capable bluewater sailing vessels. Astonishingly, each model boat in the line has circumnavigated, with the venerable PS-34, 37, 40, and 44’s continuing to do it with regularity.
In 2007 Pacific Seacraft came under new ownership and was relocated to North Carolina. Many of the longtime key personnel and department heads made the move to North Carolina and continue there today. This new era saw an even further evolution of the commitment to robust construction, real world ocean performance, and aesthetic beauty.
Pacific Seacraft has continued to build the Crealock line which remains a very relevant and viable cruising sailboat series. With Steve Brodie at the helm, the company began to expand their talent base and pursue larger custom and semi-custom projects. These included the SouthSea 61 designed by Robert Perry, which is available in a dual cockpit ketch and deck salon sloop configurations. This vessel is a model of modern technical construction with very traditional finishes. She is billed as a gentleman’s world cruiser whose beauty is only exceeded by her capability.
Working in conjunction with designer Ted Fontaine, Pacific Seacraft built the very unique, and very high tech, Surfari 50 performance sloop for entertainer Jimmy Buffett. Surfari boasts a lightweight infused epoxy hull with carbon reinforcing structure, carbon chain plates, hydraulic and electric controls for everything from mainsheet to transom tailgate, a pushbutton hydraulic lifting keel in a carbon fiber trunk, etc. All of this was executed with an of exceptional level of craftsmanship throughout, including unmatched interior woodwork details.
On the other end of the spectrum (and indicative of the company’s range), Pacific Seacraft is currently performing a full restoration of the last remaining North Carolina built Skipjack, built in 1915, and a very important part of North Carolinas maritime heritage.
While remaining true to the companies roots by continuing to produce very strong, beautiful, uncompromising vessels; Pacific Seacraft is also embracing new technologies, materials, and processes to continue to evolve and improve performance at sea. This includes epoxy sandwich infusion construction, employment of high strength aramid and carbon fiber laminates, titanium fabrications, advanced hydraulics, etc.
An uncompromising high quality standard is maintained by performing the work in-house and in the USA. Additionally, all materials and components undergo a rigorous evaluation with American and European components being employed where possible. While having evolved into more of a semi-custom builder, Pacific Seacraft has maintained and developed a broad range of in-house artisans and capabilities ranging from high tech composite fabrications, to metal fabrication and machining, to exquisite upholstery. The Pacific Seacraft team boasts over 200 years of combined boatbuilding experience. This level of experience, range, and control not only ensures a very high standard of quality but also to allow advanced levels of customization and engagement for discerning clients.
Schionning Designs – Designer of the Razor Cat 52
Schionning Designs has been working within the marine industry, in Australia and around the World, to engineer and develop luxury cruising and racing multihulls using the best composite solutions. Having designed catamarans for more than 25 years, Schionning Designs has grown to become one of the World’s top multihull designers.
Schionning Designs are some of the safest, fastest, most luxurious cruising catamarans on the market today. With over 400 boats on the water, cruising the worlds oceans, and zero design failures on record, the designs have proven themselves in the real world.
Crescendo Designs – Designer of the Razor Cat 38 Power Cat
Robert Quinn is the principal of Crescendo Designs who was the lead designer at Schionning Designs that was responsible for Razor Cat 52 design. His work in marine design and engineering has included both sail and power, with a focus on performance catamarans in both categories. He has also designed the innovative Max Cruise Marine catamarans. After having such a positive experience working closely with Robert on the Razor Cat 52 project it was clear that Crescendo Designs was the perfect fit to design the Razor Cat 38 Power Cat. His attention to detail, creative design ideas, and passion for yacht design result in yachts that are remarkable in both form and function.
Icarus Marine – Designer and builder of the foiling system for the Razor Cat 38 Power Cat
Icarus Marine was established in 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa as a Naval Architecture company specializing in high-speed craft design including hydrofoil-supported catamarans. From its outset the company was internationally focused and has established long term relationships with shipyards and end-users around the world. In 16+ years of operations, Icarus Marine has developed specialized knowledge in the design and construction of hydrofoil supported multihulls. The design and supply of turnkey hydrofoil supported vessels has become one of their core activities.
Thundercat Racing. Thundercat racing is why you’re here. The evolution of design from highly competitive thundercat racing in South Africa has produced wonderful technology for all of us to enjoy.
We import genuine South African hulls by Aquarius, Caesar, Infanta, Thundercat, Gemini and Mako. Check our new and used thundercat inventory !
Stick with South African thundercat hulls for quality and performance that will guarantee years of reliable fun. “A used South African hull is usually better than a new hull from somewhere else.” – Mr. Cracker
What is a Thundercat?
Thundercats are catamaran RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boat), a high performance relative to the Zodiak. They go by many names throughout the world (pencil duck, rubber duck, zapcat etc) but Thundercat is the most popular in the US. The inflatable sponsons have an aggressive profile in contrast to traditional recreational catamarans that allow them to turn like they are on rails. The hulls weigh around 200 pounds which helps them rocket from waves.
The second most exhilarating event of your life
Often raced in the surf, thundercats are great for rough water conditions because of their large flotation sponsons and open transoms. Any water that makes it into the vessel, quickly runs out the back through the transom. Although it can look dangerous, thundercats are actually safer than most vessels on the water. Typically, a thundercat will have six independently inflated chambers. If one is punctured, the remaining five will easily keep the vessel afloat.
Come race Thundercats in Florida at events like the BayLoosa Challenge!
The Physics
Thundercats are usually raced 2-up (driver and copilot). Top speed and acceleration will be better with only a driver but the ballast of a copilot is helpful for making hairpin turns. Since the hull weights about 200 pounds and the motor weighs about 200 pounds, the movement of a 100 – 200 pound copilot about the cockpit can drastically change the location of the center of gravity and thus the ability to maneuver.
Thundercats are typically outfitted with 40 to 90 HP outboard motors. The lighter the motor however, the better the handling. The best motor for a thundercat inflatable is a 40 or 50, Yamaha or Tohatsu, short shaft, pull start, manual tilt carbureted 2 stroke. If you want max power, the best practical setup is a 40 HP outboard Mercury 3 cylinders of 1997-2005 vintage, ported to produce upwards of 90 HP. 4 strokes and fuel injected 2 strokes are sensitive to submersion and that’s why the carbureted 2 strokes of yesteryear are still the best fit for thundercat racing. Carbureted 2 strokes are great motors for thundercat power due to the inherent lack of electronics, high power to weight ratios and no need for a starting battery.
Check out new and used motor inventory !
Fun in the sun
Thundercats are great for fishing and general recreation in addition to their wicked high speed performance. The majority of the hull lift comes from aerodynamics which leaves very little of the hull below the water’s surface. Shallow draft makes them great for getting up the creek or to your favorite scalloping spot. Egress and entry is a breeze over the round sponsons which make them particularly nice for free diving. It’s an all-condition life raft capable of speeds in excess of 70 MPH.
Getting started with Thundercats
Boat, motor, trailer… what else?
Safety Gear
The hulls are full of air but slamming your face against one after coming off of a wave is never fun. A full face (motocross type) helmet that is capable of getting completely wet without degradation of the internal padding protects your face from accidental smashing. Cut proof life jackets are mandatory in racing circuits.
Kill switches save lives.
Tools and Equipment
The hulls come standard with storage compartments that are excellent for storing tools and a rope. Riders will need both when getting an overturned thundercat back in service.
Quality Materials
A new thundercat hull will typically cost 4 to 6 thousand dollars depending on brand. Be weary of old hulls selling for dirt cheap because gluing seams again and again makes for a bad time. Modern, welded thundercat hulls take more abuse in their lifetime than predecessors or cheap knock offs.
Fast Motors
Suitable motors go for $500 to $7000 (very used to new) and props cost between $100 to $1000.
Mercury 3 cylinders are great for thundercats since they are common and inexpensive. Merc 3 Cylinder Wiki
Feed the Beast
Gas tanks designed specifically for thundercats fit snugly along the transom and leave the deck uncluttered.
Give us a Call.
Cracker Bay Thundercats is the Gulf Coast’s source for thundercat equipment and you can count on us for a turn key setup or just small parts.
No matter the state, we have you covered.
We’re based out of Panama City Beach, Florida but we can easily ship hulls to anywhere in the lower 48.
Hot deals from turn key Thundercats to bare hulls, motors, trailers etc.
Let us know if we don’t show what you’re looking for.
Leave a message here and it automatically sends us an email.
What’s Crackin’
2024 usa thundercat season – what’s to come and year in review.
2023 Thundercat Season in Review 2023 was a great year for thundercats in the United States. We’ve seen more people get into the sport this year than the previous 2 years combined and at this pace, we should have regular thundercat races in the US in no time. There are already large groups of thundercats …
Continue reading “2024 USA Thundercat Season – What’s to come and year in review”
New Year, New Motors!
The first batch of Ceasar Hulls and 2020 Yamahas has arrived! That’s right, brand new Yamaha 2 strokes in the US. Arguably, the hardest part of getting into thundercats in the US, is finding a suitable motor. Of course getting a hull takes forever but there’s no scarcity if you’re patient. Short shaft, pull start, …
Continue reading “New Year, New Motors!”
Double the Storms, Double the Fun!
With the chance of two storms in Cracker Bay at the same time, we’re all but guaranteed to have some good thundercat surf! New Ceasar Race Bullet hulls will be here soon and a second batch on their way. Thundercats are definitely picking up steam in the US. It’s an exciting time to be alive. …
Continue reading “Double the Storms, Double the Fun!”
Power Catamarans
A word about power catamarans.
O ur POWER CATAMARANS are hard to beat for speed with comfort. In a rough water chop, the air-cushion between the hulls really smooths out the ride. These boats carry heavier loads than other boats and are very stable, making them ideal family boats for fishing, skiing, or cruising. They turn flat with virtually no banking, and will handle more power than other boats in the same length. For ultimate performance, twin motors are recommended. The cockpit offers exceptional space that you must see to believe. All of our cats are extremely strong and designed for rugged use. Take a close look at the photos and drawings. These are truly unique boats; once you have one you will use it as a standard for ride and room that most other boats will not measure up to.
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Maserati’s First Electric Boat Delivers Style and Fun on the Water—We Took It for a Spin
We're the world's only media outlet to test this stylish 34-footer on Italy's Lake Maggiore. Here's what we found.
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The all-electric Tridente is nothing if not dashing. It joins other electric boats affiliated with sports car marques, including the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom Air and BMW-designed Tyde foiling electric boat . The Maserati has a much more conventional look than the other two.
The Tridente debuted alongside the car manufacturer’s newest electric vehicle, the Grancabrio Folgore, meaning “lightning bolt” in Italian. Maserati’s head of design, Klaus Busse, was on hand for both launches. Busse, a genial and strikingly tall German, had this to say about Maserati’s design approach, and Italian design overall: “If you look at the design of the Porsche 911, for example, you can see the Germans evolved it little by little over time—as if they are on a road to the idea of perfection. But with Italians, every ten years or so, they break everything and start with something fresh and new.”
Somewhat ironically, the Tridente seems to pull more from the German school of thought. Sleek and classic looking, there is nothing groundbreaking about the aesthetics. The boat has the familiar design language of an old Riva runabout—gently cambered bow deck, tumblehome in the after section—though built with modern materials and colors, and adorned nearly everywhere with the Maserati emblem.
But when the Tridente first pulled into view beside the lake’s breakwater, and the dark-blue water shimmered off its steel-gray hull, for a moment the machine looked almost surreal. It was stunning.
The boat is built around a carbon-fiber hull for rigidity and weight savings, and the fit and finish meets the standards one might expect: soft leathers, tight stitching, and a general feeling of solidity to the seating. This model seats eight comfortably, with wraparound seating at amidships and a scooped-out section aft that is, in effect, a giant sunpad. The cabin is tiny, but could fit a child who needs a nap out of the sun.
Maserati enlisted Vita Power, the EV marine company, for Tridente’s electric propulsion system. The boat is powered by four batteries that weigh 3,200 pounds, which explains the choice of lightweight carbon fiber for the hull. The entire boat displaces 11,400 pounds, about 2,000 pounds less than a Riva Aquariva 33. That light weight, paired with the equivalent of 600 horsepower, lets the Tridente accelerate like a proper sportscar.
When I pinned the throttle I felt real G forces pressing me into the captain’s seat—common for a high-performance raceboat, but rare for an electric vessel. The helm is a simple setup: a center touchscreen and two throttles. The reported top end is 46 mph, but I saw 42.6. At a 25-knot cruise, the Tridente has a 43-mile range, more than enough to get from Monaco to Cannes on a single charge.
Maserati says the batteries can be topped off in under an hour via a fast-charging DC connection. Running at cruise, the Maserati manifested the nimbleness requisite of a boat in this class, slicing cleanly through S turns and hard overs.
There were no waves, but I did send the Tridente through its own wake and was pleased with the way the hull split the chop. In the end, it proved a very fun boat to drive and looked exceptional with the lake and mountain backdrop.
The price may well be a bit much for most boaters to swallow, even if it’s the coolest superyacht tender on the planet. But if you want what is arguably the world’s most advanced and best-constructed electric boat, the Tridente fits the bill, an evolutionary leap for a classic-looking Italian runabout.
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Diego Botin steers Spain to SailGP’s $2M championship against heavyweights Slingsby and Burling
In this photo provided by SailGP, Spain SailGP Team competes on Race Day 2 of the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final in in San Francisco, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Ricardo Pinto/SailGP via AP)
In this photo provided by SailGP, France SailGP Team helmed by Quentin Delapierre collides with ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested on Race Day 2 of the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Ricardo Pinto/SailGP via AP)
In this photo provided by SailGP, Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin lead the fleet on Race Day 2 of the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Jason Ludlow/SailGP via AP)
In this photo provided by SailGP, Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin celebrate on stage with champagne after winning the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final inin San Francisco, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Ricardo Pinto/SailGP via AP)
In this photo provided by SailGP, Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin celebrate on stage after winning the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco,, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Adam Warner /SailGP via AP)
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Spain’s Diego Botin stunned heavyweights Tom Slingsby of Australia and Peter Burling of New Zealand by brilliantly steering Los Gallos to victory in SailGP’s $2 million, winner-take-all Grand Final on San Francisco Bay on Sunday.
Botin’s thrilling victory in the dash across the tops of the waves for sailing’s biggest cash prize snapped Slingsby’s three-season run as champion of tech titan Larry Ellison’s global league and denied Burling a breakthrough victory.
Spain qualified for the Grand Final thanks to a mindboggling error by French skipper Quentin Delapierre and his crew in an earlier fleet race that knocked them out of the regatta.
Botin took full advantage of that gift and never let trans-Tasman Sea rivals Australia and New Zealand engage in an anticipated showdown between skippers with deep America’s Cup and Olympic pedigrees.
Botin hit the starting line first and led his more accomplished rivals all the way around the course in front of the Golden Gate Bridge aboard his foiling 50-foot catamaran with a red outline of a rooster on the wingsail.
“I cannot describe the feeling now,” Botin said before heading ashore for a Champagne shower with his crew. “It was an amazing race. We nailed the start and we managed to keep it up. We were lucky because we broke a rudder or something on the last downwind but we managed to stay in front.”
The Australians had a technical issue as well as they were chasing down the Spanish but they didn’t recover. One of their foil boards didn’t lock into place and they buried their bows in the water.
“It was a normal tack, but somehow the board came off the lock,” Slingsby said. “We’ve done thousands of tacks this week and it hasn’t happened at all, then today it happened in the final $2 million dollar race. What do you do? It’s just unlucky.”
After dominating the day’s two fleet races, the Aussies seemed locked in.
“Honestly, the team sailed the best we’ve sailed, almost ever, today,” said Slingsby, an Olympic gold medalist who helped Oracle Team USA to an epic comeback victory in the America’s Cup on these same waters in 2013. “We had that mentality the whole race, even when we were behind, so I’m so proud of this team and the way they sailed. I’m honored to be part of it all.”
Botin noted that it was his country’s fourth big victory on Sunday. Spain won a record fourth European Championship in soccer, Carlos Alcaraz won his second straight Wimbledon men’s championship and Sergio Garcia won in LIV Golf.
“Beating the Kiwis and Aussies in the Grand Final here in San Francisco ... we’re over the moon,” Botin said. “It’s been a big grind and we’ve been through a lot in this league. Last season we were last in the scores, and look, this season we win. I think we have an amazing team. Let’s see if we can keep it together and keep the ball rolling.”
Slingsby won both fleet races Sunday to claim the San Francisco regatta that preceded the Grand Final.
Burling is a three-time Olympic medalist, including one gold, and as helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand will pursue a third straight America’s Cup victory in the fall.
“We’re all feeling the pain at the moment, but we’re really proud of the way the team has gone about their business,” Burling said.
Late in the fourth fleet race of the San Francisco regatta, France approached the final turning mark on port and needed to keep clear of Denmark on starboard, but turned too close and made contact. The impact snapped a rudder and sent the catamaran up on its port hull, where it hung precipitously for a few heart-stopping seconds as the crew avoided a capsize.
Botin dashed ahead to finish in front of France in the 10-boat fleet. France was hit with an eight-point penalty and the damage kept it out of the fifth fleet race, opening the door for Spain’s big victory.
“Sometimes you prefer to stay at home, and today I think that was the case,” Delapierre said. “At the last tack I just didn’t see the Danish and we crashed with them. We didn’t finish the job and that’s really painful for everybody on board right now.”
Bernie Wilson has covered sailing for the AP since 1991.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
The most boats ever will compete in the 100th Bayview Yacht Club race to Mackinac Island
Billed on its website as the “world’s longest continuously run long-distance freshwater yacht race,” the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race is set to start Saturday.
A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the 100th year of the race, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, said David Stoyka, spokesman for the Bayview Yacht Club, which puts on the race.
Bayview Yacht Club says boats start leaving the Black River in Port Huron around 8 a.m. on race day and will continue leaving until around noon. From the Black River, they will proceed up the St. Clair River, under the Blue Water Bridge, into Lake Huron.
The first scheduled start time in Lake Huron is 11:30 a.m., with starts every 10 minutes until approximately 1:30 p.m. The starts may be delayed due to weather conditions.
This year, for the 100th running, the race will follow the original 1925 route and span 204 nautical miles. From the starting point, the boats will head north along the Michigan shoreline, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, sailing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island, organizers said.
The range of boats are expected to finish in between 30 and 60 hours.
The sailors
Teams at all skill levels have entered the race, which draws competitors from around the world. The highly skilled racers know they will cross the bow of competitors within inches. Still, there's always risk of a crash with the slightest miscalculation.
"Everybody recognizes this is super intense," said champion sailor Tim Prophit , 65, of St. Clair Shores, past commodore of Bayview Yacht Club and owner of Fast Tango, a North American 40 sailboat.
The teams are vying for trophies and flags to show their accomplishments.
The J.L. Hudson Trophy is awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in Division I, and the Canadian Club Classic Trophy is awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in Division II.
How can spectators follow the race?
Spectators can go to bycmack.com during the race and click on “RaceTracking” link to watch real-time GPS positioning of all the race boats, or, on your mobile device, download the free app YB Races and select the current race.
Boats will start arriving at Mackinac Island on Sunday afternoon and continue until Monday evening, all dependent upon the wind.
Finishes can be seen from Windermere Point on Mackinac Island at the south end of Main Street.
Sailors who have completed 25 Bayview Mackinac races are called “Old Goats,” according to the club, while those who have completed 50 are called “Grand Rams.”
"Double Goats" are sailors who have completed 25 Bayview Mackinac races and 25 Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac races. This year’s Chicago to Mackinac race encountered strong winds in Lake Michigan , snapping some boats’ masts and tossing one sailor overboard. No one was hurt.
Volunteers who have served for 15 years on the Race Committee are honored with the title “Old Forts,” as designated by the Race Committee.
This story includes material from a staff report by former Free Press reporter Phoebe Wall Howard and from the Bayview Yacht Club.
The 7 Best RC Boats for Racing Around Lakes, Riding Upstream, and Ripping Through Waves
Like sailing or speedboating, but tiny.
Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?
RC boats come in lots of shapes, sizes, and styles, but the best models can shred water from afar without becoming sinking ships. We’ve rounded up the best remote-control boats for beach visits, lakefront races, poolside entertainment, and some advice on picking the best RC boat for you.
Stay in play and check out our picks for the best magnetic toys , remote-control trucks , and remote-control planes .
The Best RC Boats
Best Overall: ALPHAREV RC Boat with Case R308
Best for Beginners: DEERC RC Boat with LED Light
Most Well-Rounded: Altair Aerial AA102 RC Boat
Best Value: Force1 Velocity H102
Best Sailboat: PLAYSTEAM Voyager 400 RC Sailboat
What to Consider
While you can likely get away with using a larger RC boat on a pond or lake, you may want to stick to a smaller model if you’ll be floating yours in a backyard swimming pool or need to pack something tiny. RC boats can be up to two feet long, so make sure to consider the journey to the water, too, especially if the boat you’re eyeing doesn’t come with a carrying case.
Weight and Speed
The RC boat’s weight helps determine how fast it can move. Heavier boats are better equipped to move at high speeds without capsizing, whereas lighter boats can be speedy using less power, a.k.a., slower acceleration. Think of it like torque on a car (or a full-sized boat, for that matter)—the more power the boat gets from the battery, electric, or gas motor, the faster it can accelerate.
Speed is also dependent on the type of hull—some boats are shaped for optimal turning and curves, while others are built for picking up speed while driving in a straight line.
The priciest models can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. We mostly recommend recreational, battery-powered RC boats that reach speeds up to 30 miles per hour, since the more powerful, expensive models are meant for hardcore hobbyists and professional racers.
Capsize Recovery
Many RC boats have anti-capsize, or capsize recovery, functionality to prevent them from flipping over (and staying overturned). Flipping an RC boat is extremely easy, especially if you lack experience, and can lead to a sinking ship. If you’re new to RC boating, consider grabbing one with capsize recovery, making your boat rebalance and flip back over if it tips.
How We Selected
We researched each model’s speed, customer rating, durability, and unique features. We also consulted buying guides from several top hobbyist publications. We’ve picked options for every type of RC boat customer, whether you’re a casual hobbyist, buying a first boat for your kids, or you’re a dedicated RC enthusiast.
ALPHAREV RC Boat with Case R308
This boat features capsize recovery, so if it tips over or gets hit by a wave, it’ll flip back over to recover. It also has LED lights installed to make it easy to see when it’s dark. Thanks to the autopilot mode that loops the boat into a figure-eight shape, children can easily use it, too.
The R308 comes with two batteries and a charger, with users reporting approximately 20 minutes of power (counting both batteries) when operating the boat at full speed. It has a 400-foot signal range for distance driving and tops at 20 miles per hour. With its carry case, the R308 is a solid RC boat for most users.
Dimensions
15.86 x 9.13 x 5.31 in.
Weight
8 oz.
Speed
20+ mph
DEERC RC Boat with LED Light
This is an excellent option for anyone eager to get into RC boating but unsure of their prowess on the water. It features two autopilot modes, so there’s plenty of opportunity to learn how to use it. It also has an extended playtime of 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to practice.
With features like capsize recovery, double hatch design, and low-battery and signal alarms, this boat is pretty much goof proof, making it the perfect boat for beginners on their way to becoming enthusiasts.
Dimensions
15.98 x 7.44 x 6.77 in.
Weight
2.03 lbs.
Speed
20+ mph
Altair Aerial AA102 RC Boat
If you need a well-rounded RC boat, this one has ample protection, zippy speeds, and excellent customer service, all in one attractive package. Its anti-capsize feature prevents it from tipping over, while several users say its nose bumper saved their boats from getting totaled through crashing.
It has an extra battery for more playtime, and several users say it provides up to 20 minutes of action after swapping it. Users who experienced issues with their boats were able to find replacement parts and products thanks to the company’s customer service help. Others say that it’s a terrific value, though the lack of a carry case is disappointing.
Dimensions
17.32 x 10.12 x 5.98 in.
Weight
1.38 lbs.
Speed
18 mph
Force1 Velocity H102
This boat reaches speeds of 20-plus miles per hour, making it great for anyone who wants their toy to fly on the water. This boat features a capsize recovery mode, a water-cooled engine, and a double-hatched body, making it easier to control on waves. The charge time is a little long, three to four hours, but it can ride for up to 15 minutes at full power.
Customers say this boat reaches top speed fairly quickly, though some report that the controller is difficult to use and not very responsive. Still, it handles well on the water and is a super speedy boat.
Dimensions
10.85 x 2.75 x 2 in.
Weight
5.9 oz.
Speed
20+ mph
PLAYSTEAM Voyager 400 RC Sailboat
If sailing is your preference, the Voyager 400 is the way to go. Rather than rely on an electric motor to push it forward, the Voyager 400 can sail in any body of water via wind power. Its remote controls the rudder and the propulsion, and just in case wind isn’t in the forecast, it comes with a detachable motor to help propel it.
Customers say it’s easy to use, and everything is sealed to keep interior components dry when it tips over. Its rechargeable remote battery can work for up to one hour, which puts most RC speedboats to shame. A drawback, however, is that if it gets stuck at sea without the motor attached, you’ll have to wait for it to wash ashore.
Dimensions
27.25 x 17 x 5.25 in.
Weight
1.34 lbs.
Speed
N/A
Cheerwing RC Racing Boat
Cheerwing RC boats are fantastic if you’re looking for an affordable toy to race with your friends. This boat can hit up to 15 miles per hour and has some great features, including capsize recovery and automatic yaw correction, which rebalances your boat. It also signals when the battery is low or starts to lose signal, giving you peace of mind.
If you want to try RC boating without spending much, this is a solid buy. Its biggest downside is in its battery life—just six to eight minutes per charge—and it doesn’t come with the option to buy a second battery, so it requires frequent recharging.
Dimensions
13.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 in.
Weight
11.4 oz.
Speed
15 mph
VOLANTEXRC Brushless RC Boat
If you need speed and don’t mind investing more money into your hobby, this boat is fantastic. The fastest model on this list, this boat has a top speed of 40 miles per hour, a range of up to 656 feet, and a water-cooled system that prevents the motor from overheating.
It also has safety features to prevent damage from the high speeds, like waterproofing and a one-piece hull to prevent cracks.
The biggest flaw is its lack of capsize recovery, and several users say their boats flipped in action, causing them to swim out to retrieve their toys. It also only comes with one battery.
Dimensions
27.56 x 7.48 x 5.31 in.
Weight
5.39 lbs.
Speed
40 mph
Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.
Sports | Photos: 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
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Crews hope the weather is favorable for record-breaking year of fast finishes for boats competing in this weekend’s 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race To Mackinac. People come from all over the world to compete, departing a few miles out from Chicago’s Navy Pier. The finish line is between the lighthouse on Round Island and the race committee trailer on Mackinac Island, both in Michigan.
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Power Catamarans
A Word About Power Catamarans. Our POWER CATAMARANS are hard to beat for speed with comfort. In a rough water chop, the air-cushion between the hulls really smooths out the ride. These boats carry heavier loads than other boats and are very stable, making them ideal family boats for fishing, skiing, or cruising. They turn flat with virtually no ...
Power catamaran Moscow Region
Rent a Power catamaran in Moscow Region for a fantastic price ⛵ Choose among thousands of charter yachts available online and save money Summer 2021 - over 651 exclusive deals online Best prices - save on average CHF 848 on each booking
Lewmar Triple Series
Related Articles Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex day 2 The wood is good, says skipper/owner Oivind Lorentzen The wood is good, says skipper/owner Oivind Lorentzen. His latest boat, the 43-foot Botin-designed Jax, was cold molded by Brooklin Boatyard in Maine, designed to plane in brisk conditions and intended to compete under ORC.
Review: Outremer 52 Top 10 Best Boats 2025 Nominee
Builder Outremer catamaran-outremer.com. As-tested $2 million. Grand Large Yachting, which owns Outremer Catamarans, is holding its Blue Water Sailing Seminar at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis on October 12, 2024.
Idaho Regatta
Idaho's Premier Boat Race. The Idaho Regatta is an annual boat race that takes place on the Snake River located in Burley Idaho. The race is held on the LAST FULL weekend in June approximately the 24-27. The event host some of the fasted Circle Sprint Boat from across the United States. We generally host 10 classes of boats that include K Racing Runabouts, Unblown Flats, Cracker Boxes ...
Maserati's Tridente Electric Boat, Sea-Trialed by Robb Report
The boat is powered by four batteries that weigh 3,200 pounds, which explains the choice of lightweight carbon fiber for the hull. The entire boat displaces 11,400 pounds, about 2,000 pounds less ...
Diego Botin steers Spain to SailGP's $2M championship against
Late in the fourth fleet race of the San Francisco regatta, France approached the final turning mark on port and needed to keep clear of Denmark on starboard, but turned too close and made contact. The impact snapped a rudder and sent the catamaran up on its port hull, where it hung precipitously for a few heart-stopping seconds as the crew ...
The most boats ever will compete in the 100th Bayview Yacht Club race
A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the 100th year of the race, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, said David ...
Survival boat races to be held in Moscow
The race is on a closed circuit with a length of 2200 meters with 6 left turns and one right turn. According to competition rules, a competitor can drive a boat for no more than two hours in a row. Of course, with stops for refueling and crew changes. The race is held on rigid-bottom inflatable motorboats.
The Best RC Boats in 2024
The 7 Best RC Boats for Racing Around Lakes, Riding Upstream, and Ripping Through Waves. Like sailing or speedboating, but tiny. By Kevin Cortez Updated: Jul 11, 2024. Jump to Products Save Article.
Photos: 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
A boat crew prepares their boat for the Race to Mackinac on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Chicago Yacht Club in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/for Chicago Tribune) Boats participating in the Race to ...
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The Skater, Michigan-based company that covers 95,000 square feet was the first to perfect the use of vacuum-bagging technology, S-glass, kevlar, carbon fiber, epoxy resins and other construction techniques in the high performance industry and we use those construction techniques on every boat we build. Skater does not build 'off-the-line ...
Year: 2008 Power: Twin 700 hp (each) Location: Arizona Contact Number: 702-378-9099 Asking: $160,000 Details & Photos ». 45' Americas Cup Power Catamaran Custom Tender 45ft. "America," a custom yacht built for the 34th America's Cup, offers VIP luxury and comfort, ideal as a shadow vessel or private day boat.
Catamaran Performance Boats for Sale Preowned high performance powerboats, cruisers, and yachts for sale by owner. Featured. Avoid Fraud. View All. v-Hulls. Catamarans. ... PRICE DROP ) 2014 Nordic 26-deck boat with 565 Mercury Racing motor , One owner boat with a big Stereo upgrade, Extended Swim step. MUST SEE. For viewing, please make an ...
Marine Technology Inc. specializes in crafting top-of-the-line High Performance Racing and Pleasure Catamaran style boats, Center Console Vee-Bottoms, and Twin Outboard Catamarans. Each boat is custom-built to meet the specific needs and desires of the client. The company is known for its superior craftsmanship and the incorporation of the latest technology in electronics and modern features ...
The F50 is an awe-inspiring racing machine capable of reaching speeds up to 50 knots (60mph/100kph). The team who designed and built the fleet explains what ...
- 2024 F18 Worlds starts Monday July 1st 136 boats registered... Uncategorized. June 26, 2024 ... @pablo.volker & @fede_polimeni leading F18 Worlds 2024 Costa Brava after 10 races. Tomorrow last day. Photo: Marc Graupera Aloma ... Catamaran Racing, News & Design + Foiling Mag. Inquiries, submit Articles & Advertising rates: ...
F50 catamarans can travel at up to 50 knots. John G. Mabanglo/EPA. A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat.
Catamarans aka Tunnel Boats; Offshore V bottoms and catamarans between 35 and 50 feet are the most popular because they are seaworthy. Let's take a deeper look at both of these types of offshore powerboats. Offshore V-Bottom Monohull Speed Boats. The offshore monohull V-bottom is still the quintessential high-performance powerboat.
HH Catamarans has been turning heads since 2012 with a line of sporty, high-tech boats that feature a luxury fit-out. What started off on the drawing board as a fast 48ft cruising cat has grown to ...
Using the most advanced technology in Formula 18 sailing, the Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built to win - a sophisticated design combined with 45 years of experience make it the best all-round performing Formula 18 multihull, across the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor. The literal evolution in Formula 18 sailing, it's the next iteration of the boat that won ...
Blending Art and Science. The Phoenix lineup of catamarans by Smart Performance Marine may be new to the consumer market, but their design and construction are the product of two decades of modifying, designing, rigging, and building high-performance outboard catamarans for offshore racing and pleasure boating.. Founder, owner and designer Chris Schoenbohm bought his first race boat in 2003 ...
With over 25 years of building offshore powerboats, we have brought home over 20 Championships in the Stock Outboard Class with plenty more in the future. Click on the link below to learn more and order your race boat today! DOUG WRIGHT POWERBOATS. Manufacturing industry leading performance racing and pleasure boats. Monday-Friday: 9am to 5pm;
The F50 is a one-design foiling catamaran used in the SailGP race series. The name is an abbreviation of "Foiling" and "a hull length of 50 feet".The F50s are adapted from the AC50s used in the America's Cup, with modifications including new control systems and modular wingsails. The F50s are one of the fastest racing classes in history, with a predicted top speed of 52.2 knots (96.6 km/h, 60 ...
Teams must therefore work together to fly as high as possible without flying too high and crashing into the water, rising speed and losing speed in SailGP's high pressure racing. The F50's cutting edge technology is evident in its status as the first boat to hit 99.94 km/h during racing - and it has a top speed of over 100 km/h.
Steve Curtis throttles a real race boat. The Victory catamaran Huski Chocolate carried Curtis and drivers Travis Pastrana and Brit Lilly to the 2022 UIM Class 1 championship in the Powerboat P1 Offshore series. Last summer, we met Curtis and this boat, now rechristened Huski Ice Spritz, at the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan ...
Racer sailing vessels pricing. Racer sailing vessels for sale on YachtWorld are offered at a variety of prices from $7,204 on the relatively more affordable end all the way up to $3,042,073 for the rarest of yachts.
The Razor Cat 38 is your "escape pod" for adventure cruising. Providing performance, efficiency, and comfort on the water through the unique features and well thought design. The foil system increases efficiency by up to 40% over non-foiling boats, while improving performance and ride comfort. With 400 gallons of fuel aboard you have a 500 ...
The MTI outboards are powered by twin Mercury Racing Outboard engines with Max 5 props. The standard engine package includes all the necessary digital equipment, steering, hardware and components for turn-key operation and peace of mind. Twin Mercury 400R, Black, Sportmaster Lowers. Merc Max 5 Props, Steering & Hardware.
Inflatable Thundercat Racing Boats in the US! ... Thundercats are catamaran RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boat), a high performance relative to the Zodiak. They go by many names throughout the world (pencil duck, rubber duck, zapcat etc) but Thundercat is the most popular in the US. The inflatable sponsons have an aggressive profile in contrast to ...
A Word About Power Catamarans. Our POWER CATAMARANS are hard to beat for speed with comfort. In a rough water chop, the air-cushion between the hulls really smooths out the ride. These boats carry heavier loads than other boats and are very stable, making them ideal family boats for fishing, skiing, or cruising. They turn flat with virtually no ...
Rent a Power catamaran in Moscow Region for a fantastic price ⛵ Choose among thousands of charter yachts available online and save money Summer 2021 - over 651 exclusive deals online Best prices - save on average CHF 848 on each booking
Related Articles Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex day 2 The wood is good, says skipper/owner Oivind Lorentzen The wood is good, says skipper/owner Oivind Lorentzen. His latest boat, the 43-foot Botin-designed Jax, was cold molded by Brooklin Boatyard in Maine, designed to plane in brisk conditions and intended to compete under ORC.
Builder Outremer catamaran-outremer.com. As-tested $2 million. Grand Large Yachting, which owns Outremer Catamarans, is holding its Blue Water Sailing Seminar at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis on October 12, 2024.
Idaho's Premier Boat Race. The Idaho Regatta is an annual boat race that takes place on the Snake River located in Burley Idaho. The race is held on the LAST FULL weekend in June approximately the 24-27. The event host some of the fasted Circle Sprint Boat from across the United States. We generally host 10 classes of boats that include K Racing Runabouts, Unblown Flats, Cracker Boxes ...
The boat is powered by four batteries that weigh 3,200 pounds, which explains the choice of lightweight carbon fiber for the hull. The entire boat displaces 11,400 pounds, about 2,000 pounds less ...
Late in the fourth fleet race of the San Francisco regatta, France approached the final turning mark on port and needed to keep clear of Denmark on starboard, but turned too close and made contact. The impact snapped a rudder and sent the catamaran up on its port hull, where it hung precipitously for a few heart-stopping seconds as the crew ...
A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the 100th year of the race, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, said David ...
The race is on a closed circuit with a length of 2200 meters with 6 left turns and one right turn. According to competition rules, a competitor can drive a boat for no more than two hours in a row. Of course, with stops for refueling and crew changes. The race is held on rigid-bottom inflatable motorboats.
The 7 Best RC Boats for Racing Around Lakes, Riding Upstream, and Ripping Through Waves. Like sailing or speedboating, but tiny. By Kevin Cortez Updated: Jul 11, 2024. Jump to Products Save Article.
A boat crew prepares their boat for the Race to Mackinac on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Chicago Yacht Club in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/for Chicago Tribune) Boats participating in the Race to ...