No discussion about this yacht should happen without a mention about its yacht designer, Tom Fexas. He used some extra ordinary design skills, grand style, and technical acumen to create a special yacht in the Midnight Lace boats. He first used his thoughts about fast power cruising using modest power in his 44’ Midnight Lace model. I have driven an example of one of those cruisers in the Pacific Ocean. A very nice boat, but somewhat under powered as that one had twin small Renault engines under its cockpit. The Renaults also were smoky engines on that 44’ boat cruise and that was a fairly big issue to me at that time.Tom Fexas made a fast yacht in the Midnight Lace 52 by watching the hull weight and its balance along with a easy to push, narrow beam hull shape.

He has said that the design was “inspired…by the slippery old hulls…of the rumrunners” and the yacht designs of Consolidated and Elco boats.

She is a 52’ yacht with less than 10 tons in displacement! Her 13’ beam makes her narrow compared to other boats of this length. Yet the boat has a double berth master with its own head (with a short bath tub). Plus, a private guest stateroom that has two single berths and there is also a fully found second head.

Cheoy Lee built this yacht in 1983 using the latest fiberglass construction with coring for a light weight composite hull. They constructed a glorious interior to match her exterior design. She has since been updated and her equipment has been generously replaced as needed by an attentive yacht owner.

Oh yah, I saved the best for last…a Midnight Lace is a bow rider.

The photos are from Yachtworld.com that has this yacht currently for sale.

Don Aronow driving his wood racer to a world record powered by a GM V-6 diesel souped up and marinized by Daytona Marine

an early Magnum Marine 27 still named Magnum - Donzi when mercruiser used ford engines

Magnum 35 race stripped down with direct shaft drive holman - moody, competition proven, ford engines

A famous ad for Magnum Marine once they moved up to building yachts

Don Aronow started Magnum Marine around 1966 after he sold Donzi Marine on 188^th Street in Miami, FL (Thunderboat Row), which he had brought to market after he sold Formula Marine in 1964. Later, Don Aronow also started Cary Marine, Cigarette Racing Team, SquadronXII, and USA Racing Team. He also designed the first Apache powerboat. Finally he ran some experimental outboard powered racing boats, a Cat or two, an unconventional Unlimited  Racer, etc.   

Get a copy of Michael Aronow’s book (ISBN 0-945903-22-7) to really follow Don Aronow’s life and boat racing / boat building career. Its now a rare book, but a copy surfaces once in a while.

Chris Brown / seabuddy got as far as taking a sea trial in a 27’ Magnum twin small block Mercruiser with Alpha Mercruiser sterndrives before he came to the conclusion that it just was not a fast enough boat for him (she did top speeds in the mid 50 mph range). 

Now Magnum Marine is working on their biggest yacht yet. In 2012 Magnum Marine expects to have their trend setting 100’ yacht ready. That yacht is expected to run three engines totaling 7,800 in Hp through three Arneson Surface Drives reach light load speeds in the low 60 mph range. Magnum Marine and Arneson Surface Drives have made many boat and yacht marriages together. I have sea trialed that combo and its works exceptionally well. Currently, Magnum Marine gives out specs of LOA 95’, beam 20’ and a weight of 147,000 lbs for the 2012 Magnum Marine 100’.

drawing of the 100' Magnum Marine 2012 Yacht

Go back a few years and Sea Ray could not keep up with the demand for Sea Ray Sun Deck bow rider boats. Then it happened, they updated their model line-up and lost the leadership in the deck boat business. Now, this boat, the 230 Sun Deck by Sea Ray, is charged to get that business back to Sea Ray.

What does she offer that the others did or did not? Let seabuddy cover that.

More words and photos are on the second page of this write-up.

Now, this 230 is a tight boat fitting boat. A tight head, tight cockpit, etc. everything is here, but its tight when the family gets onboard with their “stuff”. A tight main cockpit. It is OK on the showroom floor but tight on the water with everyone onboard. You know, food, soft drinks, towels, purses, jackets – that kind of stuff.

The 230 Sea Ray Sun deck has a tight head, but its there. It is also plain, but its there. Try it to see how it fits and feels to the biggest person that is expected to use it. That may be Mom in your family boating gang as Dad often does not use the boat’s head. By all means, make sure your boat has the dockside pump out head option and the two color optional gelcoat.

An anchor locker, longer bow seats, enclosed head, a cockpit table to lay out food for all upon, a number of places to sit, and a big swim platform in an inch over 24’ of family boat, is a lot. But, its all there. If its too tight for your family, there is the 260 sitting right next to it most of the times, so all of you, climb out of the 230 and into the 260 and see what the same items feel like in the boat that was designed to replace the old 240. Your Wife will be amazed.

Seabuddy has included a Sea Ray photo that clearly shows the best feature of the new 230 sun deck Sea Ray over the main objection seabuddy had with the old 240. It’s the  seat back height of the bow seating that makes those kids riding in the bow rider cockpit, feel like they are sitting deep down in the boat, rather than seating so high that they AND Mom felt that they could easily fall out of the boat when the Sun Deck bounces over a wake. The 230 is very safe feeling bow rider cockpit, as is the 260 bow rider cockpit is and the old 240 was not.

This 230 Sun Deck Sea Ray comes with three different size engine torques. Why torque? Because, this is not a top speed hull. Sea Ray changed the hull, so it rides more level by making more the hull length stick into the water underway. All three engines give WOT speeds in the mid – 40 mph range. Do not buy a bigger engine for more speed. Its not there in this hull. Buy a bigger engine to get going (the differences between the 5.0, 5.7, and 377 engines shows up in this hull is by in getting a light, medium, and fully loaded boat going and up on plane)  Base your engine choice about like this; two – three people and half full gas tank and little stuff in people gear and  boat supplies like an anchor, extra dock lines, back-up cans of engine and / or drive oil, etc – go with a 5.0,… medium load; four – five folks and more stuff; …and the 377 size displacement engine is for seven family members on board, a full gas tank, with jackets, towels, food, etc for everyone. Remember, this is a 4,850 lb boat dry, and you can safely add up to 1,800 lbs in gas, batteries, boat gear, and combined weight of your crew. The 6,500 lb type loaded boat can use the torque of the 377, in seabuddy’s opinon.

This boat hull was designed by the folks at Baja, and since then the deck has been restyled by Sea Ray, and all Baja boats are now built by Fountain Boats (they bought Baja awhile ago). She uses a 27’ 5” hull with a swim platform and hull LOA of 29’ 2”. The beam is 8’ 6” and the weight is 5,100 lbs.

Note how much more of a “needle nose” she has and how far back towards the transom it goes. This a very traditional go-fast deep vee with a truely now old fashioned 24 degree bottom at the transom. There are no steps or breaks across the running surface in the Baja 277 boat hull. That all gives and outstanding soft ride in a chop, but takes extra Hp to over-come the drag that such a hull shape requires. Do not under power this boat!

Top power for this race-boat inspired Baja family boat is the 600 Hp Mercury Marine Bravo XR inboard outboard stern drive I/O. Fountain includes both trim tabs (K-planes) and external steering (Latham steering) with this engine and drive power package.

From Merc Racing…The HP600 SCi was the first Mercury Racing sterndrive engine package certified for sale in the European Union (EU). The popular engine, packed with Mercury Racing exclusive components, meets the emissions requirements as set forth in the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) 94/25/EC amended by 2003/44/EC. The engine also meets requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EC. The certification expands the availability of the 600 SCi sterndrive engine package to all countries that fall under the EU’s RCD.

The 600 SCi engine continues Mercury Racing’s heritage of producing engines packed with state-of-the-art technology that delight customers with outstanding performance.

The engine outperformed the larger displacement Ilmor MV10-625 in a recent Speedboat Magazine® shoot-out featuring identically rigged Outerlimits 39 Quatro vee-bottom hulls.

The Mercury exclusive Propulsion Control Module (PCM) 07 microprocessor, combined with a 3.3 Liter Lysholm® screw type supercharger, roller camshaft and sequential fuel injection for impeccable idle quality, instant throttle response and unmatched performance throughout the engine operating range…

The 600 Hp Mercury Marine Bravo XR inboard outboard stern drive I/O uses a Mercury Marine cast and built 502 cu. in. block that this year is now being offered with Hp ratings as low as 380 Hp. Note that this 600 Hp engine power requires upgraded by two steps Mercury Marine Mercruiser inboard outboard drive from the Bravo One, and not the Bravo One x, but the Bravo XR I/O drive as a standard Bravo One drive is only rated up to 400 Hp by Mercury Marine.

The standard engine in Baja’s 277 Islander bow rider is Merc’s 320 Hp and Bravo One I/O.

Standard is a bimini top, snap-in carpet, chart plotter and 300 Hp. As an option you could order the 8.1 425 Hp Mercury Marine Bravo Three inboard outboard package. Note, this is a now discontinued engine package by Mercury Marine (if you are interested, Volvo is sticking with the 8.1 Chevy engine – which does not use catalyst to pass emissions testing). The new engine, which I have water tested is the 8.2 liter 430 Hp Mercury Bravo Thee inboard outboard set-up w/ two catalysts to pass the USA emissions testing).

The 270 Sea Ray bow rider has a LOA of 28’ 6” and a not easy to trailer 9’ beam. She weights 5,555 lbs dry. Note, the inside of the head door on this craft, it’s the nicest seabuddy has seen this year.

Hey, 300 Hp and a tower for wakeboard activities are here. Chaparral uses Mercury Marine power in a 5.7 form for hole shot, good top speed, and steady pulling speeds. They use the inboard outboard drive set-up rather than an inboard drive train for better wakes, far better fuel economy, and more WOT fun.

She specs out at 22’ 6” with a 8’ 6” beam for an easy tow on the road. Weight comes in at 3,959 lbs. The Mercruiser drive with the two prop Bravo Three out drive gives the best all around performance.

They are now here…the 2010 Crownline boats! This is a 2010 model Crownline boat bow rider. She really moves along with the 260 Hp Mercury Marine and inboard outboard Alpha drive. Been waiting for the 2010s Crownline boats? Wait no more.

More words and another photo on the second page.

She is narrow and needle nosed with a 7’ 8” beam and a LOA of 19’ 5”. The degree vee in the bottom is only eighteen degrees for more speed. So long, narrow, and medium vee…all for speed. Match the boat hull with 260 Hp or go smaller for a lower price. The 135 Hp in a Mercury Marine four cylinder Chevy block is the beginning engine. Merc’s Alpha inboard outboard drive is the right choice. Do not forget to get some canvas and a Bimini top, as well as a great selection of other options when you go Crownline boats for 2010.

Note, Crownline went out of business in December, 2008. New owners are now in place and they started building boats for the 2010 model year on October, 14, 2009.

SunDance Marine Authorized to Short Sale all Inventory!
• SunDance Marine to accept bids on all existing inventory below invoice cost.
• All Purchases must be cash or pre-approved financing.
• All engine and manufacturer warranties remain in effect.
• All 2007, 2008 and 2009 existing Inventory, as equipped.
• Manufacturers include Wellcraft (including Scarab models), Silverton, Regal, Formula, Ocean, Venture
• Program authorized for existing inventory only and will not be approved on new orders.
• Program covers all SunDance Marine, Inc. inventory as of July 1, 2009, and listed on SunDance Marine website:

www.sundancemarineusa.com

Get the 60 Hp and and ask for the $12,982 price.  Seven boat photos here.

www.bayliner.com/

http://www.hippmarine.com/

CARB emission standards are similar to EPA in that they regulate certain aspects of engine emissions that affect air quality. CARB standards, however, are stricter than Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards because they call for an accelerated emissions reduction schedule in California. For example, the 2001 CARB one-star standard is equivalent to the 2006 EPA standard. Most outboard manufacturers choose to certify engines to the CARB two-star and three-star levels because they are well below the EPA standards. EPA “credits” can be earned by manufacturers’ engines that are certified below the EPA certification levels, and those credits can be used to offset negative credits imposed on engines that are certified above the EPA standards. The illustration below explains in further detail what each of the CARB star ratings mean.

Let seabuddy add to this Mercury Marine statement…

There are now 4 star and five star ratings for even cleaner engines since 2008. I have not yet seen a 5 star engine in any boat.