SEABUDDY
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Posts Tagged ‘sterndrive’

Michael Aronow wrote this book about his Dad, Don Aronow, and Don’s involvement in boating. Don was a boat racer, a boat building businessman, a world champion, a founding leader of deep vee boat building and offshore racing. He started and owned Donzi Marine, Formula, Magnum Marine, Cigarette Racing Team, Squadron XII, and USA Racing Team and almost all of 188^th Street.

This is the book for a Christmas present to a boater.

John Crouse, Dick Genth, Yachting magazine, Jim Wynne, Mike Gordon, the Beatles, Chubby Brown, Walt Walters, the Donzi sweet 16, Bobby Moore, Knocky House, the models, some of the tricks, the Wyn-Mill II, the Banana  boat, outboards, inboards, I/O, Mercury Marine, Magnum Missile, Molinari, Carl Kiekhaefer, Aeromarine, Roger Penske, Betty Cook, and Mark Donohue are all in the book.

It is a who’s who of power boating and power boat racing offshore. A real history of the racing scene.

Don Aronow made the offshore power boat racing scene very early on and made it into the force it is today. He left New Jersey for south Florida while still a young man and built an empire of race wins, trophies, championships, boat building companies, showmanship, and hard work.

It is only really available on the collector book market. The ISBN number is 0945903227.

Get a nice one and have a good look all at the photos and a good read from the material that Michael shares about a rare man in the boating business in this boating book.

The top three most common items stolen from boats over the winter are:

1. Electronics: To avoid a theft, it is worth your time and energy to remove electronics and store them at home. If they are permanently installed, record ownership information including model and serial numbers.  Photos may also assist with a potential recovery or insurance claim.
2. Outboards: Small outboards should always be removed and stored in a secure location, such as your locked garage or basement. Larger outboards should have a lock installed.
3. Outdrives: Again, the best way to avoid this type of theft is to remove the unit and store in a safe location and ensure the serial number is recorded. If it will not be removed, install an out drive lock.

From BoatUS

seabuddy takes some of these important message points as true.

…This may be the most important message you will read before buying a new boat: Count on the strength and stamina of Chaparral Boats. In today’s fast changing economic times, the name on the hullside is as important as the boat itself. The fact is you’re not just buying a boat, you’re buying a company. There’s power in the name Chaparral. Long lasting power. Innovative power. Our story started 44 years ago. A trophy case full of awards for Product Excellence and a globe full of satisfied customers prove our worth. And we’re not going anywhere but fast forward with a passion that grows year after year. Respected the world over, the same core management team has steered the ship since day one. Like you, they are onboard because boating isn’t just a business, it’s a way of life. Our balance sheet is strong, our dedication to new product development unwaivering. You simply can’t buy more confidence in a boat company than Chaparral. Chaparral for 2010…Strength And Stamina Now and For the Future….

“Respected the world over, the same core management team has steered the ship since day one. Like you, they are onboard because boating isn’t just a business, it’s a way of life. Our balance sheet is strong, our dedication to new product development unwaivering”

True words. 

Ask if your boat builder can say these same words.

the cabin front windows make the difference

Experience the light inside the 2860 Regal cabin cruiser with the curtains pulled back and you will have seen the best there is available inside a boat cabin for airiness and sunshine brighten your boating weekend. Regal 2860 wins this point hands down.

Next, lay out on the skipper’s berth and see the biggest size berth there is for a good nights rest. Again, the Regal 2860 wins as it’s a “no contest” in this size class cabin cruiser.

Check off what else is important in a cruiser and a 2860 Regal cabin cruiser is competitive in all respects.

Competitive in everything that one looks for in a cabin cruiser and “the best in class” in two points of top importance.

Take a look, there is a sale going on right now.

clean running hull design that is well balanced

Glastron, a Minnesota-based boat company owned by the private firm that purchased it and Cadillac-based Four Winns and Wellcraft has now made their first boat in Cadillac, MI.

They have a huge shop!

It is organized and well laid-out

e-mail: service@tntcustommarine.com

telephone: 305-944-2119

another view of the shop

they work neat and cover up your boat as needed

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

Volvo engine with Volvo sterndrive / outdrive

Volvo makes eighteen horsepower gas engines using five engine sizes from 135 Hp to 420 Hp.

Volvo also makes eight horsepower diesel engines using three engine sizes from 130 Hp to 370 Hp.

Volvo-Penta and Volvo-Penta of the Americas are other popular names for these engines and sterndrives / outdrives.

42 Fountain Poker Run Edition

525 Hp of 8.2 (502) Mercruiser sterndrive

Reggie Fountain offers his 42 boat set-up for serious GofastBeLoud fun with two 525 Hp 502 Mercury Marine cast and built from scratch new engines. Mercruiser offers these same engines from as little as 380 Hp, to these hot rodded up 525 Hp engines, and then the same basic block engine, up to 700 hp with more hot rod parts and machine work. Mercruiser uses a different basic block of 551 cu. Inches for the next engine of 800 Hp.

42 Fountain Cockpit

Poker Run cockpit

After a wildly successful launch of the first of the new “A” series Cobalt line.

Should Cobalt introduce a “C” series line for 2012?

Will the next Cobalt Boat look something like this?

If the “A’ is step up from a regular line Cobalt boat, should the “C” line be a step below the regular Cobalt line-up?

What should be the specs of the first model in such a boat?

Number One (and there is no number two). It should bring to the boating world a new value that says Cobalt and is a true Cobalt Boat, but at a savings.

How would this be accomplished?

It must weight less. Weight demands engine power to give the Cobalt standard of performance with a V-6 engine.

So,  make it lighter by shortening the boat somewhat. Changing to the beam measurement to less than 8’. Design into the mold the swim platform and any swim platform extentions. Cut back on amount of seating, as Cobalt seats are plush and that adds weight. A new approach to the engine room hatch for further weight savings.

Make it a sporty boat model with a less deep cockpit and hull.

Use a 30 gallon gas tank size.

Skip the separate anchor locker.

Use a Volvo SX drive for smooth, silky shifting like a Mercruiser Bravo I sterndrive or a Volvo duoprop outdrive.

Use a Volvo-Penta marinized Chevrolet V-6 engine for its low cost as it does not need marine exhaust manifolds with Cataliytic Converters inside those marine exhaust manifolds.

Seabuddy’s suggested specs for a V-6 powered Cobalt Boat: LOA of 20’2” using a updated version of the Cobalt boat hull first used from the later 1980s on. This is a great running boat with a V-6.  She has a deep V running bottom of 20 degrees. Its designers, Jim Wynne and Dan Bramhall, knew their stuff around fast, good handling, boat hulls for both the lakes and oceans. Figure on a Beam of 7’ 5” and a weight of 2,500 – 2,700 lbs.