If you see something like this pulling alongside, no matter what you are driving, and that includes a Fountain or a Donzi, Cigarette, Bertram, whatever, and they ask you if you want to race……….better think twice.
What looks like an old boat with 30-mph capability isn’t sometimes what it looks like. This is one such example.
As it pulled along side, I was listening for the motor or motors but I couldn’t tell what it had. As it pulled away, I was still puzzled.
The boat is built in a faithful replica manner to a raised deck Chris Craft, but there is only one like this. It has a stepped hull, and it’s new cold molded construction, wood and epoxy, and every detail is strong, new, and expertly done. Money appears to have been little concern on this one.
And then it was time to do some fly-bys, off she went. As the boat turned and the power was applied, a strange sort of spray enveloped the boat that you don’t see too often. It was coming off the old style Gar Wood inspired stepped hull. Here they come making a medium speed run, up on the step and looking just spectacular.
And then we were in for some real speed. This boat has an Italian V-12 of design and make I will have to research. I suggest looking into future editions of Classic Boating Magazine, because Norm and Jim have very expensive camera gear, they were snapping lots of photos, and I’m sure they will have a writeup to go along with their exquisite work. For now, this is a low res snapshot showing some of the action. As you can see, as the power was applied more and more spray was kicked into the air, and the thing went by so fast all I could get was a departing shot, sort of like being on a pheasant hunt!
