Magazine taps a PWC as ‘Boat of the Year’

Boating magazine has dipped into the personal watercraft segment to find its Boat of the Year for 2004.

Boating’s tech team selected the Sea-Doo 3D from Bombardier Recreational Products, calling it a new breed of machine. “Quite simply, there’s never been another waterbike like it,” says Boating.

OSS Announces World Titles

Corpus Christi, TX - The Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association (OSS) took the Key West World Championship by storm. From all over the country, OSS Race Teams came to town with their state of the art canopy boats and with the top drivers in the world at the helm. OSS was one of three National organizations participating in the 2004 Key West World Championships, November 14th - 21st.

Thirty OSS boats raced neck to neck with boats from SBI and APBA through the Key West Harbor and out to the bumpy Atlantic Ocean in a triangle shaped course with treacherous turns. The OSS boats put on a spectacular show for both first time spectators and die hard race fans. Total number of entries for the event were 81 boats, including the OSS sister organization, The Great Lakes Silver Cup Series who brought 6 boats.

Powerboat Racers Earn World Championship Titles In Key West

by Andy Newman

(Nov. 28, 2004 - KEY WEST, Florida Keys)... Powerboat racers Todd Werner and Randy Scism earned a world title in the Superboat Catamaran class Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Fountain Powerboats Key West World Championship.


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Fabio Buzzi Sets new Super Boat International World Record Run from Tampa to Miami

MIAMI, FLORIDA – November 27, 2004 – Key West World Championship racer sets a new Super Boat International World Record run from Tampa to Miami. After racing in a three race format World Championship Race in Key West and winning the title of World Champion in his class on November 21st

Superboat International Lists "WORLD CHAMPIONS"

November 26 - Andrew Corn - Talkoffshore.com -Superboat International in keeping with the spirit of a "Unified World Championship" has listed the official results for the Fountain Powerboats Key West World Championship on their website.

Superboat International has kept their promise of acknowledging "WORLD CHAMPIONS" regardless of the club affiliation. We support SBI and OSS for taking the high road and naming one "World Champion" from each of the classes that raced in Key West.

KEY WEST, FL. –Superboat International - The 2004 Key West World Championship race was another history making event! There were teams from all over the globe that competed in this prestigious event. The weather was ideal, the town was excited and the race teams did an outstanding job on the racecourse.

Super Boat International would like to congratulate the following "World Champions".

Superboat Unlimited ........................ Bacardi Silver
Superboat Cat................................... Pro Marine
Superboat Vee Unlimited..................Rio Roses
Superboat Vee..................................Rodriguez Group Fountain
Superboat Vee Limited.....................Wild Ride
Superboat Limited Cat .....................In Mocean
Superboat Stock...............................Mapei
Factory 2.........................................JBS Racing
Factory 1 .........................................Team SB Ballard Construction
Manufacturer Production 1..............Lightning Jacks
Manufacturer Production 2..............Sony
Manufacturer Production 3..............Wazzup
Manufacturer Production 4...............Herbott Swipes Racing
Manufacturer Production 5...............Kean University Cougars

Canada threatens 100-percent boat surtax

The National Marine Manufacturers Association says urgent action is needed to stop a 100-percent surtax from being imposed on American-made recreational boats imported into Canada.

Super Cats Claim Title

BY SUSAN COCKING - The Super Cats stole the show Sunday while the vaunted Superboat Unlimited racers looked like walking wounded in the finals of the Budweiser Fountain Key West World Championships.

Boca racers are class of Superboat Stock

By Andy Newman - Special correspondent

KEY WEST · Boca Raton powerboat racers Mike Majhess and Gary Ballough give much of the credit for the world title they earned Sunday in the Superboat Stock class to their sponsor, Mapei building products.

Races Culminate Sunday

By Associated Press

Throttleman Robert Morgan (right) of Gravois Mills, Mo., attempts to use a portable fire extinguisher on an engine compartment blaze in his Big Thunder Marine raceboat during the first of three races Wednesday. Morgan's efforts were not successful and he and driver Dennis Hillhouse (left) of Shawnee, Kan., had to abandoned the vessel so a fireboat could douse the fire.

After suffering a damaging fire Wednesday, Missouri powerboat racer Robert Morgan says his Superboat Catamaran will be ready Saturday for the second of three races that comprise the Key West World Championship in the Florida Keys.

Speed and Flames Mark First Day

BY SUSAN COCKING -scocking@herald.com - Miami Herald

Wednesday's opener of the Fountain Key West World Championships produced the thundering speed, rough water and spectacular accidents that make this the offshore powerboat race of the year.

Wednesday's Class Winners for Fountain Powerboats Key West Worlds

Superboat Unlimited: Bacardi Silver, David Scott, Edwardsville, Ill., 97.36
Superboat Catamaran:Pro Marine, Todd Werner, St. Petersburg, 95.82
Superboat Vee Unlimited: Rio Roses, Rich Troppoli, Toms River, N.J., 40.24
Superboat Vee: Rodriguez Group-Fountain, Michel Karsenti, Cannes, France, 82.37
Superboat Vee Limited: Wild Card, William Ros, Little Ferry, N.J., 72.50
Superboat Limited Catamaran: In-Mocean, Jerry Sorrentino, Sun Valley, Calif., 87.89
Superboat Stock: Mapei, Gary Ballough, Boca Raton, 76.98
Factory 2: JBS Racing, Jeff Stevenson, Winneconne, Wis., 75.72
Manufacturer Production I: Lightning Jacks, John Woolley, Brick, N.J., 78.50
Manufacturer Production II: Sony, Fabio Buzzi, Italy, 78.60
Manufacturer Production III: Wanted Racing LLC, Mark Henderson, Toms River, N.J., 74.74
Manufacturer Production IV: Herbott/Swipes Racing, Keith Herbott, Lake Harmony, Penn., 71.40
Manufacturer Production V: Team SB Ballard Const., Mark Kowalski, Brunswick, Ohio, 67.05.

Pro Marine leads in Catamaran class

By Andy Newman - Special correspondent

KEY WEST · Todd Werner of St. Petersburg and Randy Scism of St. Louis piloted Pro Marine to a first-place finish Wednesday to take an early lead in the Superboat Catamaran-class at the Key West World Championship offshore powerboat races in the Florida Keys .

Racers Escape Fire Unharmed

Citizen Staff - KEY WEST — A powerboat caught fire Wednesday afternoon during the annual Key West World Champion powerboat races.

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Racers seek unified title in Key West

By Andy Newman - KEY WEST · For the first time in nine years, offshore powerboat racers from different U.S. racing organizations are gathered for a unified world championship, with the first race set for Wednesday in Key West.

Powerboats Power Economy

BY STACY WILLITS Citizen Staff - KEY WEST — The organizers of the tri-sanctioned, 100-some powerboat race say the economic impact on Key West is BIG.

"You're talking a couple million dollars — at least — for one week's activities," said Kurt Lewin, First State Bank senior vice president and board member of the nonprofit Conch Republic Offshore Powerboat Racing Organization, or CROPBRA.

Race Week Commences

Key Noter - World championship is decided in Key West.

A field of up to 100 boats could head to the start line as three powerboat-racing groups join in the Key West World Championship, slated Nov. 14-21.

Entries from Super Boat International Productions, American Power Boat Association Offshore Racing and the Offshore Super Series compete during three days of racing in the single, season-ending championship series at Key West.

24th Annual Key West World Championships

Sun-Sentinel.com - Powerboat races: The 24th Key West World Championships will feature more than 100 boats from Super Boat International, Offshore Super Series and American Power Boat Association.

The first time all boats are racing together since 1994, the event kicks off with a boat parade on Duval Street at 4 p.m. Sunday. Race days are Wednesday and Nov. 20-21. The Race Village at Truman Annex is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The start/finish line for the races is off Truman Annex, and the course goes through Key West Harbor. Visit www.superboat.com.

Fishing show: A Florida Sportsman Fishing Show is Nov. 20-21 at the new Palm Beach County Convention Center at 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, just east of I-95.

The show features how-to seminars, hands-on instruction in rigging bait, throwing a cast net, tying knots and casting a fly rod, activities for kids and exhibitors selling tackle, boats and accessories.

Admission is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under accompanied by a parent. Coupons for $2 off the price of admission are in the October and November issues of Florida Sportsman magazine. A $1 coupon is available online at www.floridasportsman.com/shows.

Qatar to host class one series powerboat race

DUBAI — Qatar's Shaikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani and Italian throttleman Matteo Nicolini will not have far to travel for the fifth round of this year's UIM Class 1 World Power Boat Championship and the opening round of the UIM Class 1 Asia/Middle East Powerboat Championship.

Tres Martin Driving School

Due to the great number of boating accidents in the recent months Tres Martin has decided to start a school that educates drivers of multi step vee bottom and catamaran boats on how to operate their equipment. Since 1986, totaling more than 48 checkered flags, Tres Martin has won 4 National and 4 World Championship Titles from Factory Class to Superboat. He has aslo been awarded "Throttleman of the Year" three times and was inducted into the APBA Hall Of Champions.

POWERBOAT MAGAZINE USHERS IN A NEW ERA IN DESIGN

VENTURA, Calif., "Powerboat magazine is on the move and charging at full throttle. And I am excited," said Powerboat publisher Jerry Nordskog in his November/December issue column. "We have redesigned our magazine and we have a different look, a new beginning as we conclude 2004 and prepare for the years ahead."

Powerboats to go racing at Key West

BY BILL SARGENT- FLORIDA TODAY

Mega-power units will be screaming and speeds will reach more than 150 miles an hour by ocean racers competing in the Key West World Powerboat Championship from Nov. 12-21.

BUDWEISER SPONSORS FOUNTAIN KEY WEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

KEY WEST, Fla. – Conch Republic Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (CROPBRA) is pleased to announce that Budweiser has taken on the Presenting Sponsorship of the Key West World Championship race. “Budweiser is not new to powerboat racing, it is a great honor to have them as a major sponsor supporting the Fountain Key West World Championship” said Bill Spottswood, president of CROPBRA. “Anheuser-Busch and Silver Eagle Distributors have been committed to our community for many years,” added Spottswood.

Sheraton Suites Key West is OSS Central

The Offshore Super Series would like to thank Drew Burch and Jesse Noyes at the Sheraton Suites Key West for facilitating the staff, team, and meeting room needs for OSS at the Key West World Championship. Ellen Greenleaf, OSS Event Liaison, stated that this is one of the best, most professional hotel staffs that she has worked with throughout her years in the tourism industry.

New Line of McManus Apaches 30'-50'

The following are the line drawings for the New McManus Apaches line. Those that are interested, a list of standard features please visit the Apache Owners Forum shortly. Thank you all for your support.

Boat Dealers Report Hot Sales at Fort Lauderdale Show

By Joseph Mann- Sun Sentinel

Dealers at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Monday reported dramatic sales for watercraft ranging from small pleasure craft to multimillion-dollar yachts.

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