1st. post for the big cats

[Euro Scott]

saw this sitting empty and let be the first ! mine's a 33 super sport ,97. 540 merlins,bravo xr's

[MarylandMark]

Pics?

[Euro Scott]

a couplr pic's

[Offshore Ginger]

Looked at a #33 a few weeks ago to work on , blueprint bottom , bond hull to deck , tab bulk heads in , redo liner , ext ext ext and paint .:sifone:

[Euro Scott]

Looked at a #33 a few weeks ago to work on , blueprint bottom , bond hull to deck , tab bulk heads in , redo liner , ext ext ext and paint .:sifone:

what happened to the liner? and whats the plan on blueprinting the bottom ? there so heavy not sure if it would make a difference !

[BUTCH RYAN]

A couple old shots

[Euro Scott]

a little video running in skiers alley /stump pass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djEYWwDD2Ho&eurl=http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175738&page=2&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/user/qcr1971

[Euro Scott]

a little tail !

[39NAS-T]

Nice work Guys when are we all going to get together and have a fun boat day!!!

[39NAS-T]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMBRjgl3lJo

Dad and I coming off St Clair River

[Ratickle]

Almost bought one. Damn insurance was the only thing that stopped me.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byGS_JtTmVw

[Coolerman]

Almost bought one. Damn insurance was the only thing that stopped me.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byGS_JtTmVw

wow, that thing was on rails!

[catman]

A couple old shots
Now thats a classic!
Here is my 39'

[Euro Scott]

love the little one next to it, kinda puts things in perspective !!
I put mine up for sale and entertaining all offers, time for me to move on to other things so need it to go !!
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/33_ft_ocean_express_super_sport-o29177-en.html

[Offshore Ginger]

what happened to the liner? and whats the plan on blueprinting the bottom ? there so heavy not sure if it would make a difference ! the plan was to flip & redo the bottom along with removeing the hook on the last step and repair all the deep grind marks on the entire bottom and piece back the liner that is in sections for whatever reason . :sifone:

[Ratickle]

Now thats a classic!
Here is my 39'

Love the 39's.



Nice.....

[Bobcat]

:seeya:

[Bobcat]

:seeya:

[smokin' joe]

Here is my 1985 39 OE

[smokin' joe]

Three more...

[smokin' joe]

Stabbin' cabin...

[Offshore Ginger]

So what are you saying the boat is good in the ruff BUT dawg slow with all that extra weight .:ack2::ack2::ack2::leaving:

[catman]

Smokin Joe, Looking good. I would like to ck. it out. We are going to be at Kellys Island Sept. 4-7 if you are going to be around.

[smokin' joe]

Smokin Joe, Looking good. I would like to ck. it out. We are going to be at Kellys Island Sept. 4-7 if you are going to be around.

I probably will be, but the cat is in dry dock with a motor out. I'll look for you and your cat at the marinas...

[catman]

Sounds good. I'll be at portside docks.

[smokin' joe]

Sounds good. I'll be at portside docks.

Nice docks, especially when calm. See you there...

[DAREDEVIL]

Stabbin' cabin...

Thats the cabin in the boat ?????? DAMN:USA:

[Ratickle]

Thats the cabin in the boat ?????? DAMN:USA:

The Big OE's have a sweet cabin. And the cockpit is huge too.......

[smokin' joe]

Thats the cabin in the boat ?????? DAMN:USA:

Yeah the cockpit seats seven and so does the cabin...:grouphug:

[Ratickle]

Yeah the cockpit seats seven and so does the cabin...:grouphug:

I swear I looked into buying your boat. Insurance was the killer for me.

[DAREDEVIL]

Yeah the cockpit seats seven and so does the cabin...:grouphug:

Damn,,thats like a mainship cabin,,+ a fast boat .........still for sale ??

[smokin' joe]

I swear I looked into buying your boat. Insurance was the killer for me.

Previous owner kept it on a lift at Miller's Marina on Lake St. Clair. The broker said there were a couple of pending deals on the boat that fell through...

[smokin' joe]

Damn,,thats like a mainship cabin,,+ a fast boat .........still for sale ??

The cat has not been for sale since I bought her...

[DAREDEVIL]

The cat has not been for sale since I bought her...

OH,,,ok . Thanks

[Woogie]

Here is a pic from yesterday of a 48' that I have seen running out of Holland,Mi Harbor the past few days. Looks and sounds great. I found some more pics of it here - http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/48_039_ocean_express-o28311-en.html

I remember a post somewhere about a guy in Wisconsin restoring the old "Chas'in the Deal" boat and think this may be it. Any of you Mi./Chicago guys remember that boat from back in the days of the Thunder Marine/ Pier 33 Poker runs? It was one of the few big cats on the runs.

[erierunnin]

Here is a pic from yesterday of a 48' that I have seen running out of Holland,Mi Harbor the past few days. Looks and sounds great. I found some more pics of it here - http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/48_039_ocean_express-o28311-en.html

I remember a post somewhere about a guy in Wisconsin restoring the old "Chas'in the Deal" boat and think this may be it. Any of you Mi./Chicago guys remember that boat from back in the days of the Thunder Marine/ Pier 33 Poker runs? It was one of the few big cats on the runs.

Saw it at Kelleys Island this last Saturday Rafted off of Hellfire(46 Turbine skater), from what i was told it was one of the old "Jaws" from Lake Erie.

[Offshore Ginger]

Here is a pic from yesterday of a 48' that I have seen running out of Holland,Mi Harbor the past few days. Looks and sounds great. I found some more pics of it here - http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/48_039_ocean_express-o28311-en.html

I remember a post somewhere about a guy in Wisconsin restoring the old "Chas'in the Deal" boat and think this may be it. Any of you Mi./Chicago guys remember that boat from back in the days of the Thunder Marine/ Pier 33 Poker runs? It was one of the few big cats on the runs. I live on lake Mac and took the gulf cart down to the ramp & on day 1 they were having motor problems and pulled the boat on day 2 they were off to a pretty good start and still had some problems , day three seemed like it went real smooth for them ,but i could be wrong .........................:)

[Chi-Town Hustler]

Chasing the deal- is still chasing the deal.

That blue and silver boat is Wesco Racing's boat. Former Jaws boat totally redone. 5step bottom, custom built extra reinforced tanks, tons of stuctural changes for the better, I believe 1100+ with PSI blower. Best built Ocean Express out there. He had water in the fuel that he had to pump out. Ran it all last weekend on Erie with HellFire.

[Dave Wesseldyk]

Thanks Mark
Other than getting fuel with water in it on the way to the boat launch the first time out the boat ran good every time we ran it.Even the Officer liked it.Only it's a little over the noise limit.

[Ratickle]

Thanks Mark
Other than getting fuel with water in it on the way to the boat launch the first time out the boat ran good every time we ran it.Even the Officer liked it.Only it's a little over the noise limit.

Bout time you posted Dave.....:sifone:


Didn't know you had it in.....


Love the big OE's, best "All-Around" cat on the market in my opinion......Big cabins, big cockpits, decent speed, nice riding, etc.

[Dave Wesseldyk]

Last weekend at Erie with Hellfire.The 48 Express is a grate boat.This one is a 1995 and It's for sale.

[DAREDEVIL]

Last weekend at Erie with Hellfire.The 48 Express is a grate boat.This one is a 1995 and It's for sale.

WOW,,,thats a nice boat. Any more pictures ??

[Dave Wesseldyk]

Thanks DAREDEVIL

[MattBMiller]

saw this sitting empty and let be the first ! mine's a 33 super sport ,97. 540 merlins,bravo xr's

Nice boat Scott? Still for sale? Do you have it listed anywhere?

[Euro Scott]

sorry it took so long to see this, I've been in Michigan for a few weeks. Yes I still got it. Call me 941 302 3828

[black thunder 46]

Now thats a classic!
Here is my 39'
cool little boat what kind is it

[Offshore Ginger]

Thanks Mark
Other than getting fuel with water in it on the way to the boat launch the first time out the boat ran good every time we ran it.Even the Officer liked it.Only it's a little over the noise limit. Dave it was loud and i only live a little ways from the ramp .

[Offshore Ginger]

Dave welcome to the board and how have you been ? Artie

[black thunder 46]

50859

[Velocity Vector]

Hey guys, if the survey looks good, I will be the proud owner of this 1998 hull. Just need a few miner things like engines, drives, rigging and maybe a steering wheel. But it's a start and will be my first cat purchase. Anyone know anything about it they can share with me? Here is what the seller told me, The boat was going to be a race boat but had to be 35'. Originally a 33' they added 2' to the front, added reinforcement every 5' in the sponsons and a new transom. Designed as a sit down center console with 4 new aluminum gas tanks and no cabin. That's what I know. If you know something please share it with me. It has been for sale all over the Internet for awhile I'm sure you have seen it somewhere. Thanks K.C.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/cid_AD19335D918641F7976D44BDA12615C.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/cid_DFD319E47BEF450089CD10BB3E23250.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/cid_A642550E2F1848AB831FDFB65364BC0.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/cid_ECA061BEA32C4D1FBF7AA78B5B00B8E.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/cid_2BB97B56FF3E4A2B9CF2074A81778D5.jpg

[catman]

cool little boat what kind is it

It is a Inovative Marine Catamaran. Reno

[Chris]

Hey guys, if the survey looks good, I will be the proud owner of this 1998 hull. Just need a few miner things like engines, drives, rigging and maybe a steering wheel. But it's a start and will be my first cat purchase. Anyone know anything about it they can share with me? Here is what the seller told me, The boat was going to be a race boat but had to be 35'. Originally a 33' they added 2' to the front, added reinforcement every 5' in the sponsons and a new transom. Designed as a sit down center console with 4 new aluminum gas tanks and no cabin. That's what I know. If you know something please share it with me. It has been for sale all over the Internet for awhile I'm sure you have seen it somewhere. Thanks K.C.

Ross was building these raceboats for Baja. They needed the extra length to be legal for open class- they didn't want all the extra weight or length of the 38. Ross called the extensions "falsies" as they were lust little extensions bonded to the sponson tips. I believe only one 35 Baja-Express ever raced. I can't recall for certain but I seem to remember it being the Rolling Thunder boat.

[Velocity Vector]

Thanks Chris, Got a good survey on the boat sponsons inner and outer are string straight no moisture on the meter so here we go....

[bill63]

Ross was building these raceboats for Baja. They needed the extra length to be legal for open class- they didn't want all the extra weight or length of the 38. Ross called the extensions "falsies" as they were lust little extensions bonded to the sponson tips. I believe only one 35 Baja-Express ever raced. I can't recall for certain but I seem to remember it being the Rolling Thunder boat.

how about Baja bandit

[Velocity Vector]

Found out a little history on the 35' cat, I was built in 1995 and was a race boat for 2 years with 850hp engines the name of the boat was "American Express" she simi stuffed with some light damage to the front in 1996 or 1997.

The owner wanted to race in the unlimited open class anyway so he took the boat had it lengthened to 35' and the reinforcement took place and a new transom added cause he wanted to run different drives than were on it and didn't want to plug any holes.
The dealer where it was fixed after it got fixed, then regestered her as a 35' 1998 modle and it was never rerigged or in the water after the work so basicly it is a new 1998 hull with previous race history. Not sure if he lost interest or As We all know there is never an unsuccessfull boat build the customer just runs out of money...

[bill63]

Interesting story, i remember a ocean express named American Dream in the early 90's that rolled in Key West and killed the driver. The boat started its life as a 33 named Motor City Magic from michigan wonder if it the same boat?? There was a cat in the 90's by the name of American Express but it was a Jaguar cat. I do not believe oe made very many race 33-35's cats. h20mag on the board here might have some answers.

[Dave Wesseldyk]

Offshore Ginger Dave welcome to the board and how have you been ? Artie

Hi Artie
Still working seven days a week.
With the 48 Express done I'm trying to get back to working on my race boat.But the customers engines or boats all ways come first.
Dave

[Ratickle]

Offshore Ginger Dave welcome to the board and how have you been ? Artie

Hi Artie
Still working seven days a week.
With the 48 Express done I'm trying to get back to working on my race boat.But the customers engines or boats all ways come first.
Dave

Hope you have time to get it done this year. Three races within 4 hour drive.....:sifone:

[Velocity Vector]

Offshore Ginger Dave welcome to the board and how have you been ? Artie

Hi Artie
Still working seven days a week.
With the 48 Express done I'm trying to get back to working on my race boat.But the customers engines or boats all ways come first.
Dave

Man thats a sweet forklift.

[Ratickle]

Man thats a sweet forklift.

Wait till he gets that motor in it. It'll lift anything at record rate......:sifone:

[DAREDEVIL]

Wait till he gets that motor in it. It'll lift anything at record rate......:sifone:

LOL :bump:

[Velocity Vector]

Do the 33's require tunnel or trim taps?

[Euro Scott]

Mine originally had tabs, but were removed for some reason.. I think someone told me they werent needed as why.

[Velocity Vector]

Thanks just checking before I get to involved in rigging mine.

[Ratickle]

Thanks just checking before I get to involved in rigging mine.

Ross doesn't normally get on. But, let me see if he'll help at all.

[Dave Wesseldyk]

Thanks just checking before I get to involved in rigging mine.

What type of drives?

[Velocity Vector]

What type of drives?

Dave, #6 wet 1.35 ratio, should have the drives next week.

Part #1 Shifters and throttles thanks for the deal on these Ryan Beckley:cheers2: I have a spot for them.

[Velocity Vector]

Any of you Kats remember this boat?
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/Photograph1.jpg

[DAREDEVIL]

any of you kats remember this boat?
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20ocean%20express/photograph1.jpg

nice pic , i think i seen this boat before, but not sure ??!

[KAAMA]

Any of you Kats remember this boat?
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/Photograph1.jpg

Yes, I remember that boat. AL Kropp and Jim Ariloa were owners/operators of that boat. "KAT" = "Kropp Ariloa Team" back in 1988/89 or so. They were from the Chicago area.

[DAREDEVIL]

Yes, I remember that boat. AL Kropp and Jim Ariloa were owners/operators of that boat. "KAT" = "Kropp Ariloa Team" back in 1988/89 or so. They were from the Chicago area.

Cool info, any more on that team ????

[Velocity Vector]

I really like the way they did the canopy, looks sorta stealthy, low radar detection stuff.

[Ratickle]

I really like the way they did the canopy, looks sorta stealthy, low radar detection stuff.

A little too low. Their heads stick out.

You need to get a thread of your own started with this project. Do the entire story like you started with here.

[Velocity Vector]

A little too low. Their heads stick out.

You need to get a thread of your own started with this project. Do the entire story like you started with here.

They must be stand up bolsters, recon?

[Coolerman]

Offshore Ginger Dave welcome to the board and how have you been ? Artie

Hi Artie
Still working seven days a week.
With the 48 Express done I'm trying to get back to working on my race boat.But the customers engines or boats all ways come first.
Dave

Cool! Dumb question, what hull is your race boat?

[bill63]

They must be stand up bolsters, recon?

no they were sit down seats the canopy was a after thought

[Velocity Vector]

no they were sit down seats the canopy was a after thought

I see, a short after thought.

[Velocity Vector]

A 33 next to the 35

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/untitled.jpg

[DAREDEVIL]

A 33 next to the 35

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/untitled.jpg

I think the 33 looks bulky against the 35 ?! :confused:

[Velocity Vector]

might be the paint?

[h2oMag]

no they were sit down seats the canopy was a after thought

Bill remember this one with canopy ??? The 31' Image [Team Believer] She ran in P class in the late 80's.

[bill63]

Bill remember this one with canopy ??? The 31' Image [Team Believer] She ran in P class in the late 80's.

How could we forget the martin family!! Bob took the canapy off after a year or two he did not think it was safe the way it was built. Boy that boat was slooow.

[KAAMA]

Cool info, any more on that team ????

A little history if you want to read---back in the day...around 1985 or so, I remember seeing Al Kropp periodically running his 32' Baja with a pair of Merc 454/370hp engines with TRS drives named "RAMBO" on the sides and a big knife with blood dripping off the blade :ack2: ....yeah, I think it was a little over the top). Anyway, I didn't know Al that well, but he was from the Chicago area and I think he owned a condo at Michigan City or New Buffalo. During the summer of 1986 he showed up at the St. Joe Venetian Festival I remember my friend racing Al with his 30' Scarab with a pair of Merc 330's. The Scarab beat the Baja no question. This was a few miles south of the St. Joe jetti/pier heads.

That same day Jimmy Ariola showed up to the same St. Joseph Venetian Fest with his 32' Hustler LE with Arneson drives and 550cid/650hp Dennis Ferara engines along with couple of his buddies with 30' 9m Carreras---one with Merc 400hp Cyclones and another with some warmed up Merc 400hp Cyclones...I think they were 468cid engines that made 550hp with solid flat tappet cams.

Anyway, I remember it was a beautiful Friday night---the whole weekend was beautiful. Jim was from Chicago too and he always liked coming over to the Michigan side of Lake Michigan...from "Burns Ditch" to Michigan City, New Buffalo, St. Joe, South Haven, Saugatuck and Grand Haven for the annual August summer offshore races.

It seemed as if EVERYBODY seemed to know of Jim's 32' Hustler boat "SAVAGE"....and this was because of his frequent stops in all the ports all up and down Michigan's west shoreline. It was at a time when offshore boats were just beginning to make a very small, but curious dent in the boating world in those areas and it started with Jim's 30' Carrera with a pair of Merc 400 Cyclones and GIL dry exhaust system.

I remember hearing Jim coming down the shoreline with that Carrera (before I met him)....usually on a Friday evening or Saturday morning heading north (usually for Saugatuck) along the shoreline or returning back and heading south late Sunday afternoon or early evening. He usually kept the boat at "Burns Ditch" just south of Michigan City. (I was raised in St. Joe and lived there for many years during that time so, I was always down by the beach).

So, I think Al Cropp always got an ear full of Jim as he would roar by--the two eventually met and Al Kropp bought that race boat and asked Jim to drive for him. I think they raced for about 1-1.5 years. Jim quit racing after those 2 offshore racers were killed in Miss Liberty USA (April 1988 in Panama City, Florida). It was another cat in the same race/waters with an open cockpit. I was there with Jim at that race and I remember Jim saying it something like it wasn't worth it for him to take a chance on being killed for the sake of racing. A few weeks later he went and bought a new 38' Cougar pleasure boat and was one of the first offhore pleasure boaters on Lake Michigan to put supercharged engines in an offshore boat---rode in it several times.

The last I knew of Al Kropp was that he bought a 38' or 42' tripple engine Baja with Merc 502cid/465hp engines and I saw him with his boat at the gas dock in New Buffalo, Michigan. That was right around 1990-91 or so...no exactly sure of the year.

Jim sold his Cougar---and now but I have not seen Jim's old boat since he sold it back around the early to mid 1990's. I guess someone around Holland, Michigan has owned it for years and the boat STILL has not made an appearance! Jim is about 65 years old now, and I have not seen him in years, but spoke with him on the phone sometime in 2008. He says he still goes to Saugatuck in one of his friend's 40+ Cruiser...and he says they use the GPS and cut straight across the lake to get there.

Anyway, that's the way it was back in the 1980's and even the 1990's....those were some very good ol' days in offshore boating here along the sandy shores of west Michigan. I have a lot of great boating memories with people on Lake Michigan back during those days.

[DAREDEVIL]

Cool, thanks.........nice to read !!!!!!!! :cheers2:

[northernoffshore]

old carrera 30 w/ soild cams and dry gils, also had kobert steering on it.from chicago

[Velocity Vector]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTNRZNzTREM&feature=player_embedded

American Express Thanks Dare Devil

[JOLLEY]

Mine was raced sometime in the 90's it is an '89 and started life at Pier 33 in St. Josephs Mi. with stock Yammi 250's. it was sold to a guy in New Buffalo Mi. that owned a Bar/ Motel there that used it for Poker Runs. Maybe KAAMA can fill me in as I have little to no info of this things past.

I will say that I love it and it works for me. Sparky at Vicious helped me put it back together in '02-'03 and I haven't had any problems since. We trailer it all over and they are GREAT in the nasty water. Before and after shots

[Velocity Vector]

Here is one of the engines going into the 35' Ocean Express Cat

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/DYNO_engine.jpg

[Velocity Vector]

Bought some Stellings and 5" dry tails for the Cat project.

[Ratickle]

Nice. Glad to see it's still coming along......

[Velocity Vector]

Thanks, Ratickle some more parts coming, I saw these valve covers and fell in love so I bought them and also bought a set of KE oval Flame arrestors for the cat project. Arrestors are out getting engraved and clear powder coated.


http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/VC-CHEVYBB-W-C1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/35%20Ocean%20Express/VC-CHEVYBB-W-C1.jpg

[speedfreak2030]

Whats up fukcer? How is the new project coming and when is the boat going to get splashed. I'm off to the docks for a quick blast then Scotch will flow!

[Velocity Vector]

Whats up fukcer? How is the new project coming and when is the boat going to get splashed. I'm off to the docks for a quick blast then Scotch will flow!

Well I got my "like new" advertised headers in so we pressure tested them and they leaked like a sprinkler system. Took me a couple months to get my money back, a big waist of my money and time.

[Velocity Vector]

Well now I'm back to Supercat engines the blower motors trade above fell thru. So I bought a set of 3.3 whipple chargers with 1050 Dominators to go on the Supercat engines, We will be adding blower pistons and cams to them and try to get around 850 hp.

[Velocity Vector]

Speedmaster #6's rebuilt 1.35 ratio and ready to go. Cams and pistons going in this week on the 509's then the 3.3 Whipples.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/6.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii230/velocity320/16.jpg