• Register
  • Help

  • The Inside
    • The Inside
  • Forum
  • Blogs
  • Event Calendar
  • Classifieds
  • What's New?
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Home
  • The Inside

  1. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
 
  • On The Water News

    Boat Interior Builders Best Kept Secret? 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 02-11-2019 01:40 PM  Number of Views: 627 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    One of the things all custom boat builders require, and those who refurbish offshore performance boats desire, is an interior that is as special as their vision for the entire project. When you are creating a work of art with the design of a boat, and you assist with the custom paint that makes your boat special, you have your list of "Must Haves". One of those "Must Haves", make sure the interior is not the same as some other custom boat, and make sure the interior design is special and of the highest quality. As many know, this isn't always an easy thing to accomplish.


    Home Base

    Possibly one of the best kept secrets in the design and build of custom marine, (and vehicle), interiors is Appearance Products in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Craig and his team create some of
    ...
    Read More Read More

    Spirit of Detroit's Hydrofest 2018, What a Sunday Comeback From Weather Issues 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 08-27-2018 10:49 PM  Number of Views: 6342 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    Detroit's Hydrofest was quite the event. From bad weather, to worse weather, to the busiest and most exciting race day possible. All in a short three day span.

    What was supposed to be a three day span of testing, qualifying, and racing did not have Mother Nature's blessing. Somebody must have forgotten to inform her to put it on her schedule. When we arrived on Friday, the wind was blowing pretty strong out of the South, straight up the Detroit River, opposite of the current flow. The waves on the water were in the neighborhood of a foot to a foot and a half.

    Not good water to run an Unlimited Hydro at speeds up to 200 MPH;


    ...
    Read More Read More 34 Comments

    Traverse City Offshore Poker Run Helps Big Brothers Big Sisters With Fun and Finance 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 08-20-2018 09:00 AM  Number of Views: 4766 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. Clubs and Destinations
    3. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    The first Traverse City Invitational Poker Run, put on by the Offshore Powerboat Association and the Offshore Classic group, was a great success for participants and beneficiaries. From the beginning on Friday where participants started showing up to the hotels, to the finale on Sunday where rides were given to both Bigs and Littles from the Big Brothers Big Sisters, everybody we spoke with had a great time and good things to say.


    Getting ready for the start on Saturday morning.

    Saturday started out overcast, but the water was nice for running. The drivers meeting at 10:00 went off without a hitch, it looked as if every
    ...
    Read More Read More 36 Comments

    Caution, Wide-Load - No Bull, No Hype 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 08-08-2018 09:35 AM  Number of Views: 3941 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    Every so often something special comes along in the performance boating world. Everybody has their favorites; some are one of a kind in performance. Some are one of a kind in handling. Some are one of a kind in design. And some are one of a kind in paint.

    Some become the beginning of the next great thing, an overall breakthrough. We all have our favorites.

    On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are the boats that are a lot of hype and marketing. Words and dimensions are used to describe them that have nothing to do with the actual product. Somebody adds a swim platform or transom winglets, adds that extension
    ...
    Read More Read More 8 Comments

    OPA's Class Seven in St Clair, The Most Fun Class to Watch 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 07-31-2018 08:57 AM  Number of Views: 1798 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    The Offshore Powerboat Association's St Clair River Classic of 2018 had a few glitches this past weekend, mostly ships on the course, but the cream of the event for the spectators appeared to be Class 7.


    Five of the seven Class 7 boats at the start.

    Part of the reason for being most exciting, the number of boats. With seven entries, there was obviously more competition just because they had the most boats racing of any class. But, with St Clair being a, (usually), flat water race when compared to Great Lakes offshore races and offshore races in the ocean or gulf, the class 7 boats also make the most exciting action around the course.



    ...
    Read More Read More 5 Comments

    Race World Offshore's Mentor Race 2018, Very Interesting 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 07-26-2018 08:13 PM  Number of Views: 2203 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    Race World Offshore's very first race was something else. Many things were working against the event, including weather and boat count, but my final opinion was completely different than what I expected. When all was said and done, I made the comment it was the most exciting offshore race event I've ever seen where a total of only 11 boats showed up to participate.



    The day started out with a slight drizzle. We had to be at the Priceless turn boat's slip by 9:30, so off to the Yacht Club it was. Pete Boden of Shoot 2 Thrill was going on Priceless, as was Jordan from the M-Con team to help with lap counting for the races. It was interesting as Priceless is owned by very good friends of the owner of the Cleveland Construction team, and Jordan was the only person who had team gear on which was not Cleveland Construction. She did make it back no problem though. Everybody I met on the boat, owners, captain, ...
    Read More Read More 12 Comments

    Boyne Thunder 2018, Almost Perfect 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 07-19-2018 06:02 PM  Number of Views: 1737 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. Clubs and Destinations
    3. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    What else can be said. Almost perfect weather. Almost perfect water. Almost perfect events. And almost perfect food. Boyne Thunder once again improved the package which had already become known as the "World's Best Poker Run".




    This year's Boyne Thunder Poker Run was maybe the best yet. We had some rain Friday during the street party and Stereo War, but other than that there was not much to complain about. A bit of near shore fog on Saturday on Lake Michigan, but that burned off fairly quickly.

    The event started with the lunch run to Bay Harbor on Thursday, leaving Round Lake around 10:30 AM. Well, there was rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, so many of the people drove up by car instead of their planned boat trip,
    ...
    Read More Read More 1 Comment

    WMO's Muskegon Powerboat Weekend; History, Weather, and Perseverance 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 06-21-2018 10:09 AM  Number of Views: 2893 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. Clubs and Destinations
    3. Historical
    4. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    West Michigan Offshore's only 2018 Poker Run certainly had its challenges, all weather related. Mother Nature decided to not be very motherly for some reason this June 16th. Thunderstorms started rolling through fairly early in the morning on Saturday, postponing many of the boats arriving by water and delaying the launch of many others. But, that was not the only thing happening over the course of the Muskegon Powerboat Weekend.


    The beginning of the postponed Poker Run start.

    The Friday evening street party by Muskegon's Hackley Park had perfect weather, all of the storms stayed to the north. The food and drink provided by the Taste of Muskegon, live bands in the park, along with the
    ...
    Read More Read More 9 Comments

    Signs of Summer End, West Michigan Offshore's Last Run of 2017 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 08-30-2017 11:12 PM  Number of Views: 8634 
    Categories:
    1. Racing and Poker Runs
    2. Clubs and Destinations
    3. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    It seems as if the summer boating season had just begun, but West Michigan Offshore's final run of the year just took place this previous Saturday. Hard to believe the first signal of the end of the boating year has already taken place.


    Start of the run in the Grand Haven channel. Special escort by the County's fire patrol boat.
    They must have known there was a group of "Hot" boats heading out.

    The day started out a bit cool. The forecast was for a high of 71, and the Lake Michigan water temps were in the high 60's. There were major decisions to be made. Like, shorts or jeans??? Lake Michigan was supposed to be flat to 1', making the big offshore boats think the run would be a bit on the boring
    ...
    Read More Read More 15 Comments

    Skater's All New 478 Raised Deck Vee, Part 3 - First Water Test 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 10-12-2016 08:31 PM  Number of Views: 9253 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    They say that good things come to those who wait, and it seems to be that great Skaters are also included as part of that saying. Today, the Skater 478 Vee made its inaugural voyage shake-down cruise and the initial test results were certainly very positive.



    We are under sworn secrecy to the performance numbers, but it was just an initial shakedown so top speed was not a consideration. Handling, time to plane with drives in versus drives at neutral. No tabs to plane, quartering seas handling, cornering capabilities, ...
    Read More Read More 10 Comments

    A Sequel That Equals The Original, UPDATE!! 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 10-03-2016 05:51 PM  Number of Views: 14468 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    Within the confines of Douglas Marine in Saugatuck, Michigan, there exists an office where a boat building legend draws up the creations thought of on a large drafting table. Then, once that legend decides the design has reached the potential required to bear his reputation of performance and handling, he finally releases that creation to be built.


    Peter and Mike coming back in after the first test.

    That is the way Peter Hledin creates a Skater for the world to utilize. And his latest completed creation once again upholds that reputation with the utmost capability.


    Tyson and Peter heading out to Lake Michigan

    The
    ...
    Read More Read More 17 Comments

    Skater Visits and Tests at Mercury Racing, Fond du Lac 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 10-02-2016 02:13 PM  Number of Views: 5712 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    This past week Skater Powerboats took one of their latest creations for testing and review by the experts at Mercury Racing. As unlikely as it may seem, for the first time in his 42 years of building performance boats, Peter Hledin went on this particular trip and actually visited Mercury Racing in Wisconsin.


    Mike Griffith and Peter Hledin Testing

    It was hard for any of us to believe, Peter had been to Lake X, but never to the Fond du Lac facilities. So, with his latest creation ...
    Read More Read More

    The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection 

    by
    Ratickle
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 05-30-2016 09:14 PM  Number of Views: 7252 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. Member Spotlight
    3. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”. Vince Lombardi


    Boyne Thunder 2014

    When Skater Powerboats started the build of the 46’ Race/Pleasure “GOTCHA NOW” back in 2013 they knew they had an owner who was always in search of perfection. He wouldn’t even consider ever letting the boat be used in salt water. The boat was built with Mercury Racing 1350’s, M8 drives, and had every aspect of the build sweated to the smallest detail. When the pursuit of perfection was completed, Lombardi would certainly agree excellence had certainly been caught. But, when a person driven towards perfection gets
    ...
    Read More Read More

    Silver Bullet: Skater 3312 Aces its Shakedown Cruise 

    Published on 04-19-2016 05:44 PM  Number of Views: 14124 
    Categories:
    1. Manufacturers and Dealers
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    By Paul "Ratickle" Rose and Jason Johnson of Speed on the Water

    In folklore, a bullet made of silver is the only way to stop a werewolf and various other creatures of evil. The Lone Ranger also used silver bullets to uphold justice and remind himself that life, just like silver, is precious and not to be wasted or thrown away. And now Douglas Marine/Skater Powerboats has its own version of the silver bullet, which we’re pretty sure could outrun werewolves or any other monsters it may come across on the water.


    Almost ready for the initial on water outing

    It’s also possible—after witnessing the
    ...
    Read More Read More 18 Comments

    West Michigan Offshore, Not Just In It For The Fun 

    by
    Serious Offshore
    • View Profile
    • View Forum Posts
    • View Blog Entries
    • View Articles
    Published on 04-18-2016 08:45 AM
    Categories:
    1. Clubs and Destinations
    2. On The Water News
    Article Preview

    As West Michigan Offshore has their one year anniversary, the importance of the giving spirit of the performance boating world once again jumps out into the spotlight. Those outside people who tend to believe that performance boaters are nothing but a bunch of belligerent egotists have never taken the time to see the many ways performance boaters try to help those less fortunate than themselves. And we are proud to say that the West Michigan Offshore members are continuing that proud tradition.


    The Weather at the Boatwerks could not have been any better!

    As people arrived at the Boatwerks Restaurant in Holland, Michigan to
    ...
    Read More Read More 2 Comments
    Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 Next LastLast
  • The Inside Articles

    Clubs and Destinations (23)
    Historical (19)
    Manufacturers and Dealers (40)
    Marine Tech (15)
    Member Spotlight (16)
    On The Water News (65)
    Racing and Poker Runs (62)
  • Recent Blog Posts

  • Recent Forum Posts

    ozarkjignpig

    Victory Closer To Sport Cat Distribution With FB Marine Group, PPI And More On Board

    You're saying that newer boats will need to weigh more, in order to be more competitive with the older boats? So a 4,600 lbs min?

    ozarkjignpig Today, 11:17 AM Go to last post
    Pete B

    Pix from 2019

    Pete B Today, 10:10 AM Go to last post
    Speed on the Water

    Catching Up With Steve Curtis

    The busiest man in offshore racing continues to get busier, https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-n...h-steve-curtis.

    Speed on the Water Today, 09:20 AM Go to last post
    Bobcat

    Official...raise your post count thread!!

    BAMM!


    After reading the Headline...I knew it wasn't Tracy..

    Dentist Rescues 4 From Ocean
    February 21, 2019

    Bobcat Today, 09:02 AM Go to last post
    Bobcat

    Official...raise your post count thread!!



    Mornin !

    Broke down in Marathon , Truck died and I ducked into the Center Turn Lane.......Took apart the entire

    Bobcat Today, 08:54 AM Go to last post
  • Recent Article Comments Widget

Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5
Copyright © 2019 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2019 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Content Slider provided by vBSlider (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2019 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright 2008-2013 SeriousOffshore.com. All rights reserved.
Contact Us - Serious Offshore - Archive - Top