The evolution of the 38 DW Fury

**Sean H** · 01-17-2010 10:34 PM

The continual evolution of the 38 DW hull #1.

Brief history to catch you up to today.

This 38 DW race hull orginally was destined for Cat 850 for another team, but as is often in offshore racing, plans change. It was then picked up in mid-build by current owner Guy Costa. The direction was changed towards Cat Lite and 525 power. After the first race, it was obvious it wasn't destined to be a Cat Lite hull (it was laid up to meet the 10k pound 850 rule, not the 8350 pound Cat Lite). After running another race to confirm their thoughts, the boat was heading back to TNT to get an 850 make over. After last minute touches were finished it was put in the water and literally sent to Bimini on the shake down run. That would be the less eventful day of the intial weekend as in the Sunday race the boat barrel rolled, luckily, landing right side up with almost zero damage. The season would get better, as the boat slowly moved up the podium in the 5 and sometimes 6 boat Cat 850 class. The OSS seasoned ended on a high note as wins started to come (heat race in Orange Beach and overall win at LOTO). Then KW 2008. After barely getting the boat down to KW in time thanks to the wonderful Florida DOT, an unexciting 2nd place resulted in the Wednesday race. All geared up and ready to go for the Friday race and attempting to solidfy some points to put them in within striking distance on Sunday, the boat went over at the infamoud turn 1. After an all night and all day thrash to get it running again, the boat made the start, but was doomed from the salt water in the electronics and ultimately retired halfway through the race. The boat once again made its way to TNT where it recieved the TLC needed after taking a nice salt bath.

2009 couldn't come soon enough after the KW experience.

The opening race of 2009 brought fast lap times but no joy as overheating/guardian issues and a little corner banging kept the boat from collecting another checkered flag, but no worries, at the second race of the year at Lake Cumberland, Fury would go on to sweep both heats, leading every single lap of the event. Next stop was Bimini/Sunny Isles where a simple fuse kept the boat from contending for a top 3 finish in the fast open ocean race. Race number 4 of the year was going to be Sarasota, but a freak practice incident once again gave the boat a nasty salt water bath it didn't need. After another mad rush to TNT and back to the Doug Wright factory for some TLC, the boat had a date with a container ship bound to Trinidad. Round 5 of the year was going to be the Great Race from Trinidad to Tobago. Nearly 100 miles of truly open ocean racing. Locate favorite and multiple time reigning champion Mr. Solo was the target. Mr. Solo proved to be a tough target to match in their home race, but the boat made it there (and back) without incident which is something in an event where one bad decision and you could end up adrift in the open sea. The boat stayed in Trinidad for some time after the race to recieve some updates hopeful in making it as fast in the rough as it is the smooth. The boat then made it back in time for KW 2009. After now what seems like a KW curse, the boat was doomed on Friday by a faulty sea strainer which ultimately put the boat out of the running as it only made 1 lap that day.

All that brings us to today, or more exactly to the beginning of December in which the decision was made to upgrades several phases of the boat.

1. Safety - the boat would receive new cockpit liner, crash bulkheads, canopy, windscreens, hatches, entire deck and fuel tanks among other things.

2. Performance - the new layup and placement of key items will place the CG lower in the boat as well as help place the CG fore and aft where needed.

3. Looks - well, it will just look cooler.