The Process of Building the Ultimate Poker Run / Party Cat: 53 ft By 12ft

[Nortechnorth]

When a gentleman from Lake Charles, Louisiana asked us to do a complete re-do on his 53 Airborne cat, we knew it would be a big job. We were eager to take it on though. This was the third Airborne cat we’d rigged. One is the 53 called “Iceman” owned by Preston Parish in Michigan. The other was a 50 flat-deck for Ontario’s Davis Mighton.

Rigging a boat for Raymond Boudreaux is an altogether different job. The nicest guy you will ever meet, Mr. Boudreaux is all about the details. He wanted the biggest, baddest, coolest, hottest party/poker run boat there was. We did not want to disappoint.

When the boat arrived at our shop, it was more or less a blank hull.

[Nortechnorth]

Bare Hull

[McGary911]

Should be an interesting project to follow. What kind of power\drives are planned for this monster?

[Sea-Dated]

Cool project.

Keep us updated with lots of pics.

[MattBMiller]

Cool boat! Loks like it has a huge cabin. What power?

[Nortechnorth]

The paint was done here by Jason Leslie and it turned out spectacular. So much so that Florida Powerboat Club gave Mr. Boudreaux the Best Paint and Graphics Award for this fall’s Key West Poker Run. Mr. Boudreaux was kind enough to give it to us.

[Nortechnorth]

When we got the boat out of paint, the rig began. We recommended Mercury Racing’s 1075 SCi packages for the boat and Mr. Boudreaux took that option. Along with the Mercury power, the new interior we put in and the paint, here is the finished product.....pics tomorrow.

[boatme]

cool peice

[MarylandMark]

pics tomorrow.

You tease!! I like it when RG3 does it, not dudes!

Quads?

[MahopacMarine]

Project looks like it will be incredible.

Keep us posted with lots of pic's

[Perlmudder]

this is gunna be good!

[Wild]

more pics, more pics, more

[TIKI]

Give us a little peak! It's always a SLOW day in the office the day before a holiday; so I need something to get me through the rest of the afternoon.

[txriverrat2001]

I saw the boat here in Houston about 2 or 3 yrs ago on the Rock the Lake run - it was frikkin cool as hell. A monster to say the least.

Can't wait to see the new pics....

Did the boat have surface drives prior???

[LaughingCat]

Time to make a point: I love threads about projects and rebuilds. But it is even better when the thread starts after the project is done. Then you get to see start to finish right off the bat, instead of coming back for months.

Looking forward to the photos tomorrow. Sounds like an awesome rig.

[Airpacker]

Its a monster. It ran a few of our club runs this summer.

[FCMarine]

Looks like a huge project but sounds like you guys have it under control. I agree you should post up some pics today instead of tomorrow because I would love to see the paint that you guys put on there.

[Nortechnorth]

Ok. Here are a few:

[McGary911]

Ok. Here are a few:

Gotta love peer pressure. :sifone:

Thanks........

[Nortechnorth]

Pics didn't attach. Let's try again...

[MarylandMark]

He wanted the biggest, baddest, coolest, hottest party/poker run boat there was. We did not want to disappoint.

You can say that again!! Talk about space to hang out- WOW!

[Bgchuby01]

where is the stripper pole mount

[customtouch]

Looks like the one that used to be at Victory Marine.

[DKwestern]

13 people and more room. wow

[Perlmudder]

that is a god damn monster! looks sick!

[J Lambert]

He tied up behind us in Key West. He had as may people on that boet as we did. Ours was 108 feet!!!!

[JB4Boyne]

Iceman running in BoyneThunder

[Ratickle]

The paint was done here by Jason Leslie and it turned out spectacular. So much so that Florida Powerboat Club gave Mr. Boudreaux the Best Paint and Graphics Award for this fall’s Key West Poker Run. Mr. Boudreaux was kind enough to give it to us.

It was a very sweet boat.

[itilldo]

13 people..... wow

[tunnelvision69]

I met Raymond at the Jacksonville poker run a couple years ago, what a character!! congrats on the boat it looked awsome in key west!!

[Jassman]

Looks like alot of fun..How does the party boat run with those 1075's...120's:huh:

[Nortechnorth]

Looks like alot of fun..How does the party boat run with those 1075's...120's:huh: The boat runs 110. I think that's pretty good for a condo!

[Wrinkleface]

I have been on the ICEMAN, awesome frik'n huge cool azz kitty!!!!!!

[SinkinFastR]

Saw this boat at Emerald Coast Poker Run this past summer. What an incredible boat. Paint was awesome!!! I wish I could have gotten a look inside. I am a little biased towards orange boats though.

[Nortechnorth]

Saw this boat at Emerald Coast Poker Run this past summer. What an incredible boat. Paint was awesome!!! I wish I could have gotten a look inside. I am a little biased towards orange boats though.
You like orange boats, Chuck?

[Nortechnorth]

More pics.

[Nortechnorth]

More.

[jmeng]

Climbed around on it a couple of years ago before the redo. Huge boat. Raymonds a cool guy, also has an Outerlimites GTX with 850sc's.

[catmando]

Where are the molds? Are they being built now? I still have an Airborne/Big Thunder cap from LOTO 2004.

[Wrinkleface]

Where are the molds? Are they being built now? I still have an Airborne/Big Thunder cap from LOTO 2004.

Didn't Skater have them at 1 X at least?????:confused:

[boatme]

When Randy Started the Airborn Priojects I would stop into his shop and crawl all over the boats in aww We hasd some great times hanging out together

What a great boat and good idea for a certian segment of the boating public

Randy was very proud of the boat I miss him and I miss those days

[Wrinkleface]

When Randy Started the Airborn Priojects I would stop into his shop and crawl all over the boats in aww We hasd some great times hanging out together

What a great boat and good idea for a certian segment of the boating public

Randy was very proud of the boat I miss him and I miss those days

I remember a couple Miami boat shows he had a hull outside in the lot at the convention center, cool!!:sifone:

[Nortechnorth]

16 people including the cameraman in Key West. Room for more.

[Nortechnorth]

Party Barge.

[Wrinkleface]

Party Barge.

Brotha Preston calls his "The Motorhome"!!!!!!!

[Nortechnorth]

Brotha Preston calls his "The Motorhome"!!!!!!!


He isn't far off. Is he?

[Wrinkleface]

He isn't far off. Is he?

Nope!!!!:sifone:

[Otis311]

You like orange boats, Chuck?

It was a pleasure meeting you on this very boat !! The boat is stunning and is the ultimate go fast party boat. We had 15 people or so on this boat and could have fit a few more w/o any problem I have a video of the fly by you did after the race raftup on my cellphone. The boat ran unbelievable with all those people on board. Nice job with this project..you guys need to be commended on the workmanship

Bob Scanlon

[Otis311]

16 people including the cameraman in Key West. Room for more.

Nice pic. whos the ugly guy with the orange shirt on in the far left.... Oh crap..its me

[Nortechnorth]

It was a pleasure meeting you on this very boat !! The boat is stunning and is the ultimate go fast party boat. We had 15 people or so on this boat and could have fit a few more w/o any problem I have a video of the fly by you did after the race raftup on my cellphone. The boat ran unbelievable with all those people on board. Nice job with this project..you guys need to be commended on the workmanship

Bob Scanlon

Bob,

Great to meet you. Thanks for the compliment. Do you ever do Thousand Islands?

[Otis311]

I havent as of yet. Ill try to reserve a seat on an local Orange Nor-tech and do the run with you guys

[jax55]

Double R, ask Raymond "where are my chickens!!"

[catmando]

Didn't Skater have them at 1 X at least?????:confused:I heard they did but as far as I know they never built one.

[catmando]

You like orange boats, Chuck?I like orange, so many other colors go well with orange.

[catmando]

When Randy Started the Airborn Priojects I would stop into his shop and crawl all over the boats in aww We hasd some great times hanging out together

What a great boat and good idea for a certian segment of the boating public

Randy was very proud of the boat I miss him and I miss those daysI hope that someone will build the Airbornes again. They are Randy's legacy.

[JohnnyZ]

That's a great combo of performance and space. Great job on the refit.

[GENERAL LEE]

Damn, does it have one of those 15 man liferafts that blows up instantly if the boat ever feels itself tipping over? :sifone:

http://www.defenselink.mil/home/images/photos/2005-08/photoessays/pi20050811a2.jpg

[gerritm]

I have seen this boat in our Topps poker runs, before the redo and at Destin after. It is amazing. It has a deck large enough to land a plane on. A definite air craft carrier.

[Nortechnorth]

Double R, ask Raymond "where are my chickens!!"

Raymond laughed pretty hard at that one.

[SinkinFastR]

I havent as of yet. Ill try to reserve a seat on an local Orange Nor-tech and do the run with you guys

Your in, but the sure money has you as a no show:sifone:

[Jassman]

I met Raymond at the Texas shoot out..btw I had a blast even if the weather was not cooperating..but the boat was very cool. Raymond showed me around and even let me polish up a few area's. Good guy..cool party barge with some major attitude. :sifone::sifone::sifone:Jeff