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On The Water News
by Published on 06-23-2019 04:57 PMCategories:
When it comes to performance boats, the Skater 28 is one that is always spoke of with reverence. When Douglas Marine released the 28 Skater, it was an instant hit. It's ability to outperform larger Cats, and larger Vee's, in rough water conditions made it an instant legend. To this day, many 28 Skaters sell for more than they sold for when new. The latest, a 28 with many custom features, could be considered a work of art.
As almost everyone knows, Skaters are almost always one of a kind. Just about every boat has some custom feature, many more than one. The two Skater models which actually have ...by Published on 06-16-2019 10:17 AM
As seems to be the issue with every pre-planned boating weekend in West Michigan, the weather forecast was making the planning interesting. Depending on what weather person you listened to, or what forecast you looked up on the internet, the weather could be anything from 6 to 8 foot waves on the lake with gale and small-craft warnings with a 90% chance of rain. To partially sunny and 2 to 3 footers with a 20% chance of rain or less.
Heading out the Muskegon Channel
Although there was a bit of rain during the street show on Thursday evening, the overall weather was fine. The boats on display stayed almost completely dry, and ...by Published on 06-03-2019 10:53 PM
West Michigan Offshore is inviting you to be in the middle of the high-performance powerboat action aboard the Aquastar on Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 am.
The Aquastar, Muskegon Lake’s sightseeing fun ship, will take a Make-A-Wish Cruise on Saturday, as riders donate for a ride on Muskegon Lake and out to Lake Michigan. Be a part of the Parade of Power high-performance boat parade.
Watch as the powerboats take off on the Poker Run.
Join the Grand ...by Published on 06-02-2019 11:40 PM
Chief Powerboats will be making a showing at West Michigan Offshore's Muskegon Powerboat Weekend Event.
The Crew at Chief Powerboats is excited to be a part of West Michigan Offshore’s Muskegon Powerboat Weekend. They will be bringing one of their flagship pleasure models with them to participate in the 4:00-9:30 Powerboat Street Party in Downtown Muskegon in collaboration with the Taste of Muskegon.
The 42’ Chief Platinum Warrior is a modern ...by Published on 05-19-2019 09:30 PMCategories:
Well, some things just never seem to get settled. This is the third iteration of one of the sweetest boats built. This Skater 3312 started out as a beast nicknamed the "Silver Bullet" with its speeds of over 160 mph due to its Sterling power and Arneson drives.
Part 1[/B] http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/co...akedown-Cruise
Photo Courtesy Pete Boden
But, the boat was so crazy fast for its size, nobody stepped up to the plate to buy it. So, a ...by Published on 04-17-2019 10:25 PM Number of Views: 23840
It's the time of year for the first major performance boating event of the Spring. Desert Storm, at Lake Havasu in Arizona, is one of the premier events anywhere in the nation for performance boats of all manufacturers to show off their style and speed. One of those manufacturers is Skater Powerboats by Douglas Marine. Skaters have won numerous speed titles and Best In Show awards at previous events.
A new Skater, not even rigged yet, will be on display at the street party this year. Make sure to stop by and see this new custom 28' Skater Wide-Load model.
...by Published on 02-11-2019 01:40 PM Number of Views: 16661Categories:
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 ...by Published on 08-27-2018 10:49 PM Number of Views: 26789Categories:
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;
...by Published on 08-20-2018 09:00 AM Number of Views: 21236
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 ...by Published on 08-08-2018 09:35 AM Number of Views: 17808Categories:
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 ...by Published on 07-31-2018 08:57 AM Number of Views: 19084Categories:
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.
...by Published on 07-26-2018 08:13 PM Number of Views: 16740Categories:
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, ...by Published on 07-19-2018 06:02 PM Number of Views: 7067
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, ...by Published on 06-21-2018 10:09 AM Number of Views: 7722
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 ...by Published on 08-30-2017 11:12 PM Number of Views: 13926
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 ...
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