First gun

[First Gun]

In 1986 Cigarette gave new life to the flat deck 38....The Top Gun model made it's debute at the New York Boat Show, Nov. 1986. This is where my boat's journey begins........Hope you enjoy the ride!

[First Gun]

early years with 420's & Trs's

[Buoy]

Bryce, keep 'em coming!!!
I love this sort of stuff!

[Davidmnc]

Bryce, keep 'em coming!!!
I love this sort of stuff!

[J-Bonz]

In 1986 Cigarette gave new life to the flat deck 38....The Top Gun model made it's debute at the New York Boat Show, Nov. 1986. This is where my boat's journey begins........Hope you enjoy the ride!

Wow, I didnt realize that was the boat you re-did!! Looks good back then, Looks great now!
Jr.

[Seafordguy]

Keep those photos coming. Some neat old stuff there!!!

[First Gun]

After restoring an old basket case 27 Magnum it was quickly decided that this was not the boat for what I wanted to do.( my good friends are running 38ft and 35ft Cigs. )

[First Gun]

So the magnum went up for sale and the hunt for a Cig. in my budget was on

[cosmic12]

Please don't stop know!!!!!! We need this history here and that boat is a Icon that should be documented. Thanks for sharing.
And welcome to the site.

[baronmarine]

In 1986 Cigarette gave new life to the flat deck 38....The Top Gun model made it's debute at the New York Boat Show, Nov. 1986. This is where my boat's journey begins........Hope you enjoy the ride!

how long have you owned the first gun ??

todd

[GENERAL LEE]

Cool, I remember the "Instigator" boat very well from over the years. I had no idea it was technically the first Top Gun though. I've seen your boat since you've redone a lot of it, and you've done a really nice job.

[OldSchool]

how long have you owned the first gun ??

todd

Good question. I recognize the "Instigator" boat. I'm going off of memory (which is blurry), but that boat was owned by a guy named Greg Chu. I may be off on the name...but I bought a mini-hawk from him 5 years or so back. Really nice guy and he told me about the boat and that it was in some coffee table book about HiPo boats. he never mentioned that it was #1.

Great thread Bryce! Take your time telling the story, we'l be here for a while!!Looking forward to the rest of it!!

Craig

[First Gun]

After looking at a Bullet in Ft.Myers and a Cafe in Montana, a Top Gun needing a little love surfaced in Miami.It was Feb.2007......a call to Ed Cozzi who said the hull was sound, motors and drive line appeared to be ok but was unable to check out due to state of uncompletion,so he cautioned me not to assume they were 100% ok with 0 hours as indicated.

[First Gun]

Did I mention it had been stored outside in a sand lot for quite some time?
I was willing to gamble on the old resin bucket...I'm a sucker for old school, it seemed in my budget and a simple project compared to the one I just finished.........In 2005 I think Hurricane Wilma caused the untimely passing of a rare 35 Top Gun which became the donor of the updated cockpit,gauges,hatch,swimplatform,and some other accessories that are now found on the boat.

[Buoy]

Keep going with the story on the Gun. I love it.

But, please start another thread on the Magnum. That is also a a great looking boat, and another model that at one time in my life I'd like to have in my stable.
Almost bought one a few years ago.
I'm glad I didn't, but I still wish I did.

[Seafordguy]

We're all listening.....

[damdonzi]

Please keep the story going. You have done a fantastic job getting it to where it is today! I remember inquiring on it when it was for sale. Greg was his name. His e-mail still sticks out in my mind -it was "thespy" @ something.com and he sent me the attached pictures. I passed thinking I didn't want to get into a project like that at the time, and went on to purchase a 28 Open that subsequently turned into a major project on the order of your Magnum or more.

Not sure if you have these or not, but maybe a little trip down memory lane.

[damdonzi]

Last ones.

[First Gun]

Damdonzi, thanks for contributing those photos are some I have not seen before.
Buoy,I,ll start working on it soon.
Now on with the story.....The deal was made and the rig was nursed home on the trailer that had seen better days.A good cleaning and punch list to get the motors ready to fire up was next.

[First Gun]

Then my buddy Jim (Zero Patience) came by to see how bad of a basket case I brought home this time It was quickly decided that a better trailer was fast in my future if I was to be traveling with him and Chasin' Cash.........Lucky for me Jim was itching to build his own trailer and just needed to find a buyer for his old Cig trailerno brainer......sold my old one to a local shrimper.......During all the evaluation of this new project ,Jim said I should call Brownie @ Stainless Marine and see if he could give us some history on the boat.The next day the call was made......Brownie remembered the boat as the first one,and how they almost did not finish it in time for it's debut at the New York Boat Show.