what was your first "performance" boat?

**rdkvector** · 07-10-2009, 03:49 PM

1977 16ft. CeeBee Avenger 140 Evinrude. I rebuilt the transom w/ knee braces added a jackplate would do 60 on a good cool day. Then when I should have used paint, I used gelcoat instead to get that factory look. I spent the next month sanding down 300.00 worth of gelcoat with 400.00 worth of sandpaper. I will NEVER do that again.....Did turn out nice though. I still miss that boat! I like my HS Vector much better but there's nothing like your first speed boat!

**mxz** · 07-10-2009, 03:59 PM

1981 Bruiser Blue Hydrostream Vector with matching 1981 Merc 225. Had it for around 10years.

**afr** · 07-10-2009, 04:00 PM

what got me started hu lets see
maybe my half brotherinlaws top fuel hydro open cockpit early to mid 70,s BAH
the first time i seen it run i was about 9or12
and the jet boats on the miramack river and lake of the ozarks MO boat races

then in 1984/5 i started working for my Dad at the propshop keylargo mm 103.5
never been without a boat since and a carrier was born from the prop nut to the wheel nut to the speed nut now im just a old boat nut
lol

**Bruster** · 07-10-2009, 04:10 PM

Like this?

Originally Posted by rdkvector

1977 16ft. CeeBee Avenger 140 Evinrude. I rebuilt the transom w/ knee braces added a jackplate would do 60 on a good cool day. Then when I should have used paint, I used gelcoat instead to get that factory look. I spent the next month sanding down 300.00 worth of gelcoat with 400.00 worth of sandpaper. I will NEVER do that again.....Did turn out nice though. I still miss that boat! I like my HS Vector much better but there's nothing like your first speed boat!

**fasteddie** · 07-10-2009, 04:14 PM

twin turbo 468 chevy - 17 ft can am jet was the first one that I owned
first outboard was a 20ft sleekcraft mod tunnel with a 200 mariner
then many many others because it became an addiction.

All done now, I pussed out

**Maple Leaf** · 07-10-2009, 04:16 PM

The boat that got me hooked was a nice Bruiser Blue Hydrostream V-King with a nice Black merc

My first Proformence boat is my 1982 Hydrostream Vandal That I am currently restoring!

Though my First boat was this gold Metal Flake Sunray, Did about 50mph with a 70 Merc with a 24p Chopper, Even got a jack Plate on there

**JUPITER PULSARE** · 07-10-2009, 04:56 PM

1988 Regal Velocity 230 with a 454 Magnum (365hp) and a Bravo One drive. Still one of the best boats I've ever owned..it was a very big 23'5" boat with a great cabin and good freeboard. The boat ran upper 60's/low 70's all day long!! Based off of the Velocity 22 bottom but had a Euro styled top deck with molded swim platform. Once the boat hit the pad it was a blast to drive!!!!

**Mark75H** · 07-10-2009, 05:36 PM

13 ft Switzer Bullet (probably built in 1952) with a D Merc ... solid 50 mph when most people talked 50 and went 44

**Tom Foley** · 07-10-2009, 08:01 PM

Sam , post some pics !! I think those that were fortunate enough to have been exposed to smaller fast boats have a little more appreciation for just how great the boats we all enjoy now are. I personally am still blown away by the level of performance these 2.5 mercs can deliver on pump gas ....great stuff ! Now I will say this ..I have seen and heard some bad axx OMC stuff too ..but if I had to have an OMC it would have to be an F1 - V8 or nothing ...what a sound !!!!!

**Mark75H** · 07-10-2009, 08:09 PM

To my knowledge I only took 2 pics of the boat the whole time I owned it. I don't know where they are now.

**ChrisM** · 07-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Hit a telephone pole in the Hudson River and split the bottom pretty badly. I didn't see it until after I hit it. This one was floating vertically w/the top just a little below the surface. Insurance totalled the boat. They let me keep it and I sold the Suzuki . I used that money and the settlement money to buy a new unrigged 87 hydrostream valero yt. I rigged it w/a new 200 merc black max.

**RONNIE** · 07-10-2009, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by baja200merk

16ft checkmate with a GT100 Johnson

what the hell is that???!!!

**rkd1119** · 07-10-2009, 09:37 PM

1976 Baja 16SS with a 140 Evinrude (boat was rated for a 115?). It would get squirelly at top end (maybe 60?), but I loved it. It had a rotten transom and the floor was weak, but I learned to get up on a slalom (deep water starts only, was scared to try off the beach), one LONG summer (92). It was my first and only performance boat.

It was followed by a 20' Arriva with a 5.0 Mercruiser, and now a 97 Mariah 198Z with a 5.7 EFI. When the kids get grown I will buy a turbo bottom Hydrostream Virage and put a 250 or 300 4 stroke and pretend I am not as old as I will be by then. Maybe they will have hi-po stuff for the cam motors by then (I love the quiet running and fuel mileage, 100 mph doesn't interest me).

Virage's still are the prettiest boat ever built. If I can't find one I'll get an Allison Grand Sport (#2 and close).