The First Real Offshore Boat ...

[djmadmatt]

I'm curious as to what was the first real performance offshore boat. Not nessecarily a race boat but, the first performance hull designed for speed in rough water.

Lets see what everyone thinks and post some pix if you have em.

[aswhite]

formula 233?

[Stormrider]

31 bertram.

[wstultz]

Elco PT patrol boat

[lucky strike]

Originally Posted by wstultz

Elco PT patrol boat

Ya beat me to it

[djmadmatt]

[ThirdBird]

Originally Posted by Stormrider

31 bertram.

Agreed. Bertram's 31 Moppie was really the first legitimate offshore racing boat. Before the 31 Moppie, guys were running whatever they could plow big engines into with no real ability to take waves at speed.

Bertram did not not design the Moppie. The designer was Ray Hunt. Bertram contracted with Hunt to make the Moppie. Ray Hunt's design Bertram produced was the first 24 degree deep vee to hit the water (besides the prototypes Hunt built).

Pretty amazing that the 24 degree bottom is still the standard used today for offshore go-fasters.

Here's a link to an interesting read on Ray Hunt:

http://www.bertram31.com/ray_hunt.htm

[phragle]

way back when...Noah designed the 24 degree ark, hell that may have even been before Brownie's time.....

[djmadmatt]

Great stuff guys!!

[T2x]

There were offshore races before the Bertram arrived on the scene. The early race hulls were semi V planing hulls like the Prowler out of Florida and others. These relied on big power and stripped down sportfish hulls to gain offshore speed in big water...... but they were certainly performance hulls.

T2x