Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

My nephew and I pulled the BT from KY to Nashville today for some cabin carpet work and to recover the back seat. First shop was ready and waiting for us. I had told them I needed at least a 12 x 12 door to get it into their shop. "No problem, our door on the highway is 12 x 12." Had the boat in to the back seat. Whoa, door was only 9' 6". Had to take it to anther shop I have used before. Should be ready to go to the engine/rigging shop in two weeks. I figure 2-4 weeks in the second shop and I will be ready to prop test. Can spring/summer be far behind. Joe Murray

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

What's happening at the engine and rigging shop Joe? Adding to your horsepower? Ian

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

New diesel gen and rigging, new sea strainers, sea water pumps, harmonic balancers, and a new laptop tune for the EFI with O2 sensors in all four CMI tail pipes. Maybe next year Whipple 5 Liter blowers.

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

What kinda speeds are you seeing these days?

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

77 with reworked 4 blades. I have a set of 5 blades I will test after the boat comes out of the rigging shop. Joe Murray

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Upolstery shop says that the boat will be ready Friday or Saturday. Next stop is the engine/rigging shop.

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

What is the deal with these boats, seems like a lot of boat for the money but I really don't hear them being a big wave crusher !!??!!

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

blanjac,

Anytime you'd like to run with us to Nassau or Grand Bahama in 7-9's you're welcome to join us. We'll let you define what wave crusher means after your experience :) Not that we particularly enjoy running in that stuff, we don't. But sometimes we have to. All of our boating is in the Atlantic Ocean, there are about 3 smooth days to every 8 not so smooth. Now after some 40 crossings, I am more confident of my 43' Black Thunder than ever.

Part of the reason you don't hear alot about these boats, is because they only build some 12 to 14 per year, since 1988. They only build a 43 GT which is a lower deck style with about 5' 8" of head room in the cabin, and a 46' hull with app. 6'10" of head room in the cabin (my 43' style was built from app. early 90's until about 2004 when replaced by the 46'). They don't build boats on spec, and when they get an order, they build with their own cash. They don't owe any money to anybody. The factory is in Hannibal MO which doesn't have the "sexy" build location as some of the larger builders. The land is affordable, wages are reasonable, and hard working people are plentiful. They've had the same owner and same GM since the get go.

If you ever find yourself at the Miami or Fort Lauderdale boat show, please let us know and we'll be happy to take you for a thorough demo ride.
By the way, that's a very attractive boat you've got.

Steve

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Thank you on the boat compliment, a little 29' with twin 600's

I was in Miami a few weeks back, just had very little time to spare and am not currently in the market as my boat is a 2005. Just seems like this is a ton of boat for the money and would hope to hear more about them and their performance !!

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

We have a flat deck 43' and can run 100mph during the shootout weekend going by the toll bridge. Ours really eats up the rough stuff. :D

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

What power and what do you think a 43' would do with twin Merc 700's ??

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Well, our boat started life with 750 NA motors and saw 99mph on the gps once, but that was before the boat had a cabin and conditions were very ideal. After the boat got a cabin, it would run about 95 in those same conditions but we usually saw about 93. The boat never ran under 90, even on the hottest and worst day of the year. So with merc 700's, you should probably see high 80's on a very bad day, and low 90's on a good day.

The next set of motors we put in our boat were about 950hp with 10-71 blowers and the boat would run about 110mph. It had old style skegs and 4 blade props and I'm sure there was at least another 5mph or more in it just with setup. It was with those motors that we went by the toll bridge at 100mph on shootout weekend. It was pretty rough.

We have the same motors now except with PSI blowers. The boat went a little over 100mph at half throttle. We haven't had a chance to do speed runs yet. For this year, we are putting on swept back skegs and are using 5 blade props. We expect to see some really, really good numbers. :D

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Saxman, that flat deck looks great. Joe Murray

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

I am thinking that twin Merc 700's with those new ACE drive would be a pretty solid and reliable combo, as I don't need a 100MPH runner.

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Yeah, I think so to. The folks at BT are really excited about this new merc package. Feel free to give them a call. Also, their website is www.blackthunder.com

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Thanks Joe. :D How's your boat coming along?

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Wonder what the cost would be, might have to be my next boat !! :drink:

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Saxman, the upolstery work will be finised this week and than on to Eddie Young's new shop in Mt. Juliet, TN. Mostly maintance and test/tune issues. I hope between the BT and the new Concept to have a great boating summer. Might do some upgrades on engines next year if funds permit. Joe Murray

Re: Optical Illusion to the shop today.
 

Hey Joe, say hi to Eddie when you see him. I wish he could have stayed at TMP, he will be missed :( . Jeff