New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

My wife and I looked at two very nice new 46's at the show. One was twin engine EC and the other was a triple engine std cockpit. The fit, finish, and hardware just gets better. I wonder what a pair of the new 700's and the NXT drive would do? Joe Murray

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Did you get any pics of the boats?

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Have they finally done away with the 80s disco mirror and inexpensive counter top in the galley? IMO the BT need a lot of updating. I hope they are moving in this direction.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Boomer 880,

I kind of liked my BT 80's disco mirror and cheap counter top. What kind of boat do you have? I'd like to know what's really, really cool today??

Thanks

Steve David

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Steve:

I guess we differ in our opinion. I think a boat that costs as much as a BT would offer counter tops of a higher quality. A smal piece of Corian would be great and not cost so much. Not trying to dump on BT, but IMO parts of the cabin are very dated.

Did you buy another BT to replace your ride? If not, what did you get?

We just sold our Hustler, so we are boatless.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Boomer,

I don't know that there is a boat made that meets every customers desire. Maybe the perfect boat has a "dial a boat" on the dash that lets it become whatever we want everytime we go out??

Most of the folks I met with Black Thunders weren't searching for something else, but appreciated the quality and value of the BT brand. More to the point, they appreciated the commitment of Don and Bob Jenkins to giving the most boat for the most reasonable price. Reasonable is certainly in the eye of the beholder.

We didn't replace our Black Thunder yet. Instead we own a 55 Sea Ray and a 62 Azimut on order. The Azimut does have corian countertops, and a few other accoutrements as does the Sea Ray. But again, one could say the Sea Ray isn't an Azimut, and the Azimut is priced accordingly.

When we tire of 26 knot cruising, we'll add another hi perf boat to our family, and it will be a Black Thunder, with that same cheap countertop and cheap disco mirrors. They are part of what makes a Black Thunder what it is. They're built in Hannibal MO by Americans with an appreciation for things original and solid. As my family and I made several trips to the Bahamas in our 43' Black Thunder, we were mighty glad, especially in 6 to 8 footers that we were in a Black Thunder, built rock solid. When we arrived in Nassau, or wherever, we'd go in the cabin and say "that is a cheesey mirror and the counter top isn't Corian", but we made it again, and the boat served us well. And most of those trips, we'd be the only high perf boat in the islands, unless it was another Black Thunder that went with us.

Let me make you this offer. You order a new Black Thunder, and as a git to someone I've never met, I'll pay them to give you a Corian countertop and mirrors of your choice and you'll then own the finest high perf boat for the money.

Until then, don't pick on us previous or current Black Thunder owners because of our poor interior design taste. We're just different , in fact some of us still have bell bottoms in our cabin closets and 8 tracks in our cars :drink:

Take care,
Steve

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

I will say this about the BT guys, every show I have attended they were quick to answer any questions and super nice to talk to. I saw the two boats at the Lauderdale show and they had made some changes like roller coaster style seating so I would imagine they could make some interior changes as well. I can't say that you get the same reception at the Cigarette/ Outerlimits/ Fountain booths unless you have a checkbook in hand.
Also consider a new BT is with twin 525's is still faster than a Top Gun from the 90's and has a huge cabin that can rival some cruisers. Most people have admired the Top Gun's for years but they haven't made any cabin improvements except to make them smaller and more expensive.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Just a fairly new Black Thunder owner's 2 cents: We own the Orange 46 EC that was in the recent Powerboat Magazine. From the very start of building our boat, the Black Thunder folks said they are a "highly" custom built boat and that we should build (and paint) the boat to our liking. We even purchased our own cabin curtain/bed spread material and sent it to the factory for custom sewing and installation (and was credited their material cost). We also did not care for the mirror backing and we decided to go with the ultra leather (pic attached). We even picked out where we wanted the seat emblems, dash layout, etc. I am a member of a large boating club and each member can not believe the custom choices we were able to make. The factory is in a small town in Missouri and it was like a family event each time we visited. Very, very nice folks. The BT test ride pilot at the Miami Boat Show was also an amazing gentleman that is accustom to running 200 mph plus (Hi-Steve!). Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Hi Tommy,

Nice boat!!!! But come on, you're one of us now, where is the 8 track player :drink:

Steve

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Steve,

I still have my triple player 8 track in the house. I was an original member of the 70's Preservation Society. Still have all my 8 tracks, but the quality of sound is not there. So in the boat, I went with "modern" electronics!

Thanks again for your assistance in the BT boat trial run in Miami (Feb. 2005). Boat is unbelievable. We have become good friends with Dennis (new daddy) and company. Too busy to make Key West this year and missing it greatly.

Have a good day - Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

How about you lose the bed and add some bean bag chairs, a few lava lamps, and some orange shag carpet as new options :drink:

The interior on #8 looks much better... I guess someone agreed with me on one point :evilb: See, one little change can do a lot :D

Enjoy your new ride!!!!

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Boomer,

Lava Lamps and bean bag chairs ? Man you're welcome in our club anytime :drink:

Steve

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

I was also at the Ft Lauderdale Show and spoke directly with Bob Jenkins. Nice people and beautiful boats. I think a company that builds only 18 boats a year has an advantage over the larger manufacture's. Quality is as good as, if not better, then most all production boats.

Dave

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Tommy beautiful boat, Steve it does look like he has a little shag going on with those pillows :D

Actually I think it is a good idea to be able to customize when you are buying new, lets face it not everyone has the same taste. I remember long ago when we almost bought new Terry told us he had a customer that had some type of meat locker added to the cabin :eek: Even though I LOVE our Black Thunder when I can't sleep at night I think of the things that I would add if we could buy new :D

For what it is worth here's my ideas:
I would make the cockpit longer and the cabin a few feet shorter. We had a bit more room in the cockpit of our raised deck 40' Scarab and it was nice. We also had a flip down seat behind the double driver seat and that was great, I see they now have that option in the new 43"V Nortech. The extended cab is not for me, Ian already said we would have the one with the big engine compartment. Also school bus type seating is not for us, we are into socializing in the cockpit :drink: (when not underway of course :D )

I would also design the interior couches so they could be slept on a little easier. Not as pretty of a design, but flat couches without the raised roll at the edge, and a straight line make the benches more practical if you have to have an extra guest overnight.

The thing I would most want to change would be the easiest, is the way the back bench in the cockpit has to be slid forward before you can flip it up, and then you flip it up from the back towards you, this is VERY ackward :( Each time we have to get something that has been stored in there, the cooler and all the passengers have to move forward before you can open it.

Some of my ideas might have already happened, our's is older and I have not seen that many new ones to compare ours to. However even with the few things I would change I LOVE our Black Thunder, like Steve said it is very solid and takes the big water very well, we have been out is some stuff that most other offshores would not attempt. We are also sleep aboard people so the queen size bed, storage lockers and stand up head is a real bonus. I have seen a few cabins in the newer cigs and can't believe how most only have half a cabin.

Tommy where do you run your boat, you should add your location to your profile.
Donna

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Donna,

Thanks for the comments. We live on Clear Lake near Houston, Texas and our boat "hangs" behind our house unless were traveling with it. We love the area because of the diversity. We can run around Clear Lake to restaurants and clubs, run up the San Jacinto river for cruising, run to Galveston or Lake Charles, Louisiana to play, or hit the big Gulf of Mexico for big water. This last weekend was our 1st anniversary with boat. Maiden voyage was from Miami to Key West and back with the BT gang (great way to get to know your boat). Also of note is that we are the only BT in Texas. We're trying hard to change that though.

Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Thank's for the photo of the outside, that paint job is beautiful. Did you spend the night on the boat when you took it to Key West, we walked the docks last year and saw most of the BT's, it seemed like everyone had taken rooms. I must be weird because I really like spending the night in the marinas. It must be nice to have a longer boating season, here in MI it is just to darn short :(

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Tommy can you get to those places in LA without taking your boat out of the water, that must be nice. I have always loved Texas years ago it was part of my sales territory. Lately I have been seening a lot of Texas's lake feataured on HGTV and it sure looks beautiful.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

We go to all the places I listed in the water. Haven't been with this boat yet, but we trailer to Florida locations and a central Texas lake called Lake Travis.

Since it was our maiden voyage, we did not stay on the boat. We do stay on it a lot. One location is an island and we run the gen & a/c all night (really roughing it).

Our boating season down here is 365 days a year. We have a Christmas boat parade in mid-December. We were out running the lake New Year's Day this year. A "hard" freeze is 32 degrees. We may have 1 or 2 of those a year. Some performance boaters don't even have trailers because boats are in lifts year round. We do pay the price in August though.

At Key West last year is where PowerBoat Magazine used my boat for the Black Thunder annual performance trials (printed in May, 2006). I got up real early, drove my moped across Key West, and then drove my boat around Key West to meet the PowerBoat team at 7 a.m.!!! I show up and there is Reggie Fountain and John Tomlison preparing the red 47 Fountain that ran 117 that day; Bob Teague, Gregg Mansfield (editor), and the Test Team. Being a powerboater, it didn't get any better than that early morning event.

Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Sounds like you have the life :D I would hate not to have a trailer, to many place to visit.

I will have to dig out the may issue, I am sure I read it but after a while all this boat stuff runs together.

When they tested your boat did you ride with them, it seems like from the photos it is just Teague and one other person. Ian laughed when I remarked one time that I would not just want to hand over the keys to them.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Donna,

The boat had 7 hours on it when PowerBoat tested it. 2 hours we ran it on Lake Mark Twain when boat was finished and 5 hours from Miami to Key West. I showed up in the boat and had to toss the keys to Teague (not allowed to ride with them)! They ran it in rough water and got 72.8 mph. I've hit 75 twice. Teague was pulling in to the dock in a cross wind. When he got close, he reached down and used the bow thruster to ease right in. I looked at him and he was grinning from ear to ear. Everyone says they are for sissy's, but then they see me operate it, and their minds change.

My boat is also the 460 EC used on the BT website. Those pics are from Key West run.

Have a good day - Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

I am not a lawyer, but who is liable (for anything) when they are testing the boat? My insurance needed us to list the operators of the boat. Also, what if the test driver trashes a drive, hits a dock... just curious how this is handled. With the number of boats tested each year, there has to be 'issues' that arrise.

Nice ride.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

PowerBoat Magazine has an insurance policy that covers all their test driving.

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Tommy,

Nice looking boat. I agree that BT builds one nice boat. I have looked at them many times. You got my attention when talking about the bow thruster. What brand is it and does it have any negative impact on speed other than the weight? I have a Baja 442 and would love to have a bow thruster on mine.

Thanks,
Keith

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

Keith,

Our boat before the BT was a Baja 38 Special. We loved that boat. The 442 would have been a good step up for us but they discontniued them. We really liked the electric windless.

The bow thruster does not hinder our performance. Our boat runs equal to non bow thruster BT's. When we're running, the bow thruster is out of the water. The 460EC and the Baja 442 are tall boats. The bow thruster makes docking in cross winds very easy.

Tommy

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

I drove a 50 Nortech in May with trips-Yanmar-Arneson ASD-8 straight drives with out thrusters and it docked perfectly, very impressive. Later that day we were doing some testing on the 4300 with the same package but twins, but had a 15mph cross wind as we were getting the boat back on the trailer. This was the first time I saw how valuable bow thrusters help get that boat on so much easeier. I was sold, I added the bow thruster's to my Nortech 4300. It also enabled Nortech in he cabin to give me a U-shaped seating, they mounted the hardware in this location, with easy access, as well as a prefabbed a metal plate so it wouldn't be on the bow stringer system to isolate it from the bottom. I couldn't be more happier. Good luck everyone with your boats, which ever brand you favor, and ya'll have a great Thanks Giving, enjoying your family and loved one's. Jeff

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

My previous boat was 38 Special too! WE had the 38 for 7 years and have made many trips to the keys and bahamas. We picked up the 442 with under 50 hours on it a little under 2 years ago and it is a 2003. We looked long and hard trying to find the best of both worlds and were going to order new but when this one came along and the opportunity to save a few$$$ we had to get it. You really got me thinking about installing a bow thruster. It sure would make docking easier!

Keith

Re: New BT's @ FT Lauderdale
 

If you get a bow thruster, make sure you have a very good installer. The mfg. of the bow thruster flew to Missouri and installed mine at the BT factory. They require A LOT of juice to run. You need an isolator to keep it separated from your motor(s) electrical systems. The installer should know to do all this.