.3

.4

And for last!

oupps!!! sorry Robert I might of walked in on your posting!

The engines were Merc 500 hp's

This was the start of really little to no maintainence engines.
They were again more efficient than the number III boat and were "only" sucking less than 80GPH at wide open. This boat had FlowScan fuel flow meters and the dash was still the original style with nothing on the passenger side, but the floscans. Also it still had the lighted rocker switches for all the various functions and lights and so forth.
It was neat, I went faster, burned less gas, and had less maintainence doing it. What more could a guy want....

Last one of Rice Hauler IV
BTW just in case anyone wants to know this and the last pic of RH IV were taken at TGI Friday's in the Radisson Basin at Lake Erie.
If you need a place to stay and want to dock the boat out back this is a perfect spot. And you can just walk around the boardwalk to TGI's.
Best
Rice Hauler

Dynamite boats Rice Hauler!

LS JR.

Well we come to Rice Hauler V

Well after you get low maintainence, fuel economy and a little speed. The only thing that a guy wants is just to go a little faster....
Rice Hauler V came originally with HP 500's and then Phil came up with the "Zul Dog" package
Zul 560's pushing 625hp apiece.
So after a year of cruising 70 and doing nearly 85 tops we repowered her with the Zul Dogs and away we went...
This was the first Twin Step designed by Michael Peters of Michael Peters Yacht Design. And it was a Home Run in my opinion.
The ride attitude got even flatter (nearly dead flat at cruise) and the rough water handling and ride were superb. This was a great experience in what more Torque and Horsepower can do for boat handling, speed and ride.
BTW this was the first boat that I came up with the paint theme and then worked with Harold to arrive at the final design....

One other item this and the other running shots were taken in the afternoon off the coast of Miami between the Biscayne Lighthouse and Government Cut. This was the series that ended up being used by Cigarette in thier print ads and the back cover of the Catalog. Jerry Wyszatcki of Avatar was the photographer and believe me it's not my driving that makes the shots to good it's the Photographer and the Helicopter Pilot.
Best,
Rice Hauler

Here is the Lincoln Commercial with Robert's boat.

http://www.llsoc.com/Videos/Cigarette.rm

Backtracking a little here's a pic of the 2000 Rice Hauler IV with the merc HP 500's.
The boat ran all day at 70-75 and could be coaxed to 80 on the GPS.
The things I learned about stuff like "Lab Finished" props and "Custom Dock Lines" and "GPS" and other cool stuff like that.
But the low/no maintainence thing was the best.
Just change the Oil and service the drives and you went boating everyday....
Best,
Rice Hauler