Originally Posted by CAL500 (Post 2974805)

Sonny Miller here, MSV,

I designed and built the mold and plug at MSV at 44' of which we took out some hulls at '44 and I had a contract with Joel Halpern for 10 hulls which he used in his Cobra racing team (and some pleasure boats). I also used the same hulls under the name MSV '38, Cobra '38, Celebrity '38 and Fun Marine (Monaco) '38. These are all my designs.

Originally Posted by CAL500 (Post 2975028)

Simon temporarily worked for Joel Halpern and Joel designed the deck of the '38 which is on top of my hull and they went on to win the US Championship with my hull and their deck. The boat was assembled in Hollywood, FL, one block from my shop with Joel's mechanic team. Later they built the '32 Cobras on their own.

The first two hulls were laid up in my glass shop by Guido Marti Foreman and his crew. The third hull (I think) was kevlar handled by DuPont in the same shop.

If you look in the photographs you will see the '38 Cobra/MSV. Simon has always forgot to mention me as the designer of the hull. My contract was with Joel Halpern and Cobra Race Team - nothing to do with Mr. Simon.

I am the sole designer of the '38 hull used by Cobra to build the '38 race boat which became the US1 Champion. There were no changes made by anyone to the bottom of the boat at Cobra Marine OR Jean Claude Simon. Mr. Halpern seeked council from me on the performance of the boat because I had ran some '38 hulls earlier; pleasure and race. My opinion of their deck design at the time it was built was wedged-shaped and may drive the bow down some at high speed. Normally race decks are flat and give some lift. Mr. Joel Halpern became interested in my hull after we won the Benihana Point Pleasant Grand Prix in the La Tortuga at '44 length.

The '38 Cobra hulls were from the same mold as the '44 La Tortuga MSV.

-Sonny Miller

Originally Posted by Fast Shafts (Post 2975055)

MSV=Miller, Saccenti(sp?), Varese
I believe Varese passed away in an airplane crash.
Are the molds from the 44 still around? What ever happened to "LaTortuga"?
Thanks for all the information CAL!!!

Originally Posted by caldente (Post 2975146)

Ok, thanks
I have raced a 38' Cobra with BPM V12 engines in 2002-2004 Powerboat P1 races, the boat was very good in the rough sea but not enough fast with flat sea. The boat was very light for a 38', was the hull in Kevlar?
Patrick

Originally Posted by Black Tornado (Post 2975129)

First thing I would want to say that it is a pleasure to have here another interesting name of the offshore classic as you are.
You have spoken of the Tortuga that you have built but you don't speak of the Popeye 44' with Dominic Visconsi in 1973 that it was in rivalry with the Gara-Corsa 40' of Satullo and that it must be destroyed one year later for a fire during a race.
Can you tell us a little of history?
What role did it have Bob Saccenti with MSV?

Originally Posted by CAL500 (Post 2975196)

Popeye '44 MSV was built for Dominic Visconsi to replace the '36 Cigarette Popeye we campaigned. Yes, it burned in Point Pleasant, NJ. I was in the boat with Dominic when the turbo exploded and burned to the water-line.

Bob and I were partners and rigged most all of the '38 and '44's. Filippo Theodli helped me sell boats in Europe.

Originally Posted by CAL500 (Post 2975194)

Yes, the hull was kevlar.

IN flat sea the cobra wedge design on the deck I think was causing the bow to be held down. My '38 MSV had flat decks and were faster.

Originally Posted by Black Tornado (Post 2975437)

You know that end made the Cig.36' of Visconsi?
With what engines was equipped the 44' more precisely?

Originally Posted by Black Tornado (Post 2975438)

Before you have spoken to have a contract with Halpern to build 10 hulls 38.'
Were all and ten built?
Then it seems me to understand that you say that Halpern had three 38' two in fiberglass and one in kevlar.
All three called Beep Beep?
All done build in that year?