Bounty Hunter
 

Everyday I drive down Rt. 22 in Green Brooke, New Jersey past a furniture store named Martin's furniture. Occationally I see an old school off shore racer named "Bounty Hunter" parked in front of the store. Very cool boat. Does anyone know anything about this boat?

It's a 36 Cigarette and currently being raced in OPA. You can probably see it race in Patchouge LI on Aug24 or Point Pleasant on Sept 7. It's a great rough water boat!

Billy Martin is one of the true icons of the sport and his" Bounty Hunter" race boats stretch back to the 60's. He raced all over the world and came out of many years of retirement to race in the new bracket classes.

T2x

What year is she? What class does she race in? What kind of power?

hey, sorry about all the questions. I just love the classics.

Formula,
Check out www.oparacing.org for pics. I think the boat is a mid 1970's 36 with #3 speedmasters. It runs in class 4. Billy Jr races with his dad and is a member on this board.

Check out the HORBA site and take a look at some of the old race movies from that era from Big Seas.

www.historicraceboats.com

Here's an article about Betty Cook and her racing Billy.

That boat is timeless, and a great competitive boat even today, i love watching that boat run next to us in ocean city....

Not by chance that hull 36' it is the most succesfully of the whole history of the Offshore competitions.
Stretching the original 32' to 36' Aronow reached the correct equilibrium by all the seas of the world.
Quite competitive in flat seas and unbeatable on rough seas.
The best hull Offshore ever built. My personal opinion.
Marco

I'm with Marco on those 36 wide bodies. Lines to make you drool...

Good new avatar Nigel! Good to still hear you.
There is to fall asleep in this forum of Offshore Classic that doesn't have anything of classic almost anymore.....:worthless_without_p

For pics-Bounty Hunter's official website:
www.Bountyhunteroffshoreracing.com

Bounty Hunter:
79 Custom Made Cigarette. This boat was built for my father from Don Aronow as a retirement gift. It is NOT a race boat, but was actually built as a "sport fishing boat". The purpose was to deep sea fish with it with the intention, of being able to run out to sea at 80mph while the "Sport fishermans" Chugged along. He would get out there 2 hours faster, and be able to stay out there 2 hours longer, and fish. He was immediatly banned by the organization (who also owned a large "Sport Fishing Boat Company". If you actually look down the sides of the boat, you will see it has Pole Holders on it.
Year: 1979
Manufacturer: Cigarette
Length: 36'
Power: Twin 610cuin Rogers Speed Shop Engines
Drives: #3 Speedmasters, (with #5 Big Shafts)

Thanks Everyone, havent been on line in a while, work has me dragged down. We have all intentions of being in the Patchoque LI NY Race as well as Point Pleasant NJ. Talk to everyone soon.

Jr.

Some Pics:

More:

Special Thanks for the pictures: Freeze Frame Video www.freezeframe.us Imax www.imaximages.com Sharkey Images www.sharkey-images.com Dee at Lucididee www.lucidideefastboats.com

Hi Billy,

I think everybody on here would like to know more about your dads boats.

Would it be possible that you could have a write up with a picture of each boat attached with the stats on it? ie approx year, hp, mph. That would be fantastic.

Hello Priceb,

I will Try and get some stats for you, on the boats. I saw the other thread, Just been tryin to tie my father down, so he could give me some info lol.

Jr.

Thanks heaps.

Actually i've found some articles/pictures on your dads boats in some old australian magazines which i plan to scan and post

I remember being a kid on vacation in Point Pleasant one summer and kept hearing that sound...couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I jumped on my stingray and happened to go by the beach as the orange Bounty Hunter went screaming by. My first exposure to offshore boat racing. Later I found out some boats were DQ'd for racing too close to shore....great for me. That night my dad & I were driving around that night a saw the BH. We stopped and talked to one of the crew (maybe Billy) He was kind and polite enough to answer my questions about the motors (Hill injected 496's if I remember correctly). What more could a 10 or 11 year ask for....Thanks

Tom W

#15 Bounty Hunter
 

Just curious, what ever happened to the black and tan number 15 bounty hunter?

Billy: Give Me A Call. Errol Lanier 954-922-1967 Thanks

this is a spy shot from the race off Point Pleasant beack in NJ September 2008

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...ictures008.jpg

lets hear more about this bounty hunter boat. i just drove by it today and it was parked out front on RT 22. was going to stop on the way back and chat but i drove right by and then realized i missed it a few miles down the road. maybe next time. any pictures of the engines?

I was at the races in Ocean City. Bounty Hunter won their class. Being a Sonic guy and loving the straight hull it was fun watching that OLD straight hull kill the rough water, and beating up on all the new technology. Don was ahead of his time.

Unfortunatly that boat was sold and to our understanding was used for "Other Purposes" and is Now at the bottom of the Everglades. That was My fathers Favorite out of them all!


Jr.

Stop by Anytime. What would you like to know?


Jr.

Thanks! Was I talking to you Saturday Night at the Party?

Jr.

Hey Billy,

Whats up!!!
Its Andy C formerly from Scotch Plains.
You up for a game of quarters? ;)

Hope all is going well!

Andy.

How many different Bounty Hunter boats were there?

The reason that I ask is because there is one sitting in a barn here in Illinois. A friend of mine bought it in Florida in the early '90's and sold it to the current owner. I don't know what color it is.

Big Andy

There are five boats that have brought or still bear the name of Bounty Hunter for Billy Martin; all are Cigarette boats.
a 40'
a 35'
a 39'
a second 39' nicknamed 'Bubble Deck' because the rounded deck.
Today Martin is delighted with an old 36' cab.
For the pics see the post #14-15.

BTW if the Martin family knows others Bounty versions ,pics and data will be much appreciated.

I htought there was also a 28' SS Bounty Hunter...or am I htinking of Jesse James?

Bounty Hunter
 

The 39 Bubble Deck Bounty Hunter is now here in the UK along with an Apache 41 and a Magnum 27 sport, all real "old school".

As raced in Poole, UK at the beginning of June 2010 - running 72 no sweat!

A couple of my pictures taken here in England during the South Coast Marathon at the end of 2009.

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/d...n2009028-1.jpg

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/d...n2009033-1.jpg

lookin' good!

It's a well restored boat.:cool:

Hi Black Tornado, do I assume that you are related to the Balestrieri family?

Hi Ratman72.
No relation with Balestrieri.
Just when I was a teen I was a fan and loved his boats.

A Bounty Hunter aside
 

Shot of Bounty Hunter racing this year in a local English race, with on charts,the son of the guy who restored Magnum Tornado after it sank in the Cowes - Torquay - Cowes race in 1968.Bounty Hunter has just received fresh engines for the 50th running of the Cowes - Torquay classic,when it will be up against Dry Martini IV (35ft Ciggy),Apache 41 (ex- Lipship Special),Unoembassy (40ft plastic Shead Hull,sister of Diesel Dancer that came 2nd in OP II at 1989 Atlantic City Worlds) & Cinzano (ex-De Valle 38ft CUV).
So those 4 boats should recreate the good old days of a true offshore battle in the English Channel.