Don Johnson's 50' cat
 

Does anyone have any pics of the 50' cat that Don Johnson raced?
Thanks: Matt

No pix sorry,
It showed up in Atlantic City in '88. I recall it didn't ever run very well.
I could get a pick of it now that it has gone to pasture in Austin. I expect it is still where I saw it. Seems Don, Revlon and OPT didn't last long in Offshore.

This one? I think I have some more on my other computer.

I thought I saw it for sale in OSO's project boats section about a year ago . It had some firearms logo on the side .

who designed and built that boat? If i recall maybe michael peters designed it, but not sure who built it?

I once read that it was a 50' Revenge but I do not know anything about that builder and I never heard about any other boat built by them.

For other pics go to:
http://media.boatmad.com/gallery/main.php
and search the gallery for team usa.

Is that the cat at Eriksen Marine?

I think so I'll click a pic next time I'm close.

Thanks guys. I climbed all over the boat a couple of years ago at American Offshore Marina, huge hull but stripped bare.
Matt

7xCHAMP should be able to tell us about it ...please

Watched That Boat Run In Nyc I Think Around 89-90.very Fast In Its Day.i Think It Held The Closed Course Record For A While.

It was built by Revenge (whom made sportfisherman). There was a small write up in Professional Boatbuilder (last two years?) about the Revenge company, which was sold a while back.

Yes, It is still listed in SBI's fastest lap records

# 50 TeamUSA 1990 New York 127.3 mph no driver listed

the boat was built by john sadouwski of revenve yachts in pompano beach, fl when he built the hull he destroyed the wooden mold after its completition. its been listed on the classified ads a number of times

From Flying Fish's archive over on Boatmad:-

Here is a shot of TEAM USA,, is that 7x on the throttles making it look easy ?

So where is it now? Worth looking at to restore? It sure looks cool, not that I got the $ to start a project like that, just curious.

That would be me, we must have been looking at some girls, as we are all looking to our right, either that or we were waiting for the start????
When I see some of my old rides I recall all the various boats I built and raced, it`s a fairly good list. I was probably one of the most versitle guys of the time with wins in all classes I raced. In the four engine cats, I ran the Team USA---Popeyes Goetz ----- Gentry Ex Arneson boat 48`.: In superboat triple engine V`s I ran: The gentry 48` Scarab--- The Wellcraft 43` triple--- and my favorite Apache Heritage triple.With Popeyes We won the APBA championship in 1988, Al`s last Championship. The Wellcraft 43` we set a Kilo record and won the 1993 APBA worlds in Ft. Meyers, Apache Heritage we won SBI 1992 and 1993 Worlds in Key West. One day I`ll recall my Open class history which includes 4 UIM championships all back to back, God I sure miss those days and all the challenges, at least I have the memories and a few followers,thanks to OSO.

Dam 7x. We Knew You Were The $hit, But Dam

Richie wrote the book on keeping a relatively low profile......

His main talent IMHO was consistency, and being low key. Aside from the 1988 Popeye's season, most of his owner/drivers were the same way (Tom Gentry being the quitessential humble owner in my opinion). You could always count on Richie for a thoughtful quote without a torrent of bombast.

Class and composure marked the true champions back then. Today's "in your face" generation could take a few lessons. Ever wonder why the true champs like J.T., Stevie, and Imprescia don't need to shout about themselves?

Richie heads my list of all time classy T-men........ he was also a nightmare to compete against......and a joy to cover on video.

By the way, he is still young enough to give it another go.......;)

T2x

Thanks T2x: We had some good times and I will always be beholding to you for the pictures and press time you gave us all. Betty Cook was a grandmother and kicked the Ch-- out of all of us, she earned more respect than any one I have known, she also went to Europe for UIM etc, funny how people don`t know or care to recall people like that, plus we tend to forget the past and the greats that were there, the ones who pioneered the sport. My same old gripe about no real recorded history except for the Searace book and what you guys did, that unfortunatly sits in waiting for the day someone or some group cares enough to continue where Crouse left off. Thanks as always for your support and friendship.

T-Man is an occupational specialty. Since day one, there has always been a T-man in every offshore boat. Short boats, big seas, no trimtabs, bronze props, and long courses required a level of throttling at least on a par with today's rockets. We couldn't trim if we wanted to.(except for the ballast tank) Driving, navigating and throttling were often done by the same guy.

I envy those that have done it & still do it. I admire the ones who are just regular folks out for the love of the sport.
The attraction to the sport as I know it really stems around seeing those that do it be so approachable & willing to just talk about boats.
When my finances allow, I'll be out there doing what I look at from the shore in Key West.
Thanks for sharing!

Very true, and we tend to forget that. When I started as you did we were riding mechanics/navigator/dummies. Most of the boats I started in were 21` seacrafts standing tandem, and the driver did everything, we were just along for the ride and the training. I remember the first Bahamas 500 standing behind Gene Wagner for 13 hours along for the ride, I changed the valves for fuel, and passed water forward, it was so rough I couldnt sleep, couldn`t get comfortable, just hang on. We finished 8 th overall and were the first outboard to finish. I remember when Odell asigned me my first race boat, and my role was reversed, and I was responsible for the equip. and trying to win, I`m sure you can relate, it`s a major undertaking and responsibility, but damn it was fun. I have had talks with JT, Curtis and others about todays racing and the courses, if we/they had there way we would run it like an unlimited hydro. put the foot throttle in, trim on the wheel and let her eat. Just an opinion everyone, don`t go nuts.

When we put a foot throttle in the very first Shadow Cat it was sometimes too rough to control the engines rapidly enough. We also got a LOT of flack for using seats in those boats...as you may remember. The thought at that time was you HAD to stand up or your back would be injured. We pretty well debunked that...at least in cats...and as I recall, you sat down in Apache Heritage.


Today is a whole different story. Given the quick reactions and communication involved, a throttleman might actually be a hindrance on a calm, tight course.....IF.....you have a driver who can handle trim on the wheel and a foot throttle...... Certainly, JT, Stevie and Imprescia can, as they have all had outboard tunnel boat experience. I know you can too.......;)

I was never allowed to use the communication hookup, as the rest of the crew couldn't stand the screaming.........

Reminds me of first intercoms we used, I was with Bonomi and Petroni in the boat, I think it may have been the cowes torquay, Cowes race, as we go to the milling area, I turned the intercom on and heard nothing but Italian so I turned it off. Bonomi finally lifted his visor and in english asked me why I turned it off, I told him I picked up an Italian station couldn`t understand so turned it off, we finally found an English station that worked.

Richie, I had the pleasure of meeting you in KW in 92 when you were running the Apache Heritage boat I'm sure to you I was just some ghostly white Canadian offshore groupie at the time.. You seemed awfully excited about running the boat then. We soon saw why. Wow that thing ran hard. I have an album somewhere at home with lots of pics from the 92 races. We were floating in the harbour across from athe annex watching the boats come in.

I remember thinking it was one weird looking offshore V hull then. Low freeboard, sit down boat. Who would have thought :)

PS, hey Tyrannasaurus 2X, you are very correct in calling 7x a gentleman. He was very polite and put up with my questions for about 15 minutes. Compared to the reception, or lack thereof I received from some of the other "big names" at the races that year, he was downright dazzling :)

Richie was always approachable.......

And for the record...I believe he is one year older than me.....:D

T2x

[QUOTE=T2x;2698205]Richie was always approachable.......

And for the record...I believe he is one year older than me.....:D

T2x[/QUOT

That would make you 38 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[QUOTE=7xchamp;2698211]That's right, and I have been for the past 23 years.........;)

T2x

counting down the days to social security payments for boat gas are ya Rich ? :)

When that time comes I`ll have to be into blow boats, hope that time doesn`t come.

[QUOTE=T2x;2698235]Sometimes we have to tell it like it is. Oct. 46

Hey Ritchie and all, great to see the banter, I am sure we get better with age, not that I am way old yet! Thanks for the comments about Betty, having worked for her and JC for quite some years she was awesome to all of us and also loved to do the talkin on the water.
Ritchie, you are never to old, I have just scored 3rd NZ title in a row but might be time to let the young guys have a turn, maybe I will show up in KW again and have a look. Craig Archer

[QUOTE=7xchamp;2698333]March '47...... so you are 5 months older...... Pops :p

Hey Craig

I was hoping to get in touch with you please pm your contact info bro. Hope all is well down under. I had a few drinks with your buddy Steve Curtis in Pt Pleasant and told a few lies.

Sean

H2oboater
 

Hey guy. The pic of that skater brings back some memories. I almost bought that boat about 10 years ago. It was at a dealership in Florida. If memory serves me right, the boat had small blocks in it. How long have you owned it?? Just curious. It brought back some memories.