Don Smith boats video
 

Interesting.

http://smithboats.com/SMITHfinal/sam...videosurf.html

Nice and expensive boats, but that boat looks like it wanted to submarine at any time.

Paint by Active Thunder

Looks heavy and underpowered.....The chick is hot though...

I wish there was a shot from further out so that you could an idea of exactly how big the wake was that they were surfing.
I'm pretty sure most of the "lakeshore" boats you normally see out on a flat day would have been looking for a salvage tug if they tried what that boat was doing.
I maybe wrong, but I'll wait till the Florida Atlantic guys check in.
Gino, Lucky, Scott B, Buizilla, what do you think?

Just a observation.......Most of our "lakeshore boats" Knife through the tops not plow through the centers......

Maybe a camera shot from further away and over 20mph would have been better....

Easy NoCiggie, time for another nicotine patch. I wouldn't call a Magnum a lake boat, would you. :D :D
I'm sure this boat would slice through the waves at a faster speed, but I think they were trying to demonstrate it's stability in huge quatering seas at slower speeds.

I just had my first beer, i will calm down now.....lol

I believe he was slow and sitting close in the wake along with the somewhat rough sea also to show how dry the boat is.
Everyone I've seen him in runs fast and on top.
In fact at Key west several years ago out at Boca Grande sandbar I watch him pull a 47 Fountain backwards of the sanbar. The Smith was headed forward with I believe about 10 people on board from the T.O.P.P.S group and the tow line to the 47 Fountain transom which had probably 10 to 12 guys on it and he was pulling them at about 20-25 mph in reverse for close to a 1/8th of a mile.
The Smith had those diesels and the Smith drives.
ONE HELL of A BOAT!!!

They are AMAZING boats. You have to see them in person, as he puts a lot of heart into each boat. I believe there is a 2 year waiting list for one, and yes, INXS Motorsports, a sister company to Active Thunder has done some work for/with them in the past.

The rumor is that he is retiring though.

They are magnificent boats. Hand-built 42' diesel power, very well made and expensive. He's running more tab in the video than I like, but everybody has their own style.

that looks like it handles the rough great

This video looks better.

http://smithboats.com/SMITHfinal/sam.../videorun.html

If you ever have the chance to go see a Don Simith in person you should. These are bad azz boats.

Smith does a great job on his boats, the drive system is very robust he told me that during Military testing they backed the thing up on a seal beach (Sand and Bricks) repeatedly with no problems Now try that with a mercury unit.

dont tell that Tres Martin:D

Explain?

I just finished class, and tabs are to be used more than I was lead to believe. When Tres and I went out it was slightly rough, 2' and he wanted me to use more tab than I was use to, especially for the drills we were doing. Good class, learned alot, but I do not even drive nearly as aggressive as to what I went through in class. I know more now to just watch everyone else around me and I can anticipate ahead of time if a cat or V is on the left or right side of me, I know where to go in a uncomfortable situation. Jeff

Don's boats are AMAZING. And he definitely puts his heart in to them. I have been on a 42' in 15's and I will tell you the boat was nothing short of amazing. They are worth every penny to say the least.

I've never seen a boat run with such a "nose-down" attitude.

Must be a HEAVY sucker.

For those who don't know, Don was THE rigger for Offshore racing outboard cats in the 90's.
He has many wins to his credit.
When I asked my brother why he was winning everything, he always said it was because Donnie set up his boat. That was the only reason he ever gave.

Don Smith knows his chit.

Does anyone know how to contact Mr. Smith? I would live to speak to him about retro-fitting my boat.

http://smithboats.com/contact.html ???

Tried an email... No response. I'll call tomorrow.

When I lived in Ft Lauderdale I was anchored up for the Air and Sea show one year when these 3 Don Smith's come into the cove area where we were and ask if they can tie / raft up with us. So I say sure no problem. So I start talking with the captain of one of them and introduce myself, and he says his name is Don Smith, ha! The man himself. To be honest I knew nothing about him or his boats then. He was a super nice guy, showed me all around his boats, and we had a great time hanging out for the day. I was very impressed with the boats to say the least - everything was top notch quality with no expense spared.

23,500lbs dry. Here is the .pdf wherein he explains all about the 45 which is just under 48' with the bustle for the drives and rudder;

http://smithboats.com/smithFINAL/sam...007smith45.pdf

It has a swim platform !!! His "powervent" drive system is under and in the boat not behind it.

Mr Smith builds a very nice well thought out boat.