Must be referring to a freakish accident from 1981.

Some people on this Forum may not have even been born yet .

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/12/sp...at-safety.html

Al was a visionary. He helped carry the offshore technology forward and I liked him a lot. He was a good man.

To make a statement like this means you are clueless. An unfortunate accident that he had to live with until he passed. Love him or hate him, he was a great innovator and helped the sport in many ways. The man had a heart of gold!

From November 2009 (when Phenomenon was introduced at the SBI Key West Worlds) through December 2010, I covered this story. I wrote 12 articles (11 updates plus one commentary) on it during that period. While the Phenomenon project was short on success, it was long on ambition. Without dreamers willing to take a chance, nothing exceptional ever happens.

But I am curious. To those who are saying they'd like to see it run "again," when (and where) did you see it run the first time? I only ask that because, to my knowledge, the 55-footer ran just once in a "public" event, and that was the day before SBI's scheduled kilo runs in July, 2010 in Sarasota. The boat did hit the water more than a dozen times (by my count during 13 months of reporting) in Louisiana after its late-2009 introduction, but aside from those who live in the area I'm not sure how anyone saw it run. Of course, there could be videos. I couldn't find any on YouTube, but that doesn't mean anything.

Matt!

If reference was made to seeing Phenomenon run again, I believe that like myself, we would like to see the project carry on by someone else. It was Al Copeland Sr. dream and and it is such a unique and beautiful boat to just be sitting in the Classifieds. I also don't understand why someone would want to bring up negative comments about Al Copeland even thought it is their right. it is just plain wrong. Sometimes it is much better to keep your comments to yourself.

Thanks, AB, for your (as usual) thoughtful comments.

Everyone has a right to an opinion and the right to express it, I agree. I also agree that, more often than not, personal attacks (especially of the vague kind) on individuals are unnecessary and inappropriate.

The Phenomenon project didn't reach its goal—it didn't come close. But it created excitement in the performance boating world when, with the industry in sharp decline and offshore racing plummeting with it, that world was in dire need of something positive to talk about. In that context—and this is just one man's opinion—the project succeeded wildly.

I had some great times with Al when they still had races in New Orleans. He sure could host a race. He even took the time to let my 10 year old daughter board an check out the Cajun Princess. She really loved that. Thanks Mr Copeland. Artie

Any info regarding this AC powerboat? He had some wild boats!

really it was unfortunate it left 2 boys without their father just because someone had to snort white powder to get up his courage for the day.

Matt,

You are right, I do remember that boat was in the water for first speed testing in Sarasota. Somehow, one of the motor got locked and would not do anything as they had to get it out of water to do repairs and it stopped after that. I believe it hit close to 190 mph when a motor got locked.

Chris

Can anyone explain about what happened to freakish accident in 1981??? I didnt know that until I got involved with offshore in 2004.

Thanks,
Chris

Great memory. They also tagged (at idle speed) a sea wall and damaged the tip of a sponson. And you were pretty close on the speed, too, as according to the throttleman it was "185" mph before they had the engine problem.

I am sure there are people who can explain this better, but basically, the boats were at the start of a race. They are supposed to be moving in a certain direction waiting to get on-plane to to wait for the green flag )go), and Al Copeland driving Popeyes started to get on plane (bow was high and visibility is gone for a few seconds) and Joel Halpern in Beep-Beep was in his path (i don't know if he pulled in front of Popeyes or Popeyes headed toward him) and the Popeyes boat hit Beep Beep on the drivers side, injuring Joel Halpern - which he later died from the injuries. It was an Accident.

Was a hypothetical speed ever disclosed?? T55's same motors as Qatar went 244 with just 2? but bigger boat, guessing somewhere between 275 and 300?

I never understood the canopy on it, the whole back half opens with seating for 6~8 What was the reason for that?

Yes, i remember the damage on the wall of the boat....wondering if they repair the damage?

Chris

It had 8 Outboard powerheads! Don't think it ran that well though,

It broke a class record Kilo at Sarasota. I think Jerry Gilberth actually built it with Bill Sirois.

Qatar has newer engines rated at 4-4500hp each.

I dont remember the specific number, but I remember Haggin posting a long time ago what the T55 fuel consumption per minute was...it was a jaw dropper, 4 of them must need a pretty big gas tank....

If I recall properly, T55's burn about 2100+ lb/hr or 295 gallons/hr .......or a smidge under 5 gallons a minute when the candle is lit!

There was a comment made earlier that the boat was laid up by Skater to Copeland's spec - to me this does not equate to being built as Pete would have laid it and may account for the rummour of the transom flex under the tremendous loading....

5 gallons a minute times 4 engines... 20 gallons a minute Damn!!!!!

no Al was coming towards all the boats that were making a start and turned to get going in the right direction and came down on top of Joel that's not an accident that is sheer stupidity

Assuming the math above is what the boat burns......

400 gallons aboard would allow 20 minutes of run time
1000 gallons would allow 50 minutes of run time.......

only rich people can afford this boat and a huge take of fuel!!

Itsnot the cost I was thinking of. Its the weight penalty. Jet A is roughly 6.7 pounds a gallon. So for a 30 minute boat riide your taking over 4000 pounds. Even at 15 minutes your still taking about 2000 pounds of fuel. Changing that amount of weight has to effect the handeling of the boat.

No that is an accident, **** happens.

You sound like you are holding on to some bitterness. Sorry for the losses but end of day that is an accident and it is time to let go and move forward in life.

OK Buddy you got me. Apparently you have an axe to grind against Al Copeland. If it is your intent to stir up hate and discontent go ahead and get it out of your system. You have lambasted and made comments about Big Al that are not appropriate . Not only on this form but to people that take what you have said unacceptable. It has even crossed over to an elevated state of emotions.
You hide behind a vague profile and screen name. If you would like to take your frustration out of the shadows with the name calling and accusations. There are people that will gladly address this issue with you. Me being one of them.

whatever ...............

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ :signs043:

This boat WAS NOT built or laid up by Skater.

Good response after all that you have said. Cat got you Tung?
Nows your chance. Lets hear it. Or crawl back under the rock you came out of.

And God only knows what the cost would be to get the boat dialed in.

Hmmm Incitefull comments followed by "whatever" and a turned back in an attempt to discuss it,,,,,,


Msgangway has to be my ex!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry guys.

This is just one of the issues I was thinking about when I saw the classified and remembered this thread. It might have been better if I had just kept my thoughts to myself. :hitfan: It's a super interesting attempt at going fast and has a great story, (Thanks to Matt for covering it over the years.) but now it's a BIG old boat that presumably is not going to be breaking any records and has no "place to race". In it's current configuration it's not well suited for recreational use. So back to my original question...what the hell do you do with the damn thing?

Rename it "Copeland's Spruce Goose?"

Spiting coffee at the screen...thanks man...

Just give it to me..I'll just idle around and look good because I won't be able to afford to run it but once a year! lol

Put a mast and sail on it.....

people cut boats up and make them bigger, could this boat be cut down? maybe make it a twin engine 46' 4 seater? if you could get it for $200K ;)