Arneson and Chief Powerboats, Bobby Saccenti, team up to build a 42’ Chief Powerboat.

Chief Powerboats owner Bobby Saccenti had a vision to produce an endurance race boat for his customer Ole, a European businessman. The vision started at the 2012’ Miami boat show to build a new era twin stepped 42’ Chief Powerboat to campaign in the 2013 Venture Cup Event. http://www.ventureoffshorecup.com/

At the 12’ Miami show Bobby and Pompi walked the show and decided upon the power and the propulsion needed to handle the duties for the grueling job ahead. They decided to use the Ilmor 725hp engines and the Arneson ASD8-6 Drive Units rigged in a stagger configuration and to be rigged by Performance Marine’s John Pompi.

The boat was completed this week, March 11, 2013 for its first seal trial. Bobby Saccenti and John Pompi reported “the boat jumped on plane in virtually its own length, it tracks straight as an arrow and the boat really likes the Arneson Surface Drives” they also stated the original speed goal was surpassed and once they get the tach’s reading correctly they will be able to adjust the propellers for a bit for even more speed. Bobby Saccenti stated he had a lot of nervous nights as the sea trial date neared but was blown away by the boats performance on the flat calm water of the intercostal way they sea trialed the boat on. Stay tuned for the results.

The Specs:
Power: Ilmor 725hp @ 6,400 rpm
Drives: Arneson ASD8-6 Drop Box Drive Units, 1.56:1 reduction ratio
Propellers: Hering 5 Blade
LOA: 42'
Beam: 8'2"
Weight: 9,500 lbs.

the master at work . . . . .



That thing is bad azz! I like the revival of the Warpath theme to, and who better.

Looks very reliable for some reason....
Are the tabs at least Mercury?
Like the tribute graphics.

Ben would be proud , I bet he'd like a ride in that thing....

probably prefer another attempt at a helicopter ride.

It looks like those drives are working out real well. Can't wait to see what the final numbers are.

Awesome Boat , What a stance an attitude already a Winner!
Can't wait to see this boat in the Ocean.
Rik can you explain the 8/6 as opposed to the 7 or the 8

Beautiful Boat, and built by two masters of the Trade. Great execution.

The ASD8-6 is a counter rotating ASD8 Drop Box Drive Unit. The others in the past were larger in volume size but had no means of counter rotating. The #7M is a smaller unit that we use for the Bravo Conversions and applications of 850 hp or less. The standard ASD8 is an inline unit which we use in the Diesel applications as the marine gear has the reduction, rotation and drop built into them so there is no need to purchase those qualities twice.