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Reindl Building Ilmor-Powered 'Bat Boats'

These should be pretty fun, http://speedonthewater.com/new-boat-...ered-bat-boats.

Last time I drove a 24-foot "Bat Boat" it was powered by 377 Scorpion engine. Should be a rocket with a 570-hp Ilmor V-8.

"Rocket" is an understatement. I rode in one with a POS I think 6.2 and that thing was powerful enough IMO. It ran ok until we came off a wave in the pass and I did a slow count to four before we hit water again. Didn't run so hot after that.

I had a chance to talk to Chris in Lake Hopatcong, and introduced him to the Bronx Phantom and his son Vinnie; a great conversation followed, about Chris' plans, and also the project the Bronx Phantom has been working on...a Bat Boat he bought in '04. He's been working on it ever since. It had a 500 w/ 2.3L Whipple in it back then, which ran 87mph. He redid the motor to a 509 with AFR heads, 2.3L Whipple, pushing 730hp. It was the first Bat Boat to do an extension box; he had the boat run a steady 105MPH with pump gas.

He and his son Vinnie decided to do another upgrade, to 565ci with AFR heads, and a 4L Whipple supercharger. Doing a dyno run, it did 1028hp, 1000 ft-lbs torque, at 5900rpm, all on pump gas. They have plans to push the mark of having the fastest Bat boat, which is currently 115MPH. In his words..."I’m looking to shatter it, by doing 123 -124 mph." Great stuff.

Very cool boats, and a bunch of great guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donzi ZX (Post 4122713)

That is amazing stuff. Never came close to those kinds of speeds in the one I drove with Bob Teague throttling in four- to six-footers off Hawk's Cay, but we did manage to pierce a swell like a submarine. Came out the back of it laughing so hard I almost wet my pants ... but they were already wet from all the water that had splashed through the gaps between the hatch and the canopy.

Oh wait, I almost forgot the time that Chuck Sprague (C-Spray on this board) tried to beat me senseless in his Bat Boat on Barnegat Bay one time after the Atlantic City Poker Run. Back still hurts ... ah, memories.