Douglas Marine's new boat
 

I saw the new plug for the deck of what is going to be a new 39 ft. vee bottom from Douglas marine last night. I was surprised as hell to see that they were going to be making a vee bottom boat. The plug was not at Douglas but at a fiberglass fab shop that designed it for them. it looks pretty good and has a 9 ft. beam. The man also told me it will have a quad step designed hull, with a standard cockpit layout, and meet the requirements for F-2 (or similar class he was not sure). They called the deck "the bat boat" because it had that kind of look to it. It has raised bubbles on each side above the rubrails, kind of like the baja .38 special but them comes back down in the center so it still looks very sleek, and not big and clunky. The wind fairing was laid back at a big angle, and swept up gradually toward the cockpit, and reminded me of the fairing on the 50 ft. hustler. Just thought I would share the info.

I thought Douglas was building Baja's F-2 boat...could that be what you were looking at?

Sean,

That's was I was thinking, but IIRC, I read a story a couple years ago (maybe in Powerboat?) about Skater building its own V-hull. Haven't seen or heard anything since then, though...

Lot's of west Michigan guys on the board - someone's got to know something!

Baja backed out of the deal, supposedly because of the stepped, bottom and it is 100% douglas marine. That is what the plug builder told me. I think it is funny that one of the older baja pace boats had a stepped bottom on it, but they don't want anything to do with them.

Are you sure they backed out?...Trullio was just talking about seeing the Baja/Douglas boat out of the mold in this last month's Powerboat...

It says a lot for Skater when they are asked to build and design a V hull for the cigarette Rio Roses race boat and now for Baja as well. Didn't Peter build a V hull for Reggie some years back as well that was used in super V class?

There were several Fountain Super Vees built by Douglas. I think the ones with the two bubble caonpies were.

Fountain/Skaters
 

..weren't they Fountain designed and Skater built??

Popeyes and the Instigator, right?

After Craig Berry seperated from Cigarette, he was doing a 39 V with or at Skater. Nothing materialized as far as I know.

The Jawana/Dramamine boat was done @ skater as well... its currently oneof the pier 57 boats .

Isn't the NCR Super V the old Dramamine boat that was built by Mr. Hledin and Co.?

dkwestern,

I wouldn't be too suprised if that boat IS the Baja boat...From the sketches in PBM, the BAJA/SKATER had 4 steps in it and was to be used in f-2 class. The sketches also look like what you were describing......two raised bubbles (1/2 canopies)....Did you see if the seats were actually seperated with a solid piece down the middle?? The sketches had that design.

Tank

I am not totally sure, but I am going by what I was told. It's definitely possible that it is the same boat, but the mold maker told me Baja backed out, so anything is possible. I guess time will tell the true story.

Douglas Mrine
 

Douglas Marine Skater has built several boats for other companies
Fountains- Jim Horn's- Fountain-Flyer
- Jawana/Dramamine/Pier 57
- Banker/Tivoli
- Fountain/Pier57/NCR
- Popeye
Instigator is not a SKATER as I was told by the crew chief.
Cigarette- Rio Roses
Platnium is being built there now for KR racing
Seabold had some tunnel boats being built there too.
I think this WAS a BAJA / SKATER project but know is just a SKATER.

Is it possible that it could be the 39' Dragon Powerboat for Craig Barrie?

The boat is a........Skater. Baja is out completely. First hull will go to Pat Patel and Paul Whittier.........probably make this year's Worlds. Look out wannabes, Skater is in the Vee business.

But, I still hate steps.

T2x

Hey T2x,

Maybe they are going to cut the hull down the middle and make it into a new cat? ;)

Oops, I'm thinking of the wrong company... :D

T2X,

You (as usual) sound like you are in the know here....My question is ....If I'm reading this right, this is the "old" Baja/Skater boat and is going to just be a Skater now...Correct? Is it going to look the same as it did in the sketches? Because that thing is f*ckin BAD ASS!!!!

Tank

A bunch of us at SKATERFEST II asked Peter Hledin the story behind this. It was a joint venture between Skater and Baja. The project kept getting delayed due to management changes at the top level within the Baja corporation. Peter was describing this MASSIVE machine that Sea Ray owns that was used to build the plug, in one piece!! There are only a few of these machines in the world. Anyway it was quite interesting. I didn't know that Baja is now out of the project. T2X, knows for sure, he is dealing and talking with Peter Hledin quite frequently...he would know.

P.S. This is just a sampling of the conversations and interaction that took place at SKATERFEST II. Hopefully there will be another SKATERFEST III next year. I really recomend that you don't miss it. I know i won't.

Thanks Rich for such a great event!

Stan

T2X is completely right on the new V from Skater. Have not yet seen any pictures of it or seen it myself for that matter. From what I have been told it will be a really sharp looking boat. Very sleek with great lines all put in for a purpose. If Douglas Marine is building it, would you expect anything less??? I wouldn't!!!!!!
This boat will be able to be seen at the Worlds this year in Keywest. Of course it may be seen sooner if someone goes and snaps pics and posts them on here. Which I am sure will probably happen. LOL!!!!! Either way it will be good to see this boat and see how well it runs also.

went to skater yesterday and spent about 6 hrs with peter himself. boy he knows his stuff. yes i saw the vbottom and also a new 30 foot cat. well professional ran shop. peter also gave me some ideas about the new set up of the AGITATOR. i think im going to have skater new painter put the new graphics on the AGITATOR see ya;)

Hey Merlin540, That 30' skater you saw--What is the deal? Is it I/O or O/B? single or twin engine? Is it a cut down 32' or a stretched 28'?

all new to have o/b power to space the gap between the 28 and the 32 its a real nice piece. it also has 5 steps see ya;)