This day and age with cops on the take and local officials he may of walked?:hitfan:It never stopped they just hired cops&coast guard to bring what ever to shore!George junior was snorting so I guess the father did like DON?He kept it quiet:whistle:

Cocaine dealers were making tons of money and quickly. They wanted their Ferraris and Cigs. I am not "bad mouthing" Don at all as this was just the way it was then. But, how can anyone think that he wasn't knowingly selling boats to drug dealers? Both weed and coke.

Interesting read from the good ole days.

tommymonza seems to be the most familiar with the industry in that era.

Everybody knew their roles back then, Don, Ben, Sal, Willie, the other Willie, and so on. They didn't step on each others business like some believe. And really, I don't think Don was as dirty as most want to assume...it makes for good stories, but he wasn't stupid. Yes, he would build boats for whoever could buy one, the money was green, but we all know who REALLY catered to those who had special needs in a custom purpose specific boat.

Ben was THE money man who built the Apache name to icon status through serious cash, racing and being a bad-boy. McManus was the brains behind the Apache boat business that had Ben's huge cash infusions to make it successful in spite of anything and everything - and he did it well.

Ben was a very VERY smart individual, a little cocky, but smart - do you really think that boat building would be at the top of his list if he was ever released? Why would he return to a business that is next to impossible to make money? And unless he spent millions and millions of dollars building a new boat business, what would/could he offer today that hasn't been done? Those days are gone, things have changed, there's nothing he could do to gain that fame - again.

He would most likely be under a magnifying glass if ever released... but it is interesting to wonder if he would take that as the ultimate challenge and try to get back into "the biz" and outsmart them again, or come up with some new and improved way to make serious cash. He was always cocky like that.

Or, would he simply just want to be left alone and try to enjoy life and take time to "smell-the-roses"?

Breaking bad?

Is Ben's brother Mark still in prison for his part in the failed helicopter escape ?

He should be out, he only faced a 10yr sentence

Long, but fascinating read!

On Aronows murder as it relates to Kramer; the government had no proof what-so-ever that Ben was involved. None, All conjecture and circumstantial evidence. They did have the shooter (Bobby Young). Young testified that some Colombians ordered the hit. Kramer's 'no contest' plea was nothing more than a plea of convenience just so he could get into a 'normal' prison. It had no bearing on his future since he got another 19 year sentence which would be served at the same time (concurrently) and not added onto his life sentence he already had.

The bottom line is simple: No-one will ever know who was behind the Aronow hit. There is no proof that ties anyone to the hit. The guy who dropped the pin is long-since dead. I say the murder is moot and irrelevant and he should be shown the door.

I believe you are wrong, there are several individuals who know who was behind the hit.... but you are right that they have not proved anything.

Although there were a few Purpose built Cig Haulers they where Not the Boat of Choice. Midnight Express sold 3-4 times as many haulers, The Outboard powered 37' was the boat of choice. That or Joe Debella's Quad I/O 40' SeaBird. Both could haul the freight (Both Loaded & Unloaded :) ) I used to Paint Boats for "People" :) One day they wanted it yellow, Then a few days later they wanted it to be Blue, Then Red, etc.. I wonder why that was :) I worked for one guy who had several of each of those. Usually at least one of each in Bimini at any given time. I think it was to haul the "Clear Becks" Beer cause you couldn't buy that in the states.....