Hawk Power - Blountstown, FL
 

I am heading to Hawk Power in Blountstown, FL tomorrow to look at a boat. They seem to be on top of things and have been very good about returning calls. Still, it is hard to get a true judgment over the telephone. Any feedback, positive or negative, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Todd - Please do not take this post personally. I am just doing my homework. :)

research
 

You can be right in the area of several top builders with a LONG history of engine building. See them all ! It is cheaper now than later trying to get satisfaction later. try Tommy at Chief or wait for Keith to organize something. Check the references first. :fish: :fish:

which boat are you going to be looking at?

45 Apache

What ever you do look very carefully into this boat. I was serious looking into it I did my homework and came up with many conflicting stories. Good Luck.

Hot Duck,
How is the 36 Gladiator doing?
Are you racing this year?
Last time I saw you was in that nasty water in Jersey.
Brett

Hey Brett. The Gladiator is ready to go. We will be in Daytona for the APBA event. We are hoping that this season goes better than last. As you know, last year we took delivery of the boat in late May/June and ran a few SBI Divisionals to get us qualified for the worlds, only to get rear ended on the road in late July! That put an end to our season right there. We had to replace the trailer, one complete drive/transom assembly and some parts on the other drive. Needless to say, this completely shot the racing budget. We were kinda lucky though because there was absolutely no damage to the boat itself. As of today, we are still battling the other person's insurance company over parts costs and have yet to be paid a dime, even though the court declared that I had no fault in the accident. Anyhow, we are ready to go and this is a new year!

BAJA 27 : I found the same thing. There are good and bad stories about this boat. It seems like they are trying to give it away at the price they are asking. If all of the stories about this boat were bad, I would not be going to see it. But, if the hull is OK and any of the good stories are true, then it could be a good buy. What is that saying...If something seems too good to be true.....! :) Well, we will find out when we get there. I also figure that it would be a good idea to have the boat surveyed as well. Can't hurt.

I only met him once but he seemed like a nice guy. Good luck on the 45!

Hot Duck-Would you mind takin a quick peek at that Scarab 38KV that Todd is selling. I have had my eye on it for some time now. Just curious if its worth atrip to go see. If not, don't worry, I'll still cheer for ya during race season!:D
Thanks
Ty

Even though the boat that I bought from him was only 12' long, I can tell you that Todd C is a great guy, a great racer, with a great reputation that extends from South Florida to Tallahassee and now to the soon-to-be-great city of Blountstown, Florida!

Duck, look at it this way. Even if you don't buy the Apache, you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime ground-floor opportunity to tour fabulous Blountstown before it goes big time! :D :D :D

Make the trip. :eureka:
--------------------------
Forrest

East of Hwy 20

Hot Duck, just watch your speed driving through Blountstown. I used to live in Panama City and had to travel through Blountstown. They will pull you over for nothing. I got pulled over once just because I was driving an Edsel station wagon. Clarksville is just as bad.

Is this the 45 that Ralph Martin had for sale forever, but with a new paint job? Just wondered why it sat for so long.

Hot Duck let us know your findings!

Horseplay3

Yes!

Todd treated me very well. Did all they said they would. Very friendly, always answers questions and calls.

who exactly is todd? ive heard his name before, did he used to race and if so what?
later

I checked into that boat for a customer, Those motors are Cobra's but Randy has not touched them in 10 years. Also the boat was in South Florida the last time I checked. Just be careful you are not buying a 85k dollar problem.

Anyone driving an Edsel should be ticketed not to mention a wagon bet it had logs on the side to. :D Rag's

I drove that car from Portland Oregon to St Pete Florida by myself. Then I sold it to my dad, he was always a big Edsel fan.

Thanks for the information everybody. Todd was great to deal with. He knew we were on a tight schedule and had things ready for us when we got there early in the AM. He worked with us all day until we had to head off to the airport. We were able to strike a deal on the Apache. The survey was clean and the boat was in fairly good shape overall. I'll post some pictures and some more info tomorrow.

CONGRATULATIONS BRO!!!!!!
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME PICS... :D

congrats!

Will -

So you bought the Apache. Cool! I can give you some history if it's the boat I think it is. To my knowledge Mark McManus only built one 45 Apache. It was pulled from a blocked off 47 mold. It was built for a Baltimore guy named Steve Baldwin. Ironically on our last trip to Lauderdale Bill Schaefer and I ran in to Steve. Steve raced the boat one year as RDS systems which was his company. He missed winning the world championship to I believe Peter Markey in Little Caesers. Steve then sold the boat to Alan Feinhold, who in a strange Ocean City twist lived in penthouse A in Mystic Point (at Turnberry Isle in North Miami) just above Gary Brightwell (Jenny's Express 41 Apache) in penthouse B. Alan raced the boat a lot including in Ocean City. Somewhere, if I can find it, I have a picture of the boat in the OC convention center parking lot. The paint job was awesome, in my opinion, one of the prettiest Apaches ever built.

My Top Gun is coming along well. I look forward to mixing it up with you out in the ocean this summer.

Barry

Can't wait to see pictures and hope to see you on the water.

Congrat's

enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucy -

No pictures?

You're slipping!

:-)