Boats with a Soul
#1
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Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 26
Likes: 6
From: Mississippi
New to Powerboats but I'm 66 and at 18 my first Boat was a Checkmate so Blue you could see it in the dark. I guess it was about 19 ft and had the 470 Mercruiser..
That's a 170 horse 4 cylinder with a 429/460 head on it. 27 boats since with 2 vdrive Kurtis Kraft 500s. Unblown gas National Record Holder.
Professional Builder Tuner. It's almost like a spell but I keep going back to the white 47 GTX nobody really wants, but honestly boats break down cause of your Techs, not the boat. The fuel system is way too small and it needs injection not carbs with Fuel Tech systems and on and on
Point is the 47 gtx seem so mysterious to me with the lines and the story of Mike. It reminds me of the 70 Mach 1s I've been around and the 67 Shelby Gt350 with a Cleveland Swap I drove for years. It wasn't just the look, it was 1.5 turns lock to lock and the handling and looks of the roll bar that gave it soul. My Father was a Ford Dealer in 71 and he ordered every odd Muscle Car he could get in.
Tell me I'm nuts for giving boats soul status and really digging the history because boats don't fit that soul except to some a 18 or 22 Donzi that I know of. I've had enough puddle jumpers in my life. I'm just so digging the 47GTX it seems odd.
My skin is thick and I know where I stand in performance and driving and am not seeking anybody's approval at a boat dock. Just my souls, so hit me.
That's a 170 horse 4 cylinder with a 429/460 head on it. 27 boats since with 2 vdrive Kurtis Kraft 500s. Unblown gas National Record Holder.
Professional Builder Tuner. It's almost like a spell but I keep going back to the white 47 GTX nobody really wants, but honestly boats break down cause of your Techs, not the boat. The fuel system is way too small and it needs injection not carbs with Fuel Tech systems and on and on
Point is the 47 gtx seem so mysterious to me with the lines and the story of Mike. It reminds me of the 70 Mach 1s I've been around and the 67 Shelby Gt350 with a Cleveland Swap I drove for years. It wasn't just the look, it was 1.5 turns lock to lock and the handling and looks of the roll bar that gave it soul. My Father was a Ford Dealer in 71 and he ordered every odd Muscle Car he could get in.
Tell me I'm nuts for giving boats soul status and really digging the history because boats don't fit that soul except to some a 18 or 22 Donzi that I know of. I've had enough puddle jumpers in my life. I'm just so digging the 47GTX it seems odd.
My skin is thick and I know where I stand in performance and driving and am not seeking anybody's approval at a boat dock. Just my souls, so hit me.
#4
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 902
Likes: 408
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Very fitting. Apaches believe that everything has a spirit or soul
https://www.folklore.earth/culture/apache/
There were definitely evil spirits in the Mercury 2.5 liter ignition systems.
https://www.folklore.earth/culture/apache/
There were definitely evil spirits in the Mercury 2.5 liter ignition systems.
#6
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,333
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Few boats other than the Apache 41 and 47 that are 30-40+ years old are automatically are recognized upon sight and still are lauded for their performance and wave crushing capacity to this day
For their time, the Bertam boats had a place. Seeing the Copper Kettle... don't know if that is looking at a boat with soul or remembering the evolution of true offshore
Last edited by speicher lane; 11-16-2025 at 07:40 AM.
#7
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
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From: Chicago
People always talk about the "wave crushing" ability of Apache/Cig.
Compared to all the boats of that era?
My 1985 "wave crusher" wouldn`t stand a chance against any twin step, they fly straight and level so I never understood why they are so revered
Compared to all the boats of that era?
My 1985 "wave crusher" wouldn`t stand a chance against any twin step, they fly straight and level so I never understood why they are so revered
#9
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 902
Likes: 408
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
#10
Probably because of the same reason the muscle cars are revered in the same way. My friggin Subaru would beat most of them on a road course but that's not the point.





