Have you ever ridden in a cigarette boat?

Question

I'm talking about the really long and sleek performance boats that have 2-3 big V8 engines, like a Fountain or Donzi.

If so, tell me what kind it was and how fast it goes, etc. Was it fun?

I dream of owning one someday because I think they are so cool!!! It would be fun to be able to out run little wave runners in one of those, even though they consume tons of fuel!

Answer 1

I've ridden in one. The guy who owned it told me that at the time a weekend's worth of gas was costing him about $1,000. That was well before the recent hikes, so they're definitely very expensive to operate and to buy (around 250,000).

But, it was a whole lot of fun going as fast as we were.

and, you could run rings around a wave runner in a cigarette board, for sure.

Answer 2

I'm with Ken on this one! A "more money than brains" club member took me out on his custom built cigarette, triple s***w with blown GM big blocks. Afterwards, he asked me how it felt to go 100mph, and if I wanted to go faster. With as much calm and savvy as I could muster through a quivering voice, I said " No, that'll do, it's amazing how unstable that feels at speed". Understatement of the year!

Answer 3

I have been in a high-performance racing boat (not big brand name). We were topping out above 90 miles per hour, and that thing started to chine walk and scared the c**p out of me.

I have been in many big Donzi, Fountains, and Cigarettes, but nothing as fast as that one. They were much more stable.

Answer 4

I have been in a fountain that went well over 100 MPH. Now I know why my hair turned white over night. Never again.

Answer 5

I have a Wellcraft Scarab KV (like the one from Miami Vice).  I can do about 70 MPH with the motors in it and yes it is fun.  Yes they do drink fuel like crazy, but if you want to play you have to pay.  High performance boating is a lifestyle, and not something for the faint of heart.  These are very fast boats and operating one at 60 MPH is QUITE different that being in a cruiser doing 40 MPH.  My suggestion to you is start small (24 ft) and work you way up.  Check out www.offshoreonly.com for a group that is all about performance boats.

Answer 6

wtf? uhh... NO!!

Answer 7

Haven't been in one.

Be prepared for one helluva gas bill.

It drinks gas.

I knew a guy who had one, and saw it.  Back in 1996.  His fuel bill in one year, $9,000.00.

Multiply that times 4.