writer: Scott G.
Imagine doing 120 mph up the Colorado River while turning up the volume on your favorite music. First of all that requires a hell of a motor; second, you're going to need one badass audio system. Talk about a sound competition. Of course, in a setup like this you can't always enjoy everything at the same time. Details, details... The first question is affordability? You need some mad loot to engage in this kind of serious living. Not many people can do that, certainly not in this kind of style. Danny Donahue of Perfection Power Boats is the exception. Working as a boat rigger, he knows the finer points of building a beautiful power boat. And it's more than just a matter of having the cash. The biggest cost is the tremendous effort and energy one has to spend. We're talking six months of nonstop hard work.
PlatformDanny started with a 257 Effect X open bow hull from Carrera, the Porsche of the boat world. The hull is of the Catamaran design which comes in at 25'7" long. The Hull was delivered to Perfection Power Boats for rigging, or completion. Perfection Power Boats is the company that takes all basic hulls to the next level, customizing them for the customer's needs and wants. As a partner in Perfection, Danny wanted to show their customers what they could do for them, for a nominal fee of course. The company is dedicated to providing the high performance boat enthusiast the highest quality work available. This Effect X is clearly a good example of that.
RiggingSpecialty boat rigging is an intricate process unique to each job. This particular boat had a tall list of desired amenities. The main focus of this project was going to be on the engine. Basically, it had to have enough power to see some success in the unorganized racing on the river; the other priority was the stereo system, which had to be the source of the music on the beaches and sand bars for all around to enjoy and (naturally) envy. So Danny contacted Dan Douglas in search of some major horsepower. The latter put together a package including a 572 Merlin motor with Dart aluminum heads, Lightning Headers, a BDS 10-71 Blower, and dual Garry Williams 1250 CFM Dominator Carburetors.
The engine once assembled was taken over to Westech Performance for dyno tuning. GS marine tuned the motor to an impressive 967 H.P.@ 5200 RPM's with minimal boost and pump gas. With race gas it would be very easy to get 1100+ H.P. and make the motor live. Due to the insane expense of said fuel ( about $4.00 per gallon at the river), Danny elected to tune to the much less expensive pump gas. The estimated top speed of the boat in its current trim should come in at 118-120 mph. The same package with 1200 H.P. ran at 136 M.P.H. This may be the next step for Danny. He is going to try it this season in current trim before taking on the added expense.
The power is transferred to the water through a B-Max performance out-drive. The cat hull is kept going the appropriate direction with a full hydraulic steering system from WPM. All of the custom accessories are kept in order with custom machined brackets from Todd Jansen at TJ's Performance Products. Graffig gauges keep track of all the boat's vital signs. The custom interior artwork was fitted by Stratton Marine Interiors, who did an excellent job matching the quality of work in the rest of the boat. Last, but certainly not least we have the beachside entertainment.