Arneson and Chief Powerboats, Bobby Saccenti, team up to build a 42’ Chief Powerboat.
Chief Powerboats owner Bobby Saccenti had a vision to produce an endurance race boat for his customer Ole, a Norwegian businessman. The vision started at the 2012’ Miami boat show to build a new era twin stepped 42’ Chief Powerboat to campaign in the 2013 Venture Cup Event. Venture Offshore Cup | Welcome to the Venture Cup – the World’s toughest powerboat race and an adventure of epic proportions. Beginning in June of 2013, fifty of the greatest powerboats ever assembled will leave Cowes in the UK and battle 2,400
At the 12’ Miami show Bobby and Ole walked the show and decided upon the power and the propulsion needed to handle the duties for the grueling job ahead. They decided to use the Ilmor 725hp engines and the Arneson ASD8-6 Drive Units rigged in a stagger configuration and to be rigged by Performance Marine’s John Pompi.
The boat was completed this week, March 11, 2013 for its first seal trial. Bobby Saccenti and John Pompi reported “the boat jumped on plane in virtually its own length, it tracks straight as an arrow and the boat really likes the Arneson Surface Drives” they also stated the original speed goal was surpassed and once they get the tach’s reading correctly they will be able to adjust the propellers for a bit for even more speed. Bobby Saccenti stated he had a lot of nervous nights as the sea trial date neared but was blown away by the boats performance on the flat calm water of the intercostal way they sea trialed the boat on. Stay tuned for the results.
The Specs:
Power: Ilmor 725hp @ 6,400 rpm
Drives: Arneson ASD8-6 Drop Box Drive Units, 1.56:1 reduction ratio
Propellers: Hering 5 Blade
LOA: 42′
Beam: 8’2″
Weight: 9,500 lbs.
