1980 Cigarette Racing – Don Aronow ‘Bubbledeck’ for sale in Hampshire, England
1980 Cigarette Racing – Don Aronow ‘Bubbledeck’ for sale in Hampshire, England
Probably the ultimate classic powerboat, this Cigarette Racing – Don Aronow ‘Bubbledeck’ which is probably the best prepared historic race boat anywhere in the World is now ready for her next owner.
Only 2 Cigarette Racing ‘Bubbledecks’ were ever built, this is the second / lighter boat designed and built by Don Aronow (the founder of Cigarette Powerboats) with a Kevlar hull originally for Al Copeland Snr – of ‘Popeye’s’ Chicken Fame.
This is the famous original “Popeye’s” Raceboat and in addiion to Don and Al she was raced by, Chuck Norris, Malcolm Meynard and Ben Kramer then in latter years Steve Curtis.
Being a proper “Deep Vee” Cigarette Race Boat, this boat comes into its own when the seas are rough and choppy. Steve Curtis, the Ex-World Champion Powerboat Racer and owner of Cougar Powerboats has raced this boat in the USA and he says “what a good boat in rough water”.
The current owner purchased this Cigarette Racing – Don Aronow ‘Bubbledeck’ in July 2011 and commenced a complete and fully documented / photographed rebuild, with the only original part being the hull itself – being Kevlar was in excellent condition and no hull cracks or repairs were detected plus no areas of moisture.
The paint scheme was taken back to the original white, both inside and out (perfect for Sponsor’s logo’s). Four extra fuel tanks, just forward of the cockpit bulkhead, that had been installed by previous owner were retained in place as they were in “AS NEW” condition.
DART Tall deck block engines were installed with Mercury Racing No.6 Wet Sump drives and were checked, machined and balanced by SEDIR, in London. Built by probably the best race boat engineer in Europe the installation is second to none.