Story and photos by DinaRella / Additional images from Jaguar Powerboats and BTH Marine
Incorporating a proven “Jack Clarke-designed padded system” in the running surface for ultimate high speed handling and stability; sporting a specially crafted 72-inch tunnel; and predicting near to the 140-mph mark under 1,000 ponies – Jaguar Powerboats 37 Wildcat was uncovered under uber-cloudy skies at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
A week later hull No. 1 made a mad dash to Key West on its maiden voyage with the Florida Powerboat Club under the reigns of company president John Clarke (son of Jack), and35-year industry veteran of Chief Performance Group fame, Tommy Hofstetter.
The 6,500-pounder priced at $730,000 (with 500Rs) can be powered by twin Mercury 500R, 400R or 300R outboards according to owner preference, and is offered in three formats. The CLASSIC as we see here is laid out for leisure; the SPORT is configured with a more poker run-friendly seating plan; and the pure RACE mode version features an enclosed cockpit outfitted with only two seats.
Before delving into its DNA, diverting back to the brand’s birthing helps grasp how John (who grew up accompanying his dad to work since the age of eight) weaves a race-centric skill set of speed, safety, and stability into current-day crafting.
Under the Ferrari name, the 1990 APBA national championship came next, and as fame grew, so did his Jaguar frames. Coca Cola, the red-stripped 50-footer honored for its 183-mph world speed record was preceded by Insatiable, a 46-footer with quad 1,000-hp diesels. Solid craftsmanship showed itself again, when barreling rolling on day one of a New Orleans race, didn’t deter him from the day-two start line. By the mid 90s, John was finally of age to step into the cockpit... and onto the winner’s stage, with his dad. Eventually, the family moved into the recreational and sport fishing boat market. Today, two decades later, John and his team return Jaguar to its world champion racing roots.
The Wildcat is fabricated using a fully-cored, epoxy-infused layup providing superior lamination with higher flexural strength than other common methods. “When infusing the deck, by adapting new tech and a lightweight composite, we only needed six people to move it around the shop. It’s that light, but also strong,” says director of operations Davis Privette, who graciously gave RDP the below in-house shots he explained as: infusing, customizations shaping a single boat, crafting the lounger seats, installing the bulkhead, and final finishes to the deck assembly.
Compared to other twin hulls at the show, one look at the special tunnel and cockpit configuration said all you needed to know – the design is distinctly different. Jaguar partner Mark Goodman reveals, “Our traditional air-entrapping tunnel was redesigned with an anti-blow over vent which doesn’t pick up the nose. The anti-stuffing angle at the bow end of the hull stops the boat from high speed dives. Given the efficient aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, radius angles work to maintain a smooth surface for air to pass naturally unobstructed. The dash is also highly customizable. This current model is more retro but it’s possible to do an entirely futuristic dash. Visibility with this shape windshield is fantastic; there’s much less distortion than going with a rounded windshield."
From conceptualizing design and development elements to collaborating on marketing and sales of the finished feline, the North Carolina company has teamed up with a trio of industry notables including: Germaine Marine, the West Coast dealership run by COO Jason Robertson, spread among seven spots in Arizona, California and Utah; and on the East Coast, South Florida Powerboats and BTH Marine.
In the process of establishing its Stuart-based headquarters, South Florida Powerboats founder Gregory Arnold, also intends to help put “the props in motion” with Jaguar’s upcoming racing program. Further down the state in Key Largo is BTH Marine, the new location of top-notch rigger Tommy Hofstetter. The Wildcat also made a pit-stop here at MM 97 to pick up the whole Hofstetter family for the Friday poker run.
Speaking firsthand on the boat’s performance he says, “We had my young grandson on board so we didn’t push it wide open, but with nine people and all their gear, we easily hit 90 mph. The world champion hull design dating back to the 80s definitely came into play; it’s what you expect from Jaguar! John’s vision was to make a sandbar-orientated open cockpit boat for boaters to really be able to use. There’s probably twice the space of traditional poker run boats in that class, and to be able to swim right off the back transom deck was great. The ultra wide windshield to accept the wide cockpit was also great, no wind problems whatsoever.”
For a deeper dive into Jaguar’s powerboat design history, and another cool build… here’s our J43 story from a few years back. https://www.riverdavesplace.com/for...ne-j43-a-fresh-twist-on-a-classic-animal.697/
TO LIVE IS TO FLY is John Clarke’s motto for Jaguar. From the look of things since its on-the-water unleashing down to Key West… the 37 Wildcat is right on course!
Incorporating a proven “Jack Clarke-designed padded system” in the running surface for ultimate high speed handling and stability; sporting a specially crafted 72-inch tunnel; and predicting near to the 140-mph mark under 1,000 ponies – Jaguar Powerboats 37 Wildcat was uncovered under uber-cloudy skies at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
A week later hull No. 1 made a mad dash to Key West on its maiden voyage with the Florida Powerboat Club under the reigns of company president John Clarke (son of Jack), and35-year industry veteran of Chief Performance Group fame, Tommy Hofstetter.
The 6,500-pounder priced at $730,000 (with 500Rs) can be powered by twin Mercury 500R, 400R or 300R outboards according to owner preference, and is offered in three formats. The CLASSIC as we see here is laid out for leisure; the SPORT is configured with a more poker run-friendly seating plan; and the pure RACE mode version features an enclosed cockpit outfitted with only two seats.
Before delving into its DNA, diverting back to the brand’s birthing helps grasp how John (who grew up accompanying his dad to work since the age of eight) weaves a race-centric skill set of speed, safety, and stability into current-day crafting.
Clarke Family Tunnels Turnovers and Trophies
Racing a Pro-Stock Chris Craft put Jack on the podium accepting the rookie of the year accolade in 1984; reappearing the next year in a self-made Open Class 35’ wooden hull, he concluded, something stronger was in order. Three years later, not only did he capture third place after a corkscrew flip in his 35’ Thriller in the Key West Harbor… the boat-building pioneer picked up designer and tunnel boat manufacturer of the year, given how the structurally sound hull righted itself to race onward all thanks to fuel tank positioning.
Under the Ferrari name, the 1990 APBA national championship came next, and as fame grew, so did his Jaguar frames. Coca Cola, the red-stripped 50-footer honored for its 183-mph world speed record was preceded by Insatiable, a 46-footer with quad 1,000-hp diesels. Solid craftsmanship showed itself again, when barreling rolling on day one of a New Orleans race, didn’t deter him from the day-two start line. By the mid 90s, John was finally of age to step into the cockpit... and onto the winner’s stage, with his dad. Eventually, the family moved into the recreational and sport fishing boat market. Today, two decades later, John and his team return Jaguar to its world champion racing roots.
The Wildcat is fabricated using a fully-cored, epoxy-infused layup providing superior lamination with higher flexural strength than other common methods. “When infusing the deck, by adapting new tech and a lightweight composite, we only needed six people to move it around the shop. It’s that light, but also strong,” says director of operations Davis Privette, who graciously gave RDP the below in-house shots he explained as: infusing, customizations shaping a single boat, crafting the lounger seats, installing the bulkhead, and final finishes to the deck assembly.
Compared to other twin hulls at the show, one look at the special tunnel and cockpit configuration said all you needed to know – the design is distinctly different. Jaguar partner Mark Goodman reveals, “Our traditional air-entrapping tunnel was redesigned with an anti-blow over vent which doesn’t pick up the nose. The anti-stuffing angle at the bow end of the hull stops the boat from high speed dives. Given the efficient aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, radius angles work to maintain a smooth surface for air to pass naturally unobstructed. The dash is also highly customizable. This current model is more retro but it’s possible to do an entirely futuristic dash. Visibility with this shape windshield is fantastic; there’s much less distortion than going with a rounded windshield."
Jaguar’s Territorial Team Players
From conceptualizing design and development elements to collaborating on marketing and sales of the finished feline, the North Carolina company has teamed up with a trio of industry notables including: Germaine Marine, the West Coast dealership run by COO Jason Robertson, spread among seven spots in Arizona, California and Utah; and on the East Coast, South Florida Powerboats and BTH Marine.
In the process of establishing its Stuart-based headquarters, South Florida Powerboats founder Gregory Arnold, also intends to help put “the props in motion” with Jaguar’s upcoming racing program. Further down the state in Key Largo is BTH Marine, the new location of top-notch rigger Tommy Hofstetter. The Wildcat also made a pit-stop here at MM 97 to pick up the whole Hofstetter family for the Friday poker run.
Speaking firsthand on the boat’s performance he says, “We had my young grandson on board so we didn’t push it wide open, but with nine people and all their gear, we easily hit 90 mph. The world champion hull design dating back to the 80s definitely came into play; it’s what you expect from Jaguar! John’s vision was to make a sandbar-orientated open cockpit boat for boaters to really be able to use. There’s probably twice the space of traditional poker run boats in that class, and to be able to swim right off the back transom deck was great. The ultra wide windshield to accept the wide cockpit was also great, no wind problems whatsoever.”
For a deeper dive into Jaguar’s powerboat design history, and another cool build… here’s our J43 story from a few years back. https://www.riverdavesplace.com/for...ne-j43-a-fresh-twist-on-a-classic-animal.697/
TO LIVE IS TO FLY is John Clarke’s motto for Jaguar. From the look of things since its on-the-water unleashing down to Key West… the 37 Wildcat is right on course!