New Favorite boat - Warpath

[RiverDave]

So the twin engine ski race boat owned by Mike Avila has always been my favorite smaller hot rod boat.. up until now.

He just built this and it is so crazy over the top. I love it.

I’ll see if I can dig up some of the interior and engine bay shots.

 

[RiverDave]

The previous warpath boat

 

[RiverDave]

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[attitude]

What is it based off of? An Australian hull?

 

[Bajastu]

Very Lamborghni-ish

 

[redone76]

It looks pissed off just sitting there!

 

[RiverDave]

What is it based off of? An Australian hull?

I’m guessing a force? I’m not entirely sure to be honest with you.

 

[RiverDave]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

 

[poncho]

The previous warpath boat View attachment 1482635 View attachment 1482636

Although I've seen tons of pictures of this boat over the years I never saw any real world performance numbers, I'm assuming way more power than boat.

 

[paradise]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

Ski line

 

[DaveH]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

I'd bet hole shots.......a device to quickly unfurl a long ski race tow rope without it tangling.

 

[240Hallett]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

Waste gates? Or did those fall under the exhaust category?

 

[ltbaney1]

Ski line

My guess too.

 

[ltbaney1]

just the trailer alone looks over the top. guessing chromed or polished aluminum, maybe stainless?

 

[Ragged Edge]

The hull is a Force. Some Aussie trailers are stainless capped for the bling.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

They caption in the video says "holeshot device" not too sure what that would be.

 

[Ragged Edge]

Mike's twin engine boat is capable of speeds in the 130's with skiers. Not sure what the Force will run, the deck is a new design but one would think the windshield will help with drag so high 130's with skiers? No one in the USA is going to go that fast so we may never find out.

 

[mjc]

bildge blowers

 

[RiverDave]

I'd bet hole shots.......a device to quickly unfurl a long ski race tow rope without it tangling.

Well you guys have been around ski racing.. lol. That’s kind of the only reason I figured it out last night when I was looking at it because at first, I was looking at it thinking what the fuck is that?

 

[Your ad here]

Man I was thinking Apache when I read the title.

 

[hallett21]

I love it but I can’t stop thinking that it looks like something I’ve seen. It’s driving me nuts lol.

Nordic/Hallett 275 windshield vibes. But I swear I’ve seen something super similar to this.

 

[Cole Trickle]

I love it but I can’t stop thinking that it looks like something I’ve seen. It’s driving me nuts lol.

Nordic/Hallett 275 windshield vibes. But I swear I’ve seen something super similar to this.

At first I was thinking why would someone modify a Nordic rage. Definitely get those vibes from the wind screen.

Cool boat would love to see the power

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Well you guys have been around ski racing.. lol. That’s kind of the only reason I figured it out last night when I was looking at it because at first, I was looking at it thinking what the fuck is that?

So what is a hole shot and how do they work? I have never seen one before.

 

[hallett21]

So what is a hole shot and how do they work? I have never seen one before.

It’s a canvas “wrap” that’s like 30” x 40” with 1” sewn strips in it.

You load 6ish ft of rope in each “strip” so when it’s all done you’ve got 150ft of ski rope all orgainzed for your start.

In ski race videos it’s the black canvas “tube” the observer is holding when they feed out the rope.

 

[hallett21]

Here’s a hole shot

Shyside Ski Race Holeshot Hole Shot Rope Bag | eBay

Shyside Holeshot.

www.ebay.com

 

[oldman]

It took me a minute to figure out what those two holes are for on either side of the scoop..

I’m curious if anyone else figures it out.. they aren’t exhaust.

Motors sitting backwards, could they be intakes?

Sounds like you know..

 

[ChumpChange]

It took me a bit to figure out that trailer and that it was so chromed out that I couldn’t even see it was there.

 

[hallett21]

Lavey craft! It looks like a Lavey craft! Lol

 

[Backlash]

What is it based off of? An Australian hull?

Force.

 

[Backlash]

The previous warpath boat View attachment 1482635 View attachment 1482636

Isn't the twin engine Warpath built off the Marty Wells Wellscraft?? I could be wrong, but I thought it was.

 

[River Dirt 2]

Love the data screen for the observer, that’s badass !

 

[Ragged Edge]

Isn't the twin engine Warpath built off the Marty Wells Wellscraft?? I could be wrong, but I thought it was.

Yes, it is a Wellscraft.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Yes, it is a Wellscraft.

So was the purple and tan first one.

 

[obnoxious001]

It took me a bit to figure out that trailer and that it was so chromed out that I couldn’t even see it was there.

Sort of a typical Australian trailer, been similar to that many years.

 

[obnoxious001]

So was the purple and tan first one.

Correct.

 

[NicPaus]

That is one bad ass Boat!

Codie Rigg a skier that passed away?

 

[Willie B]

Motors sitting backwards, could they be intakes?

Sounds like you know..

… I would guess this… or at least something to do with the intake(got it… Ski rope intake)…

 

[rivermobster]

130mph on a water ski...

And this new boat is even faster???

 

[racektm]

That is one bad ass Boat!

Codie Rigg a skier that passed away?

Yes, Australian,

 

[River Dirt 2]

Kinda interesting it’s a blower motor, most seem to have gone turbo motors recently.

 

[Boat211]

I got to check out the boat a couple weeks ago. It’s over the top. It started life as a Force but Mike designed a lot of custom items into it. The windshield being one. The engine hatches and that transom above the water line. It’s like a spaceship. It has a Whipple charged engine. I don’t really know much of the engine specifics. It will be in Parker this weekend I believe.

 

[Brokeboatin221]

I see a resemblance

 

[575cat]

Old school quadrotor

 

[lbhsbz]

That's just bad ass. The hatch is money. Just perfection everywhere

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I'm going to be at the races this Saturday.

I'll be sure to check it out, maybe grab some additional pics and bug Mike about the details!

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Down at the ski races and wow, Mike likes loud boats. Like his other ones, this thing is loud. You can hear it before you can see it. Well and above the other boats in the race.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Avila running hard leading the Heat D.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Mike says he's got the equivalent of a Teague 1450 in it. Nice 6-blade prop too.

 

[ChrisV]

Damn

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Oh yeah, and to confirm those two holes RD had us guess about are definitely for holeshots, but Mike is having shorter ones made to fit in the holes better, with a caribeener to hold them in place. The idea is the holeshots will be hands-free for the observer who won't have to even put them away.

My only concern with not having a visual on them is determining how much line is left to pay out. Either the observer has to eyeball it, or I'd put tape markers on the line to start indicating intervals to go. I wouldn't want to rip the handles out on the skier (even wrapped up as they are), but the way the Auusies do it, the boat barely comes off plane before they take off so the skier knows its coming. Plus the Aussies use such a long line its a wonder the observer isn't using binoculars.

Mikes skier, Wayne Maur, is I believe an Aussie so maybe he's used to that? For sure Mike knows what he's doing.

I missed getting a hatch open shot, couldn't get over there fast enough and I didn't want to ask, they were prepping for the next race.

Anyone else there today to get the shot of the secret setup?