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Cigarette Racing Team has unveiled its latest
advancement in offshore powerboating hull-design called the Twin Step,
an extension of the company's class-creating concept originated by Don
Aronow in the 1960s.
The new Twin Step design by master maritime architect
Michael Peters incorporates a unique dead-rise to maintain the smooth
Cigarette ride and add an extra level of performance.
"The 38-foot Twin Step is directed towards
performance," said Neill Hernandez, Cigarette vice-president of
manufacturing. "It is the Ferrari of boats. It's lighter than our
other 38-foot boat, the standard Top Gun, and the Twin Step design
adds speed without giving up the traditional Cigarette Boat ride that
we have become famous for. This boat is still a Cigarette."
The Twin Step bottom has been proven in offshore
racing. In 1999, Phil Lipschutz and Tres Martin put the Twin Step
design through its paces.
"The Twin Step is a faster boat on top-end speed,
there is no doubt," said Lipschutz, a five-time event winner and
1999 National Champion. "It is a lot of fun to drive."
The 38-foot Top Gun TS underwent sea-trails at the
hands of Cigarette's test drivers and was given the seal of approval
by the boat's toughest critics, its creators.
Performance testing reveals that the Twin Step has
lightening-quick acceleration, is capable of speeds over 90 mph with
600 hp Mercury engines and cruises comfortably at 80 mph. The Twin
Step design gives a performance jump of seven to eight miles per hour
over the traditional 38-foot F2 Top Gun.
While the Twin Step is setting new standards for
performance, Cigarette officials are aware that top speed is not the
sole criteria to judge an offshore powerboat.
"We build our boats for offshore racing
conditions first," said Bobby Stotler, vice president of
operations. "The balance of weight and design is critical to
performance, as a boat does not produce speed when it's in the air.
This new design remains all Cigarette."
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