Legendary Offshore Powerboaters: Jesse James, Pilot Chris Lavin, and Throttleman Mark Lavin (RIP) 🏆

[@AMERIKIWI]

Was there in '86 with Popeyes. Was on the race course aboard Cajun Princess when this happened. Was tragic. Etched into my memory forever.

[@vehiculemagazine]

rip

[@usnavydeepsea6836]

My EOD unit provided safety recovery divers for this race, we were in 28" Boston Whalers spread throughout the course. The boat I was on was initially in the middle of the course and when the first wave of boats came charging past us I remember the fear as the big boats flew past us at full throttle on both sides of our boat. We immediately pulled anchor and moved to get out of the path. Two of the Navy divers that were also my best friends from my unit, James Thomas (RIP) and John Bubenik, were on the USN boat to first respond to the Jesse James boat accident. They were the closest boat to us as well and we watched as they recovered Mark Lavin and worked with the SAR swimmer from the helo that immediately flew out to them to pick him up and get him to a hospital. My buddies both said he was gone when they got to him not breathing and with no pulse, he sadly died on impact.

[@vonkanon3091]

I was privileged to be apart of INXS Racing as a crew member when I worked for Everglades Marina. Also Fort Lauderdale Flyers. 1993-1996

[@MattW-en7ur]

I believe the later Jesse James ended up in New Zealand. Saw her race on Lake Taupo in the mid 90’s - absolutely slayed the competition.

[@vehiculemagazine]

yes nz

[@PETER-rj4he]

These were some fine times...sure miss ..😊

[@vehiculemagazine]

Yes indeed

[@chd10]

As always, fantastic.

[@vehiculemagazine]

Thanks again!

[@BullyHayes1977]

and then followed with a very successful racing career in New Zealand. A well known boat in this part of the world

[@waterworldofficial]

RIP Mark

[@vehiculemagazine]

🇺🇸🦅🏆

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

“Override the engines” 🤔 Over rev! 😛

[@vehiculemagazine]

@@Fleetwoodjohn🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@jungletension2835]

I used to take my boat to Offshore Marine in Fort Lauderdale off State Road 84 back behind Lester‘s diner, Frank, Joe and Hank One day they took me over to sea boat that was in storage and it was named Jesse James They told me it was a wood boat if I remember correctly, and the motors were attached to each other with a chain mid to late 80s possibly

[@vehiculemagazine]

🏆🏁🫡

[@DavidHahn-z7n]

That looks like so much fun 😊

[@vehiculemagazine]

it is!

[@raulgutierrez1501]

They were always Balls to the Wall!

[@carlvanvlerken3983]

I grew up watching her race in nz

[@hendo337]

I wanna know who made the DOHC heads for the BBC, Ardema-Braun? Wonder if it was the Porsche 928 adaptation heads or fully originals? Strange that was considered a better idea back than than just creating better OHV aluminum heads like the commonly avaliable pump gas 1,000+hp 572-632ci BBCs we have now, they must have had Bowtie and Big M blocks back then...good thick tall deck factory castings or fully sleeved and paritally filled blocks must have been capable of giving them 4.350-4.400" bore and 4.5"-4.75" stroke for 547-572ci, there must have been Pro Stock or Mountain Motor designs out there for Off Shore to use, even just building a modestly sized engine very strong and hitting it with cutting edge turbo and EFI technology must have been capable of 1500-2000hp, certainly with leaded racefuel, nitro, methanol, water injection, unlimited cooling capacity from the sea water. A 400ci factory GM GenV L8T block and heads with a forged rod and piston can make 2,000hp consistantly. I can't imagine a 496ci+ BBC with quality aluminum heads, top notch internsls and boost not being capable of that back then and just using a propeller that required less rpms to reach high speeds because of the massive power that doesnt require ridiclously high rpms like an N/A build.

[@thorpeboat]

Was this the boat that ended up in New Zeland ?

[@vehiculemagazine]

yes

[@bricewiese5082]

What where the 4v engines they had back then?

[@blueyhis.zarsoff1147]

Batten heads on a Chev

[@hendo337]

Nobody used Ardema-Braun? There are a few with adapted 928 Porsche heads and a few fully original designs.

[@dillon4286]

the description says jesse james was powered by two chevrolet 350 cu in engines, but the video says two big blocks the chevy 350 was a small block......is one of those a mistake or did the big blocks have decreased bore/stroke in order to rev higher?

[@vehiculemagazine]

several different versions

[@mtl-ss1538]

@@vehiculemagazine

[@hendo337]

You could make a 350ci BBC, 4.135" bore with a 3.25" crank, probably custom however you could make one using a 348ci W block Chevy crank with spacer bearing a in a 0.010" over 402ci BBC. Perhaps an early iteration was simply using something similar to a Nascar technology SBC in the 70s the ticket was what were called Crane 292 Turbo heads, later 18° "Pontiac" or SB2 head in the 80s were the meanest for an SBC.

[@dillon4286]

@@hendo337 same displacement but in a bigger package? what would be the point?

[@DanteAlahandro]

Manatees be damned 😂

[@vehiculemagazine]

they are usually not offshore. plus the boat is now in NZ (no manatees)