Doug Wright-Designed Catamarans In The Works For New Factory Stock 450R Class

Though they won’t be ready in time for the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series season-opener, May 20-23 in Cocoa Beach, Fla., a pair Doug Wright-designed catamarans is in the offing for the new Factory Stock 450R catamaran class. If current plans hold, that means four boats—one MTI 390X complete and one more reportedly in the works—could be on the water in the fledgling class at some point this season.

Puerto Rico’s Arthy Cruz has the tooling for his new Factory Stock 450R catamaran Doug Wright-designed raceboat and is just waiting for lamination materials to start building it.

“We are tooling a new 38 for (former offshore racer rejoining the sport) Michael Karsenti for the 450R class,” said Doug Wright, Jr. “We’re supposed to have the hull mold done by May 15, but that’s not going to happen. That should be done by June.”

The second Wright designed cat is coming from from Arthy Cruz, the owner of center-console builder 7 Seas Water Sports in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Cruz purchased the tooling for the original stern-drive Doug Wright 38-footer and is creating what he’s calling a “39-footer” for the class. Cruz also bought the tooling for the previous 32-foot Doug Wright cat, not to be confused with most current iteration of the boat, and plans to build a Super Stock-class raceboat.

Cruz is hoping to start building his Factory Stock 450R raceboat as soon as he receives the lamination materials. “They are supposed to be here this week,” he said.

Most of his offshore powerboat racing experience, Cruz said, has been in Skater Powerboats catamarans in Puerto Rico. He has not yet settled on a cockpit-mate for the new 39-foot raceboat.

“It may be my brother, Alexander,” he said.

Speedonthewater.com will follow this story as it develops.

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