Fun, fast and ready to provide thrills on the water.

Certain features register quickly rom the first time I saw one of these inflatable ¡°cats¡± in the mid-1990s, I was totally enthusiastic about their potential for incredible summer fun. It was at a world championship offshore race and a couple of dozen of these boats were having their own race to fill in the time between competitions.

Each was powered by a 40 hp outboard with a tiller handle (no steering wheel or console) and each had a two-helmeted crew. One throttled and steered from the back, and the other acted as a movable balancing ballast ¨C as needed somewhere near the bow and ¡°hiked out¡± on either side of the bow to aid in cornering speed. I was giggling like a little kid watching these boats race with their incredible acceleration and almost flat, 90-degree, full-throttle cornering abilities.

I knew then that someone in Canada just had to handle them and although it has taken a while, that someone turned out to be Shane Serra of Hot Knots Landing Marina in Orillia, Ontario.

Most inflatables are the rigid fiberglass with a V-type bottom style. Not this one. All three series of SuperDUXX ¡°cats¡± from ten to 18 feet have a lightweight flat composite floor with aluminum H-channel joiners and an aluminum transom. The maximum recommended power range from 15 hp for the 10-footer to 90 hp for the S1800HD Survivor series, a boat used primarily for rescue work (all are short shaft outboards).

The Challenger 1300 has two 21-inch diameter tubes constructed of welded 30-ounce PVC with rubber inner liners and three bladders per side. On the bottom of these main tubes are six-inch Highjacker tubes, which provide a flatter, smaller planing surface with sharper edges plus added freeboard with the ability to ¡°pack¡± more air into the tunnel between the tubes. Each horsepower on this model produces about 1 mph ¨C therefore the recommended 40 hp produces approximately 40 mph of shear exhilaration and fun like you may never had before.

All Challenger series have a splash/rub rail, carrying handles, full-length grab lines, self re-righting pouch, wash-through transom, and a custom aerodynamic fiberglass wind foil with a watertight storage compartment. There are lots of options available to suit the intentions of every member of the family. See one. Try one. If you do, you¡¯ll probably buy one.

Specifications
LOA: 13¡¯/3.96 m
Beam: 6¡¯6¡±/2.01 m
Dry Weight: 167 lbs./75 kg
Fuel Capacity: portable
Tibe Diameter: 21¡±
Maximum Power: 40 hp (short shaft)
Base Price: $6,999

Price Supplied by SuperDUXX, Kitchener, Ontario (519) 742-6800 www.superduxx.com
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