When she is
riding on her lines the stern isn’t even touching water
smooths out as the distinguished- looking Mistele — think George Washington without the wig or wooden teeth — gently opens the throttles and the heat and un- burned fuel swirl around the cock- pit area. Immediately the bow rises high under power, obscuring for- ward vision, but gradually lowers as the speed picks up.
Miss America IX effortlessly skims along, hydroplaning above the wa-
ter, rather than riding in it. Later, Mistele explains that at speed the boat is really just riding on the spray it generates and on its two mas- sive propellers. The hull is stepped, meaning that about halfway aft from the bow, the bottom steps up eight inches, becoming shallower at the stern. What this means, says Mistele, is “when she is riding on her lines the stern isn’t even touch- ing water.”
And because the stern isn’t in con- tact with the water, Miss America IX uses a bow rudder — you can see it as the bow lifts under accelera- tion — to both point the boat and to stabilize her. Though the bow rudder has its part in turning, most directional change comes from the throttles. Open one and close the other as you spin the wheel, and she turns. Nowadays, all the con-
Chuck Mistele (above) loves everything about Miss America IX. Piloting her at speed (opposite page) excites him every time and is something he’s happy to share.
HAGERTY.COM 51
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