The High-Octane World of Offshore Powerboating and the Drug Trade in the 1970s and 1980s
Explore South Florida’s 1970s-80s powerboating, where stars like Aronow, Kramer, Falcon, and Magluta mixed high-speed racing with Miami’s cocaine smuggling scene.
South Florida’s waters in the 1970s and 1980s buzzed with offshore powerboating, a sport tied to the cocaine and marijuana smuggling trade that defined Miami’s wild era. Figures like Don Aronow, Ben Kramer, Willie Falcon, and Sal Magluta became legends for their racing skills and connections to the drug underworld. Let’s explore this thrilling blend of speed, wealth, and crime.
Don Aronow: The King of Powerboats
Don Aronow, a visionary designer and racer, shaped offshore powerboating. He founded brands like Cigarette, Donzi, Formula, and Magnum Marine, crafting sleek, high-speed boats that dominated races. His vessels attracted celebrities and leaders like George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Aronow’s boats, prized for their speed and agility, became tools for drug smugglers evading law enforcement in South Florida’s waters. Though not directly implicated, his business thrived amid blurred lines between legal and illegal. In 1987, Aronow was murdered outside his Miami office—a crime still unsolved.
Ben Kramer: From Racer to Kingpin
Ben Kramer, a skilled racer and Aronow protégé, shone in the American Power Boat Association, winning the 1986 U.S. Open Class Offshore Championship with his Apache Warpath.
Through Apache Powerboats and Fort Apache Marina, Kramer built an empire, but his crimes led to a 1987 arrest and a life sentence as a “drug super kingpin.” Allegations tied him to Aronow’s murder over a dispute involving the United States Custom's Blue Thunder boats, cementing his infamous legacy.
Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta: The Cocaine Cowboys
Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta, known as “Los Muchachos,” ran a $2 billion cocaine empire, smuggling 75 tons from Colombia to the U.S. between 1978 and 1991. Their lavish lifestyle included mansions, sports cars, and powerboats.
Both excelled in racing. Magluta’s Team Seahawk won three national championships, and he served on the American Power Boat Association’s commission. Falcon’s Team Cougar claimed the 1986 Offshore Challenge. Their custom boats aided smuggling operations. Operating openly, even appearing on ESPN, they seemed untouchable until their 1991 arrest and later convictions.
Why Powerboating and Smuggling Collided
Several factors fueled the overlap of offshore powerboating and the drug trade:
- Geography: South Florida’s closeness to the Bahamas and Caribbean made it a smuggling hub. Fast boats outran Coast Guard patrols.
- Technology: Aronow’s deep-V hulls and powerful engines offered speed and stability for racing and smuggling.
- Culture: Miami’s cocaine-driven scene celebrated risk-takers, with racers and smugglers like Falcon and Magluta seen as icons.
- Money: Drug billions funded racing teams and boat purchases. Many national champions were later convicted smugglers.
Racers mingled at spots like The Mutiny Hotel, where deals and parties thrived amid cocaine and glamour, reflecting Miami’s excesses.
The Legacy of a Wild Era
By the 1990s, intensified drug enforcement ended the era. Kramer, Falcon, and Magluta faced justice, and powerboating cleaned up, with corporate sponsors like insurance firms replacing cartel cash. The sport continues, but its gritty edge has faded.
