Tom Gentry's Legacy: The Boats That Redefined Offshore Racing
Tom Gentry's Gentry Eagle boats reshaped offshore racing in 1980s
October 18, 2025
Thomas H. Gentry redefined offshore powerboat racing through a series of turbocharged boats that secured five Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) World Championships and four U.S. National Championships. His vessels, customized by American Eagle Marine, set multiple speed and endurance records, including the transatlantic Blue Riband. This article details the distinct boats Gentry campaigned, their specific achievements, and his lasting impact on Hawaiian racing, 27 years after his death in 1998.
Early Life and Entry into Racing
Thomas H. Gentry was born in 1930 in Berkeley, California, and earned a civil engineering degree from UC Berkeley in 1953. He relocated to Hawaii, where he founded Gentry Companies, developing over 8,000 homes and commercial properties, including marinas. In 1971, at age 41, he built his first raceboat. By the mid-1970s, he was competing internationally, focusing on turbocharged engines and surface drives to navigate Hawaii’s challenging waters. Through American Eagle Marine, he produced custom components that powered his fleet and influenced competitors worldwide.
The Cigarette Era: First World Championship with American Eagle (1976)
Gentry’s early racing efforts relied on Cigarette hulls, valued for speed but less stable in rough conditions. In 1976, he campaigned the American Eagle, a 35-foot Cigarette deep-V monohull powered by Aeromarine engines. This boat won the Union Internationale Motonautique World Offshore Power Boat Championship in Sweden’s Getingloppet race, achieving 63.9 knots. With throttleman Richie Powers and crew member Robert Beinch, Gentry claimed the Sam Griffith Trophy, returning it to the United States after three years abroad. This victory marked his first world title and established him as a serious contender.
Tom Gentry's American Eagle, Image by VÉHICULE
The Scarab Era: Vee-Hull Dominance with Gentry Turbo Eagle (1985–1988)
In 1985, Gentry commissioned a 46-foot Scarab deep-V from Larry Smith for the Miami-to-New York Challenge, named Gentry Turbo Eagle. It featured three 1,200-horsepower Gentry turbocharged V8 engines, totaling 3,600 horsepower, paired with Kiekhaefer Aeromarine surface drives. In 1985, it competed successfully in the Miami-Nassau race, outperforming established rivals. In 1986, it set an unofficial offshore vee-hull speed record of 116.75 miles per hour with supercharged engines, later reaching 126.382 miles per hour in Vallejo Kilo runs. The boat also participated in endurance events like the New York-to-Miami run, averaging over 55 miles per hour. In 1988, loaned to actor Don Johnson with throttleman Bill Sirois and navigator Gus Anastasi, it won the American Power Boat Association (APBA) World Superboat Championship, narrowly defeating Gentry’s catamaran.
Turbocharged Catamarans: Speed and Championships
50-Foot Cougar Cat (1983–1987)
By the early 1980s, Gentry transitioned to catamarans for enhanced speed and stability. The Gentry Turbo Eagle #9, a 50-foot Cougar catamaran, was powered by four 1,250-horsepower V8 engines, totaling 5,000 horsepower, with dual chain surface drives and a mahogany-framed fiberglass hull. In 1987, with throttleman John Connor, it won the UIM/APBA World Championship in the Super Cat class and set a world Superboat speed record of 148.238 miles per hour on Florida’s measured mile, earning Gentry the title “Fastest Man in Offshore.” It dominated international circuits, showcasing Gentry’s turbo innovations.
Gentry Eagle 50-Foot Cougar Cat, Image by VÉHICULE
48-Foot Cougar Cat (1987–1989)
The 48-foot Gentry Turbo Eagle catamaran, introduced in 1987, featured four 1,400-horsepower turbo V8 engines, totaling 5,600 horsepower, with dual surface drives and a Kevlar-reinforced hull. It supported Gentry’s second and third UIM world titles between 1987 and 1989 and competed in the grueling 200-mile Molokai-to-Oahu endurance race. In 1988, it placed second overall at the Key West World Cup, behind Johnson’s Scarab team.
50-Foot Gentry Turbo Eagle Cat (1988)
Another 50-foot catamaran, also named Gentry Turbo Eagle, was campaigned in 1988 with four 850-horsepower turbo engines, totaling 3,400 horsepower. It won a heat at the Key West World Cup but fell short of the championship, overtaken by Johnson’s Scarab. This boat emphasized Gentry’s ability to adapt turbo technology across varying power outputs.
112-Foot Gentry Eagle (1989)
Gentry’s most ambitious project was the 112-foot Gentry Eagle, built by Vosper Thornycroft for transatlantic records. Powered by twin 3,480-horsepower MTU turbo diesels and a 4,500-horsepower Lycoming turbine, totaling 11,500 horsepower, it used waterjets and a surface drive on an aluminum hull. In 1989, it set the Blue Riband transatlantic record from New York to Bishop Rock in 62 hours, 7 minutes, and 47 seconds, averaging 55.61 miles per hour, surpassing Richard Branson’s record by 18.5 hours. It also claimed New York-to-Miami and Florida-to-Bahamas records.
112ft Gentry Eagle, Image by VÉHICULE
Final Boat and UIM Class I Record with 40-Foot Skater Cat (1993–1994)
Gentry’s final raceboat was the 40-foot Team Gentry Skater catamaran, campaigned in the Open Class. Equipped with a high-performance turbo setup, it set a UIM Class I speed record of 157.428 miles per hour in San Diego Bay in 1993, making Gentry the first to hold three concurrent offshore records. In 1994, during the Key West World Championships, the boat flipped while leading the Open Class, causing Gentry to suffer brain hypoxia. He remained in a coma until his death on January 15, 1998, at age 67.
Impact on Hawaiian Racing
Gentry’s boats transformed Hawaii’s offshore racing scene. Before his influence, local events featured smaller boats with limited competition. His successes, particularly with the Gentry Turbo Eagle catamarans, drew thousands to races like the Honolulu Offshore Challenge. American Eagle Marine supplied affordable turbo kits, enabling local teams to compete against mainland rivals. Gentry also supported youth programs through the Hawaii Offshore Racing Association, mentoring new racers and fostering a culture of innovation and pride in Hawaii’s boating community.
Legacy and Recognition
In 1993, the UIM awarded Gentry a Gold Medal of Honor for his contributions to the sport. He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. His turbocharged engines and surface drives continued to influence boat designs, and restored vessels like the 1985 Scarab Turbo Eagle keep his legacy alive. The annual Gentry Memorial Race off Waikiki celebrates his impact.
Tom Gentry, Image by VÉHICULE
