Hull Number: ASK231010179
633 c.i. tall-deck engine – naturally aspirated,
EFI with wide-band O₂ controller
Six-stage dry-sump system
Closed cooling
Twin-element, thermostatically controlled oil cooler
CMI headers with custom 5-inch quiet exhaust
Art Carr Turbo 400 transmission with large cooler
Unique overhead, foot-operated cavitation plates
100-gallon fuel capacity with electronic switching
Two front seats – no interior
6061 billet aluminum triple-axle trailer with disc brakes

As the story goes, in 1977 Julian Pettengill was
approached by a Ma Bell executive with a request:
build a day cruiser capable of 100 mph. To achieve it,
Pettengill worked with Rod Edye,
who designed the running surface,
while Rusty Biesemeyer created the deck.

The executive and his son later flew
into Phoenix to test the boat,
which performed as intended. That boat,
the “Ma Bell Boat,” was the second hull
pulled from the mold. The one I own is the first.

Pettengill foresaw the performance market
moving toward larger catamarans, and this
project marked his first step in that direction.
Not long after building these two boats,
however, he closed Biesemeyer Boats.
From what I understand, he later developed
a cooler and sold the rights to Walmart.

The attached photo shows Julian at the
helm of my boat, along with a gentleman
named Charlie (last name unknown).
I don’t know where the photo was taken.
From what I’ve heard, the Ma Bell Boat
was finished in green.

This boat will run from Sacramento
to the Golden Gate and back on a
tank of fuel. I purchased it in 1990;
the last time it was on the water was in 2012.