Even among supposedly mature and evolved adults, “Farts Monster” is a giggler of a name for a powerboat—at least until you translate it from Norwegian to English, where it becomes “Speed Demon.” But a Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats 47 Roadster catamaran that was built in 2007 and so named by its original Norwegian owner is no joke. With each of its twin T-53 turbine engines producing 1,850 hp, the canopied 47-footer reportedly set a European kilometer speed record of 192 mph—and even reached 200 mph—before it was mothballed in 2008 and stored at Nor-Tech’s original facility in Cape Coral, Fla., for the next 10 years.

The Bergenty’s family boat, this unusual turbine engine-powered 47-foot Nor-Tech catamaran will ply the waters of New England this season.

Now, thanks to Connecticut-based Adam Bergenty and his father, Bill, the catamaran is coming back to life. The owners of an aviation business that repairs and refurbishes private jet aircraft, the Bergentys previously owned a turbine-powered 50-foot Nor-Tech V-bottom. They purchased the catamaran in February and brought it home in April to spruce it up and get it back on the water.

“We had to wipe about two inches of dust off it before it left here,” said Matt Lamb, Nor-Tech’s manager of customer service. “They’re working on it now to bring it cosmetically up to speed.”

The boat-dusting chores continued in Connecticut.

“Aside from the sheets of dust that came off the boat, it’s like it’s been in a time capsule,” said Adam Bergenty.

Between their previous turbine-powered V-bottom and their jet aircraft restoration and repair business, Adam and Bill Bergenty are well qualified to own and operate a turbine engine-powered pleasure boat, though they do outsource all turbine engine service and repair. In fact, the catamaran’s turbine power inspired their recent purchase.

“We go to the offshore races in Key West every year, and in the mid-to-late-2000s there used to be a turbine-boat presence there,” said Adam Bergenty. “This last time down, there wasn’t a single turbine boat in the marina. And that got us thinking. This boat is different.”

A view from the catamaran’s cockpit.

For the next two to three weeks, Adam Bergenty will be working on updating the six-seat, air-conditioned 47-footer so that it’s ready to go for the 2018 boating season in New England. Most of the changes are cosmetic, he said, and include niceties such as LED lighting.

“I’m actually in the boat right now, updating stuff,” said Bergenty. “The whole thing is kind of ripped apart at the moment.

“My dad has an Intrepid that we use at our second home in Boca Raton in Florida, but this is kind of our ‘family boat’—instead of a racecar or something like that, we have a turbine boat,” he added. “With the T-53s, BPM drives and rudder I think it’s one of the cooler turbine pleasure boats still out there.”

Editor’s Note: Speedonthewater.com will report on this project again when it is completed.

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