Pure Platinum Skater Cat Lands New Home In Texas
The third and final Skater Powerboats 388 catamaran commissioned and dubbed Pure Platinum by Floridian Bill Pyburn—the second-year throttleman for the Super Cat-class Dirty Money team—has a new home. The 2015 model-year 38-footer, now powered by twin Mercury Racing 1100 engines, has been purchased by Ross Ramsey of RP Elite Motors and Marine in Springtown, Texas.
Ramsey learned about Pure Platinum long ago. He knew of its history and importance to Nate Michel and to the late Michael Pierce—Michels’ best friend who owned the cat after Pyburn. So he felt that he needed Michel’s blessing to pursue ownership of the renowned 38-footer.
RP Elite Motors and Marine principal Ross Ramsey now owns one of the most breathtaking Skater 388 catamarans ever built. Photo from the 2019 Desert Storm Poker Run by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos
“I had never planned to let go of Pure Platinum, but the fact is that where I am now with my family and new business ventures I don’t have enough time to do what needs to be done for that boat to be seen properly in the public eye,” Michel said. “Obviously, the boat means a tremendous amount to me. And it means a tremendous amount to my friend, Ross.
“I am not stepping out of boating,” he added. “I’m going to enjoy my new Statement Marine center console that I just took delivery of and I’ll be doing something else on the water that’s really cool and fast—enjoying wakeboarding with my kids.”
RP Elite Motors and Marine is the Douglas, Mich., company’s official United States dealer. Ramsey was supposed to keep the first RP Elite Series Skater 368 with 1100s as his demo boat, but he sold the soon-to-be-completed model to Skater-fan Jim Miller of Utah in late-December 2023.
“Suddenly, I no longer had a boat for the upcoming season,” Ramsey explained. “And I needed one.
“So this is going to be my personal boat—it’s not for sale,” he continued. “The detail is incredible and the 1100s are the ticket. I am not going to change a thing about it, not the name, not anything. I’m going to use for it was built to do, poker runs and pleasure boating.”
The catamaran currently is at Hydroflat Custom Fiberglass And Paint in Des Allemands, La., for a few cosmetic touch-ups.
Ramsey plans to showcase his new prize during the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run in early May.
“Evan (Schaubhut) has been more than professional and polite,” Ramsey said of the Hydroflat owner. “His service is top-notch. I could see myself doing something with him down the road.”
In March, Ramsey will start using the boat on his local Texas waterways. But come May 2-4, he’ll campaign it in the famed Tickfaw 200 Poker Run in Louisiana.
“We love the Tickfaw,” he said. “We can’t wait to bring the boat back there and show it off.”
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