New Southeast Cigarette Dealer To Showcase 42 Auroris At Kuttawa Cannonball Run

In a move that speaks to the remarkable growth and significance of the Kuttawa Cannonball Run, the one truly iconic performance boat brand—Cigarette Racing Team—will display a new 42 Auroris center console at the May 31-June 1 event through its soon-to-open Cigarette Kentucky dealership. The 42-footer is the property of Kentucky’s Paul Michael Ison and his fiancé, Tiffany Crawford, who also are the co-owners of the new business located behind Lee’s Ford Marina at Lake Cumberland.

Dubbed Liquid Asset, a 2024 model-year 42 Auroris owned by new Cigarette dealers Paul Michael Ison and Tiffany Crawford will be on display and available for demo rides at the upcoming Kuttawa Cannonball Run. Photo courtesy/copyright Florida Powerboat Club

Ison and Crawford are lifelong powerboat enthusiasts who were “raised on the shores of Lake Cumberland.” Engaged during the Florida Powerboat Club Miami Boat Show Poker Run in February, the couple plans to open the 8,000-square-foot dealership, complete with a showroom and offices, in the next 30 days.

During his 30 years of boating, Ison has owned 10 models from the Opa-locka, Fla., builder. Before taking delivery of the 42 Auroris prior to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where it was prominently displayed at the Cigarette docks, he owned a 41 GTS center console.

Paul Michael Ison and Tiffany Crawford—pictured above before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and below during a recent photo shoot in Miami—are turning their passion into a business.

“We love the boating community and everything that goes with it,” Ison said. “We just love the atmosphere and we want to make it grow through our business.”

Added Crawford, “We’re just so passionate about boating. We want to take some of what we love doing and help expand the (Cigarette) brand in our area.”

The couple has signed on for one 42 Auroris “allocation” for 2024 and four allocations—with models to be determined—in 2025. They will have a certified Cigarette technician on hand when the Kentucky dealership opens and the plan is to become a certified Mercury Marine and Mercury Racing dealer.

And before the year is out, they plan to open up another dealership called Cigarette Tennessee on the shores of Lake Norris in the Volunteer State. They currently are looking at potential facilities.

Alex Ruis, the chief executive officer of Cigarette Racing Team, said he is delighted to have Ison and Crawford in the company’s dealer network. The new dealership locations expands the company’s in the Southeast.

“We are excited to bring the Cigarette experience to Kentucky and Tennessee with such an incredible team,” he said. “With the addition of these two flagship locations Cigarette continues to grow exponentially. I am incredibly proud of our employees and our dealers who continue to honor the legacy of Cigarette.

And Ruis isn’t alone in his enthusiasm for the new business venture.

“We are super excited to have our first manufacturer showcase at the 2024 Kuttawa Cannonball Run,” said Terry Martin, who organizes the event with Jeff Hoefling and Stephen Miles. “We will have the 42 Auroris from Cigarette Kentucky on display on Thursday and test rides are on tap for Friday and Saturday.”