In this episode of Powerboat Talk, I talk to three new flatbottom circle boat racers—Nash Thorpe, Nick Balayan, and Travis Hill—who share their backgrounds, experiences, and insights from their first race at the Southern California Speedboat Club's season opener in Parker, Arizona, this past April. The conversation covers their paths into racing, the challenges they faced as rookies, the importance of community support, and their aspirations for future races.

They reflect on rookie mistakes and how everything changes when you strap on a helmet and go side-by-side with some of the best circle racers in the world—compared to just running your boat hard on a river or lake.

They also discuss navigating the process and many hurdles to participate in their first race, and how their newfound friendship and support for each other made it all possible.

Follow Nick Balayan on Instagram @nickbalayan138

Follow Nash Thorp on Facebook @Nash Thorp

Follow Travis Hill on Instagram @blownflat_trav

To learn more about Circle Boat Racing, visit the Southern California Speedboat Club online
@ www.scscracing.com

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Fred Inman is the owner and founder of Inman Marine Corporation (IMCO), one of the largest and most respected performance aftermarket marine manufacturers in the world. Like many entrepreneurs, Inman, a metal fabricator by trade, began his career in the marine industry by making parts in his garage for his flatbottoms in the 1960s.

After gaining experience at a similar company, Inman partnered with a friend to start his own metal fabrication business. Over the years, he produced a wide range of commercial products, including solar water heater tanks, concrete pump components, and auxiliary gas tanks for diesel cars and trucks during the gas crunch of the 1980s.

These lucrative ventures gave Inman the capital to grow his marine business—his true passion. With the help of his three children, Belinda, Fred Jr., and Frank, IMCO evolved from building gas tanks for jet boats into a manufacturing powerhouse, producing performance exhaust systems, hydraulic steering systems, and its own line of high-performance SCX outdrives. Today, IMCO operates manufacturing facilities in both California and Nevada.

In the episode, Inman shares his core business philosophies and explains how he stayed ahead of the curve, guided by the belief that "nothing lasts forever." He reflects on his extensive journey in the marine industry, the evolution of his company, the challenges he faced, and the critical role that family has played in his success.

You can follow IMCO on instagram @imcomarine and Facebook @IMCO - Inman Marine Corporation Or find them online at www.inmanmarine.com

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View the video for this episode: www.youtube.com/@powerboat_talk

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Contact me: powerboattalk@gmail.com

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Davidson, longtime publisher of Hot Boat Magazine and current publisher of Speedboat Magazine, to reflect on nearly four decades in the performance boating industry. Chris shares his unique journey—from collecting Elvis memorabilia to shaping the voice of high-performance boating media.

He discusses the early days of Hot Boat, his family's deep roots in the boating world, and the magazine's pivotal 1989 sale to Larry Flynt's LFP Inc., which transformed it into a nationally recognized publication. Chris also opens up about personal challenges, including a shocking betrayal by his brother Darren in 2006 that led to a hostile takeover of the magazine—and ultimately inspired Chris to launch Speedboat Magazine, now the last remaining print publication in the performance boat world.

Throughout the conversation, Chris emphasizes the importance of teamwork, loyalty, and personal connections. He talks about how building relationships in the industry with people like Bob Leach of Eliminator Boats and Ed Borges of Eddie Marine helped him to keep his magazines moving forward. Chris credits much of his success to a trusted crew of contributors, including Kevin Spaise, Jim Wilkes, Greg Shoemaker, Fernando Escovar, and Brett Bayne. It's a candid, behind-the-scenes look at a legacy shaped by passion, perseverance, and the power of relationships.

You can follow Speedboat Magazine on Instagram @speedboatmagazine_sb.mag and Facebook @Speedboat Magazine

View Speedboat online and subscribe www.speedboat.com

Visit our website at www.powerboattalk.com

View the video for this episode: www.youtube.com/@powerboat_talk

Follow us on Instagram @powerboattalk and Facebook @Powerboat Talk

Contact me: powerboattalk@gmail.com