We recently had a chance to speak with NOYC Go-fast-Guru
Donnie Brennan of Diversified Marine in Mobile
Alabama. For those who don’t know
Donnie, he is the “Merchant of MOJO” .
He is an artist that virtually applies magic to boats to make them go
fast. Chances are, if he hasn’t worked
on the bottom of your boat, you’ll never here these words from your crew while
sailing upwind “We’re going higher and faster”. These words are usually heard shortly after
your check to “Diversified Marine” clears the bank, then the Magic Mojo begins. Here is
how it went:
NOYC.org: How did you get started sailing and when did
you start hanging out at NOYC?
MOJOMAN: I started sailing with my father on Gulf One
Designs at the age of 4. I’d actually
like to build one of those out of modern materials…29ft flat bottom centerboarder, with huge frac
rig…may be even use an aysso. Any way, from there, I became a junior member
at NOYC and sailed along with the likes of other NOYC juniors; Guy DeBoer, Gene Waneless, Steve
Vial, Mike Sperry, Ward Pitard, Hoagie & Cal
Herman…and oh yea..some little kid named Benz. After that…things got a little fuzzy…and
ended up in Mobile.
NOYC.org: What are your specialties at Diversified
Marine?
MOJOMAN: We, …I have a partner (Tom Copeman)… we cater to the serious one-design
sailor. We also do wooden boat
restoration, manufacture Fish Boats & perform rigging work. We both love SAWS-ALLS. This is our 13th year in business.
NOYC.org: I know
ya’ll do a lot of rudder and keel fairing, do you shape them for the conditions
they sail in or does everyone pretty much get the same final product?
MOJOMAN:
Everyone gets the same PROVEN shape, unless otherwise specified. I’ve had only one request for minimum thickness…everyone
else has wanted to go upwind!
NOYC.org: How much
input from the customer do you actually utilize?
MOJOMAN: Very
little in regards to templating foils. On rigging work I try to set things up to the
customers ability, sailing style or crew preference.
NOYC.org: Generally
speaking, what is it that you do to most one design foils to make them so damn
fast?
MOJOMAN: I’m
very meticulous in making sure that the keel is symmetrical…with maximum chord
properly placed…then the ULTIMATE finish is applied in polished gelcoat (Balto Plate or VC if wetsailed).
NOYC.org: I know
that you put a couple of “pinches” of Brennan magic (MOJO) in every boat you work on, have you ever put too much in?
NOYC.org suggested answer: yeah, BAD BOYS happened!
MOJOMAN: One
time at band camp…, I spilled a whole can of whoop-ass on a boat…Damn thing
jumped off the trailer & flew up in the trees!!
NOYC.org: For the Do-it-your-selfer
(Ramke), how many parts Brennan Magic (MOJO)
to epoxy should one use?
MOJOMAN: Do-it-your-self
means just that…they get “NOJO” from me!
NOYC.org: Again, for the do-it-your-selfer
(Ramke), can “Brennan Magic” (MOJO) be bought
separately from a full keel or fairing job?
MOJOMAN:
NO!..and I charge extra if you want to
watch…double, if you want to help…and I charge the going Water Line Systems
Rate if you want to tell me how to do it.
NOYC.org: Any tips for the do-it-your-selfers (Ramke)?
MOJOMAN: Yeah, let a pro do the job! There is also no such thing as good and
cheap…& if you think your saving money by doing it yo-self….wait
till you get my bill for having to clean up after your mess.
NOYC.org: Could you name just a few of your winning
customers?
MOJOMAN: Fats
(J-22 2002 MidWinter Champ), Bad Boys (J-24 NA Champ)
Dream Cookie (Tripp 26 KWRW winner), Comeback (J-22 Leuk
Cup winner), 22 Caliber (J-22 2002 Sugar Bowl winner), SANDIS WINGS (Pearson 30
Overall 2002 Leuk Cup Boat of the Regatta) & Gritz (J-30 Mid winter champ)…to name just a few…all my
customers are winners.
NOYC.org: Describe
your sailing personality.
MOJOMAN: FUN…with
out it...I wouldn’t do it. The lighter
side always makes any situation better.
If you are going to YELL…yell something funny.
NOYC.org: Who
mentored you or influenced your sailing skills the most?
MOJOMAN: My
father (Mike) & Buck Ballatin. Dad taught me the love of sailing. Buck introduced me to big fleet one-design
racing! Buck took me to 7 Lightning
North American Championships all over the country before the age of 18. (that’s
awesome)
NOYC.org: What do
you consider your biggest racing accomplishments?
MOJOMAN: Winning any sailboat race! Here are a few I remember:
-4 time FishBoat World Champion
-Sunfish Mid-Winter Champion
-A couple of KWRW Class Wins
-Back-to-Back Bullets at Sunfish Worlds (5th
overall out of 110 boats)
-2 Lipton wins & any Lipton Race when JDIII is behind
you
-Convincing Scott & Benz to do turns in 2nd
race of J-30 NA’s
-Countless C-Cup wins (anyone keeping track?)
-3rd in O’Day finals
(Ok…I didn’t win…but I won a lot to get there)
NOYC.org: Who are
the top five sailors at NOYC?
MOJOMAN: In no
particular order, Scott Tonguis (only flaw is
starting technique, for a guy who doesn’t sail that much, that is his only
problem…he does own his fair share of raw speed though), Rory Hebbler (Ro knows one-design), Anthony Hudson (Gots the Laser thing down pat), David Zahn (very impressed by foredeck work at J-30 NA’s) & Chris Wientjes
(great driver) (finally someone who doesn’t duck the hard questions)
Three out of five of these guys have won a Lipton race and that is “big-time”
for around here!
NOYC.org: Who are the top five sailors in the GYA?
MOJOMAN:
Again, in no particular order, JDIII, Brock Schmidt, John Lovell, Dave Bolyard & Benz Faget (Thanks
Donnie, most wuss out on this question also)
Rapid fire Brennan Questions
NOYC.org: / MOJOMAN
BEST BRENNAN DRIVER? Robert
BEST BRENNAN TRIMMER? Buzzy
BEST BRENNAN FOREDECK? Emily
BEST BRENNAN EASTERLY SAILOR? My Dad
BEST BRENNAN TACTICIAN? Myself
MOST CHARMING BRENNAN? Andrew
FASTEST EASTERLY? Beasterly
DREAM BOAT? “ENDEAVOR”..nuff said.
HEAVIEST BRENNAN? Kelly
NOYC.org: How much
does a typical Brennan weigh?
MOJOMAN: No such thing as a typical Brennan, we’re
all unique.
WARD.org: At what
age did you stop wearing sunscreen?
MOJOMAN: At 6 months…it made my face red.
NOYC.org: The PHRF rating Sheriff is considering
penalizing any boat you have touched or sneezed on six seconds per mile, your
thoughts?
MOJOMAN: Actually…it’s worth 9-12 seconds if Andrew’s
underwear and Teflon are involved.
NOYC.org: Thanks for making
time for NOYC.org any closing comments?
MOJOMAN:
Appreciate the attention…, tell Jeff that I’m racing BEASTERLY at C-cup
for the Moose Lodge.
-steinkamp
