Grand Entrance: Even in basic dress, the Cigarette Racing 38 Top Gun makes a big statement.
By Matt Trulio

At best, it seems a little odd to call a performance boat that costs $399,000 "entry level." But if Cigarette Racing does, in fact, have an entry-level offering, it definitely is the 38 Top Gun that rings in at the aforementioned price with a pair of Mercury Racing HP525EFI engines. You can pay a whole lot more and not much less for a new Cigarette. Hence the entry-level designation.

But what an entry. If the Cigarette 38 Top Gun we ran in Fort Myers, Fla., happened to be your first go-fast boat, you'd be one lucky human. You'd be the owner of an 86-mph stunner with excellent handling manners, commanding rough-water performance and a level of construction quality that helps Cigarette products retain their high resale values.

Riding on a two-step hull, the 38-footer impressed test drivers Bob Teague and John Tomlinson. That's saying something, given that Teague and Tomlinson have tested dozens of 38 Top Guns between them.
"It runs great, just like every other 38 Cigarette," said Tomlinson after logging a little seat time in the boat.

The timeless beauty had zero trouble crushing 1- to 2-foot wind chop, which was the worst stuff we saw on our test day. It also carved smooth slalom and circle turns at various speeds, and tracked perfectly. Hardly entry level in the hardware department, the 38 Top Gun was outfitted with billet hinges, Latham Marine throttles and shifters, eight retractable cleats, billet step plates for cockpit access and an aluminum swim platform. Under the engine hatch/sun pad, which raised on a screw jack, the engine compartment rigging was immaculate.

The twin 525-horsepower engines were installed side by side. Trim pumps for the drives were mounted neatly on the firewall. Heavy-duty billet boxes housed the batteries. The bilge was polished to a smooth and shiny finish.
Two bolsters with power dropout bottoms and a sculpted rear bench were in the deep cockpit, which had durable vinyl covering the sole. All of the seats were upholstered in a simulated carbon-fiber fabric that was French-stitched at the seams.

Livorsi Marine gauges with the Cigarette Racing logo were arranged above the steering wheel. Augmenting the analog instruments was a Northstar M84 GPS unit and mechanical indicators for the drives and trim tabs. In a sporty touch, the builder installed ignition buttons above the ignition keys. A group of pewter-colored, aircraft-style switches activated the accessories. Although it wasn't particularly fancy, the cabin for the 38 Top Gun was functional and comfortable. A sliding power door provided access to the cabin, which was laid out with facing lounges and a V-berth. To its credit, the builder padded the cabin's headliner.

You can easily dump more than $1 million into a Cigarette keep in mind that the builder has 49- and 50-footers in its performance-boat line. So in terms of pricing, a 38 Top Gun with twin HP525EFI power plants strange as it my sound is an entry-level Cigarette. Yet the 38 Top Gun isn't just one of the builder's best sellers, it's a model that even the most seasoned go-fast boat owner would do well to own.

 

Always loved the TG. This one is beautiful. Nice write up.

 

Nice write up and sweet looking cig.

 

wow.. hehehehe entry level at nearly $400,000 thats nice..

 

I like the classic paint scheme on that boat, looks good!

 

nice rare classic paint scheme on that cig!