‘Magnum 27’, the true story of the first ever Magnum

In the late 1950s a movement was taking shape that was destined to bear legendary fruit. Incredible performance, new deep-V hulls and deadrise never before explored. Under the names of Ray Hunt, Jim Wynne and Don Aronow, in short, hulls and designs were taking shape that would never again be forgotten. These include an icon with exceptional status, the legendary Magnum 27′, the first Magnum.

Magnum 27

In 1958 Ray Hunt developed the first deep-V hull with the novelty of a major deadrise, 24°, a key solution to avoid the classic bumps and crashes when passing over the wave of then-conventional hulls. The addition of longitudinal skids was in turn equally important, providing even more lif to his creatures, hulls soon capable of inspiring an entire movement (it was from this very insight that Bertram would be born). Shortly thereafter, in fact, Jim Wynne, a naval engineer, seized on the virtue of Hunt’s insights, producing a similar, equally successful hull. Come 1962, Don Aronow also entered the “little game,” who commissioned Wynne himself to design a new high-performance hull for his own use. Thus was born the foundation of the shipyard, which would become Magnum Marine only in 1966.

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Magnum: the beginnings

Born the little creature, a formidable 27-footer, within no time Don Aronow will win the Offshore World Championship, casting no small light on the formidable design, the “Maltese Magnum.” It is the turning point. The victory gave Aronow enough success to create a small factory in North Miami, a street in turn destined for legend, the mother of yards (also by Aronow) such as Donzi, Magnum, and later Cigarette: it is Thunderboat Row. The year 1966 arrived, and just with the production of the Magnum 27, Magnum Marine was born.

A 35-footer, big brother of the 27 in every way, immediately followed. With this, too, Don Aronow, will win the World Offshore Championship. Magnum Marine is, in fact, now a major name. In fact, it was not long before, in 1968, tycoon Clayton Rautboard approached the brand, taking it over. These are the years of Apeco, Rautboard’s copier empire. This is really where it all starts, with the tycoon keeping yes the two hulls on the list, but customizing them, making them sedans, racers or lifestyle variants. Magnum Marine becomes a small giant.

Magnum Marine: the turning point

By 1969 the Magnum 35 was a must-have, the hit of the New York Boat Show. Everything changes here. In New York, Marquis Filippo Theodoli discovers the boat and falls in love with it; he wants it in the Mediterranean. But he not only wants it fast, he also wants it comfortable, luxurious. He doesn’t just buy the 35 though, but suddenly becomes the official dealer for Europe. Still too little. There is no shortage of availability, and success is showing.

The year 1976 arrived and Theodoli hit the big time, buying Magnum directly, shifting the focus of production from pure racer spirit to luxury and dolce vita. The shipyard reinvents itself and becomes a must-see in Sardinia, Portofino and the French Riviera. Magnum as we know it today is born, and with it two icons, the
Magnum 53
and the
Magnum 63
. All, because of a simply great little 27-footer, the Magnum 27, brilliant insight.

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