The Cherubini family - builders of some of the most magnificent sailboats of the late 20th century Employ Naval Architect Eric W Sponberg to Design the CHERUBINI CLASSIC 20
Independence Cherubini Company (ICC) hired me to design a 20' speedboat that would look like the classic speedboats of the early 20th century, but be built in fiberglass with a faux wood finish molded in. Other people were trying to do this, but the artistic effect of the faux wood looked cheap and artificial. ICC felt they could do it better. Mercury Marine at the time was also marketing a jet drive that was basically an outboard motor powerhead mounted atop a jet pump. It was a really neat, compact unit. I used design features from Chris Craft, Hacker Craft, and Gar Wood to create the ICC 20.
Before the design work was complete on the first boat, we embarked on a two-cockpit version with five seats and an option to carry a gasoline or diesel inboard/outboard drive. That 2-cockpit-I/O drive boat became the production model. Interestingly, the jet powered version got a mixed response: half the viewers at boat shows loved the concept of the jet that would allow the boat to run in shallow water and not disturb the marine bottom too much. The other half would not accept anything other than the rumble of a proper marine engine driving a traditional underslung propeller.
The boat ran like a champ-we hit a big home run with this design with regards to performance. It was fast, it handled beautifully no matter how it was loaded, and was (is) a sweet running boat. I believe the reason for this is the shape of the boat's bottom. The performance of all power boats, no matter what type, is governed by their bottom shape-it is the single most important factor in power boat design. In a profile view of my hull design, the keel line is a continuous curve from the stem all the way back to the transom-there is not a straight segment in it anywhere. Yet the deadrise from the mid-body back to the transom is a constant 20. This is different than most production powerboats which have straight keel lines from about mid-body back to the transom. Straight-keel boats can really run well at only one trim angle and only with one perfect load distribution. At any other loading, they start being cranky to maneuver. My curved keel shape with its constant 20 deadrise, in my opinion, is very forgiving and can run at a wider range of trims than a boat with a straight keel. I have used this basic bottom shape in all my speedboat designs, and they all run really well.
ICC went out of business and production of the ICC 20 stopped.
Finally, David Cherubini, another family member, came to resurrect the business as Cherubini Yacht Company, and he acquired the molds for the ICC 20, calling it the Cherubini Classic 20. And instead of the faux wood under the clear gelcoat, he builds the boats with real wood for the decks, overlayed onto the fiberglass deck structure, and for interior panels and trim.
Overall, the Cherubini Classic 20 was my first significant powerboat design, and it became the master model for my later powerboat designs and consulting.
https://ericwsponberg.com/boat-design/cherubini-classic-20/
2003 Cherubini Independence Classics IC20 Jet Boat
132 Actual Hours
Fiberglass Hull
Mahogany topside, control panel and steering wheel
Ski Tow
Horn
Bilge pump
Blower
Swim Platform
Beautiful upholstery
Beautiful condition
240HP Merc Curser
Fresh Water Boat
Very Clean
Includes 2003 Aluminum Load Rite Trailer
Beautiful, classic & elegant 2003 Cherubini Independence Classics IC20, powered by a 6-cylinder 240 hp Mercury Marine 2-stroke SportJet outdrive! A modern 20 foot design with classic styling, the IC20 is constructed of fiberglass with a beautiful, easy to maintain Mahogany topside. The jet drive system allows for use in extremely shallow water (only a 13" draft), and provides additional safety to skiers and anyone using the swim platform (as there is no propeller to contend with). The boat is amazingly quick and very smooth, handling like a fine sports car. Custom crafted with highest-grade components throughout.
PLEASE NOTE: SALE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE APPLICABLE SALES TAX, LICENSE, REGISTRATION FEES AND $499 SERVICE AND RECONDITION FEE
