Mojo

DONNIE BRENNAN

“MERCHANT OF MOJO”

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

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.

NOYC.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