Cigarette 35 Top Gun
Why it matters
Don Aronow built the fastest boats in the world from his shop on 188th Street in North Miami — a stretch of road known as Thunderboat Row. He founded Cigarette Racing Team in 1969, and his boats became the definition of high-performance marine craft. They also became the vehicle of choice for drug smugglers running loads from the Bahamas to South Florida. Miami Vice put the Cigarette boat in living rooms across America. Aronow himself was murdered in 1987, shot in his car on Thunderboat Row. The killer was a former business associate with drug ties. The story of the Cigarette boat is inseparable from the story of 1980s Miami — speed, cocaine, violence, and style.
Specifications
| Length | 35 ft |
|---|---|
| Beam | 8 ft |
| Draft | 2 ft 6 in |
| Speed | 80+ mph (varies by power) |
| Propulsion | Twin outboard or stern drive, 600-2,000+ hp total |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass |
Notable Features
- Deep-V stepped hull
- Extreme speed
- Iconic Miami Vice association
- Founded by a murder victim
Patina notes
Cigarette boats age hard. The extreme speed and vibration stress the hull and hardware. The gelcoat crazes from UV exposure and impact. The engines — pushed to their limits — need constant rebuilding. A well-used Cigarette shows its miles in the stress cracks around the hardware and the worn bolsters in the cockpit. A restored one gleams like a missile.
Preservation reality
Cigarette Racing Team still builds boats in Opa-Locka, Florida. The brand survived Aronow's murder and continues to produce high-performance boats, now priced from $500K to over $2M. Vintage Aronow-era Cigarettes are collected but the community is smaller than the classic wooden boat world. The 35 Top Gun remains the most iconic model.
Where to see one
- • Miami International Boat Show
- • Thunderboat Row (188th St, North Miami)
- • Key West Poker Run
Preservation organizations
- • Cigarette Racing Team
Sources
- Cigarette Racing Team (2026-03-05)