The Rise and Fall of Offshore Powerboat Legend Ben Kramer

Опубликовано: 05 Февраль 2025
на канале: VÉHICULE

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Setting the Stage:

Excerpt from Paradise Lost: The Rise and Fall of Ben Kramer
Read the full story in VÉHICULE.

“Anglos tend to work the marijuana trade, while the cocaine market is controlled by Colombians and Cubans. No matter what their specialty, the illegal entrepreneurs can be easily spotted. Young Anglos wearing scruffy Levi’s and T-Shirts, gold Rolex watches and ropes of gold chain sit around the marinas waiting for the next call from a mother ship. Current pay for one night’s work piloting a ‘Cigarette’ averages $50,000, while the wages for unloading the bales are $5,000 to $10,000 a night.”
—Time Magazine, November 23, 1981, “Paradise Lost”

Ben Kramer was not just one of those "Young Anglos" but leveraged his earnings from the drug business to establish his own powerboat company, "Apache Powerboats," with which he also regularly competed in offshore races.

In the summer of 1977, after escaping prison and evading law enforcement for marijuana smuggling for two years, Kramer was arrested again. In a fortuitous encounter, a Hollywood police officer attempted to pull over a Cigarette boat driven by Kramer. Kramer responded with defiance, speeding through a no-wake zone and leaving the officer in a spray of water. Backup, including an airplane, was called, leading to Kramer beaching his boat and attempting to flee on foot. He was soon captured, pleaded guilty to cannabis importation and probation violation, and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Kramer's time in prison was far from rehabilitative; upon release, he resumed his criminal activities. Federal authorities later claimed he managed an operation distributing over 500,000 pounds of marijuana across the nation between 1983 and 1986.

Powerboat mogul Don Aronow, killed on February 3, 1987, was an idol and mentor to Ben Kramer, embodying the roles of father, uncle, older brother, and friend. As a teenager, Kramer often visited Don at his office, where his curiosity and compliments were always welcomed. Aronow's influence was pivotal in Kramer's fascination with speed and boats.

Four months after Aronow's murder, Kramer, then the reigning U.S. open class offshore powerboat champion, was arrested and sentenced to life in prison as a "drug super kingpin." Later, he was charged with Aronow's murder...

We explore the real-world events that shaped critical moments in powerboating history. Up until now, history has been narrated by the so-called victors. We aim to document all perspectives, bringing facts to light for a comprehensive understanding.

Read more about the rise and fall of Kramer and Aronow in VÉHICULE.

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