A true powerboating legend has passed. Speedboat has learned that Allan Brown—known throughout the industry as "Brownie"—has died. Brownie was a veteran powerboat racer, raconteur, and former columnist of Speedboat magazine (as well as innumerable other pubications). His larger-than-life personality, mentorship and storytelling skills were beloved by enthusiasts worldwide. His 2018 book, Tales of Thunderboat Row, was a collection of his bawdy stories from the days of Don Aronow and the early days of offshore powerboat racing.

Brownie was a titan of offshore powerboat racing and revered storyteller who was known for his fearless racing, innovative boatbuilding, and colorful anecdotes that he accumulated during a career that spanned decades. His contributions as a racer, builder, and historian cemented his status as an Offshore Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Some of the highlights of his illustrious career:

• He competed in the golden era of offshore powerboat racing, earning multiple first-place finishes in high-stakes races in Miami, using his skill for navigating treacherous waters. Pushing boats to their limits made him a standout in the 1960s–1980s racing scene.

• As a boatbuilding innovator, Brownie was a key figure in Miami’s marine industry, designing and building high-performance boats and contributing to the sport’s technological advancements. His craftsmanship was integral to the success of muscleboats that dominated races.

• Brownie’s contributions to boat racing earned him a place in the Offshore Racing Hall of Fame, which recognized his victories, innovations and influence on the sport.

John Cosker, owner of Mystic Powerboats (Deland, FL), recalls being in college and taking a field trip to the Cigarette Boats factory. "Brownie did the plant tour," he tells Speedboat. "He was the general manager and right-hand man for Cigarette Racing Team founder Don Aronow. That was the first time I met Brownie. I ended up working with him at Gentry Transatlantic, where he did a lot of the developmental work."

Fred Kiekhaefer Jr., former president of Mercury Racing, remembered Brownie as "competitor as well as a friend," he tells Speedboat. "His knowledge base was so rich. He knew a lot of stuff and he was more than happy to share it. He surprised me many times when he would regale some project that he had worked on, and I'd had no idea he'd been involved with it."

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