What can you tell me about this boat?

[Mitey F]

I've been looking for a boat like this for a long time, and when I finally found one (in need of a LOT of work) I had to buy it. I've never seen a boat with these types of lines before however. The bottom and tunnel are 1/2" paper honeycomb faced with fiberglass, with wood decking, sponsons and other little bits. As far as I can tell it's an older hull, and has definitely gone through some sketchy transformations over the years. I actually bought it from a guy who was going to hang it on his wall

Anyways, she'll be getting an inboard built Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski motor and custom machined strut/rudder setup. I just can't leave well enough alone, so I've been working nonstop to get her solid and pretty. Right now the tunnel has been widened to accomodate the motor, and the delaminated glass has been pulled off the veneer deck (she'll get new stain, back to beautiful wood!)

Sanding through the different layers of paint I also came across the original race number, 20R which will also go back onto the finished boat. Pretty cool (at least I think so )

[ricochet112]

I've been looking for a boat like this for a long time, and when I finally found one (in need of a LOT of work) I had to buy it. I've never seen a boat with these types of lines before however. The bottom and tunnel are 1/2" paper honeycomb faced with fiberglass, with wood decking, sponsons and other little bits. As far as I can tell it's an older hull, and has definitely gone through some sketchy transformations over the years. I actually bought it from a guy who was going to hang it on his wall

Anyways, she'll be getting an inboard built Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski motor and custom machined strut/rudder setup. I just can't leave well enough alone, so I've been working nonstop to get her solid and pretty. Right now the tunnel has been widened to accomodate the motor, and the delaminated glass has been pulled off the veneer deck (she'll get new stain, back to beautiful wood!)

Sanding through the different layers of paint I also came across the original race number, 20R which will also go back onto the finished boat. Pretty cool (at least I think so )

I would recommend a buoy or float attached to the engine, lots and lots of flotation every where in the hull and a very good racing life jacket and helmet if you are really going to put that motor in that boat

[sponsonhead]

I think I know...

I'm almost positive this boat was a 20SS Hydro built by Mike Hanson (current crew chief/team manager of the Oh Boy Oberto unlimited), for a racer in the Seattle area named Rick Potter. I'm thinking it was built in the late 1980's time frame, around 87-88. The lines are very much like a Craig Craft...not sure if Mike based this on Craig Craft plans or not, but they appear to influence the design pretty heavily. To my knowledge, it's the only racing outboard boat that Mike ever built.

It didn't compete a whole lot, and I believe Potter went on to race inboards a little bit. Every now and then I see him at an outboard race.

Your biggest worry on this thing should be the condition of the honeycomb, and whether water has been allowed to permeate the honeycomb core. If it has, it should be totally replaced.

Sounds like quite a project you have planned with the Kawasaki power. Nothing wrong with puttering, but personally, I'd find myself a Yamato 80 engine, bag the Kawasaki for now, and go out and play!

Good luck, have fun and stay safe,

R-19

[Silas_53A]

If you are interested in running an Yamato 80 as sugested, here is one for sale in Cal. $1200 boat motor prop.. (not a current racing rig):

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1257856774.html

[T Chance]

I have to agree that that boat is too small for a 650 Kawasaki and a small outboard (Yamato 80 or similar) would be best. Off the top of my head I'd say a 650 Kawasaki should have a boat in the 13' range.

[sponsonhead]

About that number...

Sanding through the different layers of paint I also came across the original race number, 20R which will also go back onto the finished boat. Pretty cool (at least I think so )

Just noticed your comment on putting the number back on the boat: Boat numbers are assigned by APBA to specific racers. Often times, when someone is running a boat and gets identified by a less-than-happy race boat owner or a local law enforcement officer for running in a place or in a way that they aren't supposed to, the only means of identification is "the boat had this number on it!"

With that in mind, it might NOT be a good idea to put the number back on the boat. I know for a fact that number 20-R is currently an active number in APBA and the person who currently holds it might not be very happy if he gets called on the carpet because of what somebody other than himself did with their boat that bore the same number as his own.

Just some food for thought.

R-19

[sponsonhead]

Sorry...one more comment

Hey, I don't want to sound like I'm shooting all your plans down....

But--if you'd like to experience what this sort of boat ride is supposed to be all about, you should come to Capitol Lake at Olympia WA on Friday, July 10--this Friday.(I'm guessing you're in Washington State based on where you found the boat).

Seattle Outboard is sponsoring their annual "New Folks in Boats Day" this Friday. It's an opportunity for you to drive a boat very similar to yours in a controlled setting, learn about boat set up, proper safety equipment and operation of racing outboards. It's also a chance to connect up with a lot of us in the area who are in racing, and find boat, engines, parts, etc. We'd love to see you there.

Here is a link to the flyer on this:

http://www.seattleoutboard.org/FolksInBoats.pdf

Hope to see you there!

R-19

[seanp3]

Hey, I don't want to sound like I'm shooting all your plans down....

But--if you'd like to experience what this sort of boat ride is supposed to be all about, you should come to Capitol Lake at Olympia WA on Friday, July 10--this Friday.(I'm guessing you're in Washington State based on where you found the boat).

Seattle Outboard is sponsoring their annual "New Folks in Boats Day" this Friday. It's an opportunity for you to drive a boat very similar to yours in a controlled setting, learn about boat set up, proper safety equipment and operation of racing outboards. It's also a chance to connect up with a lot of us in the area who are in racing, and find boat, engines, parts, etc. We'd love to see you there.

Here is a link to the flyer on this:

http://www.seattleoutboard.org/FolksInBoats.pdf

Hope to see you there!

R-19

Its possible Dan & I might have the Orange Revolution there setup for those who might want to give it a try.......

[Mitey F]

Wow, thanks for the responses guys! The sponsons have been filled with foam already, and there will be some more added. The honeycomb is all in great shape unbelievably. That's exactly what I was worried about when I bought her. I know she would be better suited for an outboard, but that's why I'm putting the Kawi in it Besides already having this motor sitting/waiting (barely a cent to my name, broke ass college kid ) I'm also a vehicle design major up here at WWU, and I like my toys out of the ordinary, and very fast if possible, haha. In fact, I've also got a Suzuki water-cooled v-twin waiting to go into a VW Bug if that says anything as to the character of my toys.

I actually thought long and hard about the racing class, but that's a loooong drive for me (from Bellingham) and I don't even think I can afford the gas to get down there, let alone any fees etc. Which is a shame, as I would LOVE to see what it's like. I've grown up around boats all my life, and may very well make it my career after college, but never had the chance to drive one of these bad boys.

As far as the race number goes, that's a good point, I didn't particularly think of the repercussions on the racing scene, but since this will not be a race boat (again, I don't have the $$ to compete) I didn't really think twice about it. I thought I recalled seeing another 20R boat, but the lack of officialness meant it didn't really worry me. I may rethink the number. Luckily (or not so luckily) paint is still a month or two away.

And oh yeah, I've already got plenty of motorcycle helmets, life jackets, wet suits etc, I plan on being extra protected

[Mitey F]

Just opened that pamphlet and the boat on the front has the same number, 20-R! Haha

[mdaspit]

You boys up there in Region 10 are good guys.

[B Walker]

I helped out on a similar project and used a Honda Civic CV joint as the through transom drive shaft/prop shaft in a Arneson Surface Drive type arrangement. Just cut off the smaller CV, and turn down the shaft to fit whatever prop you have picked out.

We used a mechanical trim tab as the outboard prop shaft mount, with some minor modifications. Plan was to make the trim tab hydraulic which would make the prop shaft adjustable up and down, like a true surface drive unit.

Dual transom rudders worked much better too than a single.

If you do manage to get all the power from that 650 to the prop and you find the right prop for that rig, I am certain you will find yourself "underboated" in a hurry.

Boats are easier to replace than motors, so if you can dig up a 13' hydroplane somewhere, I think your project will have more success. If your just working with what ya got, I understand that too and wish you good luck.

Never test alone. Always have a friend already on the water to fish you out when you wreck.

gl
BW

[Mitey F]

So if I were to want to attend the school tomorrow, is it too late to email in that form? Where can I find details of time, location etc?

[sponsonhead]

Details

MF--

Don't worry if you didn't send the form in, just show up. Get there around 11 am and you should be fine.

We will be pitting out of Marathon Park, which is the southwest corner of Capitol Lake.

To get there, take I-5 South to Hwy. 101 (Olympia). Head West, take Auto Mall Exit #107, go Right off exit, turn again at the Mini Mart. Follow road past apartments, turn Left at the Thurston County Courthouse. Follow road downhill to Deschutes Parkway, turn Left, Marathon Park ahead on the Right.

See you there,

Patrick
R-19

[HydroKyle93R]

Mitey

If you can get to N. Seattle by 5am tomorrow, I'll give you a ride to the race, and put you up for the weekend. I'm always down to help out a fellow broke college kid lol. I'll PM you my cell number.