HARM J Hydro Project 2014

[PAUL PRICE]

Nice work!

[sponsonhead]

Week 4: Sponson skinning, bottom sealing

This week on the 2014 HARM J Hydro Project, the focus was getting the sponson skins on and faired, and the bottom exteriors sealed. For one of the more critical phases of the construction, it was great to have designer Ed Karelsen in the house to supervise, offer advice, and spend a little quality time with the sander. Don Kelson, despite suffering from the December cold that has a lot of people sick, also grabbed the odd power tool and helped out.

Since some of you have asked who the new racers are, here's some captions for the attached photos.

1) The Zahn family, who participated in SOA's "New Folks in Boats" in 2013. Dad Kevin Zahn (back, left) is a single dad, who brings his two sons, Joshua (left) and Ken (right). Grandpa Frank (rear, right) is a retired woodshop teacher who loves to help, as does Kevin's brother Dwain, who is not pictured here.

2) The Clayton family, who are bringing 3 new racers into APBA and SOA thie year in the J and AX classes. They're building two boats, and have purchased a third. From Left to right: Dad, Randy Clayton; daughters Julia and Hailei; and son Taelor.

3) Kelly and Deborah Hodgkin, who are bringing their grandson Alex to the J classes in the 2015 season (he's only 8 now). Kelly campaigns the Jones vintage 5 litre (280) hull, Annabelle S.

4) Aaron Murk and his son Devon. Aaron is an officer in Seattle Drag and Ski, and Devon got a small taste of outboard racing last year at Soap Lake. It hooked him, and he's all in for 2014!

5) Two of the true legends of the sport, with probably 100 years of racing expertise between them: Don Kelson (left), and Ed Karelsen (right). These two guys are responsible for more hydroplane world records, national championships and countless race wins, than any two other people I can think of. Together, they have joined forces to make this year's HARM J Hydro project a reality.

Other SOA "regulars" who come down to regularly help lend their expertise include (in no particular order) Matt Yarno, Ric Montoya, Rick Sandstrom, Mark Mallory, Howard Shaw, Dave Anderson, JW Myers, Jim Nilsen, Jamie Nilsen, Will Smoot, Tyler and Travis Ulsh, Charlie & Kierra Marquard, and Tanner and Jeff Cole.

Finally, special recognition should go to our own "Jedi Sander", Tim Mattson. Tim is not a racer (yet), and doesn't have a boat (yet)....but he freely comes down and works his tail off helping anyone who wants his help. He's a fine craftsman who works his tail off (he started working with us last year), and is looking forward to racing with us in the future. He has absolutely no dog in the fight, and shows up because he loves to work on boats. How cool is that?

Next week, we should be ready for decks and final sealing. Then Hardware.....then they all go home!

R-19

[sponsonhead]

Making a common sense cowling

Anybody who's built a boat in recent years can tell you that sheet lexan is not cheap. Don Kelson was aware of this too, so when he and Ed Karelsen worked out the design for the J Hydros, they decided to come up with an economic, easy-to-install alternative to the outboard hydro windshield: Don adapted a portion of an old inboard cowl mold he had, and created a one piece cowl/deck center piece. When installed, this fits nicely between the cockpit sides, and extends to the front of the boat between the pickles, so we don't have to insert an additional panel of wood ahead of the cowl. This allows not only a simple solution, but saves on wood for the decking.

Cost to manufacture the piece is less than $15 each. And it works!

R-19

[pav225]

Very very cool!!

[ZUL8TR]

Hydros

What material was used for the cowl/windshield, fiberglass over mold?

Thanks for the pics with the names

The designers Ed Karelsen & Don Kelson for a great design and all people behind this project deserve a big round of applause

[sponsonhead]

What material was used for the cowl/windshield, fiberglass over mold?

I don't know the exact layup schedule, but it's a very light fiberglass and probably some cloth.

R-19

[seanp3]

Cool stuff! I enjoy the photos

[sponsonhead]

Week 5: Decks on!

Week 5 was very exciting as our building teams did final top fairing and fitted deck pieces on. We also got our first glimpse at our own custom steering wheel hubs that Don Kelson and Modern Pattern Works produced.

Next week, we will trim the decks, do final sealing and sanding, and prepare to mount hardware. Then, we're done!

R-19

[sponsonhead]

A Few More Pics

Legal sponson tips....Cowlings being fitted....Howard gets a little confused about which cowling goes on the boat....etc.

[chuck w]

deck thickness

I was wondering what thickness the ply is for the deck?

[blueskyracer]

So I don't see a problem with those sponson tips on that small of a boat..Looks nice

[ZUL8TR]

Deck ply

I was wondering what thickness the ply is for the deck?

Most likely 3mm Okume

[ZUL8TR]

Week 5 was very exciting as our building teams did final top fairing and fitted deck pieces on. We also got our first glimpse at our own custom steering wheel hubs that Don Kelson and Modern Pattern Works produced.

Next week, we will trim the decks, do final sealing and sanding, and prepare to mount hardware. Then, we're done!

R-19

If using Weldwood glue, before install what are you sealing the underside of the decks with that Weldwood will stick to?

[sponsonhead]

Decks

Decks are a 4 mil ply.

We're sealing the underside of the decks with something the Weldwood will definitely stick to: More Weldwood.

R-19

[ZUL8TR]

underside

Decks are a 4 mil ply.

We're sealing the underside of the decks with something the Weldwood will definitely stick to: More Weldwood.

R-19

good solution