What boat do I build for my KG7H?

[Aqua Zombie]

I am just about to finish up my minimax. I was talking to somebody about the setup on the KG7H and all sounded good untill I said minimax... apperently it isn't the best boat for this motor. So naturally this gives me an excuse to build a nother. Looking to build a runabout this time. any suggustions?

[ZUL8TR]

Utility suggestions

Here are some to consider for the KG7H. Either classic or modern

Classic B Utility (Class BU) will work. A lot of these are Hal Kelly BU Designs like Airborne, Jinx, Dry Ron, FooLing will be OK with the KG7H & 20H if you ever get one of those. I think FooLing would be a good choice for the KG7H. Madcap is a Classic DU for the KG9H or 55H engine.

http://www.boatracingr11.com/Sorense..._classic_b.htm

Modern designs call Sorensen for his thoughts on what to use for the KG7H

http://www.boatracingr11.com/Sorense...outs__kits.htm

There are other sources for plans/kits

Here is a discussion of some of the Hal Kelly designs (not all of those runabouts noted above)

http://www.antiqueoutboardmotor.info...lly/Kelly.html

Here are some Kelly plans

http://boatsport.org/kelly.html

If you bulid any of these use Okume plywood for all sheeting (not Douglas Fir it checks too much) and spruce for the framing with epoxy glue and silicon bronze (or stainless) anchor nails

Good luck

Post pics of what you do

[DeanFHobart]

Dry Run or Foo Ling

Hello Aqua Zombie,

If you want the more early 50's classic Utility Runabout with the open front cock pit, then Dry run would be it.

The Foo Ling is a mid to later 50's design, more "Sid-Craft ish". A better boat for "Tip Up Chine Turning" with a center or slightly off-set to the left bottom fin.

Be sure to show us building and final pictures.

Good Luck and have lots of FUN with your project.

[Yellowjacket]

I can see the pained look in the guy's face when you told him you had a Minimax. When I was a kid I had Minimax and it basically fell apart to the point where I threw it away. It turned flat but would trip if you weren't careful, and it was bog slow compared to the better deisgns. While it was designed for the minimum effort to build, there isn't much too it, and it can't take much punishment. I graduated to Yellowjacket and that was a far better boat. It rolled into the turns and it wouldn't trip, and it was far faster, as well as being a lot more stout.

The Kelly designs (like the Foo Ling and Jinx) are all classics, good performance as well as being good safe boats. Svenson's old boat plans site has a number of classic runabouts on it.

http://svensons.com/boat/

These are a lot of the old Mechaix Illustrated and Science and Mechanics Plans from the early 50's. Design progressed as the 50's went along, so it depends on whether you want an older design that was more of a multipurpose boat or a more modern design (like the Foo Ling), or later. Also different designs are easier to build, so that's something you want to keep in mind. I'd try to get a look at the plans before I started.

The Yellowjacket (circa 1952) is a wet boat and it's pretty small although they ran it with a B motor (and it ran 50 mph!). Wouldn't have been a legal B boat but it was fast as all get out with a B motor. This boat is pretty robust, I can tell you it will take a beating, a lot more than a Minimax ever could.

http://svensons.com/boat/?p=HydroPlanes/yellowjacket

The Blue Streak (also a 1953 design) is a classic BU runabout, did 46 with a quickie lower unit. Here are the plans for that boat.

http://svensons.com/boat/?p=RunaboutsOutboard/blustreak

The Blue Streak and the Yellowjacket were both designed by Bill Jackson and there is a lot of similarities (like a very slight V to the bottom) in both designs. The Yellowjacket was a pretty good handling boat, FWIW.

The Jinx is also an early 50's design (1952) and is about as fast as a Blue Streak, Here are a set of plans for the Jinx.

http://svensons.com/boat/?p=MechanixIllustrated/Jinx

Were I doing it I'd probably do something a bit later, like the Foo Ling, they learned a lot in the years between 1952 and 1955, so those boats were probably better designs. If I wanted to do a honest very early 50's boat I always thought the Blue Streak was a bit more snarky and better looking than the Jinx, but that's a matter of taste.

One of the neat things about these early runabouts is that they were inteneded to be real dual purpose boats, something that you could run around the lake on weekends with two people aboard, as well as take them out and race them, and that's actually a pretty neat thing. It would be fun to have a old KG7H on any one of them.

[Aqua Zombie]

Ok... I have had a look at a lot of these online now, and want to build em all! Everybody above mentioned the "foo ling". This might be it. I also found plans for a "switzer bullet". Anybody know how this one will perform? And I guess I should mention that along with a little speed id like the boat to rip and carve around turns as much as anything. As Dean said "tip up chine turning" sounds real fun! Just something to knock around and terriorize the lakes and rivers in my area.

[flatsmoke]

I owned a Switzer Craft Baby Bullet and it was really cool looking, but hard to turn. I think you would be better off with a Hal Kelly design.

[Bob Rusnak]

Many years ago I had a Minimax with a Merc KE4 7 1/2 HP with a stock unit and a racing prop. Had a ball with it. I later put a KE7 10 HP on it and what a ride. Finally I tried a KG7 with a Quicksilver lower unit and it was out of control. Almost blew it over. Bought a Hal Kelly A runabout for the KG7 and that started my racing career. Point being, if it were not for that Minimax, I never would have been involved in boat racing.....Bob N-96

[Aqua Zombie]

Thanks for the post Bob. If it werent for the minimax I wouldnt have the KG7H or be on this forum. Im not going to abandon it either. I still see the fun in the little thing, and building It has been a blast to. I have a KG7 with the stock unit and a three blade prop that will probably end up on it ultimatly. Gotta jack up the motorboard a bit though, It is already cut for the H lower. I think I was just swinging for the fences a little to hard when I started the build. Not to say that I won't try it, but probably will have much more fun with the hot little greentop on a boat much better suited for it.

[3autility]

You could also build a Minimost. I ran one with a KG7 and a friend had one with a KG7H that ran well back in the day (60s), but I would think a newer runabout would be better.

[Guest]

Why Build a Boat

If you contact racers in your area you might find a good used hydro that would be the right size for your engine. The best part of buying a used boat is that most likely it will have all the hardware. You might even find it is cheeper than building a boat. My guess is that if you build a boat by the time its all ready for the water it will cost more than $1000 with hardware. If you find a used boat be it of the older design I susspect you will be able to get it at under $800.
My brother and I have been building the Speedliner M-510 since 1966 which is an A/B runabout and using quality materials we spend about $2000 on it with hardware. Check our website: www.aeroliner-boats.com

Alan

[Aqua Zombie]

Im very interested in right turns as well as turning left with this one to. I had some mention about putting the fin a bit offset above, but will probably pass on that setup. Thanks for the budget plan oldbu, but I love the process and controll of building things. Even if it just turns into a giant expinsive ashtray. If my son is interested then we will have at least 1 racer in the area when he gets old enough.

[Aqua Zombie]

Im very interested in right turns as well as turning left with this one to. I had some mention about putting the fin a bit offset above, but will probably pass on that setup. Thanks for the budget plan oldbu, but I love the process and controll of building things. Even if it just turns into a giant expinsive ashtray. If my son is interested then we will have at least 1 racer in the area when he gets old enough.

[Guest]

E Bay Hydro

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10-C-...item19c8790d9d

This is an example of what I was talking about when it comes to used boats.

Alan