11' mini speedboat project

[Nugglet]

i picked this boat up off of craigslist last year for $250... it was in pretty rough shape but i liked the lines of this hull & i've always wanted a small speedboat for gas cost reasons and to occasionally scare the pants off myself...

im not sure of the make so if anybody recognizes it,,, let me know... (there isnt any hull ID# & the reg card i got with it says "homebuilt" but who knows)

she'll be rigged with an 89 Force 50hp on a Hydro Dynamics Mini Gran Prix jackplate w/ 4" setback

i have a bet with my brother that she'll be on the water by July 4th (doesnt have to be "pretty",,, just has to be "functional")


1st: taken when i first brought it home

2nd: this is the "custom" steering cable that came with it (wont be used)

3rd: why somebody did this to the deck is beyond me

 

[Nugglet]

1st: cockpit view

2nd: bad spot for a drain & cheap pvc fittings for vents

3rd: the trailer is almost a work of art.... "almost"

4th: rot check (not that i had much doubt)

5th: the transom was worse... on the bright side,,, it came apart nicely

 

[Nugglet]

1st: wood gone,,, all ground out and sitting on a support stand i made to keep it level

2nd: solid mahogany keel being "gravity clamped" in (PL Premium was used)

3rd: DOH!!! mistake #1,,, drain thru is too far back

 

[Nugglet]

1st: has anybody else had this happen with poly resin/cabosil and PL??? (the PL was left to cure for 24 hours and bubbled where i didnt scrape it off good enough)

2nd: it was snowing tree seeds so i rigged this up

3rd: 1 side of the hull reinforced with 1708 DB stitch mat (i ground down the bad PL spots and used duraglass to fill in low spots)

4th: another shot of my drain thru boo-boo after the glass was laid down

5th: both sides laid up with 1708

 

[KnightWolf]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

ahhh sweet little boat can't wait to see her done. She looks like a lot of fun! Good luck with the rest of the rebuild. Hope you make your deadline 1 month is not much time.

 

[justchange]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

I'm wonderin' if that isn't a "built from plans" boat. I know Popular Mechanics use to have those ads in thier mag. Sorry, I fail to remember the name. It definately looks like on from thier ads though.

Good luck in your search!!

 

[Nugglet]

now for some wood

now for some wood

1st: 1/2" Ext ply floor cut, fitted & coated with poly resin

2nd: bilge cutout floor supports glued down and my fixed drain thru

3rd: the 2 blocks show why it was wrong

4th: floor glued down,,, nailed to keel with silicon bronze ring shanks,,, and tabbed in with 4" cloth tape

5th: bilge tabbed in

 

[Nugglet]

1st: 1st layer of transom laminated in with 1708 between the outer skin and wood

2nd: i used screws, washerblocks & waxed paper to pull it together

more to come tomorrow & as work progresses

 

[justchange]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Impressive work

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Very nice. Do you believe the Jack Plate will add anything?

I used to run a small D Class and have friends that still play ..... not sure you will gain much on a rig that small. Looking very nice.

 

[insanity]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Intrested to see how this turns out! Very unique looking, I once seen a small speed boat on a lake I go to a lot, looked like a lot of fun.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Nugglet
It is a cute boat and I have no doubt it will be around 25 years from now.

You have talent and have shown you are not afraid to break a boat down to it's skin. Being the size of the boat that's not much skin. LOL

There are a lot of classic boats out there that need someone like yourself.

Do the hobby/sport or what ever you care to call it a favor get yourself one.

 

[Nugglet]

Very nice. Do you believe the Jack Plate will add anything?

I used to run a small D Class and have friends that still play ..... not sure you will gain much on a rig that small. Looking very nice.

the jackplate is more for getting the motor to a better height (20" motor on a 16" transom),,, it has some adjustment so hopefully i'll be able to find the "sweet spot" with it...

i would rather not have any setback at all,,, but that would require building a taller transom & modifying the deck pretty heavily to accommodate it... on a boat this small,,, not enough bow lift wont be a problem and setting the motor back will just give it more... i'll just need to keep it trimmed in

thanks for the compliments everybody!!! time to go get more work done on it

 

[Nugglet]

1st: 2nd layer of transom glued & peppered in with 1 1/4" bronze ring shanks

2nd: knee braces in and transom covered in 1708... BEEFY!!!

3rd: floor covered with 6oz cloth

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Very cool little boat! It will fly with that Force motor!

 

[Mark42]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Wow, that is one cool little boat. Its going to be crazy fast with a 50hp on it. Don't forget to install a lanyard safety switch!

 

[Nugglet]

It will fly with that Force motor!

it should... we put it on my nephews checkmate mx-15 last year... it wasnt anything fast but it pushed it along pretty good (nice holeshot)... i cant wait to see what it does on this boat...

alot of people bag on force's calling them "junk" and what not,,, but i love it... it's light for a 50hp (152lbs!!!),,, starts/runs awesome,,, has a small gearcase (less drag),,, and its easy as pie to work on...

it only cost me $400 and had very few hours on it (the guy i bought it from rarely used it cuz the motor was too small for his boat & he upgraded to a bigger motor)...

what more could a guy ask for

the only negative about the motor was it didnt have tilt/trim,,, but it does now

 

[Nugglet]

Don't forget to install a lanyard safety switch!

check... it will be getting the safety goodies... kill switch lanyard,,, foot throttle,,, & trim button on the wheel... plus any drivers/passengers MUST wear a vest,,, no exceptions...

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 11' mini speedboat project

Nice little boat, looks like you are making nice progress on it!

 

[Nugglet]

it's going to be close to making it by the 4th the weather needs to start cooperating

luckily,,, i'm unemployed i go to college on a trade adjustment program (i was a cabinetmaker for 20yrs),,, but thats only for 2 hrs a day M-Th...

anyways,,, i got the new teleflex rack helm installed & need to make a mount for the foot throttle and glass that in

im waiting for another gallon of resin & some 10oz cloth for the outer part of the transom (ordered today from mertons),,, then i can get the motor on & drill the drain holes, transom eyes, & what-not

theres a problem with the splashwell,,, i need to cut the transom side of it out so it'll clear the wood,,, then glass it back on once the deck is in the proper place... lol,,, i coulda swore it was 2 pieces of 3/4" when i ripped the rotted wood out last year,,, but i guess it was 5/8" :redface: