This time last year I was planning to head south across the boarder to northern Maine to go boat racing. They had announced that they would have a "marathon" which is a 20 minute plus endurance race . I expressed in a group chat that I thought such a thing would be fun and the next thing you know I was offered a loaner boat at motor shown below.
The motor was a peach a 15hp OMC with a racing lower unit, and the boat was stable if not ideal.
In my first attempt at a marathon I ran out of fuel. No problem said one of the other racers as he ran up after the race with a second fuel tank.
The second event I was struck by another boat, fell out like the rookie I was and even when back in the boat I couldn't get the motor fired.
I did sign up for a sprint race in the same boat and finished that solidly in last place . But I had fun.
At that point the trap was set, I started putting feelers out for a 15hp race motor. Which on a boat like this is good for 45-50mph. Slower than the bespoke race motors who run low 50s but far more reliable.
Much searching later I was able to find an OMC 15a, a factory race motor sold in the late 80s to lite and junior racers . Why and OMC? We'll these 20 minute marathons are training races for the big one. We'll get to that later .
With the help of some other racers a motor was moved from Ontario to New Brunswick and we threw it on the only runabout in the province that was available.
The boat above is a former national Canadian winner, but the 15 wasn't quite enough power for it. And its scalpel like handling was pretty hairy for a rookie. So I threw some fresh steering line on it and fixed the kill switch wiring and sent it back to its owner for future fun.
I find the tiny speedboats so compelling.
Which for someone who can't even swim and doesn't need another hobby is just silly.
I can't actually find from "A Stock" "OMC" "15hp" or combinations thereof what kind of boats these are. Not that it matters, just curious.
So down to NH I went in the fall with my own motor and prop but I still had to run a borrowed boat (not as issue as boat are easy to find but motor and props are scarce).
Unfortunately before NH the windshield on the borrowed boat ejected and we had to tape up the deck and run it free air!
I ended up having to leave that race early but before I went the current owner of the runabout said "you should take that steering and throttle home with you, buy them and I'll throw the boat in for free". Like any good GRM fan I'm a sucker for a deal . So I handed him some cash and said I'll pick it up in the fall.
In reply to Jesse Ransom :
This would be an A stock runabout. For recreational use a regular 15-20hp outboard would be just fine.
The 15A Johnson/Evinrude came with a direct drive lower unit (no neutral or reverse ) and a different gear ratio for increase prop rpm.
The #46 runabout above is actually a B stock runabout (C and D being progressively faster) . A traditionally would be 15hp , B being 30hp...
Along came October and I ran down to Old town area to pick up a wooden boat that wasn't a canoe ...
11ish feet of plywood with some rope to help steer.
After that it kind of sat most of the winter , I fogged the motor and would occasionally look at the boat and think "how am I going to spruce this up"?
While the boat had a recent transom replacement it also had the whole front end ripped off at one point. So while it has partial mohagany deck it also has about 6 other wood grains and finishes across the boat.
What to do, what to do?
So last week I found all my left over tape rolls and started playing. Let the record show I'm not a painter. Nor am I gifted with an imagination that allows me to visualize a finished product . But unlike and smoothly flowing hydroplane this runabout doesn't have smooth body lines to follow. The only solution I could fine came from the low riders of old. This thing needed panels !
Oh and a windshield.
Turns out a Bristol board template is almost useless when transferred onto 1/8 polycarbonate as they don't bend anything near alike .
So along came this past Friday, the boat was in the basement at work where we just happen to mix automotive paint. One of my co worker is a quite a good body man and has a good eye for colour. So I said " I want two colours , a warm white and something metallic wish some pearl. Go."
He didn't skip a beat and came back with this combo.
Once I had the paint and the tape and the paint there was no stopping . Friday night it got final tape then primer and finally white base coat.
A friend of mine has a orange and yellow boat and I had to admit on a wood boat it looks sharp. Unfortunately I was already committed to the colours chosen. So the white went down.
But remember what I said about the low rider influence ? Those curtains at the thrift store sure look nice .
Oh yeah baby!
No boring stripes on this one.
I did take the lace and clear coat it first while it was hanging . Then laid it on and tried to get it as tight as I could. This was done entirely with spray cans but I did take the better nozzle from a spraymax style can and put it on a basic can to get a better spray pattern.
I can't tell you how stressed I was on the first panel. Even while knowing I could always go solid colour if the result wasn't as I'd hoped for.
Fortunately when I pulled the lace off the first panel I knew I'd be ok. So more tape work and a little patience and before I knew it one side was done, except for clear.
With the proof of concept and technique figured out on Friday and Saturday I went in today and in about 4 hours managed to bang out the second side (not including and hour break for food while the white base hardened up a bit).
This side of the boat had a lot more damage to cover , but with a little more work around the non painted edges it should clean up well and with the paint I think it draws the eye away from a lot of the awkward damage section.
Looks awesome! Next time you come to NH, look me up! I can provide garage space, beer, and sarcastic banter!
In reply to golfduke :
Lincoln Maine is next on the long weekend of May. Then Fairfield Maine in July.
Kingston nh is in September but that's a long way away.
fouckhest said:
Love it, looks great!
Thanks , it's coming along nicely for an old cheap boat.
