SEABUDDY
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Posts Tagged ‘runabout’

They will have more boat events upcoming. I’ll keep you posted.

The simultaneous starting of a couple hundred engines and sounding of boat horns marked the close of the 39^th annual United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis Sunday evening.  A weekend of glorious weather followed the first day of rain, and people came out by the thousands to tour these magnificent boats.  Attendance more than doubled the rain-soaked 2009 show and rivaled the numbers of 2008, making this one of the best attendance years in the event’s history.

“This industry needed a shot in the arm and a signal that the worst of the sales slump is behind us,” said Paul Jacobs, General Manager of United States Yacht Shows, producers of the event.  “Large enthusiastic crowds, along with the many boats being sold over the four-day event could be a sign that the recovery has begun.  We certainly hope that is the case.  It felt like a far more positive mood among sellers and buyers than the past two years.”

Show Manager, Dee Newman, reported that “Boats of all sizes and styles were sold this year, according to our exhibitors.  Everything from runabouts to trawlers, and tugs to express cruisers shared in the success.  Many sea trials are scheduled to take place in the next few days,” she added.  “We are very happy for them.”

After two consecutive weekends of shows, the Annapolis Boat Shows crew began the daunting task of removing a city of tents and a marina of floating docks.  In just three days, 300 docks will be towed away and hauled out of the water for storage.  Sixty temporary pilings will be pulled from the harbor.  Two hundred and fifty tents, six hundred tent floors, and miles of electrical cable will be removed and put in storage for another year, awaiting next year’s extravaganza.  By Wednesday evening there will be no remaining indication that an event even took place here.  Only a fond memory of 90,000 people having toured hundreds of boats and over 1,100 exhibitors will remain; that and an estimated 60 million dollar economic impact to local business, non-profit organizations, and the state and local governments. 

Alter Ego with its 1,500 Hp engine sold for $92,500. Alter Ego is a 1958 unlimited hydroplane built by race boat builder Staudacher.

DESCRIPTION

Courtesy of Fred Farley:

Lester (“Les”) Staudacher designed and built some of the sport’s most successful Unlimited hydroplanes. Boats of his design won 51 races between 1953 and 1971. In 1956, Staudacher began construction on a conventional three-point hydroplane for Paul Sawyer that wasn’t put in the water for eighteen years. Tentatively titled ALTER EGO, the project was abandoned when Sawyer retired from racing. The unfinished craft was placed in storage. But Les and his helpers would occasionally “tinker” with it over the next decade when time permitted. The boat without a name was finally rescued from obscurity by Bob Schroeder.

I first read about ALTER EGO in 1956. It was mentioned in the Seafair Program as being in preparation (by designer/builder Les Staudacher). In 1959, it was reported being close to completion. Around this time, Paul’s wife became ill. He retired from racing and never realized his Unlimited Class ambition. The boat was placed in storage where it remained for many years.

Staudacher’s workers, throughout the 1960s, would occasionally “tinker” with ALTER EGO when they were between projects. Sawyer rejected all offers to buy ALTER EGO. He finally gave it to Bob Schroeder because Bob was “like family.” (Paul was in fact Bob Schroeder, Jr.’s Godfather.)

Schroeder finally put the boat in the water in 1974 and ran it in a few races as the unnamed CU-22, powered by an Allison. It finished 8th at both Detroit, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio.

In 1983, Schroeder loaned ALTER EGO to Jim Sedam who ran it as MISS TOSTI ASTI. This was the first Unlimited to be driven by Todd Yarling. Todd’s best finish was a third in the Missouri Governor’s Cup at Lake-of-the-Ozarks.

Over the last two decades, Schroeder has entered ALTER EGO in quite a few Antique Boat Shows and taken many people for rides in it prior to selling the boat to the Warner Collection.

Incorporating flowing curves, rich varnished mahogany and chromed deck jewels, this sport fiberglass hull and wood deck boat resembles the classic Chris-Craft and Riva of yesteryear.

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A solid block of boat and yacht art in wood.

It is Lust on the water in a wooden boat.

The Riva Aquarama and Super Aquarama is the boat of Brigitte Bardot. Or Ted Kennedy (and friend) photographed with his swim suit down around his ankles before he got past middle age. Peter Sellers owned one. Leslie Caron has been associated with the yacht. Prince Rainer of Monaco and his family owned several. The Shah of Iran had his Riva air freighted to his local waters from the factory in the Lake country of Northern Italy.. The Riva Aquarama  and Riva Super Aquamara captured the LUST of boaters and landlubbers alike.

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restoring 1942 Chris Craft wood Special Runabout

17’ 0” by 5’ 8”, special light weight (by about 130 lbs – about 7%; with a lower hull side aft and a slightly narrower (5%) beam. A true double planked Mahogany wood Classic Chris Craft, although technically by ACBS rules she is within the designation of an “Antique”. An Antique Class wood boat is a boat built from the years 1919 and up to and including 1942.

The original Chris Craft engine has been rebuilt, the double bottom planking is now all replaced, and the hull side planking is new. The Deck is pretty much all original wood.

Coming along but more to do

This one is still in the shop with many happy hours of labor ahead for her owner to bring her up to high restoration standards in all areas. Since the boat is a 1942 model and the owner was born in 1942, he mentally associates her good health with his. An interesting standard for one’s health and a fine one by me.

Here's what she will look like when finished

This project is ongoing at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.

The Museum runs an “Apprentice for a Day” program for several weekends each year.

You can watch, learn, and do at each stage of a wood boat Building along side a master craftsman boat builder.

Cheap, easy to join, call Dan Sutherland at 410-745-2916 ext 186.

Join anytime at any step of any boat building, but the next boat building project starts for 13-18 year old teens on June 19-20. Us old men should look to the project starting 10/16-17, 2010 or the one starting on 11/13-14, 2010.

Over-head boat photo of the Mastercraft boats CSX 220

Photo of X-25 Mastercraft cockpit that uses the same Mastercraft hull

Is it going from a Direct Drive inboard (engine in the center of the boat) to a V-Drive inboard ( the engine at the back end of the boat)?

Will the rear mounted V-Drive inboard system improve the fuel economy and top speed over the direct drive set-up (42 – 43 mph with a 400 Hp engine in a 22’ boat)?

Has Hydra-Sports center console boats now ended the entire CSX center console model line at Mastercraft by 2013?

For 2010, Mastercraft reused their CSX 220 hull for their new X-25 water sports boat.

This hull is known for its good tracking, high wake, and inspiring a sense of handling confidence in its driver.

The Mastercraft X-25 now outsells the CSX 220.

Will the Mastercraft CSX 220 deck and cockpit layout go away entirely for 2011 or 2012?

How will new 2011 models of the Hydra-Sports boat line also owned by the same parent investment companies, effect marketing, sales, and the dealers for Mastercraft boats and their salt water model line-up?

Are there big discounts coming soon to the Mastercraft dealerships, as Century Boats is offering to their dealers now?

All of this is just the opinions and open questions of 30 year veteran of the marine trades, Chris Brown, seabuddy, and not yet known.

Why does this Regal run faster with 50 less Hp than other 24 degree deep, deep vees?

Their work on fine tuning this hull. She has a very deep vee for a soft ride and wave splitting. That usually means that a bow rider takes MORE Hp to run at the same speed as a similar size boat with less of a deep vee.

So how does Regal do it? They took a race boat idea that has been around for 100 years, but banned from sanctioned races for much of that time, as it proved to be the way to make a boat faster at WOT and even lessen how much fuel a racer used.

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The 200 model for 2010 from Ski Nautique / Correct Craft.

A millionaire’s sport boat that is interesting for all boaters that value fine design to study. This boat has a suggested cruising speed of 40 mph and tops out at it’s WOT at around 47 mph with comfort and high level luxury for those few Yachtsmen that possess her.

Sold and serviced by Allied Marine with several offices and support locations through out Florida.. (at the Stuart office: tom.jenkins@alliedmarine.com)  

 Also, see Tom here…

 http://www.showmanagement.com/palm_beach_international_boat_show/event/

 More photos and words on the second page.

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