Dick Sharp's # 511 single Glastron Molinari
Dear Scot & Joe- I discovered in my research of the 1969 Havasu Outboard World Championships that Dick Sharp's co -driver was Gerry Wallin from Edmonds Wash. Gerry was the holder of the World Outboard Speed Record of 131 mph in an OMC powered hydro called Starflite. The video of the run can be seen on Liquidnirvana's 100 years of OMC history. Gerry was from Washington state so was a natural pick as co-driver. Gerry was critically injured for life when he blew over the boat at a reputed speed of 150 mph trying to up record ( bad idea!) I personally knew both men from racing against them while Pit Crewing for # 226 Dave Potter from Seattle & # 482 Lee Davies from Vancouver British Columbia Canada in the late '60's & early '70's.:cheers:
River Running...and a question for the board.
That's good to know.
If all goes well, we will be on the water this summer (2010)...I'll bring it down to Grosse Ile for a little fun on the River.
Now for my question.
Last year, at the time of my last posting, we had cut out the "soft" transom and were in the process of replacing the core with epoxy-bonded marine ply and re-glassing its surface.
As discussed at that time, the plan has been to put a pump "well" at the transom with a hole for the tilt ram. I know it did'n run with tilt in 1969...but everyone is of one mind that in the interests of safety (if nothing else) this would be a good idea.
Next...the folks at Sankuer Composite Technologies who are doing the restoration have made a recommendation to epoxy okume doublers onto the stringers (bottom to deck) , cutting out the openings so they exactly replicate the originals, but lending strength to the hull and deck. No more than 5 mil thick, the weight gain would be neglagible.
The option I have at this point is to re-paint the doublers the familiar gray w/black speckle or to finish them bright with varnish over epoxy.
My inclination is to finish them "bright".
Since they would be visible even with the rear cowl in place, I think it would look spectacular...maybe not exactly they way they originally built them down in Texas, but much better looking.
Opinions?
Joe