Glastron Molonari tunnel boats

**merc200** · 07-31-2017, 04:03 PM

Any old school racers familiar with the Glastron Molonari banana bottom tunnel boats from the late 60s, How did they handle ,what kind of power did they run on them, and would one be worth restoring for vintage racing?

**2us70** · 07-31-2017, 05:39 PM

I tested a couple of 18' versions of this boat both were rigged for SJ class with 99ci inline Mercurys. The ones I drove were very easy to drive but were a little down on speed for the class. They were very good in rough water and I would have liked to race one in endurance events. Most of the 18's were originally run with single stackers but I did see a couple of 18's run with twins. The 22's were all run with twins and I don't think they made very many of them. I never even sat in a 22'.

**Mark75H** · 07-31-2017, 08:10 PM

Definitely worth restoring for vintage. Would be great to see it at Leonardtown MD. There was a great vintage event there this past weekend.

If this boat is near you in VA and you decide to pass on it, let me know about it. I'm not that far away in MD.

**Bob V** · 08-01-2017, 05:49 AM

Many years ago there was a member here that went by the name of Kim Kleckler. He had purchased one to restore, but that was the last he ever posted. I have to assume that the restoration did him in....

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**merc200** · 08-01-2017, 09:21 AM

I have a E&T Marine 14.5 v bottom I'am getting ready, The Molonari is in Ohio, I'am a member of the Southern Maryland Boat Club I was there all weekend.

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 10:59 AM

There are some guys on this forum who actually raced these boats and the wooden versions with the Unlimited Speedmaster equipped motors they were designed for. These drivers would be better able to comment on a restoration. For what it's worth I saw a lot of these boats run at the time they were still competitive and never saw one blow over.

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 12:24 PM

I was fortunate to have seen Renato Molinari himself run one of this design boat at the Miami 225.

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-01-2017, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

There are some guys on this forum who actually raced these boats and the wooden versions with the Unlimited Speedmaster equipped motors they were designed for. These drivers would be better able to comment on a restoration. For what it's worth I saw a lot of these boats run at the time they were still competitive and never saw one blow over.

Jock ran one---Ted Boyd restored Wally Qualman's

This may be Wally's?

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 04:35 PM

Did Chick and Gary run them before they built the Zonkercrafts? They seemed about as common as Raveaus for a while there.

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-01-2017, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

Did Chick and Gary run them before they built the Zonkercrafts? They seemed about as common as Raveaus for a while there.

**2us70** · 08-01-2017, 05:15 PM

In the background in that picture is a orange and white Banshee. That was the boat I was trying to run in J class at that time. Not much luck with that one. It was like trying to race an overpowered oil drum.

**John Schubert** · 08-02-2017, 09:24 AM

I drove one. First time out blew it over at 78 mph at Clear Lake, TX my first tunnel ride with an Evinrude V-4. No trim just water ballast that was very slow. Next race up was St. Mary's, OH with a slow electric trim but still not competitive. By the marathon nationals at Smith mountain lake I had a wood Molinari & won. Drove the same boat with Ron Hill in Paris where I believe we finished 6th.

The Glastron-Molinari were high nose riders, banana bottom good description.

The most successful were the twins of Joe Fielder (despite his terrible accident at Havasu) & Reggie Fountain.

**Bob V** · 08-02-2017, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by John Schubert

I drove one. First time out blew it over at 78 mph at Clear Lake, TX my first tunnel ride with an Evinrude V-4. No trim just water ballast that was very slow. Next race up was St. Mary's, OH with a slow electric trim but still not competitive. By the marathon nationals at Smith mountain lake I had a wood Molinari & won. Drove the same boat with Ron Hill in Paris where I believe we finished 6th.

The Glastron-Molinari were high nose riders, banana bottom good description.

The most successful were the twins of Joe Fielder (despite his terrible accident at Havasu) & Reggie Fountain.

Joe Fielder riding high....

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**2us70** · 08-02-2017, 12:07 PM

Both of the glass Molinaris I tested were not equipped with power trim. Even the sport classes did not permit power trim at the time. Most everybody was trying various weight jackers or ballast at the time.

**WaterZebra** · 08-02-2017, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by merc200

Any old school racers familiar with the Glastron Molonari banana bottom tunnel boats from the late 60s, How did they handle ,what kind of power did they run on them, and would one be worth restoring for vintage racing?

I ran a 1968/1969 Glastron Molinari in APBA in Sport J with a 1500XS in the mid 70's. I couldn't keep up with the lighter wooden tunnels but I didn't get lapped either. I could stand that old banana shape on its tail and ride with its nose in the air forever. You could set the boat fairly well for race turns but it took forever to air it out in the straights because of all the speed lost when turning. My boat was the subject of a restoration project thread on S&F but the author has not been posting for several years. The boat was purpose designed / built for inline 6's or OMC V4's. Do not try to re-power with a V6 (results could be fatal). The prior owner of my boat (when new) raced with an Evinrude Strangler (early version with fixed trim angle).