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Baldy
05-17-2002, 07:01 PM
Has anybody ever heard of a Dutchmen tunnel boat, I think they were built in the early 70's in Ohio maybe. Any info would be very helpful.

Ron Hill
06-01-2002, 10:56 AM
Jan Schoonover from Lima, Ohio built them. I think Bill Petty helped with the financing. They were a wing type boat...Probably only built a half dozen. As I recall they were nose heavy, maybe by design, but they sure could get both "Stacker" Mercs out of the water at the same time....I've got a picture or two of one around here somewhere....

B. Vruwink
06-12-2002, 11:25 PM
Jan Schoonover drove boat named "Flying Dutchman". Boat was early style Switzer wing built by Bob and Dave Switzer, Lake Crystal, Illinois.

B. Vruwink
06-12-2002, 11:29 PM
More--Bill Petty built some of the earliest tunnels out of riveted aluminum--era late 60's. Jan Schoonover built some fiberglass tunnels a year or two later but could not compete with the Molinari's. You had to have Mercury's "blessing" to get a Molinari at that time and not everybody could do that so Schoonover boat was an option.

Gold Bear
10-17-2002, 02:19 PM
Baldy


Ron Hill is right.

Jan Schoonover from Lima, Ohio built a line of lake / ski boats ranging from about 16' to 20' back in the sixtys. The brand of the boats was "Flying Dutchman". (I used to have a brochure of the boat line - see note below about flood). Additionally he raced the "Flying Dutchman" wing that Ron refered to.

In 1967 Jan's brother in law Bill Stanyer married my mother. For a number of years Bill worked with Jan. When he married my mother Bill had a Switzer tunnel hull with a 100 Merc.

I remember Bill telling me a story about how Jan got hurt testing one of his early wing boats. He said that a one time Jan's wing held the record for twin engine outboards at 108 mph. I'm guessing that must have been about 1965. Bill said that the record stood for about one month, then Kenny Kitson took the record.

About 1970 Jan Schoonover sold his business in Lima and moved to Cody, Wyoming. He bought a ranch and guided Elk hunting / vacations.

I used to have some pictures of Jan's boats (but I lost them in a flood years ago). I remember one in particular of Jan's wing. The boat had very nice lines. It was black and yellow in color. The twin inlines had stacks, and chrome plated lower units. The particular picture is from a left rear view point, and as Ron Hill said - it is up and flying!!!

Regards to all,

Gold Bear

T2x
08-26-2003, 05:45 PM
Bill Petty, Wapakoneta, Ohio.... built aluminum tunnels designed roughly along the lines of a Schultz and called them Pettycraft...they were finished with a beautiful swirl with tinted lacquer finish.....After a fatal accident to a brand new driver in a twin engine version at Elyria, Ohio , I never saw one again. (the boat pitch poled and wound up upside down and backwards...when it re-entered the fuel tank broke loose and crushed the driver against the dash.... and yes, I was there...unfortunately)

At about the same time, or shortly after, the Dutchman hulls arrived on the scene, made in nearby Lima, by Schoonover and co.
These had very similar lines to the Pettycraft/Schultz derivatives..... You can see those (approximate) lines on the original 18' full tunnel Skaters.

T2x

2us70
08-26-2003, 10:21 PM
I recall that Dutchman drivers lived in fear of the "Dutchman stumble". For some unknown reason the twin engined Dutchman boats would suddenly lose lift and drop the nose. The result was always unpleasant and sometimes disasterous. Tunnel boat design was far from an exact science back then.

lilabner
08-26-2003, 11:07 PM
Here's the Flying Dutchman..Salton Sea 1967...blew the field off for 2 laps

lilabner
08-26-2003, 11:08 PM
one more

lilabner
08-26-2003, 11:13 PM
pretty sure Jan blew over a Powercat in a kilo run, either at Lake X or close by...help me out here Olegator...

Ron Hill
08-26-2003, 11:57 PM
That was Jan's boat, but that was a Switzer wing... The Dutchmen hulls were different on the pickle forks, much different...

2us70
08-27-2003, 10:53 AM
The Dutchman tunnels I remember were all full tunnels with no forks. Back then every builder seemed to have a diferent idea on how to make tunnels work.Sometimes success was achieved by accident. In 1973 Action Marine wound up with an 11 foot tunnel boat built to run in Pro Outboard with a little Koenig. The boat didn't work with the alky motor so I got the job of converting it to an OPC boat. We had to stretch it to 13 feet to make it legal so we raised and laid back the transom and extended the front of the tunnel to make the length. The boat had 11 foot sponsons and an almost 13 foot tunnel. It looked like a duck bill. We took this thing to the 73 Nationals at Eufala with my EP motor and prop and won the first heat of the finals. Bobby Drewery in one of Paul Angel's McCalls got me on time in the second heat and won the race. There was little science and alot of guesswork in this case and I suspect that was true of many boats built then.

AirRide
08-27-2008, 11:26 AM
Anyone have a photo of a 16' fiberglass Dutchman Picklefork tunnel? Anyone out there, own one now? thanks

largecar91
08-27-2008, 11:37 AM
To my knowledge, they never made a pickled 16/17'. They did make a 20' pickle. I have seen several 16'/17's that have been pickled.

B. Vruwink
08-27-2008, 06:14 PM
In the '69-70 era Mercury High Performance acquired a Dutchman 16-17 tunnel from Schoonover. It was a fiberglass duckbill type of hull--definitely not picklefork. Was rigged with twin 125 BP's.

AirRide
08-30-2008, 02:50 PM
To my knowledge, they never made a pickled 16/17'. They did make a 20' pickle. I have seen several 16'/17's that have been pickled.Say What? Are you saying some were originally molded as full tunnels & then later converted to a picklefork front?

herringtonlakebaja
09-05-2008, 10:27 AM
Flying Dutchman in action...

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LfkTfuWg_kZNZEP-x0bBXg"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/aralbright/SMFPKdVS4YI/AAAAAAAAAgo/70G61QM6JIc/s400/P1010197.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/aralbright/NewAlbum95081128AM">New Album 9/5/08 11:28 AM</a></td></tr></table>

AirRide
09-05-2008, 02:05 PM
Flying Dutchman in action...

<TABLE style="WIDTH: auto"><TBODY><TR><TD>http://lh5.ggpht.com/aralbright/SMFPKdVS4YI/AAAAAAAAAgo/70G61QM6JIc/s400/P1010197.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LfkTfuWg_kZNZEP-x0bBXg)</TD></TR><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: arial,sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: right">From New Album 9/5/08 11:28 AM (http://picasaweb.google.com/aralbright/NewAlbum95081128AM)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
WOW!!! Excellent picture of a rare bird! Thanks for posting it. Is this your boat? More info please. :thumbsup:

benski
09-06-2008, 02:55 AM
Yes! Please tell us more..Is that your Dutchman? That makes three of these I am aware of..pretty unique:thumbsup:

herringtonlakebaja
09-08-2008, 08:05 AM
That's my dad's boat. He is on this board too. I'll make sure he sees this post.

largecar91
09-08-2008, 09:00 AM
Yes the boats I saw were converted to pickle forks. I live about 30 miles from where Dutchmans were built and there are several of them around here. I know of 2 of them that were converted with varying degrees of craftmanship.

adam albright
09-08-2008, 08:46 PM
Air Ride, I have a 17 ft. Flying Dutchman full tunnel running a v6 150 merc with a 26 Mazco. Just restored it and had it on its first shake down cruise a couple weeks ago. What a blast and fast. My wife took pictures , very cool. I will put them on soon R.

herringtonlakebaja
09-12-2008, 08:27 AM
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>http://lh6.ggpht.com/aralbright/SMptNtPdeXI/AAAAAAAAAhM/-AGrWdct6Ok/s800/P1010187%282%29.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MxAqerTYajBB-uILar_-cQ)</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From New Album 9/5/08 11:28 AM (http://picasaweb.google.com/aralbright/NewAlbum95081128AM)</td></tr></tbody></table>


<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>http://lh5.ggpht.com/aralbright/SMptVzQzUbI/AAAAAAAAAhU/2Yv0sEdqaTs/s800/P1010188.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nyG5wmgpjRs7LzVREVyLJw)</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From New Album 9/5/08 11:28 AM (http://picasaweb.google.com/aralbright/NewAlbum95081128AM)</td></tr></tbody></table>


<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>http://lh3.ggpht.com/aralbright/SMptWdXzLkI/AAAAAAAAAhY/TuBswZx8ykk/s800/P1010198.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YBI1tzvfClaskrOWi2pWXg)</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From New Album 9/5/08 11:28 AM (http://picasaweb.google.com/aralbright/NewAlbum95081128AM)</td></tr></tbody></table>

largecar91
09-12-2008, 10:16 AM
That looks like a nice job on the boat! I too have a Dutchman. The pics have been posted before but here it is. It should be done soon. :thumbsup:

adam albright
09-12-2008, 08:18 PM
Wow.... I know where there are two more if anyone is interested. I know one will sell but they are rough. Good to see yours and the back head rests are wild. I need to make a dash plate for mine to cover old gauge holes and mount a tach.I also mounted the shifter behind me for leg room to the gas pedal. Have you ever driven one? I have an 18 ft Seebold with a 200 and the Dutchman is more exciting. The full tunnel makes air at about 30 where the Seebold needs about 50. You can radically feel the boat transfer from water to air. Too much trim with the V6 and it will be on top, but trim it sensible and it is a blast. I have a wrist worn GPS that I forgot on the first trip out but we are going to check speed and take movies tomorrow. I restored it to sell but .....may keep it. Randy:thumbsup:

benski
09-15-2008, 12:45 AM
adam and largecar91;

It would be great to somehow get together when we have all of our boats working..I just got my 115 Merc on Thursday and am working on rigging my Dutchman. Consolation prize is we can do some photos in the meantime..:thumbsup:

adam albright
09-15-2008, 09:26 AM
Absouletly.... I am still rigging mine too and putting finishing touches on it. Took my son for a ride yesterday and do not have the fuel gauge working, had more fun than gas and limped home. The full Tunnel if you have not driven one is very different. later Randy

AirRide
09-15-2008, 09:55 AM
Great photos & good to see that there are a few of these still around. So, what is the actual lengths of your Dutchmans? Are they 16' or 17', or...? I would be very interested in finding one that is a picklefork. Anyone seen one around? They did exist at one time, because I owned one back in the seventies. Thanks

adam albright
09-15-2008, 09:48 PM
Mine is a 17ft. and it is built light. If you go to www.floridakeysflyfish.com (http://www.floridakeysflyfish.com) this site has a vintage boat sight(sub topic) that has many old boats and my Dutchman is featured before the rigging and motor after I painted it. There is also an ad attached to this site that shows my boat and the dual motor twin hull 20 ft model. I can not remember what they called them but the ad will say. This is the best site I have seen for vintage boats. I have not seen a pickle fork model.

largecar91
09-16-2008, 06:55 AM
Here is a twin engine racing in the late 60's and also a copy of Dutchman's ad.

largecar91
09-16-2008, 06:57 AM
And another pic. This was supposed to be the original 16/17' model.

adam albright
09-16-2008, 08:27 PM
They ask for pictures and here they come,I still have not seen a picklefork model.
Largecar91,what part of Ohio are you located? The pictures of my Dutchman were taken at Chippewa lake.

largecar91
09-17-2008, 07:27 AM
I am not too far from Lima, Ohio where they were built. The 20 footer in the pic is a pickle fork from the factory. I had some pics of one on Indian Lake here in ohio that was pickled. I will have to try to dig them up if I ever get power restored at home from the storm!

benski
09-17-2008, 10:06 AM
I can't imagine driving one of these 17' Dutchmans with two 125BP's on it. :eek: From what I understand, they are squirrely enough with a single. The factory Merc drivers probably had a special seat made to accomodate their exceptionally large brass spheres!:D

adam albright
09-17-2008, 08:02 PM
My V-6 is 100 lbs too heavy for my boat compared to the in lines of that era. Two motors would not be right. I need to run a cleaver to lift the rear and not the front with the larger motor. Front end lift is too easy,you will see. Keep the progress pictures coming. I have a paint booth if painting is a problem. I also have access to color matching or looking up colors and passing out formulas.

FUJIMO
01-04-2021, 09:29 AM
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=113912&d=1157021433

XstreamVking
01-04-2021, 10:02 AM
One of my buds waaay back in 1975 raced a Dutchman with a 150 merc in an OFFSHORE race at Ft. Myers Beach Fl. Being the only one in the class he won...The other big boats only did 60-65 so he practically lapped them as the Gulf was nearly glass calm. I have some real old pics somewhere. I was in a turn marker boat. Also had a bud in the late 70's with a Dutchman running a merc 225 equipped with nitrous. Blew it over right in front of me doing 100? Damn near killed him.

FUJIMO
01-04-2021, 10:06 AM
...jan...https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=361301&d=1345482406

Lake X Kid
10-30-2021, 05:40 PM
Jan Schoonover the Flying Dutchman from Lima Ohio.


495697

GENE LANHAM
12-02-2021, 03:22 PM
Roy Sr. was his co-driver--Parker 68--497401

FUJIMO
12-13-2021, 11:28 AM
...dutchman bottom...http://epoxyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/tunnel-hull-6e.jpg

FUJIMO
12-21-2021, 12:35 PM
...rare photo of a 16 picklefork dutchman, center boat, chrysler stacker... pickled before it became popular...obviously. by the way, they ran great for their day...https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ce/e1/01/cee101682c0886e597fbe35ae7727f04.jpg

Amberjack1234
09-30-2022, 03:47 PM
Chrysler stackers I remember a guy Bill Malone in Miami Rand Chrysler stackers on the power cat I believe he ran in the Gold Coast marathon with the Chryslers but I can’t be sure but I know he did run at PHYC in the marathons there. I think your son Steve Malone also ran in some races but again my memories fuzzy the last they were running I think were 150 stackers

Amberjack1234
09-30-2022, 04:42 PM
Very basic early on bottom. No inside strakes. No steps on running surfaces and no extended knock down pads on the rear. Decking was rounded for a lot of lift In the front.