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  1. #1
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    16" Carlson Contender

    Would appreciate inputs on how this boat handles, setup etc. Looking at one that is in need of a severe Resto. Know little about them.supposedly a 1969 model.

    Help Please?

    thanks
    Tom

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Smyth View Post
    Would appreciate inputs on how this boat handles, setup etc. Looking at one that is in need of a severe Resto. Know little about them.supposedly a 1969 model.

    Help Please?

    thanks
    Tom
    Full tunnel or flat bottom at the rear?
    20 Foot Switzer Wing 2 X S3000 (Dust'n the Wind II)
    !6 foot Wood Eltro Vee (2X Merc 1500's) (Dust'n the Wind IV)
    15 foot Powercat 15C (2 X Merc 1500) (Dust'n the Wind III)
    (Single engine boats are lacking something)
    15’ Wooden Switzer Shooting Star...
    16 foot Lee Craft Merc S 3000-(Gold Dust II)
    (The exception proves the rule)
    Obsolete and Proud of it

  3. #3
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    full tunnel

  4. #4
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    take that back .. Flat bottom at the back. Checked the pics

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Smyth View Post
    take that back .. Flat bottom at the back. Checked the pics
    1. Beautiful looking boat with great lines and mold work

    2. Not as fast as it looks.....while the Flatbottom Switzer used a tunnel forward/aft flat design to gain great speed..Carlson was unable to duplicate that.

    3. Handling is not good in choppy water..and turning requires skid fins on the bottom or you will slide into the "tulies".

    I hope this helps.

    T2x
    20 Foot Switzer Wing 2 X S3000 (Dust'n the Wind II)
    !6 foot Wood Eltro Vee (2X Merc 1500's) (Dust'n the Wind IV)
    15 foot Powercat 15C (2 X Merc 1500) (Dust'n the Wind III)
    (Single engine boats are lacking something)
    15’ Wooden Switzer Shooting Star...
    16 foot Lee Craft Merc S 3000-(Gold Dust II)
    (The exception proves the rule)
    Obsolete and Proud of it

  6. #6
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    worth a resto and a 1350 shortie??

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Smyth View Post
    worth a resto and a 1350 shortie??
    Not to me.....We ran one years ago with twin 1100's and SSM's....and it was not competitive in any way on the race course..... (low 70's).....my dual 16' Glastron was a faster, better handling hull...ditto my dual 16' Allison....ditto on the dual 15' Powercat.

    I would look for a classic Switzer, Allison, Glastron Molinari, or Powercat.

    People do love the Carlson's for their lines and paint jobs though.

    T2x
    20 Foot Switzer Wing 2 X S3000 (Dust'n the Wind II)
    !6 foot Wood Eltro Vee (2X Merc 1500's) (Dust'n the Wind IV)
    15 foot Powercat 15C (2 X Merc 1500) (Dust'n the Wind III)
    (Single engine boats are lacking something)
    15’ Wooden Switzer Shooting Star...
    16 foot Lee Craft Merc S 3000-(Gold Dust II)
    (The exception proves the rule)
    Obsolete and Proud of it

  8. #8
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    It's whatever you want, no one else.. They are neat looking boats. They don't handle but are still lots of fun on calmer water. The Switzer was no better handling, maybe a little worse. It'll run very respectable with a 1350. If you do the boat as nice as your 1350 it'll turn just as many heads as any Allison, Switzer Craft or Power Cat. No need in mentioning the Molinari as they just don't exist.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Smyth View Post
    worth a resto and a 1350 shortie??
    Last edited by Bruster; 06-22-2009 at 09:39 PM.

  9. #9
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    appreciate the feedback and thoughts. guy is a little rich on the price based on its raw condition. Also is a 1978 model. have to pop a beer or two over this one.

    have been looking for a 15 checkmate or viper really for this motor. no luck yet.

    thanks to everyone agaion for their inputs.

    TOm

  10. #10
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    No it's not, the last year they made the Contender was '70, maybe '71.
    I think when you put a motor on a boat the motor needs to be the same era as the boat or newer, So your choices for a boat are in the very early 70's. The Viper is out.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Smyth View Post
    appreciate the feedback and thoughts. guy is a little rich on the price based on its raw condition. Also is a 1978 model. have to pop a beer or two over this one.

    have been looking for a 15 checkmate or viper really for this motor. no luck yet.

    thanks to everyone agaion for their inputs.

    TOm

  11. #11
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    Wellio dont know the history onthe boat other than he aquired it with a title that says 1978. I didnt htink they made them that late but am no expert onthem.

    so got any leads on a checkmate or allison?

    I remember Jim Hunt running a hydrostream with an in line 150 back in 1973-4.

    Thanks fo rth einfo
    Tom

  12. #12
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    Largecar has a Checkmate hull for sale in Ohio.

  13. #13
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    Hey thanks for the plug Rick!
    2005 APR FORMULA 2 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

  14. #14
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    Tom,
    I have had some past experience with the Carlson Contender; The 1350 will be a good choice but it will need to have a Super-Speedmaster for the speed & handling. These were not great handling boats with a big lower unit. If the hull is good and straight it will give you some very respectable speeds.

    Raymar

  15. #15
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    Had the option of buying the Glastron/Carlson race version of this boat in 1971, the "CT-15". Dick Sherrer ran one of these for a while in the early seventies, hence the race model name change "Crusader". The "Contender" was the "consumer" version of the CT-15, without the full tunnel. My alternative was a "full tunnel" 13'6" Kober Kat. Both had "experienced" recent blow-overs more than once. Three for the KK, two the CT-15. The first gen Carlson's were stunning aesthetically, reminded me of a '70 Boss 'Tang, straight line muscle car. After testing both rigs, same 1350 w/ Speedmaster, I chose the KK. Came down to turning ability. The Kober was amazing. The G/C's inability to turn without "skidding" was it's weakest characteristic. Very close acceleration and top end between the two. Both were "high flyers" and closely matched with the SAME motor. Driving the CT-15 into a brisk headwind was downright scary. This design required excessive trim to achieve top end speed. Variance of more than 10 MPH from "safe" to "ragged edge". The Carlson's were pretty cool boats as pleasure craft, albeit none of them, "pleasure" or "race" versions, were known for their turning ability. As previously mentioned a "flat bottom ride" in choppy water. IOW, not very comfortable, a "pounder and "slapper", like a small Boston Whaler at significantly higher speeds. In regard to Art Carlson's later Glastron/Molinari's, a whole different story compared to the previous Carlson's. Still heavy, albeit much improved with an entirely different tunnel design.
    Last edited by swshawaii; 10-17-2018 at 11:26 AM.

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