Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Ian’s three boats originally used Mercury’ #3 Sterndrive—which were an enlarged descendant of the MC #1 and ALPHA Units— after his Dad passed away, it was 1985 before Fred was able to Market the #6 drive—

Once again, many thanks Gene, you do have an incredible knowledge of all things offshore—- I think I can cobble together a fair rendition of an oversize ALPHA, it’s important that “THREE GRACES” come out about right.

[jackiewilson]

Been ten weeks picking her majesty’s sweet peas—- these are yesterday’s crop—-7th September—- reckons she’ll do it better next year ?
Must be the longest flowering plant in the garden , and it’s still producing !

[powerabout]

You missed the 4 and 5 drive...

[jackiewilson]

You missed the 4 and 5 drive...

Ok, elucidate Pilgrim—- just what, where and when were the 4 and 5 drives ?

[jackiewilson]

Bugger—- do wish someone who shall be nameless—- reckons “Michelob” Cat of Tony Garcia was the best looking boat of all time, hadn’t mentioned that—— it’s red rag to a bull— a bit of a challenge—- kinda “throwing down the gauntlet ????
so, I thought I’d better get into it—- before I forget it ! Wasted a full Sunday morning doing something, just so I don’t forget it—— what a FECKIN way to spend the weekend! There has to be more to life than boats——- or is there——- tried the worlds most expensive cars for a while
1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost—current value £57,000,000— made six of them—— sold three—— but I still went back to boats——WILSON. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !!!!

[jackiewilson]

Well, I did have the full seven hours in the shop today.
Need your help here either Fuji os BobbyV—-Need a few piccies of the Scarab and the Cigarette of Betty Cooke——- !


There ‘ Tis—- haven’t got the office quite right yet—— but again, I’ve only got one picture—- so could do with a topside picture Fuji or Bob ?
Will post a progress report mid week —— that’s if there is any progress !
I keep reading something on the old S+F site, then dive off at a tangent , chasing the damn thing—- no fool like an old Fart !

[GENE LANHAM]

Once again, many thanks Gene, you do have an incredible knowledge of all things offshore—- I think I can cobble together a fair rendition of an oversize ALPHA, it’s important that “THREE GRACES” come out about right.

I was thinking ‘Christian’—-typed ‘Ian’—(Christian’s father)—

Ian had some interesting dealing with our friend BILLY DON in the 60’s———

[FUJIMO]

Not that it much matters, but the beam on the old 36 Cigarettes was 9' 4'', without the rubrail. You would not believe how the 8' beam Cigarette's (no matter the length)came to be. Nobody really knows this, or would believe this, but you would have to be "in the business" of boat tooling, to appreciate this, but here goes... You know the distinctive full-length hullside "crease" that runs down the center of the hullsides of the 8' beam Cigarettes? That was "created" by Don's tooling shop by taking a 9' 4" Cigarette hull, and cutting the hullside down the center with a Skil-Saw, and then bending in the top halfs equally to an 8' total beam midship. From the chine down, the two boats are the same. Many, many "new" offshore boat design ideas became tooled into a new boat length and/or beam this way in the business.

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

Ian’s three boats originally used Mercury’ #3 Sterndrive—which were an enlarged descendant of the MC #1 and ALPHA Units— after his Dad passed away, it was 1985 before Fred was able to Market the #6 drive—

The Number 3 SpeedMaster was all that was available then, I'm pretty sure. The little Alpha 1 drive originally was created utilizing the lower unit from the Mercury in-line six outboard & shifted in the gearcase, no engineering relationship to any SpeedMaster that utilized a transmission inboard. The first MerCruiser surface-drive, the Number 4 SpeedMaster, was created by simply shortening the existing cresent leading edge Number 3 lower gearcase. There's a bit more to it than that, but you get the jest of it. The Number 4 Drive's later production units came with a larger propshaft diameter, which was needed for the ever increasing higher horsepower engines that were being put in front of them, as well as propellers now having more blades to accommodate the increased power. Eventually, even the Number 4 drive was not enough for the speeds & power, so the Number 5 SpeedMaster was introduced, which was also an excellent surface drive.

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[jackiewilson]

Not that it much matters, but the beam on the old 36 Cigarettes was 9' 4'', without the rubrail. You would not believe how the 8' beam Cigarette's (no matter the length)came to be. Nobody really knows this, or would believe this, but you would have to be "in the business" of boat tooling, to appreciate this, but here goes... You know the distinctive full-length hullside "crease" that runs down the center of the hullsides of the 8' beam Cigarettes? That was "created" by Don's tooling shop by taking a 9' 4" Cigarette hull, and cutting the hullside down the center with a Skil-Saw, and then bending in the top halfs equally to an 8' total beam midship. From the chine down, the two boats are the same. Many, many "new" offshore boat design ideas became tooled into a new boat length and/or beam this way in the business.

Oh I believe it Fuji, I’ve seen tricks like that done before .
Charlie Shepard was a boat builder “BRISTOL BOATS” . Bill Shakespeare had a very quick smooth running boat called the AVON SPECIAL——- Charlie took the deck off, glassed some strong hooks all over the inside——- then tied rope to the hooks—— narrowed the Avon, by tourniquets, made the Vee much deeper —- that’s how the BRISTOL hull became the most popular race boat ever made in England.
How do I know—— I helped him do it !
Glass copies of the Sonny Levi designed cold laminated 16’ deep Vee were soon floating around—— I took one to the Molinari factory in 1967.
Whats the sincerest form of flattery?
Now maybe you can see the logic of one Vee bottom offshore boat looking just like any other Vee bottom offshore boat!
As for the twin hull catamaran design ——— well there was this guy with a Buzz saw —— ????