Old School family.....Cool!

**2us70** · 07-15-2016, 09:00 PM

Which motor was the original single pinion Speedmaster built for? I recall them being run on the 800drs and also on the 1000s. The guys running them on the 100 hp motors seemed to be constantly checking prop shaft backlash every time they pulled the boats out on the trailers. I always thought this was due to the very limited life span on the bigger motors.

**Mark75H** · 07-15-2016, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

Which motor was the original single pinion Speedmaster built for? I recall them being run on the 800drs and also on the 1000s. The guys running them on the 100 hp motors seemed to be constantly checking prop shaft backlash every time they pulled the boats out on the trailers. I always thought this was due to the very limited life span on the bigger motors.

The original Speedmasters came in 2 versions; one for the 700DR, one for the 800DR - and choice of right and left hand rotation. Originally they used the guts from the 75H foot with a heavier driveshaft gear. The 800 version was upgraded almost immediately and went thru a couple more improvements before a version specifically for the FGS 100hp motor came out. If you were running any of the pre-FGS design SM's on 100hp and more ... yeah, I'd be checking it often.

In 1964 Merc started slipping prototype SSM's to a few teams. It became available to all racers in 1965.

**jackiewilson** · 07-17-2016, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

Len Melly in the UK. Rumor was that if anyone in the UK would buy a 75H and race it, Carl would give them the exclusive Merc distributorship.

M&M took them up on it.

Whoa there just a minute sunshine-----that's not quite right------Len Melly was a top class hydro racer------usually raced in the X class.
SWMF ( south western marine factors) in Poole Dorset had the Mercury distributorship, they inherited it from Arthur Bray.------early fifties.
Len had a Mercury dealership in Olmskirk Lancashire ---------lifelong member of the Lancashire Powerboat club?
John Merryfield was a very hard racer in Runabouts, he also had a Mercury dealership, was a member of the South Staffordshire Hydroplane and Speedboat club based at Chasewater.
Wasn't until 62/3 that the pair off them got Sonny Levi to design the Levi 16' that
MM was created.
Just saying -------Mercury was in the UK long before double M.

**outasite** · 07-17-2016, 08:34 AM

I don't care what it is.I want to see it,hear it, bring it with ya next year.Did you get the T2X crank?

**3rd Gen** · 07-17-2016, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by outasite

I don't care what it is.I want to see it,hear it, bring it with ya next year.Did you get the T2X crank?

I'm working on him to go to the Romp Next year!! he has 2 other rigs both D hydro's one with a KG9 and the other with a Mark 55H SweeeeeeT rides (will post) Thanks to YOU!! Dick is crating up my crank this week and heading to mass!!!! Thank you! going to be a great build!

**Mark75H** · 07-17-2016, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Whoa there just a minute sunshine-----that's not quite right------Len Melly was a top class hydro racer------usually raced in the X class.
SWMF ( south western marine factors) in Poole Dorset had the Mercury distributorship, they inherited it from Arthur Bray.------early fifties.
Len had a Mercury dealership in Olmskirk Lancashire ---------lifelong member of the Lancashire Powerboat club?
John Merryfield was a very hard racer in Runabouts, he also had a Mercury dealership, was a member of the South Staffordshire Hydroplane and Speedboat club based at Chasewater.
Wasn't until 62/3 that the pair off them got Sonny Levi to design the Levi 16' that
MM was created.
Just saying -------Mercury was in the UK long before double M.

Another nice story killed by FACTS. Thanks Jackie!

**3rd Gen** · 07-17-2016, 03:36 PM

Thank you ALL for the input !

The face plate on the motor has the 75H on the face plate..My Older brother is tickled pink with his find! And looking forward to running (playing) with his 3 other brother's were all in our late 40's and 2 of us in early 50's

and its JUST cool that we still share the same passion we grew up with!! The little guy in the boat is my Grandson!! My daughter is running Vintage Outboard in Clayton with my tunnel this year....ALL COOL

I will post it running real soon !!! 3rd GEN More to follow!!

**Mark75H** · 07-17-2016, 03:59 PM

Be prepared for the LOUDEST engine that you have ever heard of any type. On a quiet day it can probably be heard easily 2 miles away. At close distance it will be well over 120db, maybe 140; at full throttle square behind it will actually be painful to unprotected ears to about 1,500 feet away.

The top speed increase over the 55H won't be nearly as impressive as the acceleration.

**lilabner** · 07-17-2016, 04:11 PM

EC handed out five Mark 75H motors to racers in Miami. I knew all of them. All gone now. Earl "Bugger Red" Wahl, "Nigg**" Chink Antonugla, Bob "Oil Guage" Deeson, John " Big Red" Wilson, and Dick Spellman. Spellman went on to set more UIM records than anyone in that era. Holt Craft Hydro. Big Red ran a Joe Michelini AIRMARINE Hydro. Both these guys switched to a 66ci powerhead but kept the F lower unit. The other three couldn't afford to keep the motors and run them on a different boat, so they went back.
All we had back then were Outlaw Races and Marathons, So what that means is we had lots of fun..

**lilabner** · 07-17-2016, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

The original Speedmasters came in 2 versions; one for the 700DR, one for the 800DR - and choice of right and left hand rotation. Originally they used the guts from the 75H foot with a heavier driveshaft gear. The 800 version was upgraded almost immediately and went thru a couple more improvements before a version specifically for the FGS 100hp motor came out. If you were running any of the pre-FGS design SM's on 100hp and more ... yeah, I'd be checking it often.

In 1964 Merc started slipping prototype SSM's to a few teams. It became available to all racers in 1965.

I never ran anything but 700 or 800 units, even on the Merc 1000. The only difference we could see was a bigger prop shaft bolt, 1/4 to 5/16.. We got them from Simmons aircraft junk yard.
Never sheared one. All we had to do if a gearset felt loose was take it back to the Lake, or Dave Craig.
All the old "secrets" are coming out..

**jackiewilson** · 07-17-2016, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

Another nice story killed by FACTS. Thanks Jackie!

i didn't mean to kill your story my friend-----for that I apologise-------I love all boating stories and I tend to "Embelish" my tales with a touch of fiction that can only enhance the story!
Keep telling 'em he way you want------sorry for interfering.

**lilabner** · 07-17-2016, 04:51 PM

Jackie,
Bring your dueling pistols to Tavares..Rich is probably going to be looking for me, Sam for you..We only need to borrow then once..

**Bob V** · 07-17-2016, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by lilabner

Jackie,
Bring your dueling pistols to Tavares..Rich is probably going to be looking for me, Sam for you..We only need to borrow then once..

Yes, I would suspect that you are correct... "How about that "Rocket Wing" the old guy owns? "Dusty Wind" or something like that. Isn't that one of the slow ones?"

**Mark75H** · 07-17-2016, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

i didn't mean to kill your story my friend-----for that I apologise-------I love all boating stories and I tend to "Embelish" my tales with a touch of fiction that can only enhance the story!
Keep telling 'em he way you want------sorry for interfering.

I prefer to know the truth over 'stories' that others have told.

**lilabner** · 07-17-2016, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bob V

Yes, I would suspect that you are correct... "How about that "Rocket Wing" the old guy owns? "Dusty Wind" or something like that. Isn't that one of the slow ones?"

And that's how I get in trouble..My wife said two glasses of wine were enough, I said I only had one yesterday...I gotta quit going over to Brownie's..
I love watching that Rocket Wing ..