New Apricot Viper - So HAPPY

[transomstand]

After all these years I don't remember exactly how many boats HSP built each year, should have written it down when I worked there. But I do remember that those years (1977-1980) were really big production years, and certainly 121 boats in a month was not out of the question, especially when you consider that they built over 1200 boats in a year's time in 1978 and 79. As I remember 1977 was well towards 1000 if not over it slightly.

That's cause after I bought mine everybody wanted to copy me......

[Petey]

Welcome to the club! You have to bring it back to Wisconsin sometime!

[427Man]

Welcome to the club! You have to bring it back to Wisconsin sometime!

Hey Nick - Are you and Jeff (Sonik) the other 2 Apricot Viper guys from Wisconsin I missed last weekend? Travis said there are very few Apricot ones still in existence. I've seen pics of two together on the HS forum, I know one is Jeff's.

That was a hell of a drive, I hope never to do that again. Can't say I am a big fan of driving through Chicago at night in the rain right after a Cubs game lets out.

[Petey]

Jeff and I are the two. There are two others out there I think that we know exist. Jeff will chime in soon I'm sure.

[Sonik]

I'm glad Travis found a good home for that one. Congrats on the purchase! The gel looks to be in really nice shape! That's a long drive isn't it? I've done the drive from central IL to the Sacandaga for the Romp twice!

I know of 5 apricot Vipers but I know there are more out there somewhere. What some people don't know is that the solid color boats were the "standard" color schemes, while the Bruisers, Daredevils, Elite, etc etc were the "premium" schemes. The latter, at least in my experience, seem to be the more prevalent and I'd bet they were a more popular at the time. As far as the 5 is concerned, I know of yours, Nicks, Ronnies, mine, and another I haven't seen but told by the owner it was wrecked a long time ago and has been sitting ever since.



EDIT: My HIN is 76H.

[427Man]

Thanks Jeff. I can tell you that I am VERY excited and still can't totally believe I pulled it off. I almost let it go then decided I'd be kicking myself the rest of my life if I let it get away. I know Travis had second thoughts about letting it go, but he gave me his word and his word is good. It was a long drive, one I hope never to do again, but totally worth it.

stokernick said something about a Raindeck Romp in 2017 that I believe is in NY.

Thanks to both you and Nick for commenting, I hope to meet you and more HS guys in the future.

I plan to keep the boat mostly as is. I will put a 150 inline 6 on it for now and hope to find a 1500 XS one day. I am a tower of power guy. Other changes will be to upgrade the steering and a hydraulic jack plate, but nothing I can't undo. I love the Hi-backs so they will stay. I know I have to inspect/address the core. I have read a lot about that but have no actual experience. With the forums and some HS guys here in Maryland I should be ok figuring that out.

[427Man]

Why can't I figure out how to insert another image to this thread? I did it when I started it, but clicking the photo insert icon on the quick reply gets me nowhere.

[stokernick]

f I'm the Nick you're referring to the answer is NO!! I have the world's slowest Stoker but have many years connections with the ROMP and a few with the Ct. River Run!Each boat gives us a connection with the best of times, I don't care which boat or engine, just living the dream!

[427Man]

f I'm the Nick you're referring to the answer is NO!! I have the world's slowest Stoker but have many years connections with the ROMP and a few with the Ct. River Run!Each boat gives us a connection with the best of times, I don't care which boat or engine, just living the dream!

There area couple of Nicks involved here. I was referring to you for your comment on the Raindack Romp and 80Vking for his input on being another Apricot Viper owner.

[stokernick]

selfish me, never considered there could be other Nicks out there besides my family Nicks!!

[427Man]

Well I finally did some work on the Viper since a motorcycle project I'm trying to wrap up is taking longer than I thought and I'm waiting for parts.

So last night I pulled the seats out. It's obvious they are the originals and have never been out of the boat. The front seat bases still have the shipping plastic hanging on. The port side front base and seat backs are marked "34" in chalk. The rear base is marked "44". The starboard rear base is also marked "44". There were no other hand markings I could see. I don't know what any of this means, something to do with production I assume. I have some car restoration buddies that really geek out over stuff like this. Overall they are in nice shape for 44 years old. Does anybody know what the hole in the starboard side rear base is for? Both of the 77 Vipers I've owned had the hole.

I'll pull the side panels, helm, gauges and carpet next. Then it's off to Raybo Marine in NY to have a pro deal with the core.

[transomstand]

The hole in the seat box is for the control cables. Early streams had the controls mounted on a "tab" on the seat box.

[427Man]

The hole in the seat box is for the control cables. Early streams had the controls mounted on a "tab" on the seat box.

I can't picture how that works. This is for the rear seat. Would you have to reach behind you to work the controls?

[W2F a V-King]

The other side seat base didn't have the hole? I always thought those holes were to let the air escape as you set down in the seat compressing the foam. Otherwise the sudden displacement of air pressure could lift a staple or split a seam.

Both the seat bases in my V-King has those holes.

James

[transomstand]

Naa, they were right next to you on the left side. I hated that setup and never used it. Somebody might have a pic.