Mercury Through The Years...

**FUJIMO** · 03-19-2020, 04:25 PM

**FUJIMO** · 03-19-2020, 04:26 PM

**FUJIMO** · 03-19-2020, 04:33 PM

**lilabner** · 03-19-2020, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Attachment 461017

When I was testing Bugger Reds Stack Cat at Pelican Harbor before we went to Blue Ridge Ga, Spellman flew right over me in a sea plane like that. I was trying to listen to the engines but with the plane about 20 feet over me I turned deaf.. Then I felt the boat slow down a little..Blew the counter lower unit. Phil told me it was Spellman but the plane looked just like that one.

**GENE LANHAM** · 03-20-2020, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by lilabner

When I was testing Bugger Reds Stack Cat at Pelican Harbor before we went to Blue Ridge Ga, Spellman flew right over me in a sea plane like that. I was trying to listen to the engines but with the plane about 20 feet over me I turned deaf.. Then I felt the boat slow down a little..Blew the counter lower unit. Phil told me it was Spellman but the plane looked just like that one.

Dave had a Cub on floats?

**lilabner** · 03-20-2020, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Dave had a Cub on floats?

Dave who?

**GENE LANHAM** · 03-20-2020, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by lilabner

Dave who?

Dave Craig--around 1961--62

**Capt.Insane-o** · 03-20-2020, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

Nobody builds cool sh*t like that any more...and that is a shame.

**Robby321** · 03-21-2020, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

About 20 years ago, I friend told me there was a old Merc in a pile of junk in front from renters moving out. Checked it out and a KF7 WITH COVETED LOWER COWL! Home, spun fine, spark one one cyl. Parted out and made a good $700 ebay then! Still looking for that 20H my brother had!

**2us70** · 03-21-2020, 04:47 PM

I know a guy who has a 20H. I don't think it has been started in a while. He told me he tried to run it in a canal near here and almost got busted for the noise. Hasn't tried since I am pretty sure. How much is one of those motors worth these days? Always wanted to try out a BS runabout with one.

**woodbender** · 03-21-2020, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by 99fxst99

Lee Craft?

LeeCraft-NO-cowling looks like a kitson boat.

**bernie** · 03-22-2020, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I know a guy who has a 20H. I don't think it has been started in a while. He told me he tried to run it in a canal near here and almost got busted for the noise. Hasn't tried since I am pretty sure. How much is one of those motors worth these days? Always wanted to try out a BS runabout with one.

I think the market is a bit soft - a good unrestored non converted 20H, maybe $2K. A good converted (toilet bowl housing) noisy 20H - $2500.

**2us70** · 03-22-2020, 12:59 PM

The sound of the conversion motors was great and not really all that loud. I the days of the "Grapefruit Circuit" races OPC were included a couple of them. I got to see a guy by the name of Stover Hire run BSR with the "toilet bowl" motor. That guy was something to see in that little boat. At the time I was running a kneel down SE boat so I had a pretty good frame of reference to judge his skills.

**Bob V** · 03-22-2020, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

The sound of the conversion motors was great and not really all that loud. I the days of the "Grapefruit Circuit" races OPC were included a couple of them. I got to see a guy by the name of Stover Hire run BSR with the "toilet bowl" motor. That guy was something to see in that little boat. At the time I was running a kneel down SE boat so I had a pretty good frame of reference to judge his skills.

This is Stover Hire's 56-H, a 1966 B utility boat manufactured by the Hedlund Boat Company of Wilmette, Illinois. Owned by Roger L. Werner of Greenwich, Connecticut. Unique in construction, the hull is a cold-molded boat, made of mahogany. Original driver/owner Stover Hire, of Syracuse, Indiana has accomplished much in his racing career. Stover is a very successful driver in both the inboard & outboard classes. Presently he competes in the inboard classes. WNY racing fans have seen him compete in his Hire Voltage rig at both the Launch Club and at Tonawanda races.
While competing in the BU class, Stover was National Champion in 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1971. He was also National High Point Champ in 1964, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 and 1971. He earned the distinction of US-1 in 67, 68, 70 & 71, and was US-2 in 63, 64, 65, and 1966. He was inducted into the Gulf racing Hall of Fame in 1964 & 1966. In 1966, Yachting magazine named him to their All-American Racing team.
During this long and successful run in the BU class, the 56-H was powered by a Mercury Mark 20H conversion motor. Stover actually had 2 of these engines. One was used for everyday races & the other saved just for the Nationals. In testing at the Nationals, it turned out the every day motor was faster, so it was used to win the titles. When Stover eventually moved to inboards, his outboard equipment was sold off. The boat went to Harry Brinkman, Syracuse, Indiana, & the best motor eventually found it's way to Tom Moulder, A&T Engineering, Elk Lake, Mn. Rochester's Jim Hawver purchased the boat, restored it & last showed it at the Clayton 1992 Race boat regatta.
The engine underwent a complete rebuild by ace Mercury builder Cooper Jess in the late 80's. It has been in storage ever since. The DeGlopper's were able to purchase both boat & motor and reunite the outfit. The DeGloppers then sold the boat to me and sold the motor to somebody else. I have bought the motor from that person and hull and motor are reunited again! The 56-H has been shown at public appearances at many of the vintage shows.
© Roger L. Werner

I remember watching Stover drive his E-37 5 liter Hydro "Hire" Voltage at Lake Maggiore over many years. He was always a top finisher if not the winner.

Click image for larger version.

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I also found this article from 2008..

Return of Stover Hire

[COLOR=#6A6A6A !important]06-18-2008, 10:50 AM

[/COLOR]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2008; Syracuse, Indiana.

Seventy-one-year-old Stover Hire of Syracuse, Indiana, has announced that he will make a return to APBA Stock Outboard Racing in 2008. Hire, a former Stock Outboarder who was extremely successful in the two-cylinder runabout classes in the 1960's and 1970's, moved to the Inboard Category in the 1980's. Hire last returned to a Stock Outboard to participate in the B Stock Runabout Class at the 1985 Stock Outboard Nationals held in Dayton, Ohio. Hire has announced that he will make his latest return to outboard competition again in Dayton, Ohio at this year's Great American Outboard Race to be held August 23-24. Hire will pilot a Racecraft runabout and will participate in the B Runabout class with a Hot Rod.

Hire's return has been most especially provoked by Mr. John Rinker, formerly of Rinker Boat Co. of Syracuse. Rinker has been visiting outboard races in Region 6 and 7 this spring and attempting to coordinate the return of runabout racers from the 60's and 70's for a "Last Blast".

Rinker and Hire tested an A Stock Runabout on Syracuse Lake just a few weeks ago with some assistance from Team Racecraft. After testing the A Runabout, Hire inquired into obtaining a B with which to enter a race and remarked "I wanna go faster." Team Racecraft member and race boat builder, Paul Trolian, observed Hire test the A Runabout and commented "I think he's still got it."