New member, old hotrodder, old Zuke triple on a tin can

**Captain315** · 07-31-2024, 09:21 AM

Lifelong engine builder/restoration shop owner, recently picked up a DT30C to slap on a stripped down Waco 1436. Any other tiller pilots here? Better yet, any 90s Suzuki triple guys left, or are you all on to bigger, newer, faster stuff now? Cant be the only caveman left.....

**John S** · 07-31-2024, 12:37 PM

Wow, definitely need some pics of this. Sounds like a fun rig.

**CRH1** · 07-31-2024, 01:12 PM

Close to 20 years back i had a 1442 with an Johnyrude 3-cyl 25HP. The little tin rigs will see gains with the same things you do to bigger rigs.
Small 2-4" jackplate/setback with ability to adjust engine height can help. The biggest thing is weight distribution, the small rigs can be influenced more easily with playing around with that. Also make sure that the hull is not bent back near the motor, pretty common to see this.

**LakeFever** · 07-31-2024, 03:31 PM

Welcome to screamandfly

**108** · 07-31-2024, 09:07 PM

Those are some fun ass motors to play with

**hondaromper** · 08-01-2024, 06:42 AM

Just picked up an abandoned 1994 dt30c from a friend. Had to change the fuel pump and clean the carbs now she pulls harder than a 12yr old with a Sears catalog. Currently have it on a 15ft bowrider thats been gutted and outfitted for hunting duties.

Great motors from what I've read

**Captain315** · 08-01-2024, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by hondaromper

.....pulls harder than a 12yr old with a Sears catalog.

HAHAHAAA, just spit my tobacco all over the keyboard.

**Captain315** · 08-01-2024, 07:17 AM

Happy to see some responses! Long story short I bought a grenaded DT for parts, and picked up this one with a locked up lower this past week. Swapped lowers, finished up the carbs and fuel lines last night and she lit right off.
Going to drop it in the water this weekend and will update with pics.
The ol Waco ran 31-32mph with a late 90s merc/mariner 30, and thats a 177lb behemoth hanging off the back. Hoping to see 35mph or so with this 140 pounder, with some prop and height/trim tuning. Starting with a basic aluminum 14P prop.
Always open to advice as Ive only been doing this outboard thing for 3 years now.

**VkingMike** · 08-01-2024, 07:34 AM

Lets see some photos if you can, we all love pictures of boats!

**hondaromper** · 08-01-2024, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Captain315

HAHAHAAA, just spit my tobacco all over the keyboard.

Spitting tobacco before 9am? This is my kind of forum!!

Good luck on the weekend, I'll be waiting to hear how it goes!

Eventually I'll be putting this zuke on either a 1974 StarCraft 14' holiday (current cruiser with 25hp EFI 4t Merc ((the sea cow)), or a mid 50's Thornes 13' if I get bored enough . So I'm very interested to see how this works for you! Dt30c are rarer than hens teeth around here

**hondaromper** · 08-01-2024, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Captain315

HAHAHAAA, just spit my tobacco all over the keyboard.

Spitting tobacco before 9am? This is my kind of forum!!

Good luck on the weekend, I'll be waiting to hear how it goes!

Eventually I'll be putting this zuke on either a 1974 StarCraft 14' holiday (current cruiser with 25hp EFI 4t Merc ((the sea cow)), or a mid 50's Thornes 13' if I get bored enough . So I'm very interested to see how this works for you! Dt30c are rarer than hens teeth around here

**AlliStan** · 08-02-2024, 06:43 AM

I'm happy to see some interest in little boats and 2S obs. I've got a 13' 8" CMF 'glass boat I bought some 25 years ago with a stock 25 Johnson and stock aluminum prop. It has front seat stick steering. The driver's weight up front kills the speed. Getting out of the seat and sitting on the live well behind it gains 2-3 mph alone. As bought it would run about 27 mph. I played with cupping the prop a little at the time to get bow lift and it helped. Each time I did a little more I gained a mph or two, until I overdid it and it dropped back. I had gotten it to a high of 32 mph without moving my weight back to the live well.

Fast forward to a duck hunt on the L'Anguille River in eastern Arkansas and a ride with my buddy in his camo aluminum boat on a very cold afternoon. He had what looked to be about a 25 hp tiller arm ob on it, camo painted. When we got to the landing half frozen I asked him what kind of motor that was that could push that aluminum boat so fast. He grinned and said an old 40 hp Tohatsu 2S. I set out to find one, but it took me three more years to do so. Finally found a little used one in MI for sale by a guy who used to be active in Sport C racing. They use the Tohatsus almost exclusively, according to him, because of the power they make and their light weight. He sold me an extra short shaft mid and driveshaft. Then later he sold me another lower for it that had a nosecone and low water pickup. I'm currently replacing the floor in the boat, so haven't gotten to run it yet, but I'm expecting some good numbers from it.

After the floor is back in I plan to convert it to hydraulic steering and move the driver's seat to the rear. This will lift the nose a lot and gain me several more mph. My goal is to make it a 50 mph boat. It has a narrow beam, and I think that number is possible with the right prop/motor height. The motor sits on a Panther electric trim plate which gives it roughly 8" of setback, too.

Can't wait to see pics of Captain's rig. If anybody would like too see pics of mine, let me know and I'll take a few.

**John S** · 08-02-2024, 07:43 AM

I'm happy to see some interest in little boats and 2S obs

.

Same here. There's some guys that go out in the bay that I see on my morning bike rides, racing around on aluminum boats/ tillers, looks like a blast. Especially with the price of things now, maybe cheap and simple will make a comeback. Especially with us guys that grew up on that stuff getting the nostalgia itch.

**delawarerick** · 08-03-2024, 07:46 AM

Like wise here I have a 1978 55hp johnson on a 16 ft running the intercoastal long way from the gas and speed but that goal of 45 is in sight. Never had a tin boat wood and glass.

**Captain315** · 08-05-2024, 06:35 AM

Alright fellas, heres an update:
I dropped her in Saturday at 7am and was making a 1.5 hour round trip home for the toolbox at 7:15- it was a turd, and showed all the symptoms of an engine with late timing- ol Suzuki 'safe mode'. Timing light confirmed about 10 degrees BTDC and no advance....a failed throttle valve sensor/TPS and they are made of unobtanium. This seems to be a massive issue, as a web search for DTs with low power provides literally pages of hits. In desperation (and quite pi**ed off) I jammed a fish hook in the connector to bypass the sensor- it worked- the timing advances just like it should!
I put her through the paces for another 12 hours, tweaking, tuning, fishing and of course knocking the lid off a couple cold ones. It is an absolute BLAST on this flyweight! So smoothe compared to the twins, lit off with one pull every time, and even the tiller handle appears angled outward more than others, which was much more comfy to operate.
As for top speed, 30mph was it. Was a little disappointed, but have not played with anything besides trim. Cav plate is submerged an inch at speed, and definitely needs some prop work- picking up a tiny tach this week. Shes got mid 30s in her for sure.
The most impressive by far is the lower/midrange power- gets on plane RIGHT NOW and stays there, and giving it a handful while cruising at 15-20mph, it pulls, well, like a 12 year old with a Sears catalog hahaha. PLENTY of steam for a tin fishing boat, just need to get those top end numbers up a bit.
Really appreciate the warm welcome and activity on this thread- thanks and keep the advice coming!
....and that sound of a 2 smoke trip......oooooh.......