[mcA896]

does anyone on here own/ have ever built a runabout? for those of you who dont know a runabout is a small (8-12 feet) wooden boat with a 5-10 horse outboard that can pull into the 40's and 50's. im wanting to start building one. i have all the help i need as my dad is a master marine mechanic. but has anyone built one?

 

[BikeGeek]

Check the forum at www.clcboats.com. Most of them are building kayaks, canoes, etc. but I'm sure some have built powered boats.

 

[spookydave]

I used to race class A utilitys and class C Mod hydros when I was a kid.
I'll tell ya you won't go anywere fast with a 5 hp. An 8' boat with a good running stock 9.9 hp might run 35mph IF you have a good prop and set up.
Still they are really fun to build and drive and a great way to get into the sport.
I started when I was 13 and at 41 keep building wilder and faster boats all the time. It's in the blood and there is no cure!!

Do some searches on the APBA (American Power Boat Assc.) for some info. At the races last weekend in Long Beach there was a few classes of smaller boats running.

 

[BikeGeek]

I'm not quite sure what boat you mean, but google returned numerous hits for: boat runabout plans

 

[spookydave]

a few quick links

http://www.apba-racing.com/Categories/

http://www.portagebaysystems.com/proweb/

 

[BikeGeek]

a few quick links

Ahhhhh, ok, ignore the google search post. It was returning hits for something completely different.

I did find this though: http://www.geocities.com/boatdesign2003/plans.html
Look on the right at the "Black Arrow." I can't download .zip files at work to see if it's decent.

Also these: http://www.glen-l.com/designs/outboard/classj.html
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/outboard/classab.html
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/outboard/classcd.html

 

[spookydave]

Ah, I had a boat almost like this Glen L deal. Glen L has been around forever.

I ran a 20hp merc on it and just drove the holy crap out of it. I cut the deck out and moved the steering up farther.

 

[BikeGeek]

Ah, I had a boat almost like this Glen L deal. Glen L has been around forever.

I ran a 20hp merc on it and just drove the holy crap out of it. I cut the deck out and moved the steering up farther.

Did you build it yourself? I just built a 16' sea kayak and was amazed at easy it was. I've been toying with the idea of building something powered.

 

[spookydave]

I've built a few. When we raced the C mod's I'd flip and distroy a few a year. lol I've not messed around with wooden boats for a long time though.
This is a sneek peek at the project I've got going now. 20' GN class endurance race boat. Will have a touch over 1,000 hp and will hold enough fuel to run flat out for about an hour.
Should be interesting.

This is what I used to drag race. It was the hands down sickest thing I've built to date. NOTHING is as bad a$$ as driving one of these.
Like I said, the sickness has no cure.

 

[mcA896]

sweeet. if i can figure out how to upload pics from one user to another (on windows) ill post some pics of the 36' cigarette boat we've been restoring.