Can this be a 11fot conquest cat? Or do you have any clue what it is?

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...L/DSCF4353.jpg

Best regards Christian/Sweden

Looks like a Knockoff of a cougar cub. Never heard of a Conquest Mini, T2x should know....

Innovator built by Maelstrom 10'6 x 4'4:coolcowboy:

We (Conquest) actually built a plug for a mini ( Named the "Conquest Kitten")and then the accidents started happening to the little Cougars and I got a case of the liability jitters, so I canceled making the mold.

I don't know what happened to the plug...maybe Ken sold it?


T2x

Cougar cub on craigslist -

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/1471764779.html

Back when Cougar was Putting on the Cub World championships, everybody who was anybody had one, Black Duck, Sheer Terror,Gallo Wine etc, Well I was testing the Cub Owned by Gil Marine (Gilbreath), It had a small version of the tubular Gil Bracket, It turned Better than most of the other Cubs. Mr Gil and Brownie where standing on the dock watching and I came zipping by and whipped it into a turn and it hooked it and kept going back in the other direction, Mr Gil Said He'd like to see it again, So I came zipping by and whipped it into the turn and instead of hooking and turning it just Flipped right over, I looked up and saw him and Brownie turn and walk away (I was a Lil embarrased) But it did run faster after we douched it with WD40.

Anyone know the location of the 37' Plug that was sitting at Kurt's Marine?

I did Kurt's website a few years ago and he offered the boat to me in exchange for the site but I had no where to store it and she looked like she needed a bit of glass work. It still holds a special place in my heart I have a ton of pictures and did a lot of research on the hull. I would have loved to restore it but I don't have the means to do so.

Plus at the time Kurt did not have the title to the hull.

Just wanted to know where she is and if she's being restored.

Restored to what??????

It's a plug for chrissakes!!!!!!! It could certainly be used to make a mold (hull only).....but there are better ways to do that today with CNC technology, etc. It was not as fast or aesthetically pleasing as the other Conquests, since it was basically conceived as a pleasure boat upgrade for existing Chris Cat owners.

With that in mind and since it's made out of exterior plywood which is really not suitable for an actual boat, it should have been burned years ago.

T2x

Which boat was the canopied, Hawk Marine Power, cat that Craig Barrie ran in New Orleans in 90 or 91?

White Heat............. A cat that Terry Phillips boat from us 8 years earlier.

Cool, I remember them bringing White Heat to Key West one year with for sale signs on it.

I had never seen it as Hawk until I was watching an old video a few weeks ago and it was on there. I take it that it never race much as hawk......

A few years ago, the Linder designed Checkmate cat molds came up for sale on Ebay. From what I've read, only a few boats were ever produced from the molds as Checkmate bowed away from producing the cats. There's been interest in the past on Checkmate-boats.com regarding what happened to the Checkmate cat...anyone know where the molds are??

Where did it go ? Did it sell ?

It never raced much...period. The owner had been racing a Sport Class Cigarette of the same name at about 75 mph. After his first ride in the Conquest, at about 110 with more throttle left to go, I think his "enthusiasm" tapered off...... ;). Remember this was a time when 100 mph was breathtaking speed and very few racers had been anywhere near triple digits. In any event the boat only made 3 or 4 races in its entire career as White Heat, Hawk, and Coors Silver or somesuch.

By the way, it was the very first Conquest.

There was a cat 'Jesse James' in NZ in the 80's that looked exactly like the one on the Mercruiser wall poster that everyone had up in their shops.
Was this the boat that went ot Japan?

No, The Jesse Jame in NZ is the 30' Chris Cat.

Here you go...................


TEAM PROFILE

Jesse James
Racing Class National Open Racing Number Retired
Association New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association

Site Sponsor
Boat Owner Wayne & Grant Valder Contact Details
Driver Wayne Valder Contact Details
Co-driver Grant Valder Contact Details

Profile / Status Named after a legendary American outlaw, the veteran offshore powerboat Jesse James is taking time out from the New Zealand racing scene.

The 30ft (9m) racer is more than 23 years old and has been put in mothballs by current owners Wayne and Grant Valder.

Built by Chris Craft in the United States for brothers Mark and Chris Lavin the boat was the result of more than $100,000 in research and development by Chris Craft and Mercury Marine.

Well-heeled property developers from Wilton Connecticut the Lavins loved all things associated with the old American "Wild West" including the "Outlaws" of this era. Mark was passionate about the 'mystique' of the outlaws and hence the name for the boat evolved.
Unfortunately Mark was killed in an accident while racing the 'Conquest Jesse James 2'

The catamaran is built of GRP over a balsa wood core. The original power plants were two Chevrolet 350 cu in V8s through Mercruiser No.4 stern drives. Launched in 1983 she won the American Offshore series in 1984 and 85, setting a world record of 101.3 mph along the way.

The Lavin's chose the name to honour Missouri state's most infamous citizen, born there in September 1847 and shot dead for the $10,000 reward money put on his head on April 3, 1882. The shooters were a pair of brothers Jesse James had recruited to help him rob yet another bank.

Ross Tebbs bought the total Jesse James rig, boat, trailer and tow vehicle. His aim was to contest the Class 2 World Offshore Powerboat Championships being raced here in 1985, which it won with ease.

Tebbs re-powered Jesse James in 1989, installing two Buick 372 cu.in. aluminium block motors giving 650hp each. He also lightened the boat and fitted Harvard Engine Intakes.

Mothballed for 7 years - along came Aucklanders Wayne and Grant Valder. They didn't want to re-name her and were keen to keep the truck, trailer and boat in the original livery created for the Lavins.

That was in June 2003. Since then the Valders retained the Buick motors but undertook what they call a "major freshening up exercise" to prepare Jesse James for the 2004 series.

Chief mechanic Mark Ross has been making subtle improvements since 2004 and has resolved a number of niggling problems, which gave Jesse James a Second overall placing (after a failed protest result) in the 2005 championship.

Jesse James was given a major restyle for 2006, "The addition of a centre cockpit and moveable engine mounts to the boat plus a new tow vehicle" put the rig up front with the best like "Sleepyhead" and "Placemakers".

JESSE JAMES Achievements include:
1984 & 1985 - USA National Champion
1984 - World Speed Record holder 101.3 Mph
1985 - World Champion in Class 2
1988 & 1991 - NZ Champion
2005 - NZ Champion National Open Class

Jesse James is currently retired from further racing.

The Valders first experienced the thrill of fast powerboating watching their uncle Stan Ash competing in a series of quick boats through the 1970s and early 80s such as 'Super crysol'.
The brothers first raced offshore in the mid-80s, Wayne in the national A class and Grant in Class B.

Many thanks T2
I wish I still had the poster

Re: New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association
 

Jesse James with the Valder brothers.


Attachment 410225


Crash-Box

Just bringing this fantastic thread back to the top. A few questions for those in the know.
Concerning the Cougars, with their aluminum and riveted construction, how have they held up over the years of offshore abuse?
Also, I see that Endangered Species,38' is for sale in the classifieds , for what appears to be a very reasonable price. How is the overall ride of these Cats? BTW, what a great piece of history.




Darrell.

captain america
 

hi tx,if possible can you mail me some pictures and information about ,,captain america,,?

thanks in advance!

jef [email protected]

Why? ....What are you doing with the information?

conquest
 

hi tx2,it is for sale so i like to know as much as possible about it,can not find much in this forum,i asked some time ago about the same information but then there was a problem with putting the pics in the forum for you.you adviced me to ask oso why you could not put the pics in the forum,what i did but no response.

thanks again and best regards jef.

conquest
 

ah,i found it was long time ago,

jef
Registered


Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 58

any pictures from ,,captain america,,?
any body have some pictures or more information about captain america?


.................................................. .................................................. .........................
T2x
Allergic to nonsense
Platinum Member


I'd be glad to but the webmaster/geniuses on OSO have pulled my ability to post pictures apparently....

Ask the same question on seriousoffshore.com

T2x

understood.....

I will have to forward from my other computer.....

really appreciate that,thanks in advance!

As it turns out the only picture that i have of the Captain America is in post #6 of this thread.

The hull was built for Omar Elesgary who disappeared shortly after this photo was taken( 1st race). The boat was rigged with the best of everything including custom billet tabs by Jerry Gilbreath. It was easily as fast as a 32 Skater with identical power and had more freeboard and forward entry (very similar in dimensions to Skater's later/newer 32 footer with the exception of one less step,sponson pads and a vee'd tunnel roof). It was the beneficiary of everything we had learned in building the Conquests and is still a state of the art design IMHO.

Later it had a few other owners and was passed around from state to state like an orphan looking for a home. Good hull, with unrealised potential....too late now as the triple engine class is history. Should be a good Poker Run boat or project hull.

Hope this helps.

T2x

So the boat pictured in post 147 which was capt. america is a wood/composite boat? That is amazing for it to hold up this long. It is somewhat local to me and wanted to look at it when i was in the area. Not a bad price for the size if it is in good shape. Thanks again for all of the info. i love reading all of these post from the designers of the original boats.

Yes "LIGHTNING" was built as Captain America, it was also race as Gone Again & HOBIE sunglasses

thanks again!i have a picture when it was racing as ,,hobie sunglasses,,but have a problem with posting pictures.

conquest 39
 

TX do you think the 32 would be a dog with a pair of 300xs? I see a few skaters 32's with the same power, Probably not a 100mph boat but mid 90's?

That sounds about right............ The boat was about as fast as a 32 Skater....Of course the years may have taken a toll. I haven't seen that boat since the early 90's.........

I am going to look at that boat next week , with intentions of making it a nice poker run boat ... Can u give some advice on what to look for ?? I would think to get in the front of the hull with a flashlight looking for stress cracks , delamination , damage ,, etc ... Also would it be possible to open the back up to get some rear seating ?? Thanks

Look for evidence of dry rot, inside and out, and take a water meter to pinpoint any trapped moisture in the laminate. In all probability if you don't see any signs of water damage on the skin, you are good to go. The hulls were very well sealed for the most part. Look especially close at any location that had a through hull fitting, or any where that through bolts are mounted. Remove one or two and if the surrounding material around them is dry, the hull should be fine.

I would have though Eric if it's who I'm thinking it is would have Tons of pics of the boat I have seen plenty of photos in this forum

Rich, I haven't received the plans yet!been a couple years!

Plans......?

Pictures yes...plans stay in the files.

Captain America Update
 

Captain America has a new owner. The boat is back in Florida where it is currently being fitted to a Manning Marine Trailer. The boat will get triple 2.5 Mercs. If all goes well it will be used for Poker Runs....

ex Jesse James?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...0/carolina.png