Adam, can you post some pic's of your fixed surface drive?

I wonder if the Yanmar 440 would have been a smarter choice looking at the weight differences.

I was justabout to ask ,WHatdoes the 500 weigh ? And now thatboatlesss said it ,what does the 440 weigh?

300 freakin posts about this? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Tiz It Done Yet? I don't know. Someone mentions fountains, and it comes and goes. Nobody cares. What gives with the Ocean Express. Oh well I guess the fountain owners are still trying to type with there beaks. :D :D

The Yanmar 440 weighs in at 1136 lbs without marine gear.
A ZF Single speed transmission for the 440 (280A) weighs 161 lbs.

Both would use the same 2-speed.

The Yanmar 500 weighs in at 1834 lbs without marine gear.
A ZF 2-Speed (300ATS) weighs 260 lbs.
A ZF Single speed transmission (301A) weighs 191 lbs.

This means the Yanmar 500 weighs between 728 lbs to 797 lbs more than each 440 package.

Ohhh ! Thanks . Does anybody know how much power that 2 speed takes to turn ?

boot, i don't have all the details / info on the two speed, my dad's handling that. And as far as the weights on the diesels go, the reason he wants to use the 500 is due to the torque output. We're starting the first 49' hull next week, and should bulkheads and a fuel system in it by first or second week in feb, about the same time the deck plug is ready to shoot a mold onto. So, it won't be long now. We have a set of 900horse blower motors (wesco racing) that we're going to put in the first boat for testing, and have all the drive parts being fab'd and casted for us right now. With a little luck, we should have it in the water and tested ready for debut at Smoke on the Water 2002 (June)
The wind deflector/dash module we did for it is beautiful, as soon as the first one's done, I'll take some pictures for anyone who wants them.
Adam
;)

hey adam ,post those pics if ya can or send a few my way.maybe take some of the building process so i dont hafta bring my spy cam next time i come up :cool: :p .by the way the link to h20 dosent work , you hafta take the comma off the end.i went to that site on my own and the ad comes up but no pics.chek it out.2002 ocean express cat

just thought i'd bring it to your attention. :cool: :cool:

Adam, sounds like you guys are very busy. Keep up the good work.Still trying to get Sylvester to 'road trip' up and see you.

So Express is going to make their own Surface Drive System?

Dave, I thought that I did take the comma off, but for some reason it didn't work, and as far as where the pictures are, I have (2) different 2002 posts their, so make sure your reading the canopy one (and if not, then I'll have to get with H20 and get them to fix it)
Boatless - we designed the 49' to accept a trimax drive, an arneson (with no chaincase)and for our surface drive system which will be very simple (and cheaper than the other two!) We still have a few things to do with the fabricator, but the castings for the strut are done and ready to be picked up.
We're in the process right now of having a rudder built and designing the mounting bracket and figuring out the steering (dual ram of course) system. We don't know whether or not we'll be able to incorporate a water pickup on the back of the rudder to feed both motors. We should know more closer to spring.
Dave, I'll get some pictures of the new deflector / dash as soon as I'm done building the mold (next couple of days)
By the way, anyone catch the article on the Fiore's in Feb powerboat, it was a great article, and I take my hat off to both Paul and Mike Fiore. The boatbuilding business is highly stressful, and to do it with family is very difficult. I met Mike at the Metro boat show a few years back (with a monster 4 engine 50' - very nice, very$$$) and he seemed like a straight up guy.
Well, talk at ya later!
A
;)

Hey Adam , When are you going to update your site and give us some cool stuff to see ?

Team baja has a great idea with posting pictures of all the Baja owners boats .Maybe you could do something like it ? :cool:

Hey boot, were in the process of completely redoing our site. We are going to a completely new format, with a virtual ride in each cat from 31' and up. It will be alot more interactive than our current site, and we will have an area where we will periodically post new stuff that we are working on. Look for the new site in about 2-3 months.
Later,
Adam
;)

Hey Madcow...You asked what's with OE ...Like Spock said to Macoy..You have to die to have a frame of reference to talk about what death was like...WHEN YOU FINALLY RIDE IN A CAT...(Now I'm not saying a Sonic is bad here) but when you finally ride in a cat you'll understand. Or as the saying goes"Don't knock it til you've tried it" :D

HEY ADAM, LEAVE MY 39 PICS IN YOUR WEB SITE, ITS THE WHITE WITH PURPLE AND GREY, WITH THE BIG SEATS UP FRONT.... :D :D

Hey slick, if I'm able to do what I want (which is hard in a father and son type situation)I'd like to have a owners rides type of post area where we would post pictures of anyones express that was interested and I would even like to do a used area for express owners trying to sell there boats.
O.K. I've got a question for all the Express (Image, Ocean Express, etc- basically anyone owning a focht designed boat)owners out there. What do you guys think about having an Express owners only event, in Lake St Clair sometime in the near future? Maybe even a poker run for Express' only??? Just an idea, let me know what you think.
Thanks,
later
Adam
;)

Adam, I would go for the idea and I don't even own one. Also, despite the fact I live in Texas, I think it would make for a great run, however, you do need a good photographer to record all the activities, and the owners with their boats.

Adam I think it's a great idea where do I sign up at? Any parts yet? :cool:

Adam, is OE copying the Buzzi Drive or the Arneson Drive?

Adam......sounds like a good idea party at your dads place after, on the island, think he will buy it or is this going to be a covert opperation just kidding !I like the idea of the web site to. Are you guys having a tent set up at SMOKE ON THE WATER this year...........John.

Hey Rik, its basically just a straight shaft that goes thru a special CV joint that we're adapting to our own use. We designed our own strut and rudder using what we learned off of our 36' sportfish that has a similiar drive. We casted the mold so it will be able to use an Arneson, or a Trimax also so the customer can choose what he wants.
Hey guys, as far as the Express Regatta goes, I was thinking of having a big Express only meet out at Gull Island or somewhere similiar, and then maybe booking a big outing at one of the restraunts on the water (Jacks, Mac-n-rays, Big river grill, beachclub, etc,etc) More, or less just keeping it as a big get together for people to exchange ideas and for them to get a look at other peoples Express Cats. Anyone thats interested email me with your info and I'll start putting together a list
Thanks,
Adam
;)

I've never seen a topic this big. Just adding my reply to the list. :D

Hey everyone, I would like to personally invite everyone with an Express Cat to the Smoke on the Water poker run - weekend of June 7,8,9th in Grand Haven / MI
Last year we had a blast and were going back and sponsoring it again this year.
Register early and I'll make sure that we have all of the Express' docked together.
Anyone that wants info, email me and I'll hook you up.
Later all,
Adam
;)

woo hoo Adam pushed us over 9 pages. :cool: i'll prolly se ya next week with tizbad on our next trip up.OK whos got room for me on there ocean for this smoke on the water thingie :D . . is that 28 still for sale . . . hmmmmm :cool:

O.K. O.K. Dave paint annnnd a ride, is it ready yet? :rolleyes:

Hey Greg, If you have my parts with you can you drop them of at the Lee Williams on your way to work tomorow? Thanks! :cool:

O.K. Now you've done it. Guess I'll have to hurry up on my engines and bring the old gal to "SMOKE". Maybee I could mooch a ride with Sylvester? If I'm there,,any Focht Friends are welcome to ride. :D

Why couldn't you guys do something on the eastcoast . Now ,not only do I have to fix it but I have to tow it back out there ! I just bought it from out there and brought it home this summer .THis boat will have more highway miles on it in one year then it has had in all the 13 years it has been around ! :D

Come on Boot!! Lets show all those monkey see, monkey do cat owners out there what Express owners are made of!!!
Phatkat, I would love to go for a ride on your cat, and I hope to see you there.
Theres a hotel called the Harbor House Inn of Grand Haven, its under 1 block away from the event tent and the boardwalk. Its a bed and breakfast, prices are around 130-160 per night but its beautiful and best of all its walking distance. You DON'T want to have to be driving around the main drag of Grand Haven with 10,000+ people in and around town. Take it from me, your walking distance from the event and several very nice restraunts, and a few bars.
Email me if you want any more details.
Thanks all,
Adam
;)

What the hell is this the energizer bunny rabbit of posts!!!! Hey Dave I think it is this post that is responsible for my eyes being all screwed up!!!! :p :p :p

thats pretty good . . .energizer bunny . . :D .try not to look directly into the post . . :p . . .wonder what the record is for post longevity :rolleyes: this thing is going to go on forever . .just like the ocean x's . . .so Adam how bout that 28 ya got . . whats it gonna take
:D :cool:

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: glassdave ]

The ZF are a better transmission. Much more of them out there running and a bigger dealer network.

so adam, is it worth for me and boot to tow out from jersey, with our 12' wide loads or what, those weigh stations dont like us spoiled brats playing while they have to work and like to give us a hard time...trying to see we need commerical tags and all that b.s...... :mad: :mad: :D :D

Dave, that 28' blank is sold, but I have a 25' thats ready to go. I also have a used 28' on trade (the one with the diamond plate graphics, don't know whether you saw it or not)
Weismann makes great stuff, but ZF are more tried and proven with the diesel line, but we're not picky, we'll put in whatever you are willing to pay for.
We are looking at doing a dual yanmar installation, not exactly sure which yanmar yet, if we can get the right rpm out of the 440 series we'll use that and save a bunch of weight, otherwise, we
ll use the 500.
Slick, come on out, last years smoke was a blast, and this year will be even better. And as far as those weigh stations go, just tow at night, on sunday (JUST KIDDING!) Thats one of the reasons we went with a narrower beam on the new 38', and narrower is faster. We would like to have a bunch of Express owners at Smoke, and since were an original sponser I can make arrangements to have all of us docked (not rafted!) next to one another.
Later,
A
;)

To Adam; Your dad has a long history of designing and making boats. We would appreciate an overview of his accomplishments and the names of companies that he started or those in which he was a major player.
Also, what are the salient features of his designs? What were his favorite models? A comprehensive chronology with explanations would be nice.
Thanks in advance.

Vonwolske, I will answer your question with the information that I know. If I have left anything out or omitted anyone’s name then I apologize in advance.
Back in the late 1970’s, my dad (Ross E. Focht, Sr.) ran a division of Active Homes. His boss at the time showed an interest in a vee-bottom that my dad and his brother (Larry Focht) had bought (The Super Banana – a 27’ magnum as I am told it was) so, under instructions from his boss, my dad went to Florida and purchased an old vee-bottom that they first raced – the original green Activator. As my dad raced he met different people, and since his background was in construction (albeit homes, not boats) he was able to lend his talents and learn a lot about designing vee-bottoms from different people (I am told that the main people he listened and learned from were the late Don Aronow, and the late James Beard) My dad was convinced that he could design a vee-bottom that ran better than the one they had so they went ahead and lofted a plug, then built the mold and finally built their own first vee-bottom race boat – again the Activator. My dad saw people’s interest in racing and decided to sell his new vee-bottoms to the public as pleasure boats. It was at this time that James Beard of Cougar of England brought over one of his first wooden cougar cats and my dad went for a ride in it and was convinced that the catamarans were better. Now one thing you have to understand is that at the time vee’s were built of ‘glass and cats’ were built of wood. There was no comparison, the vee’s were stronger and held together in rough water whereas the cats did not. This is where the stereotype that vee’s are better rough water boats than cats started. This was only due to the fact that no one had ever built a cat out of fiberglass. My dad realized that even though cats were faster, more stable and required less throttle to achieve the same speeds as the vee bottoms, they needed to be built of the same material to really outshine them. So, he along with guidance from the engineers at Dupont came up with a laminate schedule and built the first all composite, cored catamaran in the world. The first time they raced the boat a lot of people had their eyes on that cat to see what it would do. When they dropped the flag, all the waiting, planning and work came to its fruition as the Express cat (which later went on to set a kilo record, national title and world championship all in the same year – a feat which I do not believe anyone has since done!) as it was called left the fleet behind and performed remarkably. Over the years many things have changed in cat designs, Skater came along and after experimenting with smaller boats, they looked at my dad’s first designs (PLEASE NOTE THAT SKATER DID NOT COPY OUR DESIGNS, HE ONLY STUDIED THEM AS REFERENCE AS ALL DESIGNERS DO WHEN COMING UP WITH SOMETHING NEW) We like to call Skaters first designs the second generation of cat designs, with our all new 38’, 43’ and 49’ the third generation designs. My dad over the years has had many partners under varying names: Active Marine, Active Catamarans, Image Boat Mfg (which built over 30 cats for Baja Boats), Express Marine, Express Catamarans, Ocean Express, Ocean Express Catamarans and finally today Ocean Express Powerboats. We have almost thirty years of experience in designs and just as importantly laminate schedules. (The main reason many of you are skipping around out there on boats of ours that are over 20 years old) I thank everyone who takes the time to read this; I hope that I have provided an accurate description of the beginning of composite catamarans. And again, if I have left anyone out I should have mentioned, please email me with your story and I will be more than happy to edit this post. Thanks all,
Adam
;)

[ 01-27-2002: Message edited by: Adam Focht ]

Adam, Your dads Story on cat history is alot more intresting!!!!!!!!!!! Spark. ;) ;)

great info Adam ,thanks for takeing the time to share that with us.have you showed this thread to Ross yet, bet he would get a kick out of it. :cool: :cool:

Thank you Adam. Very good reading.

Nice info Adam. :)