Great Moments in Cat History
04-04-2009 | 01:43 PM
#672
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T2x : That is a great brief, I say that complimentary, because if you went into all the details you would still be typing. I think it would then be called a book. I hope we will have an opportunity to sometime sit down together and reminisce about the past, and tell some of the great stories associated. I still have a vision of trying to interview on camera all of the past people who were involved in both OPC, and Offshore racing, especially in my era from 1964 to 1994 when I hung it up, how can we do this???????? It could be major recorded history for all to enjoy, and before the rest of the greats are gone.
04-20-2009 | 10:36 AM
#673
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From: Granite Quarry, NC
T2x : That is a great brief, I say that complimentary, because if you went into all the details you would still be typing. I think it would then be called a book. I hope we will have an opportunity to sometime sit down together and reminisce about the past, and tell some of the great stories associated. I still have a vision of trying to interview on camera all of the past people who were involved in both OPC, and Offshore racing, especially in my era from 1964 to 1994 when I hung it up, how can we do this???????? It could be major recorded history for all to enjoy, and before the rest of the greats are gone.
Great Idea!!!!!!!
I presume you are going to join Steve Sirois OFF...?
Maybe we can get together and discuss this at the Old Timer's gathering in October. Phil Lewis should do the camera work......... People like Jackie Wilson and Kenny Kitson are coming...... maybe that can be the beginning of the interviews you suggest.
I always enjoy and respect your ideas........
T2x
04-20-2009 | 10:40 AM
#674
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From: Granite Quarry, NC
true enough, what I meant was there was a gap in development and supply of cats for a few years.
Any reason for that?
PS I went to a Merc dealership close to Boca Raton about 20 years ago ( on one of my trips to the US) and the guy had a Switzer inside his workshop in what looked like good condition. He had many photos and posters on the wall.
I remember it because he showed me the active flap in the tunnel.The whole place looked like museum motors, the guys were actively rebuilding old inlines.
I wonder where that one is now?
Cheers
Powerabout
Any reason for that?
PS I went to a Merc dealership close to Boca Raton about 20 years ago ( on one of my trips to the US) and the guy had a Switzer inside his workshop in what looked like good condition. He had many photos and posters on the wall.
I remember it because he showed me the active flap in the tunnel.The whole place looked like museum motors, the guys were actively rebuilding old inlines.
I wonder where that one is now?
Cheers
Powerabout
The boat you are referring was purchased after the death of the Mercury dealer you refer to. It is in a collection in Ohio and has never been in the water.
T2x
04-20-2009 | 08:07 PM
#675
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From: Batavia, NY
I just found this great thread after googling "chris cat max cat". It's taken me many hours to digest all of this. Good stuff.
Back around '91 Harry Wellman built a red 30' "Max-Cat" ( using a Chris Cat mold) for me and my wife, full interior and head w/ 540ci 575 mercruisers with Stellings headers and 4 drives. George Lidner was very helpful in determining how to power the boat for what I wanted it for. This was great fun to do, and I remember the hull was actually laid up next door to Harry's shop at a fiberglass place called Fun Marine or something like that. Allen Wagner did the rigging, and engines installed and dialed in at Lake X.
After the boat was delivered by Harry's son to Buffalo NY I never heard from Harry again. I know he had business difficulties, but I never got to thank him for building this great boat for us. He was a good guy to deal with, very passionate about what he was doing then.
Is this is the only Max-Cat 30? Where is Harry Wellman today?
Back around '91 Harry Wellman built a red 30' "Max-Cat" ( using a Chris Cat mold) for me and my wife, full interior and head w/ 540ci 575 mercruisers with Stellings headers and 4 drives. George Lidner was very helpful in determining how to power the boat for what I wanted it for. This was great fun to do, and I remember the hull was actually laid up next door to Harry's shop at a fiberglass place called Fun Marine or something like that. Allen Wagner did the rigging, and engines installed and dialed in at Lake X.
After the boat was delivered by Harry's son to Buffalo NY I never heard from Harry again. I know he had business difficulties, but I never got to thank him for building this great boat for us. He was a good guy to deal with, very passionate about what he was doing then.
Is this is the only Max-Cat 30? Where is Harry Wellman today?
04-21-2009 | 07:14 AM
#676
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Allergic to Nonsense
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From: Granite Quarry, NC
I just found this great thread after googling "chris cat max cat". It's taken me many hours to digest all of this. Good stuff.
Back around '91 Harry Wellman built a red 30' "Max-Cat" ( using a Chris Cat mold) for me and my wife, full interior and head w/ 540ci 575 mercruisers with Stellings headers and 4 drives. George Lidner was very helpful in determining how to power the boat for what I wanted it for. This was great fun to do, and I remember the hull was actually laid up next door to Harry's shop at a fiberglass place called Fun Marine or something like that. Allen Wagner did the rigging, and engines installed and dialed in at Lake X.
After the boat was delivered by Harry's son to Buffalo NY I never heard from Harry again. I know he had business difficulties, but I never got to thank him for building this great boat for us. He was a good guy to deal with, very passionate about what he was doing then.
Is this is the only Max-Cat 30? Where is Harry Wellman today?
Back around '91 Harry Wellman built a red 30' "Max-Cat" ( using a Chris Cat mold) for me and my wife, full interior and head w/ 540ci 575 mercruisers with Stellings headers and 4 drives. George Lidner was very helpful in determining how to power the boat for what I wanted it for. This was great fun to do, and I remember the hull was actually laid up next door to Harry's shop at a fiberglass place called Fun Marine or something like that. Allen Wagner did the rigging, and engines installed and dialed in at Lake X.
After the boat was delivered by Harry's son to Buffalo NY I never heard from Harry again. I know he had business difficulties, but I never got to thank him for building this great boat for us. He was a good guy to deal with, very passionate about what he was doing then.
Is this is the only Max-Cat 30? Where is Harry Wellman today?
I think there were 2 "Max Cats". Tim Ciasulli had one as well.
The guy you should probably be most grateful to is Larry Wirtzberger who owned Fun Marine and was an excellent craftsman in fiberglass. He was my shop manager at Shadow and learned his craft directly from George Linder. He has complete knowledge of all kinds of laminates and currently has a fiberglass fabricating company in Florida. I watched him grow from an assistant crew chief on my ex partner's 7 liter inboard hydro racing team to pretty good businessman. He is honest and passionate. Unfortunately he made the mistake of riding with me in one of our twin outboard 21 footers in an Offshore Race....I think it was his first...and last ..... experience actually riding in a race.
T2x
04-21-2009 | 12:34 PM
#677
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From: GROSSE ILE,MI
04-21-2009 | 12:49 PM
#678
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From: GROSSE ILE,MI
Vonwolske: Short answer Aluminum Cougar cats-
The more hours on them the more dents and warpage in the hull ... the slower the top speed. The best version was Sal Magluta's "tubular" framed 36 footer circa 1986 ...faster and lighter than any of the others... it still couldn't catch the early composite boats of the time. They were , however, decent in medium/rough conditions.... one of them (Still Crazy) stuffed and sank (almost instantly) with Fullam and Poppa, on board , killing both of them, at Key West in 1985. Later Bob Kaiser had some success with a pair of Cougars in the late 80's but their time had pretty much passed after that. The only success they achieved in the 90's was under the able hand of the builders son, Stevie Curtis, and even he abandoned them for composite cats in later years.
As far as the Arneson drive is concerned....use a Mercruiser 6 drive instead...unless you're Howard Arneson. Basically, the drive either needs to be fixed with a separate rudder(in which case Buzzi's drive is better), or you won't be able to trim nor stay in a straight line, which makes it a dangerous and troublesome option...... (P.S. Forget about docking with the damn things)
Interesting idea by a very bright guy, but in my humble opinion, he missed the boat..... no pun intended.
The more hours on them the more dents and warpage in the hull ... the slower the top speed. The best version was Sal Magluta's "tubular" framed 36 footer circa 1986 ...faster and lighter than any of the others... it still couldn't catch the early composite boats of the time. They were , however, decent in medium/rough conditions.... one of them (Still Crazy) stuffed and sank (almost instantly) with Fullam and Poppa, on board , killing both of them, at Key West in 1985. Later Bob Kaiser had some success with a pair of Cougars in the late 80's but their time had pretty much passed after that. The only success they achieved in the 90's was under the able hand of the builders son, Stevie Curtis, and even he abandoned them for composite cats in later years.
As far as the Arneson drive is concerned....use a Mercruiser 6 drive instead...unless you're Howard Arneson. Basically, the drive either needs to be fixed with a separate rudder(in which case Buzzi's drive is better), or you won't be able to trim nor stay in a straight line, which makes it a dangerous and troublesome option...... (P.S. Forget about docking with the damn things)
Interesting idea by a very bright guy, but in my humble opinion, he missed the boat..... no pun intended.
04-21-2009 | 01:00 PM
#679
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From: GROSSE ILE,MI
I believe, but may be having a senior moment, that towards the end of Butch's offshore career that he ran Arnesons with a fixed trim bar (no trim ram) and was one of the first to run a solid tie bar on a tower with them.
Very few people have the patience to install and maintain or have the expertise to use the trimable Hydraulic tie bar.
Very few people have the patience to install and maintain or have the expertise to use the trimable Hydraulic tie bar.
04-21-2009 | 01:15 PM
#680
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From: Granite Quarry, NC
The Rinaldi's ran a 4 engined outboard Conquest in '84. I think you meant '85.
The Lavin's won the National Championship with the 30' Chris Cat in '84 and the National and World Championships and set the World Kilo record in '85.
What race did you run in the Rolling Thunder Baja? I remember Vinnie's Baja sinking at Point Pleasant in '85, but I don't remember him running many other races with it. It's still around today. Arnaold D'ambrosia owned and raced it for years.
Rich
