Hydraulic steering on that list?

imo,he wont need hyd steering,the alpha will expire before it goes fast enough to chinewalk.now the project includes a supercharger,that alpha will love blower motor torque.i hope the owner just restores the boat to original condition and enjoys it.

Super cool that he is building something different and unique.

We all can agree that the money would be better spent on a different boat.

But at least he is enjoying the sport of Go Fast boating. Better then any blow boater!

i had same chap. 50 tops with 260. tripple digits where are you? (or mebbe this is him)

complete waste of time and money

Matt,

First of all, congratulations for having the intestinal fortitude to write up and share this story. This guy sounds like so many people that walk into our marina every year and want to make either a family boat or a marginal performance boat go stupid fast. Generally speaking, these folks are somewhat delusional on both the current top speed of their boat and or how much time, effort and cost its going to involve to get them up to their goal.

So where do most of these folks end up? Sadly - and predictably - most of them end up spending a small fortune only to end up well short of their goal. And the boat they were lavishing all of this attention on turns into a money pit that nobody will buy for anywhere near what they sunk into it.

The ones I really worry about are the ones who actually get a smoking hot motor wedged under the hatch and running. Then they go out and try to run a big number and end up either blowing something up (actually the more desirable outcome) or crashing the boat and getting injured. (The least desirable outcome.) We actually had a guy up here try something very similar to a 18' Barretta a few years back. He lost control and the boat and veered into a concrete pier, splitting it in half. And yes, the guy was injured pretty badly too.

But coming back to your article / post, please do follow this guy and document how he does. I think it will be instructional to many others just like him.

My predictions?

- His engine builder will make some money
- He will blow that Alpha drive right off the transom
- If the boat does (even briefly) go significantly faster, it will fall apart around him
- He will end up with an expensive, impossible to sell hulk
- His girlfriend will leave him for somebody smarter

PS: I would recommend that he wear something to shield him from the shrapnel that will come from what used to be his Alpha drive the first time he hammers the stick.

As much as I like his idea, its a very dangerous one. I wouldnt put ANY passengers in that boat and his insurance will be null and void when he crashes and injures someone.

Are you implying that Matt doesn't?

I have a Chaparral. I have $30K in the bank. The two will never meet.

no,i never said that,lets try not to put words in my mouth.