History lesson
 

Great piece with lots of interesting tidbits that many folks probably aren't aware of. And for those of you that actually believed that Reggie Fountain "invented" the step hull, sorry about that chief.

Surprised they didn't mention Willie K's boat " Hard Boiled"

It's funny some of these folks would take credit for inventing the wheel if they could. I have a 1959 Biesemeyer 4 point hydroplane drag boat. Made 25 years before they started to using 4 pointers in circle racing in the 1980's (Miss Budweiser). They even tested a turbine in one in 1961. 20+ years before they became popular. If someone builds and sells a boat it pretty much a given that its been done, tested and proven before they ever thought of doing it. Most boat builders I've studied spent a lot of their time taking what they think is the best pieces of other proven designs and putting them together in a total package. If they pick the right parts you get a great boat. But it doesn't matter what it is most times I can find someone did it before even if you have to go back to WWII. Those guys did it all.

I wonder what one gets for gas mileage running those big old packard engines? :-)

Here is another one for ya which I really wish I knew the answer to.
From the Mercury website, Kiekhaefer Aeromarine Motors first introduced K-Plane Trim Tabs in 1970.
Here is my 1967 SuperNova 24 Race Boat. Kind of look like K Planes to me.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...nname/1_19.jpg

When the step hull technology was there at that time, makes you wonder why someone didn't use it earlier? Not to start any kind of war, but who did build the first modern day step hull. Does anyone know the truth, had to be someone?

Paul Fiore/Hustler was the first to bring the step hull into a big offshore vee bottom

I thought he invented the gold chain??LOL:cool-smiley-011::cool-smiley-011:

Great read though.:nicethread:
Thanks for posting.