Old race boats ??
 

Who has them ? I know some of you that do . I want to know more about them, there history ,and what value they have .

Also , what , if any damage was done to yours and what repairs it took to make it go again . What's the worst damage you've seen done to a boat that was rebuilt ? I have seen boats brake in half in races . just wondering how many were fixed .

How do you all feel about "OLD RACE BOATS "? Would you buy one ? Sure ,I know , if the price is right !!:D But what about one that someone wants top dollar for .Is there a nestalgia value to these famous monsters that have been kept in good shape ?

Soooo , WHo has one ? I am interested in this subject as I see many around for sale and some not for sale . Some are cheap or so they seam and others want more for a 70s' or 80's boat then a late model 40' Skater with new power !!:eek:

Maybe this subject came up before but I don't know and would love to hear everyones opinions and here about those who have these boats .

JOE

I am currently restoring a 24 foot excalibur 1979 that I am almost certian was a race boat. I know its not a big offshore rig and prolly doesn't have alot of history but everyone that has seen the cockpit setup and rigging says it was deffinetly built to race. I myself would love to hear the history of this boat just for the sake of knowing it. Not much help as a reply but I am interested in the same things, and yes I would buy one just for the nestalgia.
Martin.

Check out these sites of my Magnum Raceboat restoration:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=38561

I may finally finish the boat this year!

links not working

Just,
Just fixed it. Good thing my fiberglass skills are better than my computer skills!

Robert, Thanks for the link . Nice pictures and great history on them !!:cool:

I don't want to be too personal but would you saythey wanted top dollar due to it's history , a fair price or was it a bargain ?

Martin, How far along is your project ? Again , What values are on these boats ? High , normal , or cheap because they need lots of work ? Not asking you to give dollar amounts just wondering the ranges . Thanks , JOE

Boot,
I found out the boat's history after purchasing it. This was a project boat that anyone in their right mind would have passed on. Anyway, I'm hoping to have it done this summer-maybe an appearence at Skaterfest??
Bob

boot,

I acquired Vince Fasano's Open Class 38 Bertram "Vincentive".
Was the boat a bargain? On a per foot basis, yes.
Will I ever recover the cost of restoration? Most certainly not!
Will I buy another one? If the right boat comes along...

Andreas

too old what would you consider the right boat?
later

Ok Here it go`s

My race boat RUNAWAY started life in 1971.:) as a Magnum sport cruiser with t/Volvo,cabin,head &kitchen.:D . The deck was taken off and throw away.The hull was ground down to a few splinters of stringer and totally re-build using Dupont kevlar,new stringers,new bulk heads and new herring bone(cross bracing) was add. An Activator deck was taken,cut down the middle from bow to stern using a radial saw. Then extra material was add to widen the deck and this was used to fabricate a new deck.:) The dash was copied from a 41 Apache (Predator).

So its a Magnum hull , A modified Activator deck and Apache dash.:)

The best of all

Thank you to Frank f.

Mike Merola

ttt

The SCOPE HotShot of the week is an older race boat........... It was the former race boat known as Ohio Steel, and speed record holder!

CLICK HERE

Oh well.....

I have a 38 foot Larry Smith Scarab. The boat had all the candy so I plunked down...

Heres some info from an email sent to John Conner:

38' LARRY SMITH Scarab Ex-Raceboat, staggered fresh 540's, #3 speedmasters, Patterson marine headers, 3 man cockpit, no cabin, Kaama external steering. Hull ID #TSC101380379. All white.

After sending this email, I was washing the boat and on the starboard side fairing I saw some stencilled writing which was painted over but still visible. First I saw OO, then OOK and then

' DRIVER'???
BETTY COOK' !!

The port side has

' THROTTLES
JOHN CONNER'

I called John Conner back, and after explaining the lettering, etc. he confirmed the boat to be Betty Cook's second 38 Scarab. He said they won the worlds in Key West with that boat.

I spoke to Larry Smith and he agrees that this was Betty Cook's boat. The last three digits of the ID indicate March, 1979 manuf. date. The gentleman I purchased it from, Ed Medley, said it belonged to a man who had named it socksess and was in the garment business (socks). Larry Smith thinks Ron Hirshburg was his name, and that he had purchased the boat from Betty Cook.

I am collecting any Betty Cook or Kaama race boat stuff- I spoke to Mell Riggs, and he is sending some autographed pictures of the boat.

I am close to finishing a re-gelcoat of the deck, and will soon have new fuel tanks fabricated. This boat turned out to be the biggest suprise of my life, and I am going to restore her as accurately as possible.

Bulldog AKA Ronnie

Is it still all black, Ron Hershberg ran it at the Key West worlds in Superboat Class in 1985. I am pretty sure it was called Revenge then? I remember it stuffed really bad and was pretty torn up. I think it only raced on the west coast after that. I might have a old bad pic of it at the office somewhere.

Bulldog,
What a Kool story. I have pictures of your boat but don't have a scanner, maybe I can find the negatives and send you copies, send me your address.
Bob G.

Ryan-
From what I see, it was originally white gelcoat. Larry Smith made a new nose for it which was grafted on, and the gelcoat was blended. The deck and sides were later painted all white. I carefully stripped the deck, and it had no other color than white.

I can vaguely see where the race number rectangle was on the side- the light has to be just right to see it. The bottom is the original white gelcoat.

And I think I remember someone telling me it raced as Socksess and also possibly Revenge. Mr. Hirshburg? was hurt badly in that accident and possibly renamed it Revenge the second time around...

I was also told Betty Cook raced it for a time as the Michelobe Light- I have a poor Jpeg of an ad which appears to be the same boat. If that was in 1982, I think I saw it at the La. Superdome.


Robert- Thanks, I appreciate it- I need to try to go to Conner Marine with my scanner- Mr. Conner has loads of pictures I need.

If you could get your pictures scanned I will pay for it or if you could trust me with them I can do it and send them back.

My info:
Ronald E. Byrd
22351 Main Street
Abita Springs, La 70420
H 1-985-893-3831
W 1-228-688-3414

Thanks for the info
Bulldog AKA Ronnie

I remember that boat too.....KAAMA #89 became REVENGE #286...that black, white and orange paint scheme was cool.

heres a pic I took in 1985 I was 10 at the time.

I am currently rerigging the original 35ft Benihana Cigarette which started life as Hal Shalmans spirit boat. If any body has some old pics or some history on the boat, I'm all ears. James

spirit/benihana
 

check out the njppc library for some pics...

www.njppc.com

great boat! :cool:

JJones,
I think I have some photos of your boat from the origianl Hennesy/Benihanna Grand Prix.
One of the interesting stories about your boat was that during one of the NJ Races, the thottle cable became disconnected, so Smitty (Smith) tied them so the boat ran at full throttle for the remainder of the race. Obviously the boat was taking some wild leaps for the remainder of the race.;)

I BOUGHT THE OLD 32 SKATER NAMED AGITATOR I AM SURE YOU GUYS ALL KNOW THIS ONE. IT WILL RACE THIS YEAR IN EITHER P1 OR PX IN THE APBA. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN RESTORING THE BOAT TO AS NEW CONDITION

Here`s some

more

heres more

Robert,
Your just a regular Offshore Historian. This guy knows where all the old race boats are located!!!!!!! This guy has more offshore history in his head then most of the books that have been written to date.

DPT

Bulldog,

I remember seeing the "Soxcess" Scarab up at lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire about 10 yrs ago. It was at Channel Marine in Laconia, If I remember right, the owner donated the boat to some charity for a tax deduction???

Cool piecs of history!!!

Jonesj,

your boat must be the one sold on ebay a couple months back. I had been following it! Would have loved to bought it, but it`s better that you did! How about some more pics!!!!!!

Kurt

Thanks for the info. and picks. I will have to post some pics here soon. Thanks James

Biggus-

Yup- that's right. It went from Hirshberg to Associated Marine, an outfit that helps rehabilitate 'ornery young un's' as we say down here.

I am hoping to put together a 'timeline' of when and where it was. I am REALLY curious about the time frame when it was run as the Michelob Light boat.

I think I saw it at the LA Superdome boat show. I was at the show in spring 1982 and remember seeing an offshore raceboat on display, but not sure if it was the Michelob light boat. I do think the hull was white- the advertisement jpeg I have shows the hull quite well. I remember looking at it thinking 'that lucky SOB.....'

Thanks for the help, and keep it coming. The boat comes out of hibernation this weekend, so maybe I can post pics.

Thanks again!
Bulldog aka Ronnie

Bulldog,

I have a Michelob press release for the Betty Cook scarab. Several black and white photo's (one of the boat running, one of Betty and Bernie Little, others), and some letters describing the history of the racing season.

I will dig out the press packet tonight and scan some of the photos and letters.

Yes ----Your 100% right Too OLD

Lets see the boats

A friend of mine owns an old seahalk 38 cougar. Was bought at a customs sale. I added 2ft to the hull an installed twin T58 turbines with arensons mounts and gear boxes. The boat ran as Bengal Bay also:frog:

seahalk

You jerzy boyzs must know this cougar

This was a new race boat single canopy 2 seat changed to a pleasure twin canopy 4 seat Thanks to Jack at hydra tech in new jersey

AIR RIDE???

Tim air ride is correct. I know you have been here cira 1988

Ah yes!!! The coop with the yellow cat... and one nasty German Sheperd next door...;) :D :D :D

Tim my boat was built before the yellow cat Scott and Carl were still with Jack Yea I forgot about that dog, He scared the hell out of me once!

hi there!!!!!!!!!!!!!