Glen-L.com

The P-39 & P-63 did that, kinda in reverse. Engine was separated from the drive end like you proposed. Their "drive end" was on the front.

Glad to have you aboard! It is a good thing that you are thinking out how you will use the craft, and looking at alternatives. Here are some random thoughts to help your process: Picture the end of a great day on the water. You are gliding up to the courtesy dock to let off passengers before putting...

Bill,

What a beautiful job! I'm catching up again after a busy time at work, and really enjoyed seeing what a great product you created.

Good show!

Jack

Perhaps it should have been here, but I also answered your jet question in your new member posting.

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=29395

Jack

If you use your homebuilt boat for fishing charters, you are likely an Uninspected Passenger Vessel, unless you built a much larger craft than the ones in the Glen-L catalog. The Un part means that the law says you don’t have to be inspected by the USCG. You can request a UPV inspection, which cover...

Thank you very much Bill for the kind words. Activities at work have kept me away from the forum for a few days, so this reply is quite overdue. Gary is right, the regs are not that hard to meet. The Coast Guard had an official publication, COMDTPUB P16761.3B, now up on the web in several places. It...

Take a look at the information available on Scott Design & Manufacturing, or Hamilton Jet. Both have plenty to get you thinking about jet power. Likely the jet drive will be lighter than an equal HP I/O appendage. If you like to go fast, the jet can exceed the drive efficiency of an I/O or strai...

Operating some planning hull boats at low speed requires constant attention to the helm, as the vessel wants to turn one way or the other all the time. This is quite annoying in the many “no wake” zones. Other similar boats hold a straight course when stable, without attention. Has anyone else notic...

Before you spend a lot of time on a fix, get a copy of Dave Gerr's book "The Nature of Boats" and read what he has to say about initial stability versus ultimate stability. Particularly with the V bottom you have. Some library systems have it, as does Amazon. I am very interested in your t...

Also figure 1/2 pound of fuel per horsepower hour, so 12 HP for an hour requires about one gallon of fuel. If that 120 merc is a 4 stroke, your gallon will get you around 14 HP.

So how fast for how long do you want to go? Half power for an hour will use about 5 gallons on that engine.

Jack

Florida had a requirement for all retail fuel to have a minimum of 10% corn squeezins, with an exception for classic cars & small engines. So a few places sell 100% gasoline even today. This April the FL legislature came up with a bill to repeal the requirement, and the gov just signed it. As of...

If you do not plan to motor at night, you could use a tri-color nav light at the top of your mast. When under power, even combined with sails, you need that stern light with side lights. You do have the freedom to put the all around white light forward of the stern. Check this out from the Nav Rules...

Are study plans available for the Variant? PDF or conventional?

You do have some rudder in reverse with a direct drive. As the vessel begins to gather sternway, the normal rudder becomes effective & you can make a gradual turn. Not to be used in close quarters. To turn as you back, let the prop torque begin to walk the stern. For a normal "right hand&qu...

The techniques used to keep water out of a hull can be used to keep water in your livewell. A plywood box with a lining of glass cloth & epoxy would hold water, but finding a place for it on the 15 ft Cruisette would be your challenge. Visit a new boat showroom, or talk to the fishermen at your ...