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Really interested in Potluck design, was just wondering if this design could be fitted with a hamilton jet pump, I don't know if the keel can be removed/reduced, and also if the motor could be moved aft. Inspired by Hinckley picnic boat design. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks - Scott T

Scott, Potluck's butt lines return upward as they travel aft so the boat will pitch up by the bow as she runs. With enough hp the boat will run free, or plane, but the bow up pitch will make the pump application less attractive.

The hull has a warped bottom and is (?) balanced so the forefoot and forward 1/3 of the hull carry enough of the total displacement to keep her at her waterline while at rest.

Jets are more effective on hulls that have less forward draft, or a more uniform bottom shape. And; while I can't say I've seen the Hinckley hulls' lines, I suspect they are more constant V or monohedron to make good use of axial flow pumps- if that hull is offered with pump propulsion?

I'd suggest you look at hulls with a more parallel chine, keel and butts for pump drives. The Potluck will perform well in her displacement mode, or under 12 knots speed, but pumps are notoriously expensive to run below their 90% rpm speed.

Potluck will turn easily in the harbor even with a breeze and pick up a mooring with ease, but if you loose her keel and wheel, she'll be a bear to bring to a dock in any kind of beam breeze. If she had a pump, you'd want a bow thruster to counter the somewhat deep forefoot and 'bare bottom' aft!

Potluck's nicely balanced underwater lateral area would be seriously compromised if you decided to build her without a keel!

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

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Kevin Morin

Thanks Kevin, I do appreciate the input, was just trying to see if this hull could be modified or not, still like the lines, from my reading, jets are more costly, but I was trying to cheat, and would have a bow thruster installed as well. I do believe the Hinckley is more of a monohedron hull. I will have to reconsider, given the restrictions of this hull, still a great design though.

The Hinckly's are just georgous boats, yes they are jets.

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers

Scott, the pump has to do with the design below the waterline, as the hull runs. The looks/esthetics have to do with the topsides,sheer and house/cabin lines.

You can combine these two but you'd have to spend some time combing a set or pair of plans. If you were sure you wanted the pump propulsion but also the more traditional lines, especially for the sheer + house/cabin/trunk then it seems you want a combination of two plans sets (??) so I'd suggest you keep reviewing the catalog to see if any other boats closely resemble your interests?

There are hulls in the Glen-L catalog with a more 'pump friendly' shape and sweeping, hollow, traditional sheer that would allow you to put the 'potluck' cabin lines onto that design. In fact I think the Atlantic or the Cuddy Sport's hulls would take a pump and could stand to modify the topsides to resemble/emulate the Potluck.

[But the work to modify the hybrid design into a builders' plans set is not (just) a matter of buying two sets of plans. Please don't think I'm trying to minimize the design effort in this regard.]

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

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Kevin Morin

Thanks Kevin, Upon my research, the Hinckley is a hard chine v hull, not even classified as a downeast/lobster boat. Thanks again for your knowledge, I'm glad that these forums are able to afford such. - Scott T

excuse my ignorance but why do you want a Jet boat in Michigan?

I had a 19' aluminum boat with a Hamilton Jet (4 Cyl English sports car engine) that we used on Alaskan rivers mostly.
A few times I had it out in Kelvin's water (cook inlet) where we caught Halibut etc.

The only failing we had was losing the propulsion in the waves.
The boat would go almost 20 mph by the GPS. But when we jumped a wave it dropped back to 12 or 15 Mph as the Jet ran out of water to propulse with.

Up in the rives the Grass and Gravel were a PITA. You have a tool along with some other tools to clean the Grid down under the boat.
I hope your waters aren't chilly because you'll be under that boat for a few minutes at a time cleaning that Grid.
Those impellers and stators wont put up with very much gravel going through that Pump. Grass and Sand it can barely put up with but that gravel will bring your trip to a screeching halt.

If your not river running, I'd sure pick a Prop over a Jet. That's my Experience, vastly shortened to keep the readers from crying real tears for some of the stuff we went through with that little Aluminum bundle of fun and frolic.

Thanks for your reply Thudpucker, my whole intent here with the jet was to emulate the Hinckley picnic boat, but upon my research, the Hinckley is a whole beast upon itself, therefore I cannot cheat another design close enough to it. So back to the dream boat and try to find something that I will like. I understand the cons of a jet, and they are very much more expensive to operate, was just testing the waters here, once again thanks for the input. - Scott T