Glen-L.com

We launched "First Born" today at 9:15am. In attendance were my wife and father-in law, my step-father and my good friend Scott (who first showed me glen-l's website around 2005) and his son Kyle.

We had a great launch and are ready for the Gathering. Absolutely zero drops of water in the boat after more than 3 hours. The motor ran great but the idle could come up a little, it died twice going from idle to reverse. The motor might also be slightly too low, I get two rooster tails almost straight up 2-3 ft at speed from either side of the lower unit. I believe this is keeping our top-speed down to the 30mph we saw on GPS. The boat cruises nicely in the mid twenties.

I get a slight amount of cavitation in tight turns but just enough that it nicely slows the boat down a couple mile an hour for the turn then after the tight turn it speeds right back up. I kinda like that feature. My skeg is closer to the transom than glen-l recommends 12" opposed to 18".

Here are the pics and a short youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzY6QjOQcCA





More to come...

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

I am SOOOOO looking forward to seeing this boat at the Gathering, Chris. And I'm very impressed with all the quality crafstmanship that has gone into it as well. My biggest regret is that this year, things simply have conspired against my finishing my Zip for the Gathering.

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Isn't it amazing!! The person that never has the fortitude to pursue his own dreams, will be the first to try and discourage you from pursuing yours.

More...



I think we got comments about the boat from every person we saw on at the ramp/docks.

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Oh shut up and start traveling! I want to see it!

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Looks and sounds great, well done and enjoy her she will pay you back 10 fold, might even make you yearn for another

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Malahini, SEAN-NÓS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6vkPjEy4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDVzcVpdhc
crackerbox build http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx17 ... =slideshow

Now for the adjustments. Other than the motor spray that I think is from our motor being 1.5 inches low. (I read somewhere that Merc's were made for 16.5" transoms around the time I was done building)

The only other adjustment I need to make is to the trailer bunks. I think I have the boat sitting too level and it needs to sit more bow high by moving the forward end of the bunks up a couple holes in the mounts.

When I launched the stem/cutwater lowered into the trailer tongue at the very aft end. The cutwater actually peeled the 1/8" metal cover on the aft end of the tongue back about 130 degrees. It only scraped the paint up though and I didnt even know it happened until we went to load back on the trailer and the bow couldnt get high enough to clear that aft trailer tongue appendage. So we had to do some lifting a scooting, luckily I had the manpower available. So giving the trailer bunks a higher angle of attack should cure that.
Simple enough.

I sure like the way the boat cruises along. I was nervous as all get out when I hit the first big wakes of passing boats. (A 50' Formula Cigarette boat launched right before us, on a 4 mile long lake ) but the Zip took them well.

I cant wait to see you all at the Gathering.

_________________
My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Chris - I am so proud for you. What a great day!!! Anxious to see you and your "First Born" next week.

Travel safe

dave

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Looks great Chris!

When you mounted your motor,there's normally a slot for bolts at the lower end of the clamp bracket.

If you drilled at the top of the slot,you cam loosen and raise the motor up using shims on top of the transom under the motor, til you find the best height.

If you get a prop with a cup,it'll probably correct the cavitation

Did you try other tilt pin hole settings on the motor?

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Thanks Pirate, and the rest of you for the comments.
I didnt drill any holes for bolts in the bottom of the motor mount. Only the clamps were on for this run. Glad I waited.

I did not try any other tilt positions. I thought I'd leave well enough alone until I saw you experts next week and let you all make the suggestions.
Here is a video that shows a view out the back of the boat of the motor running at speed and the two rooster tails. It might help you experienced folks identify if its tilt or motor height that is causing them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qkzLWa2eKc

The cavitation is so slight (if thats really even what it is) I wont do anything about it, its so subtle.

_________________
My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Good idea not to drill till you figure out your height......but.....check the clamps and tighten them frequently.

The motor WILL torque up off the transom,so keep a tight watch

We can sort that out at the Gathering.

Bring some 1/4 , 3/8, 1/2, pieces of wood as wide as your transom cut out to slip under the motor and we can adjust height to see the difference

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

How neat is that.
Way to go Chris. Thanks for not making us wait forever on a video. My popcorn was still hot this time.

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A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

You must the a proud papa for your 'First Born'. I am hopefully only 6 or so months behind splashing mine.. thanks for the inspiration and I am betting you are going to have a blast at the Gathering. I wish I could be there myself to see it in person.

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Ian (aka Iggy)
My Malahini Build

Six months???

Won't you have to chop a hole in the ice to launch in 6 months Iggy???LOL

Chris,I'd say you had a very successful build and first launch.....very few adjustments to make!

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

A quick scan of your run, very nice, but please do not depend on just the clamps on the top of the motor bracket. Torgue and a bit of vibration can cause irreversible harm when the motor slips sideways and off the cap. The bottom bolts secured middle way of the slotted bottom section allows a measure of safety.

Looks good Chris. I cant wait to see it!
I had a 50 hp Johnson jump off the back of a boat because I was too lazy to bolt it on.

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John Amundsen
Monte Carlo
Winter Haven, FL

Maybe it will be done by G6 and maybe not.