Leo Bentz, Ski Nautique and Boat #1

ScottZ wrote: I have located the windshield. It does not have the brackets or the gasket. I will be happy to donate it to the cause. In the meantime I will look around to see if I can locate some brackets.

thanks Scott, I knew you'd come through. No big hurry to get it here so I'll be in touch to see if maybe we can get it to a reunion in the near future so I can pick it up. Probably a bit of a pain to box up and ship.

TRBenj wrote: I'm confused which windshield and brackets are in question... Single pane plexi or dual pane glass? I thought you were searching for the latter, Alan?

single pane plexi windshield is going back on

Those brackets in your picture look more like the brackets for my dual-pane glass windshield. The set I have are shorter than those. I can't seem to find a picture of them. I'll have to dig them out at home and get one.

Tim's a sand panda you're not going with 2 piece glass.

And it's what it had on it originally...

i dunno

Pete just found the solution to the windshield dilemma...

Alan the windshield is being brought to you at the River Ruckus by Jackie Deen. I hope it will help you of with the project!

Hello, been away a bit...
Have rejected several 312, but have what I think is a worthy candidate. The biggest issue is porosity through the cylinder walls. (and into the water jackets). Since most boats don't use anti-freeze (which also inhibits rust), and boat owners often 'forget' to drain the blocks for winter, the automotive blocks seem to be in better shape, all other things the same.
As for rotation, I believe the standard rotation (counter-clockwise when viewed from astern) is the direction we are going. This is helpful in a couple key area 1) The rear main seals are directional, unless using rope. Also, the direction-specific cam was gear-driven on rr engines, then there is the starter, etc.
As discussed, the 312 did have main bearing issues. This was mostly due to an incorrect main bolt spec by Ford, at 125#. When later revised to 90#, many issues, including web-cracking were solved.
We will both pressure-test the cooling passages, and sonic the cylinder wall thickness before moving forward.
Looking forward to assisting with this very-cool project.
Brian

Hollywood wrote: 81nautique wrote: I have always planned to put a standard rotation (left hand prop) motor in the boat.

Will that be a problem if you intend to use the Velvet Drive that came off my spare RR engine? I planned on running up north and getting it as soon as I get back from Seattle on the 30th.

M3Fan wrote: Wow. Amazing find. This is essentially the trump card for all future SN or CC conversations. "Oh I have a SN. Yeah, the first one. Ever."

Without a doubt. This is awesome.

This is amazing. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Hey gang, No progress to report on the boat but I had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Leo last week, He came across a magazine article with some more early inboard history that is an interesting read so I thought I'd post it. Hopefully it's all legible and I have it in the right order!

Charlie was going through some old Water Skier magazines and found this ad in the 1961 July/Aug.





Damn! I've turned it rightside up twice and it still loads upside down!!

Great article Alan. Enjoyed reading it. Interesting the age old contrast between ski tractors and having to have a boat like the new GS200. Saw someone complain about CC introducing a new 100,000 boat and why don't they make a more basic less expensive one. Cranky respondents said, if you don't want a good boat, don't buy a CC. That wasn't the point tho. The point is make a high quality boat, without all the bells and whistles, features, speakers and goofy graphics. At least that's what I took the OPs comment to mean. As little following as 3 event has any more tho, I guess that is probably not economically viable.

Here you go pete.