Leo Bentz, Ski Nautique and Boat #1

It's my understanding that 312s have a bad habit of breaking rod caps. Boat Dr. had one that broke a crank. People on the web say that a stock 292 is a stronger engine. For some reason, I'm still partial to 312s because one of those is what got me involved in this whole boating and skiing world. I could be talked into using a 292. I could tell people that it's a 312, but I don't do that sort of thing!

I was looking at a 292 on a stand today that is getting ready to be rebuilt and the way it was explained to me is that the journals on a 312 are larger to accommodate the larger diameter crank, but Ford took away material from the caps, so they are not as beefy as they are in the smaller displacement engines. This guy said grinding the 312 crank down to fit into the 292 journals makes for a stronger engine.

Guys, as I understand it from two different sources, you can't make a true-blue 312 out of anything else. The crank journals are bigger on a 312 than on any other Y-block. You can make a 312 cubic inch engine, but it's still not a "real" one.

I have been told that the only way to externally identify a real 312 is to look on the outside diameter of the flywheel flange on the crank for a cast-in "dot" that is about the size of an Aspirin tablet.

I've been looking for a complete RH 312 for my '63. I have a bunch of parts and two partial engines, but I don 't know if any of the stuff I have is any good.

81nautique wrote: 75 Tique wrote: 81nautique wrote: skutsch wrote: Hmmmm, I wonder if that 272 block would work well in a certain Atom or Starfire with fins, that I know happen to be missing an engine... I see the listing is down Steve, do you know where that boat ended up? I'm going to guess in his garage. He's being coy. The last time someone was being coy around here..... 81nautique wrote: Awesome work Craig, Looks fantastic. I have a project lining up that is going to need to be regelled and I may take your advice. Want to do another one for me?     ...the project showed up in his garage. Touche Larry, I hope it's true. I had a deal made on that boat but had to let it go due to too much stuff happening right now,   I was sort of hoping a few years down the road that it might still be available.   I sure hope someone here ended up with it.

It ended up in MN: 1958 Starfire.   I am on the fence about bringing it home, I need more barn space...

75 Tique wrote: 81nautique wrote: skutsch wrote: Hmmmm, I wonder if that 272 block would work well in a certain Atom or Starfire with fins, that I know happen to be missing an engine... I see the listing is down Steve, do you know where that boat ended up? I'm going to guess in his garage. He's being coy. The last time someone was being coy around here..... 81nautique wrote: Awesome work Craig, Looks fantastic. I have a project lining up that is going to need to be regelled and I may take your advice. Want to do another one for me?     ...the project showed up in his garage.

Touche Larry, I hope it's true. I had a deal made on that boat but had to let it go due to too much stuff happening right now,   I was sort of hoping a few years down the road that it might still be available.   I sure hope someone here ended up with it.

81nautique wrote: skutsch wrote: Hmmmm, I wonder if that 272 block would work well in a certain Atom or Starfire with fins, that I know happen to be missing an engine... I see the listing is down Steve, do you know where that boat ended up?

I'm going to guess in his garage. He's being coy. The last time someone was being coy around here.....

81nautique wrote: Awesome work Craig, Looks fantastic. I have a project lining up that is going to need to be regelled and I may take your advice. Want to do another one for me?

...the project showed up in his garage.

81nautique wrote: Brian has had the machine shop inspect and reject 2 312 blocks so far so we're still looking for a usable core, we'll get there eventually and then the fun begins.

Alan,
You've probably already thought of it but here's an idea. The basic blocks are the same but the 312 is bored out an extra 0.18" from the 272 and then stroked an extra 0.14" from the 272. Could you use the 272 block from Jim and build up a 312?

Hmmmm, I wonder if that 272 block would work well in a certain Atom or Starfire with fins, that I know happen to be missing an engine...

Steve, here is what I have "heard" or know about the evolution of the boat to CC's line. Leo found himself with too many irons in the fire. He had built a few boats and helped the owners with various issues that developed in the boats. He was running the ski schools, (two locations) with many employees. I think I recall him saying that he was also managing some residential rental properties that he had acquired. He was fulltime in law school, and his wife was about to make him a Dad, so with her strong encouragement, he decided to sell the boat company. He approached CC and was turned down. Henry Holmes, who was an active skier and competitor at the time, spoke with the Meloons, (the owners of Correct Craft) and suggested to them that Leo did in fact have a good product that he thought would take off. Having respect for what Henry had told them, the contacted Leo and agreed to take the molds, the unfinished boats, the parts inventory, and the Nautique name. Most of you know that Ski Nautique is French for "Water Ski." Leo and his wife had visited France and decided that it was a good name for the boat. In return for the above, CC agreed to pay Leo some sum of money that I have never heard a hint of the amount and a certain number of boats spread over some number of years for use in his ski school and repair some of the issues that had developed with some of the existing boats. He also was allowed to purchase boats for resale.
And that's about all I know about the acquisition by CC.

Well We're pretty sure it had an Interceptor in it.

skutsch wrote: ArtCozier wrote: Pete, I think Interceptor supplied engines with both types of manifolds at the same time, depending on what the boat manufacturer ordered. It appears to me that in CC's case, boats with deep motor wells (or high floorboards) got high manifolds, those with adequate room next to the engine for the low manifolds got those. The low ones flood pretty easily if water backs up in the exhaust system,. Art; Did Correct Craft consult with Leo on the boats that he built? or did he contact CC after he had already built his first "production" run? Also, just so I am clear this is believed to be the first production boat that Leo built not the first Correct Craft built Ski Nautique? I know it probably doesn't matter, but just trying to keep everything in context...

Steve not entirely sure on your first question but it doesn't appear that Correct Craft came into the picture until after Leo built the first 12 boats.

Before Leo had any boats built he had Bob Conn, a Miami boat builder produce one prototype or test boat from the mold,    This is the boat in this thread, It is the first Ski Nautique built before he contracted with another boat builder to have the 12 production boats built.   So there are or were 13 Glass Craft Ski Nautiques before Correct Craft purchased the mold and rights to the name.

ArtCozier wrote: Pete, I think Interceptor supplied engines with both types of manifolds at the same time, depending on what the boat manufacturer ordered. It appears to me that in CC's case, boats with deep motor wells (or high floorboards) got high manifolds, those with adequate room next to the engine for the low manifolds got those. The low ones flood pretty easily if water backs up in the exhaust system,.

Art; Did Correct Craft consult with Leo on the boats that he built? or did he contact CC after he had already built his first "production" run?

Also, just so I am clear this is believed to be the first production boat that Leo built not the first Correct Craft built Ski Nautique?

I know it probably doesn't matter, but just trying to keep everything in context...

Alan,
This is really cool. i finally had a chance to sit down and read the entire post. Cant wait to see this thing.

Alan,
Expect a call shortly. You may need to purchase the complete engine but see what Jim has to say. I don't know the year of the Y block so I don't know if it has the early round or later rectangular exhaust manifolds?
I'm also checking with others.

I can help drink the beer out of your fridge :)

Way cool stuff Alan, such a great group on this site, amazing!!!