Runner Bottom molds for sale

[mr_burnns]

http://chico.craigslist.org/boa/628879885.html

[RiverRacer]

Interesting, wonder what it is??..:confused:

[mr_burnns]

I emailed the guy and i might go check them out some time this next week.....It's a 5/8 runner and i guess the guy that has the molds use to work for the company in the 70's and was the first on the west coast to make Kevlar hull's.....i dunno but i will take pics if i don't buy.-B

[FC-Pilot]

That would be interesting to find out what it was based off of. Make sure to post info when you find out.

Paul

[RiverRacer]

I emailed the guy and i might go check them out some time this next week.....It's a 5/8 runner and i guess the guy that has the molds use to work for the company in the 70's and was the first on the west coast to make Kevlar hull's.....i dunno but i will take pics if i don't buy.-B

Wow, could be a great find depending on what it is!...

[mr_burnns]

How plausible would it be for me to actually build a boat from these molds.....I have a shop....money....time....i just lack the knowledge.

[boatguy222]

How plausible would it be for me to actually build a boat from these molds.....I have a shop....money....time....i just lack the knowledge.

If the guy who has the molds now, has ever layed up any boats out of the mold, he should have a lay-up schedule for the boat. there also should be several patters for the wood that will go in the boat. If he has those things then you should be that big of a deal to build one, if you can afford the price of resin!

[Terrible toy]

How plausible would it be for me to actually build a boat from these molds.....I have a shop....money....time....i just lack the knowledge.

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1959729

I posted this "tongue in cheek" sequence of my experience building a hydro on the "pre crash" v-drive site. You might get a little feeling for what's involved in making a composite boat from the pics.

You wouldn't have to design and build the plug and molds which was 80% to 90% of our effort. My partner was an expert glass guy and fabricator who had been the shop foreman at Kurtis Kraft boats. Needless to say his skills and knowledge made it much easier then what you are contemplating.

Because we were building a race boat we spent a lot of time talking to composite experts and experimenting with lay ups. We also spent considerable time optimizing the mechanics of the hull such as weight, sponson design, and, engine, v-drive, strut placements. To help in production we bought a resin gun to wet out the glass and made jigs, drill and cutout patterns.

From my experience here are some thoughts on your building your boat. You need to have a production plan and materials list. All the things that you will need buy, make or rent, from mold release to flow coating. Safety issues are another thing to take into account. Like boatguy 222 suggested it would help to have the lay up plans, wood patterns and all the dimensions for mechanical placementsl. If the guy you buy the molds from can't help with specs you've got a lot of collective expertise here to draw on. I'm sure between the members there is enough info to help you through your project.

You may need to talk someone into helping with the glass work. It would be a challenge for one guy to lay up an 18 foot boat by himself, we had two and a resin gun and it was hard.

[FC-Pilot]

Two guys laying up a boat can be tough, but possible. I have some lay-up schedule info from some of the Cole boats I could share with you. We leaned a few tips from a guy that worked at Biesemeyer also. They came in very handy while laying up our boats. Although we had to do a lot of experimentation being that we were doing a carbon boat, I believe that you could still do it. I can tell you there is nothing more gratifying than building your own boat from scratch. It is time consuming though.

The one one the left is a hull we resurrected, and the one on the right we built ourselves.
http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/picture.php?albumid=57&pictureid=252

Paul

[mr_burnns]

"The manufacturer’s name was Sunchaser. They closed up shop in about 1980 but Russ built one more of these runner bottoms in I think 1986. I believe the boat is still in the area and I would be happy to show it to you if I can set that up. Sunchaser built 19 foot bubble deck jets and outboards mostly but we did build a few of these runner bottoms also. We built one for the guy who built the molds and he ski raced it at clear lake with his son as the skier and took first place most every year. The boat is a little wider than most new runner bottoms and thus is more stable than some boats."-email from seller of molds


He is interested in building a couple of boats so hopefully we can get the ball rolling sooner than later :D Hopefully he has some lay-up plans and some patterns for all the wood like you guys mentioned above.I have lot's of time right now and I'm getting fat so a time eating project would be good for me.I felt pretty overwhelmed at first but with the support that i have had so far i think Im going to jump in.Terrible Toy ...thanks for the link,that is what i needed to get an idea of what the hell Im getting myself into and Paul i will be asking lot's of question's and I would love the feeling of having a boat that i built hull and all......what a gratifying feeling:D

[RiverRacer]

I think it's a cool idea and the pride and satifaction you'll get out of it will be worth the $$$$. If it comes with plans and patterns that's all the better, but if not just remember they started out the same way and you'll just have to make your own as you go, it just takes more time that's all!...