Frahs Hull and Molds

[BWB]

I purchased the molds and tooling for Terry Frahs 1974-ish sprint boat hulls, and have an original hull that came from the molds. The deck and the split-hull molds have been stored inside for many, many years and are in very good shape. The molds are extremely well constructed and a testiment to Terry's fiberglass ability. The hull is stripped out, but comes complete with everything except the engine and the Casale 10-degree v-drive. The hull is also in very good shape, with no floor delamination or stringer problems.
We are in the process of putting up a new boat shop, and the Frahs hulls are a project that we are not going to get to anytime soon!
If anyone is interested in purchasing the molds, or the molds with the hull, contact me and we will work a reasonable deal.
I don't want a ton of money for them, but I want enough to know that the people who purchase them will do something with them.
http://www.berkshirewoodenboat.net/hull1.jpg
http://www.berkshirewoodenboat.net/deck2.jpg

[no longer here]

Hey BWB,
A while back, on another internet site, there was a gentleman who was talking about Frahs boats. He said that Terry Frahs bought molds from Stevens Boats, when they closed their doors.
Now, I don't know any of this to be true, or not, but, looking at the pictures of your molds, it appears that the bolt together two-piece hull mold is exactly like the Stevens mold. ( Stevens boats have that seam running down the center of them from the mold).
I have no idea what you want for the mold, but you can click on my name to send me a private message with a figure.
I've always been into Stevens boats, if the mold is right, maybe I'll get in deeper.
Spike

[gfinishline]

Thanks for the 'heads up'. I'm looking at some other molds, what do you want for your's? We would be starting a club/class circle boat racing organization. Please PM with prices and info. G

[BWB]

I purchased the molds from Terry Frahs business partner's son. He owned the building that they built the hulls in.
There are no markings on the molds to indicate were they originated from, but the hull I have is absolutely a Frahs and it came from these mold - no question. There were never any mods done to the molds.
So, unless the Stevens design is the same as the Frahs hull- then they are probably just two different split-hull designs.
The molds were sold to me at a very reasonable price because they felt I would take care of them. I have more into moving them than I have into their purchase! I am looking for $4,000.00. If anyone wanted the hull along with the molds, I'd let it go for an additional $2,000.00. It is compete, minus engine and Casale 10 degree v-drive.
Thanks for your interest
Chris Mattoon
Berkshire Wooden Boat
www.berkshirewoodenboat.net

[Florida Inboards]

What was this model designed for ? Primary as a circle or drag racer? Or ski boat?

If circle racer, Were they competitive and would they be competitive in todays race enviorment ?

[BWB]

It was the only Frahs model in the mid-1970's. It was marketed as a sprint, or circle boat primarily, and sold setup as a recreational boat secondarily.
Many of the experienced east coast circle racers on this site can critique its pluses and minuses; some raced very successfully. By all accounts, not many raced the design better than Terry Frahs himself.

[BWB]

http://www.berkshirewoodenboat.net/Frahs review1.jpg

http://www.berkshirewoodenboat.net/frahs review2.jpg

[Shooter]

When Terry drove, his boats ran out front. On big courses like St. Pete's Florida or St. Tim Quebec Terry's boats stood out. He was fearless as a driver and his hulls were quick.

Gordie

[canam10]

Spike,
It is my understanding, Terry learned his boat building skills while working for Stevens boat back in the day. Don't know whether the Frahs molds are the old Stevens molds or Terry build his own, but the Steven hull surely was a big influance. Sked(J&S Marine, builder of Jersy Speed Skiffs)and Terry were pretty close and may have the answer as to to molds origins
Gordie and I both had the pleasure of racing against Terry, as him and his Wife would make the trip up North to bet the Florida heat most Summers. They would come up to run the drags with us about July 1st Canada Day and then we would all head up to Valleyfield. I think the first time I ran against him was in the early 70's in Ottawa/Hull,Quebec. Terry may have won that day. Back than I was running a Hurricane hull ,Gordie probably had his Rayson Craft. Back than there could have been 6-10 different make hulls at a race and on any given day anyone of them could have won. Terry's boats were as fast as any back than but when the Biesemeyers came on the seen they pretty much rendered all other hulls obsolite. As to wether they would be competive today, the answer is NO. With the shorter courses and 2 more turns I don't feel they would compete. Most all the hulls were fast down the strights but none of them turn like a Biesemeyer. They would however make a great boat for Boyd's 80 MPH class or a just great ski boat.

[no longer here]

Canam10,
I had heard information on Terry Frahs boats throughout the years that coroborate your info as well.
The Frahs flatbottom is an interesting boat and good looking as well. The split mold thing is definately like Stevens did it, although it may not actually be the same .
I have that article from an old Hot Boat, where I first heard of them, always liked what I saw.

[no longer here]

Excuse me, the article was in Powerboat, not Hot Boat, as the picture bears out. My typo.

[Woody555]

Well i have recent first hand knowlege of fraz hulls in abpa ps and ss compitition. i would somewhat disagree that they cant be competitive. On a larger course with big turns, good water and no wind i was very competitive. I was 1st and 2nd with bobby commander in ss in cambridge md august 06. Now in sep 07 i tried the boat on a small 1 mile course (mays landing, nj) the boat literally would jump out of the water and want to fly coming off the turns with any chop on the water(wind made this much worse). I believe the drop chine, narrow beam and light layup make these boats both fast and unforgiving. My opinion of these boats are the same as Duff's, "they are for a man without a family". Sure they could probally perform on lake maggorie and other big calm courses but why when you can do more safer and easier with a bieser or revenge. maybe an ok pleasure boat with low hp and speed.

[RiverRacer]

Sounds like they were designed for a long course just like the Jones were??, they would make a good Nostalgia boat though!..

[gfinishline]

The chines could be filled and "rolled slightly up", in the mold.

[RiverRacer]

Probably would help a whole bunch, but still wouldn't come close to a B boat though!..

[ABBOTTCRAFT]

Frahs Boats used to be in Burlingame,California..Just south of the San Francisco Airport...John Sofilos(sp) was the owner of the shop & rigged quite a few of these hulls...Heard he used to race them back in the day...I remember seeing the molds there at his shop...He was trying to talk me into buying one in the worst way every time I went down there..We kept our Sprint Car right down the block for awhile back in the 70's...:):):)