Mercury Vintage Racing DVD

lilabner · #1 01-19-2007, 11:33 AM

Sea Craft cats evolved from American Marc cats..Carl owned Am Marc and changed the name to Sea Craft when he started his own designs..The 4 pointer was a cut down, cut up Am Marc cat with sponsons..Carl was hurt at Lake X testing for the 9 hour..I heard a couple others got thrown out at that test session..I never did..I loved the boat. The picture was taken during the 9 hour race..Mike Wallace was leading in Tiny Tim, I forgot who was second and I was third..We were having lots of problems with swivel pins in 800's and 1000's breaking..
Carl was like Nordskog..an Iron man..nothing could keep him down..Jeanne could fill in the blanks..

65Bowrider · #2 01-20-2007, 09:42 AM

I remember a trip to Lake X where Carl (Dad) was testing a new Cat of his design, subsequently named the "Wet Noodle".
The test drivers at Lake X put an engine on it and ran it around their course, but would not take it to full throttle as they said the bow would start to lift. At only 3/4 throttle it was breaking speeding records. Carl was frustrated, so he said 'let me take it for a spin'. And he did. He was dressed in street clothes...atleast someone threw him a helmet before he climbed in. He took off going around the course in the "Wet Noodle", and sure enough, he pushed the throttles fully down, set a new speed record. I was standing on the dock with Jeanne (Mom) and watched on the backstretch as the bow lifted, up and up and over. Carl got very wet, but other than that was ok.

lilabner · #3 01-21-2007, 01:29 PM

65Bowrider
That is the Wet Noodle in the photo..and I think your Dad broke or bruised a rib and twisted a knee in that excursion. He was in a lot of pain in the 6 Hour Race, but never quit. The motors quit on us. When I drove the boat they warned me it might do that again, but I never felt it would. It ran excellent for me, it was a great rough water boat..

Bigshrimpin · #4 01-21-2007, 02:32 PM

What other seacraft secrets are you guys hiding? I can't get enough of these stories. What about the CIA contracts? Cuba?

Butch - when you said it was a great rough water boat . . . what do you mean by rough water? How large were the seas/chop that you guys raced in . . . with the wet noodle?

lilabner · #5 01-21-2007, 05:13 PM

Well, let me put it this way..I have 2 boats..a 33 twin engine center console Oceanhawk..and a 22 velocity with a V8 Johnson putting out about 340hp..rough for the Velocity is choppy for the Oceanhawk..the cat was about 16-17 feet long.the water in the picture would be considered a little choppy, plus you have 50 other boats around you..the following week it was rougher than the picture in some spots. It really all depends on the size of the boat..When Ocean racing started in the late 50's and thru the late 60's, we actually started in small craft warnings a few times..I only worked on the CIA boats, I don't want to know about any contracts..

Bryan A. · #6 01-21-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

What other seacraft secrets are you guys hiding? I can't get enough of these stories.

Yeah! What he said!

Great stuff.

NoBones · #7 01-22-2007, 12:09 AM

You gotta love-it!

This has to be the best thread ever.
I get goose bumps, to think that the inventor and family of the "Founding Father" of the boat that we hold so close to our hearts is a part of this great web site.
Keep it coming.......

See ya, Capt. Ken

We are truly one big family!!!!!!!!!

Capt Chuck · #8 01-22-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

V8 Johnson putting out about 340hp..

lilabner

I want that sucker on my 23'

JMoesly · #9 01-22-2007, 05:28 AM

Butch - Carl was tossed out of the "Wet Noodle" more than once. At Pelican Harbor he went out so fast that his tennis shoes remained in the boat. In trying to stay in the cat he twisted the Mercury throttle handles so the left handle was in front of the right handle - I think that is when he twisted his knee and got a few "dings"

lilabner · #10 01-22-2007, 11:29 AM

Hi Jeanne, That's when it probably happened..I was so busy working on boats for the upcoming races, I didn't get to do any testing..I was supposed to run with Charlie and Richie was going to run with Carl, but Richie got a wild hair and quit..so Ken Wilson told me to run with Carl and Richie run with Charlie..I don't remembering even testing in the Wet Noodle before the race, but I'm sure I did..Ken told me Carl was hurt testing at the Lake, I thought, but things are foggy now days on some things. If anyone would know it would be you..I think the most amazing thing Carl did was crawl back in his cat between 2 running motors in gear..I still have the newspaper article..