Crapshooter For Sale

[jim kapanowski]

I have decided that having three Crapshooters is unnecessary, a vintage 60 size Proto kit, hull was designed for the off set engine, however its not built to that stage open for someone to center mount engine. Such a great kit someone is going to be a happy camper
$$750 shipped in the US
First I will take it gets it

 

[David Bryant]

interesting style construction

 

[jim kapanowski]

Yeah I own two a 40 and a 60 so this third boat is just not needed will be a great boat for someone, and the name well speaks for itself.

 

[Steve White]

Do you know about what year that kit was built? I had two of the early 40 size and two of the Gen II 60 boats. Fuselage was wider and the front sponsons were a high density cast solid foam on the Gen II 60 boats I had. It seems like they came with stuffing box brass tubing and a hardwood strut that needed to be wrapped with fiberglass. They were fast boats. Tim Ries and Dennis Worden claimed the Gen I could handle a 60 - maybe they knew how to do it. I didn't - flew one off the water at 80+ running an OPS 60 with a Octura 2.6 prop too many times to count. It would torque roll the left sponson up and kite very nicely. Boat would lift off high enough to get the engine shut down before it landed so I never hydraulic'd one.

 

[jim kapanowski]

I was told when I got it was pre- Hughey

 

[jim kapanowski]

Do you know about what year that kit was built. I had two of the early 40 size and two of the Gen II 60 boats. Fuselage was wider and the front sponsons were a high density cast solid foam on the Gen II 60 boats I had. It seems like they came with stuffing box brass tubing and a hardwood strut that needed to be wrapped with fiberglass. They were fast boats. Tim Reis and Dennis Worden claimed the Gen I could handle a 60 - maybe they knew how to do it. I didn't - flew one off the water at 80+ running an OPS 60 with a Octura 2.6 prop too many times to count. It would torque roll the left sponson up and kite very nicely. Boat would lift off high enough to get the engine shut down before it landed so I never hydraulic'd one.

Pre-Hughey

 

[Steve White]

Pre-Hughey.....hmmmmmm. My first boat was a scaled up "Little Hughey" (Conventional 4-point hydro design) and that was around 1968-69ish just for conversation. Maybe you mean a Hughey Outrigger? I don't remember one, but I ran Crapshooters and Octura Wing-Ding's back then.

Not trying to crap up your thread with history babble but this is interesting.

The Gen I 40 size boats were ply/balsa with the balsa on the outside. The Gen II were dual sheeted like the one pictured ply/balsa/ply - seems like the Gen II's with the solid dense foam front sponsons came out 75-76ish. I probably put the first Gen I Shooter in the water in ~1974 or so.

The Gen I & Gen II Crapshooters used a solid straight driveshaft. That being a Prototype kit fits - it probably is.

Thanks sir, good luck with the sale - outta go quick. Seeing that raw kit brings back some fond memories.

 

[Kevin Sheren]

Pre Greg Hughey. He purchased Crapshooter from Marty Davis in the early 50's

It is not a prototype The boat was called a PROTO 40.

 

[Steve White]

I only knew of Ed Hughey. The Crapshooters I ran in the mid/late 70's were built by Dennis Worden and Tim Ries.

Found this, so yeah that kit is pre-Hughey for sure: Who Started Crapshooter Boats? | Intlwaters.com

Thanks!

 

[Mike Betke]

Pre Greg Hughey. He purchased Crapshooter from Marty Davis in the early 50's

It is not a prototype The boat was called a PROTO 40.

I think you meant early 80's Kevin.

I had one of these back in the day. I would say it was late 80's, between 87 and 89.

 

[Steve White]

I think you meant early 80's Kevin.

I had one of these back in the day. I would say it was late 80's, between 87 and 89.

This is an evolution of the boat beyond the early models I had, the pan is narrowed and lengthened and they went from the solid foam cast front sponsons back to a sheeted style.

Makes sense, now I can sleep.

 

[jim kapanowski]

Great history being told this is good to hear, the more we can learn the better, also helps move the hobby forward, getting all this knowledge from the pioneers so we can pass it to the rookie boaters and keep the circle going

 

[Kevin Sheren]

Fat fingers Mile, lol

Merry Christmas.

 

[Steve White]

Great history being told this is good to hear, the more we can learn the better, also helps move the hobby forward, getting all this knowledge from the pioneers so we can pass it to the rookie boaters and keep the circle going

Being new to the forum, I wasn't sure of the "vibe" around here. Not sure how my questions/comments would be received. I posted just because my own experience/memories were triggered and it was a great time for my RC boating journey. You're spot on with the history of the sport/hobby and the newer boaters. This is a great hobby, both for the journey and learning and probably most importantly the fellowship within.

The early Crapshooters were nuclear fast, I mean fast compared to Wing Ding's and other stuff. I saw an article or ad in an RC magazine about the Gen I Crapshooter and they guaranteed 70 MPH with a 40 engine - when I contacted Precision Boats, Tim Reis answered the phone. He said the boat could handle a 60 as well. So, I ordered one and put an early OPS 60 in it. Wild times with that combination. There were several consultation phone calls with Dennis and Tim. My buddy built one too. We couldn't get the boats to turn. After thinking about it, the early Gen I/II kits came with running hardware - strut tube and rudder assembly. A tapered aluminum wedge.

Seems like back then, the guys in Michigan were running straight pipes on the boats which would explain how the Gen I hulls could handle the 60 power. I didn't know enough yet to simply move the RH sponson out to compensate for the torque problem. Learned that later from Don Pinckert's wife (Talking to Don about it later, he said she really wasn't supposed to let that get out) when setting up a Tundergator twin.

On a call, Tim told me to pull throttle, set the boat with some rudder and throw the throttle wide open to "wheel it through the turn" on the prop. That worked well with 1 boat on the water, not so much in traffic. Tinkering with the Gen 1 Crapshooter the best combination I came up with was an OPS 40 with a Super Tigre G-40 rod that was if I recall correctly was 0.150" shorter than the OPS 4 rod. Turned the case to drop the sleeve and retain stock timing. Opened the head up slightly from stock for 40% nitro. Trimmed the front sponsons down 1/4" overall and re-sheeted the bottom planks. Larger turn fin and larger Octura wedge rudder.

That boat would have done some damage in heat racing when I was in California at the time. Around 76/77 I went to a race in Monterrey and was doing some test laps in the morning pre-race time. Throttle servo hung open, (loose motor mount screw wedged in the gears) so when I got on the rudder, it took a nose dive and stuck in the bottom of the pond. Was 4-5' deep in that spot at the entry to turn 1. After about 1/2 hour, the guys running the retrieve boat were circling around the area it disappeared and saw oil spots on the water, probed around with a paddle knocked it loose from the silt and it popped up. Engine was totally destroyed, boat had stress fractures as well. That combination used to pull a full Octura 1465 prop without any bogging. Never rebuilt that boat and engine combination. Had moved on to the 60's class.

The mid 70's Crapshooters were boats that you had to "turn down" a little as they were very fast in the era. I would guess by the time this kit/boat were designed they had evolved the design past all that into something that was a better handling boat.

 

[timothy johnson]

Here's a little more history from the 1978 IMPBA rule book. The pics are from a 1978 Indy Race, the purple boat belongs to Bill Wisniewski with the KB ducted fan pipe and new KB .46, the other pic is a Crapshooter also. Checkout those prices.

 

[jim kapanowski]

Being new to the forum, I wasn't sure of the "vibe" around here. Not sure how my questions/comments would be received. I posted just because my own experience/memories were triggered and it was a great time for my RC boating journey. You're spot on with the history of the sport/hobby and the newer boaters. This is a great hobby, both for the journey and learning and probably most importantly the fellowship within.

The early Crapshooters were nuclear fast, I mean fast compared to Wing Ding's and other stuff. I saw an article or ad in an RC magazine about the Gen I Crapshooter and they guaranteed 70 MPH with a 40 engine - when I contacted Precision Boats, Tim Reis answered the phone. He said the boat could handle a 60 as well. So, I ordered one and put an early OPS 60 in it. Wild times with that combination. There were several consultation phone calls with Dennis and Tim. My buddy built one too. We couldn't get the boats to turn. After thinking about it, the early Gen I/II kits came with running hardware - strut tube and rudder assembly. A tapered aluminum wedge.

Seems like back then, the guys in Michigan were running straight pipes on the boats which would explain how the Gen I hulls could handle the 60 power. I didn't know enough yet to simply move the RH sponson out to compensate for the torque problem. Learned that later from Don Pinckert's wife (Talking to Don about it later, he said she really wasn't supposed to let that get out) when setting up a Tundergator twin.

On a call, Tim told me to pull throttle, set the boat with some rudder and throw the throttle wide open to "wheel it through the turn" on the prop. That worked well with 1 boat on the water, not so much in traffic. Tinkering with the Gen 1 Crapshooter the best combination I came up with was an OPS 40 with a Super Tigre G-40 rod that was if I recall 0.150" shorter than the OPS 4 rod. Turned the case to drop the sleeve and retain stock timing. Opened the head up slightly from stock for 40% nitro. Trimmed the front sponsons down 1/4" overall and resheeted the bottom planks. Larger turn fin and larger Octura wedge rudder.

That boat would have done some damage in heat racing when I was in California at the time. Around 76/77 I went to a race in Monterrey and was doing some test laps in the morning pre-race time. Throttle servo hung open, (loose motor mount screw wedged in the gears) so when I got on the rudder, it took a nose dive and stuck in the bottom of the pond. Was 4-5' deep in that spot at the entry to turn 1. After about 1/2 hour, the guys running the retrieve boat were circling around the area it disappeared and saw oil spots on the water, probed around with a paddle and it popped up. Engine was totally destroyed, boat had stress fractures as well. That combination used to pull a full Octura 1465 prop without any bogging. Never rebuilt that boat and engine combination. Had moved on to the 60's class.

The mid 70's Crapshooters were boats that you had to "turn down" a little as they were very fast in the era. I would guess by the time this kit/boat were designed they had evolved the design past all that into something that was a better handling boat.

Yeah sometimes guys get upset not sure why it’s better to have some action on the boat then nothing at all, it’s still for sale conversation doesn’t change the sale

 

[jim kapanowski]

Here's a little more history from the 1978 IMPBA rule book. The pics are from a 1978 Indy Race, the purple boat belongs to Bill Wisniewski with the KB ducted fan pipe and new KB .46, the other pic is a Crapshooter also. Checkout those prices.

Cool

 

[jim kapanowski]

These are my other two

 

[Gary Lauer]

back when I was in the Ford boat club two of us had crapshooters with OPS 21s. our boats had wooden sponson mounts. what year would that be? I cant remember.

 

[Steve White]

back when I was in the Ford boat club two of us had crapshooters with OPS 21s. our boats had wooden sponson mounts. what year would that be? I cant remember.

i also built a 20 size, powered by a Taipan .21. Fun little boat. My buddy and I put a crank plug in one and adapted a rotor and back plate from something - don't remember what it was. We used a rotor and made the back plate and pressed a drive pin into the crankshaft journal. It ran pretty good.