Who made the first production O/B Tunnel?

[Carl Van Houten]

Did y'all see that K&B 21 for $69.95? I don't remember them being that cheap. Looking through the magazine was cool. I built that Wind Drifter and Sig Kadet. Those were fun models.

 

[Brandon Atwell]

Managed to find this, bottom looks interesting from this angle

 

[XtremeRcBoats]

when did Dumas start producing tunnel hulls?

 

[piper_chuck]

Klampon Kai with K&B O/B from long ago...

 

[Carl Van Houten]

He probably designed in the large wedge at the front of the deck trying to keep it from blowing off so easy.

 

[Danny King]

As far back as I go. Actually 83 was but this is the oldest catalog i have. Probably wore the 83 one out.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Klampon Kia was my first outboard and entry to racing ( my first boat was a little swamp buggy that I converted to 1/2a inboard). Then I scratch built an Excalibur. Been a sickness since.
When the 7.5 came out a couple of local guys ran the Klampon with them.

 

[Carl Van Houten]

Cool...sounds like there were quite a few of them built.

 

[Carl Van Houten]

Grim,

Did you notice that they had typed the kit number (900) in the border? Nobody would take the time to do that today.

 

[Geraghty]

when did Dumas start producing tunnel hulls?

As I recall 1975-76.....Any way you look at it.....it was a long time ago.....lolol

 

[Grimracer]

I think I have seen adds in 1976 or 77 for the Dumas Hotshot.. let me look.. yep.. i could dig more but i have an add from November 77 for the Hotshot.. (first one I grabbed.. (I have hundreds of early hobby magazines, all cataloged)

 

[Carl Van Houten]

I am going to say 1976.

 

[XtremeRcBoats]

Tnx guys, so Dumas was also very early involved in the tunnel business.

 

[Grimracer]

From what I can find.. the K+B OB was introduced October 76 or there about.. Its the first issue I can find the motor and it says.. "ITS HERE!"..lol Looks like Steve Muck had the Lil Lighting out in June of 77.. Dumas looks to have the Hot shot at that time as well. 14.95 at tower! I have not been able to find any production tunnels in 76 but it could be I am missing it.

 

[Grimracer]

well.. it looks like RCM had the OB motor introduced in the Showcase section of the Aug 1976 issue..

 

[Carl Van Houten]

Very good Grim! Keep dig'n!

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

Very good Grim! Keep dig'n!

I won the 1977 NAMBA 20 Outboard Class in Reno racing the K&B 21 on a Hughey brown foam hydro.
JD

 

[Carl Van Houten]

That is cool Jerry. Do you have any pictures of that race?

 

[Marty Slater]

hundreds of hobby mags ???

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

That is cool Jerry. Do you have any pictures of that race?

No pictures. I don’t remember anything about the race other than you could use any type of hull.