Gone'n done it

[David CVX-16]

Gregg, the pounds are listed as 650 for Dougs model of Baja on the fine print of his model description on the national CGOA site. The difference between that and Dougs old V-153 is not much. Probably the hull design of the Baja will determine its speed. Doug also had a good set up on the V-153 with the elevated height and bow lift. We will find out soon Dougs new speed. Hope it is faster than the V-153 - something for me to try to beat next year with the 88' Merc 115.

[V153]

Okay boys n girls. The re-maiden voyage went well. No leaks & ran a respectable 51.2. Performance & handling are so different from the V153 it's like night and day, gonna take me awhile to put it in words. Several things I don't like about the boat. One example being the upper windshield frame is directly in my line of sight. But hey it runs and now floats & there's not much more ya can ask of a boat.

Felt really good to be back out on the water once I realized it probly wasn't gonna sink ...?

[V153]

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[V153]

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[Rosscoe]

Cool Doug! And it comes out of the water a lot like the 153! Nice shot.

[David CVX-16]

Great first run Doug. There are always the fine adjustments to make it go faster.

[V153]

Thanks fellers. Ya there's plenty of room for improvement. If'n I can get it to do 54.9 I'll be happy ...

[V153]

Doug
Your V-153 is listed at 630 lbs.
With the fancy floor and stringer stuff you used, ya think maybe 600 lbs ?
Any idea how much the Baja weighs ?
I've been in Dave's V-153 a few times and that hull is hard to beat.
Fast, stable, smooth at speeds.

Tbh Gregg with the composite in it I'd bet that hull was well under 600lbs. I ground/sanded a lotta excess slop outa there. And, shamefully, it never had much of an interior so to speak, just seats and a helm?

The closest factory specs I've been able to find are from the '84 Baja 160, which is 14" longer & weighs in at 650. So I reckon I'm a lil under that?

Yes the V153 is a fantastic hull. And you'd be hard pressed to find a more pristine, speedy, example as Davids. If only I had treated mine with the same level of respect. Oh well. At this time I would like to humbly pass the 153 speed record to him.

However ... the lil Baja's barking at the back door ...? Heh heh heh 

[Hyperacme]

" No leaks & ran a respectable 51.2. "

Start tweakin' Doug !

[David CVX-16]

Recorded a 51.7 MPH this year (bronze prop) without really trying while testing props on White Bear Lake. Not too far off from the 52.9 MPH recorded two years ago.

[V153]

Recorded a 51.7 MPH this year (bronze prop) without really trying while testing props on White Bear Lake. Not too far off from the 52.9 MPH recorded two years ago.

Ha! Hey David 'member we were tied at 52.9 for what seemed like eternity? Then I believe I hit 53.3, and then of course the mind blowing 54.8.

Still remember that evening. Could tell she was haulin' a**. Started thinking mebbe I'd forgotten to add oil ...  (Y'know how a motor'll run really good without oil right up til it explodes?) But happily that was not the case. I had in fact remembered to add oil. Heh heh

We'll find out what the 15SS can do. Not braggin, too hard, but 51.2 outa the box is purty decent?

DISCLAIMER: Though I currently run an old Baja, my heart & soul belong to Glastron.

ps. This pic should illustrate my 'line of sight' concerns? Cain't see sh**!

Oh well. Take care y'all. Have fun this weekend!

[David CVX-16]

Yeh, I'm already feeling the 25 more horsepower with the 1988 115 Merc over the 1974 and the sensation of X number of miles per hour faster. Plan to raise the motor about 2" off the transom and try a bunch of props. Hope the boat holds up and handles decently. Whether you are faster or I am faster makes no difference to me. We both are having fun. Today greased the fittings on the 1988 Merc, bought a needed stainless steel bolt and nut, and cleaned up and touched up the paint on the control box. Small stuff, but satisfying.

[V153]

Atta boy Dave! Now when'r ya gonna hang that thing on the boat? Heh heh

My 90 was a tad over 2" on my hull so I don't think you'll have any cooling issues. But then again it's merc vs omc so I really don't know for sure. Might wanna start out a lil lower just in case? Anything higher than sitting on top the transom will improve performance.

re The Baja: Yes! Let the tweaking commense! Tbh that's what makes it fun for me.

You guys ain't gonna like this but I've started drilling a bunch of holes through the V153. Once I get enough of em I'm gonna break out the sawsall & connect the dots. Gonna try to save the floor/stringers/transom as an assembly for now. 

[David CVX-16]

I really think you should sell 1" squares of your well published, well documented, well loved Glastron V-153 hull to the Glastron community. A fellow in the Twin Cities bought the fabric of the downed Metrodome stadium top and is selling 1" squares. I personally own a 1" square of land in Antactica by sending in a cereal box form when I was a kid. Wonder what it is worth today - it may be my retirement fund.

The motor will be hung just after the boat is taken out of winter storage - about April 1 to 15, 2012. I plan to do everything except some odds and ends of electrical. Your idea about less than 2" is well taken. We'll figure it out.

In the meantime, set some speed records for me to shoot at next year.