Bobcat Hydroplane

My buddy Billy in my Clarkcraft Bobcat Hydroplane (slightly modified for my heavier butt). This was taken on the Des Moines River at Birdland Marina summer 2008. The motor is a stock Johnson 9.9. It was a fun ride, but I "submarined" it later that day and pulled some of the joints apart. (They had been starting to split since I had left it in the water all day at a boat show the year before. It has since been offered up to the fire gods with a Viking burial. It was replaced with a Clarkcraft Heckle sport runabout

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Clarkcraft
• bobcat
• hydroplane
• homebuilt
• boat
• Des Moines
• iowa
• Birdland Marina

[ThePonyLonely]

How fast can it go on the plane???

and was it hard to build.

if you want to build a boat like this what kind of money should you plan to invest for everything except the engine??

thanks

[Darthmed0516]

@ThePonyLonely It was my first attempt at boatbuilding, so I did it cheaply. I used sheeting-grade plywood from Home Depot and used Liquid Nails adhesive and store-brand nails. It was probably about $300 in materials not counting the motor and steering hardware. My current boat (see "twin escape") is a lot more expensive but I used marine plywood, bronze marine nails, marine epoxy, etc. The Bobcat goes about 22mph on a Johnson 9.9 stock motor.

[Darthmed0516]

It was my first attempt at boatbuilding, so I did it cheaply. I used sheeting-grade plywood from Home Depot and used Liquid Nails adhesive and store-brand nails. It was probably about $300 in materials not counting the motor and steering hardware. My current boat (see "twin escape") is a lot more expensive but I used marine plywood, bronze marine nails, marine epoxy, etc. The Bobcat goes about 22mph on a Johnson 9.9 stock motor.

[Darthmed0516]

I would recommend you look at a bigger version unless you are 140 pounds or less. I had to modify it for more flotation for my 180 pounds. I wouldn't go less than 10 feet if I did it again. Easily fits on a jetski trailer, though, with room to spare!

[ThePonyLonely]

@Darthmed0516 thanks!

happy boating :-)