Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

[dbuffington]

Hi Folks!

This summer we became the happy owners of a 1958 Whirlwind wooden boat. It's about 13.5 foot long with a rounded hull and 18 hp Evinrude motor:

With the hull, myself, the motor, fuel and gear, I'm guessing the boat weighs 500-600 pounds and reaches a speed of about 20 mph.

Now, before I start playing with the engine angle, prop, et al, what top speed should I expect from this configuration?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

can't give you an input on the speed just wanted to say nice boat

 

[QC]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I am thinking maybe only 15 MPH, possibly 20, but wood is heavy and 18 horse is 18 horse . . . I guess I am saying that if it only reaches 15 MPH I don't think that is too far off the mark either. Nice ride and welcome to iboats!!!

 

[steelespike]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

A stock 18 is good for about 27 mph under ideal conditions.
I think being molded plywood the whirlwind is slightly lighter than the typical
wooden boat.As allready stated about 15 to 20 mph would be a good guess.
The boat will probably ride better than most boats that size you have ridden in.It may tend to roll a little more when you move around but just a trait not a problem.It will also roll inward some when you turn again not to worry this is normal.Had a neighbor as a kid that built a kit boat like that had a 25 Evinrude and we used to ski easily on 2 skis.Of course nobady was over 150lbs.The 18 is a game little motor it may surprise you with a little careful setup and prop selection.A nice looking boat.enjoy.

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

can't give you an input on the speed just wanted to say nice boat

Thanks! It had literally been sitting in a garage for more than a decade ... Just as you see her now.

 

[EricR]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I would say it should do around 20, I had a similar shaped (pretty much identical) 12 and a half foot fiberglass hull with an 18 and with just one person it it she'd do 23 on the airguide speedo, that was with a 9 1/4 X 11 prop turning 4400 RPM.

Steelspike, where do you get that 27 mph figure you speak of?

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

The boat will probably ride better than most boats that size you have ridden in.It may tend to roll a little more when you move around but just a trait not a problem.It will also roll inward some when you turn again not to worry this is normal

Correct on all points. The ride is amazingly soft!

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

Nice looking craft. Built for styling not speed.

 

[pgdignan]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

Hell, you wouldn't want to go too fast, you want to see people drooling over your find. That's a really pretty little runabout.

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

Hell, you wouldn't want to go too fast, you want to see people drooling over your find. That's a really pretty little runabout.

Boy, and they do. It's just the gearhead in me that can't stop fiddling

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I'd put a 25 - 30 horse on that. 18 seems a little low

 

[steelespike]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I would say it should do around 20, I had a similar shaped (pretty much identical) 12 and a half foot fiberglass hull with an 18 and with just one person it it she'd do 23 on the airguide speedo, that was with a 9 1/4 X 11 prop turning 4400 RPM.

Steelspike, where do you get that 27 mph figure you speak of?

Years ago I had a Evinrude catalog and the 2 models I remember were the 10 and 18. 10 hp was rated @ 21 mph,18 @ 27 I believe the 30 and/or 35 at 33mph. I assume these are stock motors on stock boats ideal setup.
I saw a catalog on the net somewhere that also had specs.
In the early 60s we had a 15 ft.ChrisCraft kit boat W a 61 18 Rude. one time when all was perfect running down wind it did an indicated 26mph.Typically ran an indicated 23+ or -.

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I'd put a 25 - 30 horse on that. 18 seems a little low

Although I plan to keep it original just for historical/sentimental reasons, I do know current philosophy would suggest a larger motor.

Then again, the original Whirlwind literature says the maximum recommended horsepower for that model hull is ... 16. Go figure.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

If you go to the old-omc.de website, you can get your fill of this type boat, engine, and performance. I had an 18 just like that as a teen (had a boat before a car....used mom's) and I could ski behind it (two skiis and nothing stellar) on a wooden boat much heavier than that.

Additionally, I think the Lyman Boat site and/or Yellow Jacket boats (Roy Rodgers was involved in the latter) will shed some light on molded plywood with oak ribs. Very light and reasonably fast.

Back when Johnny was done up in bronze and white, a friend had a 16' with a big flared bow and a 30 hp which performed nicely.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

Seeing that trailer brings back not-so-fond memories of the past. Trying to get the boat onto a trailer like that in open water (wind and waves) is a real trick to do it at all, much less do it without punching holes in the bottom of the boat. Always required a person in the water and in the winter that was no fun.

Mark

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

Trying to get the boat onto a trailer like that in open water (wind and waves) is a real trick to do it at all, much less do it without punching holes in the bottom of the boat.

Yup I didn't even try to otherwise.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

I just noticed that the trailer may not support the boat all the way back to the transom.Be sure it has nice bunks all the way back.

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

If you go to the old-omc.de website...

Oh, wow! Thanks for the link! The pictures in those catalogs are absolutely classic!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

i believe that boat would easily take up to a 40 hp maybe 50hp. this is my 1956 Duracraft Aluminum rated for a 50 hp, i have a 93 40 hp on it now. it runs out around 30mph.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Top Speed for Vintage Wooden Boat?

That's a beauty! Growing up near the Great South Bay on Long Island, a friend of mine had a beautiful 13.5 molded plywood boat, similar to that, I don't remember if it was a Whirlwind, or a Wolverine, not sure of the year made either, maybe a bit newer? but it had a much more raked back bow, and a white bottom, with center deck steering, and it had an almost matching color brown, & white, 35hp Johnson. It was one of the prettiest, fastest boats in the area at the time, (the late 50's). It could do 35!

A little while later, Another friend of mine had a 14' Barbour lapstrake, and his dad put a New 4cyl 35hp Merc on it, and that did about 36, the speed surprised me, and a lot of other people, that Merc was fast! I used to ski behind it.