TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

[biloxiriver]

I own, and am very happy with, a 21' CC inboard (302), tunnel drive. The original mfg info is missing but the guy I bought it from stated that it is was made by TigerCraft (sp?). I have not been able to find any info on such a mfg. It is an early 70's model, fiberglass hull, and is a great boat. Does anyone out there know anything about this boat.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Hey biloxiriver:<br />I have A 1972 Bengal Tigercraft 21' C/C...<br />They were built by a small company in the 1970's in Miami FL. There construction is pretty good.I can say this because I am doing a total refit. I have had to cut out the liner to replace the stringers, ribs, and floor so I know whats under there. The damage on mine is only due to neglect by the previous owner. "it sat under a tree for years, the bilge filled up with leaves and would not let the rain water drain".. A NASTY MESS..<br />If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me anytime at<br />P.S. I have a couple questions about power, transmission gear ratio, ect...

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

biloxiriver:<br />Would you please let me know what transmission and gear ratio your using along with your propeller specs. "diamiter & pitch"<br />What is your top speed and crusing speed at around 2500-3000 rpm with your setup, as I have never had my boat in the water and would like to know what to expect when I finish my project.

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Thanks for the reply snapperbait. Is your original HIN or Ser # available? Is it a Bengal by Tigercraft or a Tigercraft by Bengal? It is a good boat. Mine pretty much stays in the water, I live on a local river and have about a 6 mile run down to saltmarsh and bay. Mine is still in very good shape, and is very solid. I would just like to find out more about the mfg.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Biloxiriver: It's Bengal By Tigercraft CORP. Miami Fla.. The boat ID. plate on mine is a piece of wood with plastic strip labels like those little label makers you would find at kmart or something.. It's located under the liner on the transom next to the the U bolt on the left side.. That's where it was on mine.. You might not be able to see it if yours has storage compartments on the transom so look carefully.. An interesting note: The state of florida did not require a boat manufacturer to have a hull ID. number until sometime in the early to mid 70's so yours might not have one but I doubt it.. I need some help with transmission gear ratios and prop sizes for mine. I bought the boat with no power or transmission but I will be using A 302 ford from a mustang with EFI. Any info would be a big help.. Ps Whats your cruse & top speed???RPM's??? PLEASE!!!

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Hello snapperbait. Thanks for the reponse. Been awhile since I checked in (busy time of year). My boat has the same block of wood with the plastic strips. I thought a previous owner put it there. I have a for 302 in mine too. At around 4k rpm it pushes the boat in the mid to hi 30's. But it is really sucking down the go-juice at that rpm - mine has a 4 bbl Holley on it. It seems to cruise good and fairly effeciently, at about 2.8k - 3k rpms (roughly 25 mph). Like I said before, mine pretty much stays in the water, but I will probably be pulling out late this month, then I will measure the prop for you. If you can tell me how to check the v-drive for the ratio I will take a shot at it. Thanks for your help.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Wow it has been a while.. Thought you forgot about me..Thank you very much for responding...<br />That is about what I was expecting performance wise....I'm glad to see you found the I.D. plate is the same as mine.. I was begining to think the same thing about someone putting it there...<br /> I know some old timers who have been around florida building boats for years so I'm going to put a bug in their ear and see if they know any more about the company..<br /> In your last response you mentioned a v-drive??? Is your engine under the console??? A v-drive would place the engine backwards and place the transmission towards the bow and the prop shaft would run under the motor... Mine came originaly with a straight inboard with the transmission pointed to the stern... In any case there should be a tag on the transmission that states the model and gear ratio.. On Borg Warner transmissions the tag is right next to the gear shift lever close to the oil filler/ dipstick.. <br />It's going to be a couple of months before I'm ready to start putting the engine in as I am still finishing up all the fiberglass work... YUCK... Let me know as much as you can as it helps me out a bunch. THANK YOU.. <br /><br />p.s. The prop should have the the mesurements stamped on it....

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Sorry, my bad. I thought this was a "velvet drive", but it is the same as you describe yours. Guess I don't know as much about this as I thought. The engine is under the console, and it drives straight through a transmission to a straigher shaft, as you describe yours. I will look later this afternoon for some numbers on the tranny and try to get you a response tomorrow. Question - do you know what type of maintenance this type of tranny would need? Sure do appreciate your assistance.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Transmission: Borg warner velvet drive....Very good unit...OK..I used to change the fluid it the transmissions (velvet drive) on my ski boats every 100 hours...If you don't put that many hours on it in a year then I would change it once a year before the season..Use Dextron 3 automatic transmission fluid...They don't have a drain plug so you have to pump it out of the filler tube....I would also change the packing in the stuffing box on the prop shaft at the same time....

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Ok snapperbait, here it is. Mine is a BorgWarner Velvet Drive mod AS1-71C, Ratio 1:1. Do these units general have a temperature sensor? Mine has what appears to be a sensor on it, but it is not connected.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Biloxiriver: If I remember correctly some of those transmissions did come with a sensor and it was connected to an overheat warning buzzer however I have never seen one...It would be a good Idea since our boats are not exactly light weight...Could you give me an idea of where the sensor is located because I'm wondering if it's not the neutral safty switch?(it looks like a sensor)... The neutral safty switch is located directlty across from the gear shift selector and has two wires connected with screw on terminals....<br />Thank you very much for all the info... I suspected it was that transmission but wanted to make sure before I shell out the big bucks$$ for a new one... If you ever need engine or trans. parts or info www.ebasicpower.com has anything you could possibly ever need and their prices are very good... P.S. E-mail me your address because I'm going to have some caps embroidered with Tigercraft on them and would like to send you a few....

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

Glad to help snapperbait. The sensor is located, looking from the shaft connection, on the right side of the tranny, it is probably the neutral switch, and it is not connected (my boat will start in gear - guess I need to fix that). I will email you at skdplate@bellsouth.net. Yeh, man I would love a hat, sounds great.

 

[statefedrl]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

I own, and am very happy with, a 21' CC inboard (302), tunnel drive. The original mfg info is missing but the guy I bought it from stated that it is was made by TigerCraft (sp?). I have not been able to find any info on such a mfg. It is an early 70's model, fiberglass hull, and is a great boat. Does anyone out there know anything about this boat.

 

[statefedrl]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

I own, and am very happy with, a 21' CC inboard (302), tunnel drive. The original mfg info is missing but the guy I bought it from stated that it is was made by TigerCraft (sp?). I have not been able to find any info on such a mfg. It is an early 70's model, fiberglass hull, and is a great boat. Does anyone out there know anything about this boat.

 

[statefedrl]

Re: TigerCraft (sp?) or Bengal (sp?) ?????

I own, and am very happy with, a 21' CC inboard (302), tunnel drive. The original mfg info is missing but the guy I bought it from stated that it is was made by TigerCraft (sp?). I have not been able to find any info on such a mfg. It is an early 70's model, fiberglass hull, and is a great boat. Does anyone out there know anything about this boat.