FlatRacer, aka BarrelBack
05-12-2003, 07:13 PM
Sometime in the next year I hope to be buying A Donzi from a friend. It's a late '60s barrel-back 18' with a V-drive and a small block. As it rides now, the bottom's a bit wet at speed, not so bad that it hooks or anything, but it does lose some speed because of it. I don't mind this so much because top speed is not my goal for this boat (I still have my racer if I want to go out for a fast ride).
If and when I do get this Donzi (I've been promised I'm first in line), I plan to someday restore it. The one thing I would most want to change is the location of the gas tank. I believe this would be the best way to free up the hull. First choice for location would be in the stern, two tanks on either side of the engine, outboard of the stringers. Second choice would be under the cockpit floor, again, two tanks outboard of the stringers.
I never liked the idea of the tank in the bow, for weight distribution reasons. Obviously, it's convenient for the manufacturer, but in my opinion not optimum for performance. The trim changes as the fuel level drops, and the hull wetness is exacerbated in the V-drive because the drive isn't trimable. Cavitation plates of course are of no help in bringing the bow up. Rocker plates might help a little, but probably not near as much as moving the tanks back.
Am I on the right track, or am I "all wet"?
Thoughts, opinions???
FR :p
If and when I do get this Donzi (I've been promised I'm first in line), I plan to someday restore it. The one thing I would most want to change is the location of the gas tank. I believe this would be the best way to free up the hull. First choice for location would be in the stern, two tanks on either side of the engine, outboard of the stringers. Second choice would be under the cockpit floor, again, two tanks outboard of the stringers.
I never liked the idea of the tank in the bow, for weight distribution reasons. Obviously, it's convenient for the manufacturer, but in my opinion not optimum for performance. The trim changes as the fuel level drops, and the hull wetness is exacerbated in the V-drive because the drive isn't trimable. Cavitation plates of course are of no help in bringing the bow up. Rocker plates might help a little, but probably not near as much as moving the tanks back.
Am I on the right track, or am I "all wet"?
Thoughts, opinions???
FR :p