Levi's "Ram"

[gcarter]

Not to hijack Silverback's thread, I mentioned a "Ram" which is a forward hull extension.
Renato "Sonny" Levi was and still is a genious. He's one of the very few Naval Architects that have developed and named their own hull form. Starting in the '50's, he developed and had built many ocean racers that were very successful in Europe.
In the early '60's he designed and built the "Delta 28" and it included two Daytona turbocharged BBC's in a tandem arrangement driving a single propellor. It had some severe handling problems at top speed, probably more than 80 MPH........
So just read it for yourself;

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46150&d=1242912410

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46151&d=1242912410

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46152&d=1242912410]

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46153&d=1242912449

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46154&d=1242912449

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46155&d=1242912449

[gcarter]

I really thought I'd get some comments on this very unusual, and historically interesting boat!:)

Chime in if you want to.....

[zelatore]

I'd comment, but Silverback and I are busy with autocad working on his next mod....

Actually, pretty crazy idea. I guess I understand where they were going, but sure does seem like it would have more negatives than positives. I'd love to see a picture of the actual boat, either at rest or underway.

[mphatc]

George,
thank you! a great read and very interesting.
What strikes me is that while all this work was transpiring it seems as though our good hero Don A. had possibly solved and moved beyond some of the difficulties theses designers were working on.
At 28 feet Don had the Magnum 27 already in production, and working well, with many other boats in his development . . while the desgn of the boat shown reminds me of his very early Donzi's . .
I'll admit, I haven't read a lot on the history of racing hulls or designers during this era, but it seems as though Don Aronow was very independant, not working with or communicating with other designers world wide, note the reference in the article of Dick Bertram . . was he the lone ranger of boat design ?

Mario L.

68 Magnum 27
69 Corsican

[gcarter]

George,
thank you! a great read and very interesting.
What strikes me is that while all this work was transpiring it seems as though our good hero Don A. had possibly solved and moved beyond some of the difficulties theses designers were working on.
At 28 feet Don had the Magnum 27 already in production, and working well, with many other boats in his development . . while the desgn of the boat shown reminds me of his very early Donzi's . .
I'll admit, I haven't read a lot on the history of racing hulls or designers during this era, but it seems as though Don Aronow was very independant, not working with or communicating with other designers world wide, note the reference in the article of Dick Bertram . . was he the lone ranger of boat design ?

Mario L.

68 Magnum 27
69 Corsican
Interesting observation Mario....
but in the book, there's a picture of Sonny Levi talking to Walt Walters and Jim Wynn.....wonder what they were talking about......
But to be more specific, I don't think Don ever designed any boat but had really exellent talent available, just like Bertram used C. Raymond Hunt almost exclusively. No doubt, both Aronow and Bertram were great idea people and had exellent ideas, they left the design work to others.
There're very definate design trends along any time line you care to look at.
For instance, I've previously mentioned Dr. Lindsay Lord who wrote a book in the late '40's espousing a "Monohedron" hull, which is clearly the fore runner of the high deadrise deep vee boats we've known for the last 40 years. In the mid '50's, Hunt here in the US, and Levi in Europe were both designing and building deep Vee hulls with large keel radius at the transom and cut away inner strakes. Maybe 10 years before they appeared on any Aronow hull.
And while the world of high performance off shore boat design is quite small, in the US, hull design tended to follow the trail of Hunt, while in Europe, Levi was the clear design leader.

[gcarter]

I'd comment, but Silverback and I are busy with autocad working on his next mod....

Actually, pretty crazy idea. I guess I understand where they were going, but sure does seem like it would have more negatives than positives. I'd love to see a picture of the actual boat, either at rest or underway.
Yes, an idea....notice Levi doesn't claim it's his? He simply says the yard did it at the owners direction.
Not all ideas are good ones, but I thought it was a gutsy idea.
Also notice the extensive work in the stern w/all the extensions, tabs, and extended prop, and rudder.
Notice the tandem engine placement to eliminate a prop shaft and all the parasite drag. Also notice the 26* deadrise which lowered the engines and the weight. I think the biggest problem was there weren't any 1100 HP gasoline engines available, so the CG was too far forward just like Levi mentions.
I'll post a picture of the boat tomorrow....complete w/air rudder!

[gcarter]

Was digging around and found these pictures of the Delta 28 w/o the ram or the air rudder...
Notice the forward placed forward engine exhaust.
Also another picture of Levi and Jim Wynn.

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46170&d=1242953345

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46171&d=1242953345

[SilverBack]

I have been really busy and just saw this thread for the first time. This is some really cool stuff. It is giving me a lot of ideas....just kidding....I have been playing with the idea of foils or wings mounted to the skeg (Like Geoo) or mounted to the side off the transom. I found out that there are several people that have tried all of that already...some on this board...some like AL Copeland. It is really hard to come up with anything that has not been tried. Thanks for posting this George.

[MOP]

I have always liked the look of the North Sea boats, I think many are similar looking to the ram designed boats. One in particular that I liked a lot was the Smuggler designs, Art from Babylon had one. I worked on my 22 in his barn and would go out and drool over the Smuggler, it was built like a tank. Art let it get away as he had to many projects, I often think about what a great boat it would have been with a single Cat and an Adrive. Not fast but able to take on all sea conditions. Run through the photo gallery in the link below, Art has the 28SS.

http://www.alltrac.nl/smuggler/default.asp

[gcarter]

Yep, Smuggler was a Levi design, if my memory serves me right.

[Marlin275]

Strange strake design on this one.
Looks like it might slow the hull down at slower speeds?



http://www.alltrac.nl/smuggler/em/smugglerJH8.jpg

[gcarter]

Strange strake design on this one.
Looks like it might slow the hull down at slower speeds?



http://www.alltrac.nl/smuggler/em/smugglerJH8.jpg
Interesting picture!
I think I remember some Magnums w/the strakes oriented like this.
Actually, just like the picture of the Delta 28 above, when it's on plane, the leading edge of the water line will be more than 40% further aft.

[MOP]

I emailed Art last night about the boat, he replied early this AM with Crushing News! He had the boat crushed last November he had just to many projects! Glad I did not know I might have it sitting in my yard, but that would be a farse as I do not have the jingle for a project like that! Was good for a few dreams!

I think the strakes may have slowed the boat a bit bit added a ton of lift, had to help from burying he nose in a sea.

Phil

[The Hedgehog]

Was digging around and found these pictures of the Delta 28 w/o the ram or the air rudder...
Notice the forward placed forward engine exhaust.
Also another picture of Levi and Jim Wynn.

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46170&d=1242953345

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46171&d=1242953345

This hull shape reminds me of the Ocke Mannerfelt hull without wings and steps. It is supposed to fly well in rough water.

I still think that Keith should consider the pad extension foil. With that and the tabs, he could totally control the shape and attitude of his aft running surface. It would be something to keep up with all of those indicators though.

[gcarter]

Just for fun, here's a few more of the Delta 28, Levi, Winn, and Walters. and Delta Systhesis.

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46173&d=1243019923

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46174&d=1243019923

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46175&d=1243019923

[gcarter]

[quote=The Hedgehog;514422]This hull shape reminds me of the Ocke Mannerfelt hull without wings and steps. It is supposed to fly well in rough water.quote]

Funny you should mention that.....

And mind you that this book was published in 1971!:)

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46182&d=1243023788

[gcarter]

Just found another of Levi's boats....

Pretty sick shape!!!

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47156&d=1245279233

[gold-n-rod]

There was reference in the article to a boat named "Holocaust." I don't see that happening today, do you?

Neat articles and pics posted, guys... thanks for the history lesson!

[gcarter]

There was reference in the article to a boat named "Holocaust." I don't see that happening today, do you?

Neat articles and pics posted, guys... thanks for the history lesson!


Here ya go.....

The 28-foot Donzi Broad Jumper, driven by Bill Wishnick with his brother Jack, Dave Wilson (http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/article/Dave_Wilson/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/mdd/index.htm) and Donzi Sales Manager Allan Brown as crew, was such a recent acquisition that Wishnick scarcely had time to paint its new name on the stern before heading out. The craft, powered by twin 550-hp diesels, was in 13th place as the boats left Government Cut, well behind a low-flying 23-foot Formula named Holocaust, powered by twin 400-hp Daytonas. As the fleet headed out of the cut and northward into the slop of the broad Atlantic, most of the smaller boats began to slow down, while the bigger ones began moving up. At the first checkpoint, just south of Fort Lauderdale (http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/article/Fort_Lauderdale/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/mdd/index.htm), Broad Jumper had moved up to second place, behind Holocaust and ahead of a big 36-footer named Kamikaze. "Then we pulled away from Holocaust," said Brown, who did most of the driving. By that time Kamikaze, driven by tough Jack Manson—who has heart trouble and ulcers and recently injured his shoulder playing jai alai at the age of 51—was the only threat. "Every time it would get rough," said Brown, "we could see the smoke and spray of Manson's boat behind us. Other times we were completely out of sight of everybody."

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1076909/index.htm