Staudacher 145

Here is my 1978 Staudacher 145 class 'S-Bottom' hydroplane, I just have too many projects and it is time for this great boat to go to a good home. This hydroplane was built in 1978 by John Staudacher for Dutch Squires, it was his first race boat in the 145 class. Since then, Dutch has become an APBA national champion. This boat is one of about a dozen built by Staudacher with the 'S-Bottom', a very effective bottom curvature in the center of the boat that enables it to really carry speed on the straights. The S-Bottom series are well-documented, and more info can be found at the Vintage Hydroplanes website. It is about 15' long, and comes on its original trailer, the trailer has brand new tires but I have never re-registered it, so you will need to have a transport plate and also add your own set of portable lights (60.00 from Napa), but is is perfectlyroadable and towsnicely. I started to remove the s-bottom area as it had somequestionable areas in the original marine ply (okoume, per my conversation with Mr. Staudacher), got about 4' routed away but stopped there. The framework of the boat is in sitka spruce and is in excellent condition. It really just needs the old ply removed, and new ply bonded in place. I made a rolling inverted support cradle for the boat, you can see it in the pictures on top of the hull, included in the sale. The original fiberglass cowlings are there, complete, and in great condition. With the boat when I found it were the internal stuffing box, a couple ofsteering shaft parts, and that was it. Since that time I have had the external 'fairwater strut' (amazing piece, 3' long, beautiful casting) cast from theoriginal plugs by Mr. Wreszinsky (used to work for Staudacher, has all the original plugs) and also a brand new rudder quadrant casting. These two items alone cost 1200.00. The engine included came from Mr. Steve Balcer in Michigan, and the Ford Pinto 2000 is clearly prepped as a race engine, with custom aluminum mounts, Holley Carb, enlarged capacity oil pan, 'puke' tank, zoomie exhausts, and a newer starter, It is rumored to have been one of the engines that ran in the very successful and radical 'Lobster Boat' in the 145 class, but I cannot confirm that. The number on the block is 328306576, and the engine appears to be a good base engine to work with (of course anyone intending to race it should do a fresh build from theground-up). I can load the engine onto the trailer in front of the boat if you need it, and everything can be strapped down securely to the trailer for transport. There is no fuel tank (original was a football-shaped oval tank) included, seat, or any instrumentation or other gear, what you see is what you get. The boat was originally red with gold accents (the picture of it in this livery was taken at the Dayton nationals), original race name was 'Ecstasy', and the race number was S-47 (trailer still has the number on it). It's really a great project, and I hope this CRAZY LOW price will get it to a great new home where it can give someone great joy and fun.Bottom line, this is a rare, fast piece of racing history by a legendary builder, and was the original boat of anational champion. The boat raced at the nationals in Dayton in 1978, and Dutch can fill you in on the rest of the history that he knows. Buyer is responsible for the local pick-up or shipping on the boat, I will prep it for transport well. Payment is expected within three days of auction close, I can store the boat for a month or so until you are able to get it, of needed, for no additional cost. HAPPY BIDDING!