Fletcher speed boat project

[rbcoomer]

Ah, I see.
Thanks for that.
The orrs, thanks for the info. Hopefully the anti foul removal will make the difference. It's really rough and flaky. I also think it's the stuff that's meant for slow displacement boats.
I'm sure a decent stainless would make a difference. Another factor is that I wasn't sure about the oil injection, so had the tank mixed at 50/1 and also discovered the oil injection was working too. Really smokey and won't be helping the performance.
Didn't dare trim it up too much because it was a bit choppy and also don't know the boat too well.
One thing I did notice was that if I was to let the steering go at speed, it would spin rather alarmingly to the right !! Would perhaps take an inexperienced helmsman by surprise. I realise that the propeller direction and weight of the outboard will do this, especially since there is no resistance in the form of hyd power steering....just took me by surprise. It's been a while since I had an outboard and couldn't remember.

Is the outboard offset slightly from centre-line and is the trim anode present on cavitation plate? They will pull, but shouldn't be too harsh. I would never let go at speed, but mine is pretty 'light touch' on flat water.

 

[QBhoy]

Rbcoomer,
An excellent point. The anode is there I'm sure, but it's not the one with the fin on it. Well played.
With regards to breaking the 50mph barrier, I can understand.
With my own boat, I am constantly trying to squeeze that little bit extra !
Currently trying to break the 70mph barrier. Jeez, what a challenge. People don't realise what it takes...
To break 50 is amazing, to crack 60 requires serious horse power and hull. To get to 70 is mega.
I'm 3mph of it and short of a supercharger, I'm struggling. Next step is a cleaver prop, but reading mixed reports about its worth on my boat.
Currently running a laser 2 on it and it's semi surface piercing with only the last few inches of the hull in the water.
The struggle continues....

 

[QBhoy]

"Off it" even !

 

[QBhoy]

Just for the record...I didn't let go of the steering wheel fully at speed, haha. I'd have been in trouble if I did. It's that forcefull a pull.

 

[rbcoomer]

Haha! I didn't think for a minute that you had gone hands free! Just qualifying that although light, I wouldn't either

The anode may have been swapped for the solas - aren't they a slightly bigger diameter? The Trophy is very close to anode - like 1mm!

 

[QBhoy]

You are probably probably right. The solas looked to have a wider diameter than the black max. The Solas was really rough and had a hell of a vibration off it.
I did notice that the ally black max didn't take much trim before cavitating. Runs well enough though.
Really enjoyed the wee run today and helped in part to cure the winter blues, until the bad boy gets back in the water. Great cheap fun. Will be sad to sell the wee Fletcher, but a new project beckons.

 

[TheOrs]

Didn't dare trim it up too much because it was a bit choppy and also don't know the boat too well.
One thing I did notice was that if I was to let the steering go at speed, it would spin rather alarmingly to the right !!

I think this is normal. My boat does this when trimmed in at speed. Trim right out and it will pull left (but not as aggressively). Get the trim right and you can let go of the wheel at 40+mph and the boat will run straight. (NB: I don't do this normally!) My outboard is offset from centre.

 

[QBhoy]

The Ors in particular...
Saddens me to say I sold the wee Fletcher today to a lovely chap who will no doubt enjoy her more than I would.
He had a beautiful test drive of her today on Loch Lomond and left me a happy man.
I handed over the boat with the oil injection system functioning, but advised him to disconnect it and mix the tank...just for my own peace of mind. It's the only thing I can think of that might let him down and was playing on my mind after a bad experience years ago on a big V6 Merc.
Sad to see her go, but happy that she will be getting used to introduce another family into the affliction that is boating !

 

[Stingray49]

Having sold all my collection of boats of all sizes and really not wanting the hassle of marina fees etc, What did I see in a farmers field ? A red 16 ft Fletcher Arrowsport full of water and surrounded by cows and mud , paid the farmer £50 (he thought I was nuts,) before buying I found the hull and stringers to be sound and I needed a project to occupy my time with boats. Moved the boat to a boatbuilder friends workshop and set to work. After 7 months work with a new floor ,interior and seats, finally fitted a 55hp mariner 2 stroke. Tested the boat and it achieved 32 knots scared the SH...t out of us. Now used as a fun boat and tender for our Colvin seaworker.

 

[QBhoy]

Brilliant. They are an affliction ! Haha.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Having sold all my collection of boats of all sizes and really not wanting the hassle of marina fees etc, What did I see in a farmers field ? A red 16 ft Fletcher Arrowsport full of water and surrounded by cows and mud , paid the farmer £50 (he thought I was nuts,) before buying I found the hull and stringers to be sound and I needed a project to occupy my time with boats. Moved the boat to a boatbuilder friends workshop and set to work. After 7 months work with a new floor ,interior and seats, finally fitted a 55hp mariner 2 stroke. Tested the boat and it achieved 32 knots scared the SH...t out of us. Now used as a fun boat and tender for our Colvin seaworker.

Excellent work. It is lovely to see an old fletcher like this brought back to life

Dennis

 

[Stingray49]

Sorry about the upside down photos, of course have now seen another 2 neglected Fletchers ( minimum length we need on the coast is 16ft ) but why do sellers put such high prices on neglected hulls without engines ? Currently working on a Fletcher Dell Quay 13 ft dory and will fit a 40hp Honda 4 stroke on , it will fly ! Only going to be used to service the moorings. I doubt Fletchers will ever get into production again which is a shame , the company that bought Fletchers are asset strippers they did the same with Fairline until there was a management buy out.

 

[nw04jen]

Have literally just towed into my drive a Ski Eleven! Anyone have any idea who / where to get the windshield from - or any ideas to retro produce / fit?

Many thanks

 

[QBhoy]

Have literally just towed into my drive a Ski Eleven! Anyone have any idea who / where to get the windshield from - or any ideas to retro produce / fit?

Many thanks

Some came with them and some didn’t, I remember. Quite a rare wee boat to start with. Might struggle for something like that. But if I was you, I’d try on one of the fletcher pages on Facebook

 

[nw04jen]

Thanks for taking time to reply. I will try and get acrylic one made - simple design and shouldn't need all the ally framework these days .. cracking little boat

 

[QBhoy]

Thanks for taking time to reply. I will try and get acrylic one made - simple design and shouldn't need all the ally framework these days .. cracking little boat

No worries. Does she have the usual 25hp mercury on her ?