Designer Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Lotus, You are overthinking it. The 10 hours will go by soon enough. 13 " pitch will be pretty close and operating in break-in speed you won't notice much difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Thanks Graham , rely appreciate you feedback ! The upholstery is almost done ( not the perfect upholsterer but it will do , at least for now ! ) AND STILL WAITING FOR THE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS . This is taking more time than the built itself !!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope that this week all be settled and will take her for a test drive . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glm Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Lotus You sir are very gifted. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 That looks like the boat belonging to someone who knew exactly what he wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeLTour61 Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Lotus, your boat is awesome. I'm getting all misty eyed. What you did and the short time it took for you to do it is amazing. How long was it from the time you cut the first piece of wood until now? For my boat (will be "Happy Days"), I was thinking two years. Now I'm thinking 10 months until I can go boating but a few more to actually 'finish'. I'll bet you beat that by several months (although it's not a race) and in the middle of construction, you built a trailer. When is the maiden voyage? Please post pics!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Oarlocks??? No way! I built a dinghy 25 years ago using hard maple for the deck, quarter knees, and seats. It is as solid as a rock. I must admit that it is a freshwater boat which is trailered. Actually, the fir plywood will be her demise long before the maple os an issue. Oarlocks??? No way! I built a dinghy 25 years ago using hard maple for the deck, quarter knees, and seats. It is as solid as a rock. I must admit that it is a freshwater boat which is trailered. Actually, the fir plywood will be her demise long before the maple os an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted March 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Hi every one , long time to post ! Thanks every one for the nice comments !! Yesterday Marissa ( PIRANHA ) had her first ride . It performed super great, a very stable and dry ride with speeds of up to 27 kn. I'm very satisfied with all the modifications done especially that the console mounted about 1.5 ft forward that gave plenty of space and a set of seats at the stern that are very useful especial with the type of fishing that we practise . The outboard's propeller (13 inch pitch ) is too small because the engine is going 6500 revs and hitting the rev limiter . Next time will test the 14 inch . Hope that this will increase a couple of knots too My goal was to hit the 30 knots , but my build is a bit heavy with 2 batterys , auxiliary motor and the extra modifications including a custom made cooler under the seat all contributed in extra weight ! I would like to thank every one for the help and suggestions that made this boat unique especial Designer Graham . Great thanks !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docpal Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Lotus, It's been a pleasure watching your build from start, to splash.....Congratulations!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeLTour61 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Lotus, What a great job you've done on PIRANHA. I was a little skeptical about raising the gunwales but it really looks great. You kept the beautiful sheer line but added safety. Where you boat, you HAVE to be ready for anything and it looks like you are. I love the blue water. You don't see that in the U.S. unless you're about 30 miles offshore and I miss it... especially since I mostly boat in lakes now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tturtleboy Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Thanks Lotus for including us on your build and launch. Very impressive! I bet you will get 2 more knots with the prop change, I had a similar experience on a 90 Yamaha 4 stroke on my 22 ft. similar hull type home build that was going over rev. at w.o.t. Gained 2 mph changing from 13 to 14 pitch, 32 to 34 mph. I will be curious to see how you do but really don't see the need for any more speed than you have. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveVa Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Great work. Fantastic looking boat. Even with the extra weight she sits well in the water. The added bulwarks worked really well. You did great justice to Graham's design. You should be proud, as should Graham. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted March 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks every one for your nice comments !! Its been my pleasure to share this experience with all of you ! Tturtleboy , Yes I know that there's no need to go that speed infact I think that best speed to enjoy a ride is 12 to 18 kn, but youknow its nice that one can say " I built an 18ft boat that do 30 kn with just 60hp " Will update you with the new propeller but unfortunately I have to weight for 1 to 2 weeks because the importer is out of stock . When I settle the propeller issue will start thinking how to manufacture a canopy. Any ideas are more than welcome !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeLTour61 Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Lotus, Chick brought up a good point about the design of the fuel filler being inside the boat (standard design). Since you built your own console and made lots of other modifications, I was wondering where you put your fuel filler and vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Mike, since I was building a line of fiberglass boats called the Coastal Skiff, and later, Lost Bay, I had to be careful to stay within the "rules". My fuel tank was mounted above the sole, under the console, so there was no other way to put the fuel fill anywhere else than on the console. There was a "big battle" going on between the manufacturers, the Coast guard, and ABYC. There were so many boats being built with center consoles that the manufacturers were allowed a waiver from the rule until a solution could be found. My main concern was that if anyone overfilled their tank, and fuel caught on fire, I could be sued. I went out of the business not long afterward without ever coming up with a viable solution. Home builders, while supposedly following the guidelines, are rarely cited for infractions. Most notably, many home built boats don't meet flotation standards. Just be careful when filling your tank to not overfill. If you have a separate vent, see if you can route it under the sole to where it vents outside the hull. My vent was a part of the fuel fill vent, so it was also on the console. My bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Hi every one ! Yesterday Piranha made the second sea trial and it was super great . This time she had a 15" prop and smart tabs fitted. She performed completely different and its great fun to ride. Maximum speed was 30.1 knots (34.6 miles) with maximum engine revs reaching 6100revs. Now shes got a perfect matched propeller. The smart tabes worked realy well, getting her to plane in seconds and keeping her on plane with revs down to 2500. Best crusing speed is at about 4000 revs and doing 15 to 19 knots, depending on wind and current. A 2.5 hp out board only pushed her to 3.3 knots but think its OK as an auxiliary engine ! I think the boat is now perfectly balanced making no difference where to sit in cruising and higher speeds . She is a really joyride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LennieG Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Lotus, It is people like you that make the long hours I put into this very worthwhile. Congratulations on a great job, I know that she will repay all of your hard work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Thanks Designer Graham. I really appreciate such words, especially from the designer himself ! THANKS AGAIN GRAHAM especially for your great and super efficient designs. Hope that some day I will built another boat from your drawing board ( somthing in my mind is telling me that the Ocracoke 24 is more challenging to built ) but for this time I will enjoy my Piranha ( Marissa ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tturtleboy Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Very nice Lotus! Congrats! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tturtleboy Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I'm curious how well the transducer works mounted on the chine flat. Does it work well at speed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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