Ootdb,
I wasn't trying to argue that it should be a slalom ski boat, just stating relevant experience with a boat of similar size. Getting the weight forward helps.
By the way, back in the 1970s I was doing toe-hold side slides, wake-toe 180s, and wake stepovers behind our 14-foot ski boat.
Agreed this runabout is a pleasure cruiser, but if I built one, I'd most likely experiment with placement of the gas tank.
>>>>>I'd most likely experiment with placement of the gas tank.
Hey, we're expecting to experiment with the placement of the gas tank!
We think it's right as shown, but we'll find out...
I note that this is a very light hull compared to ski boats and that ilk. It's designed to run with a much smaller and lighter motor---including electric motors as those continue to get better.
What do you guys think of the all-new plans format? The above is the first public sneak look at the graphic approach developed here by Dillon Majoros.
More about the Runabout here.
Yes, it will have some proper name, not "CLC Runabout."
Kudos to Dillon for his fine work and much appreciation to John for allowing Dillon to further extend his wings. Looks good. I hope his hair doesn't turn gray as he builds the boat in his head and tries to imagine all the pitfalls a novice builder might stumble into.
Birch2, I worked for a number of years, beginning in the late 60s, at a Florida ski school where we taught/coached three-event and show skiing and hosted state-level tournaments. Your tenacity to learn toe-wake tricks behind a boat with a minimal wake is impressive. Moving fuel tanks and batteries around to help balance the performance of a small boat is helpful. As is moving passengers around to balance a wake. We would sometimes move passengers as a favor to a friend (boy wanted to get closer to a girl) or in hopes of a better tip (parent wanted girl separated from a boy). Fun times, long gone, but still remembered.
The color highlights on the plans would be extremely helpful. Great idea.
.....Michael
The plans look great.
I find that new style highly appealing, it's a perfect base to build the boat in the head several times, and then in reality.
John, I think the design is terrific. And from a design point of view, I agree that a gas tank hidden near the transom is best. From a performace point of view, I prefer a 6 gallon tank on a long hose. Move it where you need it. When skiing behind our 14' boat (also extremely light), we placed the tank just behind the passenger seat to slightly balance the weight of the driver and make the boat plane out more easily than it did when that weight was further aft.
ootdb, I'm about your age I think. I started trick skiing seriously as a teenager in about 1963. One day my Dad brought to our summer cabin in northern Wisconsin a copy of Al Tyll's book Water Skiing. It had instruction on doing all the tricks he knew with a cute little estimate of the number of falls it took to learn each trick. In addition to the toe tricks I mentioned, I was able to master the one-ski wake 360 and the two-ski wake back-to-back off the the minimal wake of our 14' boat. Those small boats and small wakes can be mighty nice for trick skiing. The minimal turbulence meant I could do side slides right behind the motor.
I don't think anyone should automatically discount the fun that can be had skiing behind a boat like the CLC runabout -- but it would need a beefy enough transom to handle a 50hp motor. Bubblehead was making a similar point earlier in this thread when he reminisced fondly about long afternoons skiing behind a 13' Boston Whaler.
I keep logging into CLC's website to see if this kit made it to market yet!
What level building experience would be suggested for a boat like this? I know the other guy suggests one be skilled at boat building for their runabout.
CLC does an amazing job making their designs very accessible to newbie builders. I suspect that over half their sales are to first-time builders. Their manuals are great and this forum is an amazing resource. If you're competent with hand and basic power tools you will be able to build this boat. Also, if you're new to epoxy, you can always do small parts first to get the hang of it. Worst case scenario, if you mess something up, you go buy another sheet of okoume, trace out the original part, cut it out and start over. Reading the manual before you start to wrap your head around the process and watching a bunch of build videos will also help immensely. The steps are all very similar, even for completely different boats.
I just decided to call CLC and ask my question above right from the source. I think it was John himself that answered. With Covid, like most recreational outdoor equipment suppliers, he stated clc is busy keeping up with demand and development of the runabout this summer took a back-seat unfortunately. He seemed excited about it and was patient in answering a few questions about it. They definitely still plan to kit it but they need to sea-trial/make any required changes and finish the instruction manual. We talked about projected performance and projected price point of the kit and both sounded quite favorable. He stated he hoped perhaps it would be ready middle of next year. I'll place and order and drive to MD to pick up a runabout kit just as soon as its available!
Any updates? I'd love this design/kit to be my 4th boat build. It would be fantastic if you made CNC cut wooden windshield brackets to go with the kit. I'll be patiently waiting for when I can pick a kit up.