Offshore Mono

[Peter A]

Hi, just wanted to post some pics of my new boat. It's not an FE this time but it is a scratch build and I drew the plans myself, not too hard as I've done that since I was about ten. I started with a sheet of 4mm plywood (because I had it), and made a build jig from steel and bolted the bulkheads to the jig and added stringer etc.



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[Peter A]

Next the hull was skinned with more of the same ply and two coats of epoxy resin to seal.



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[Peter A]

After the resin, the chines were filled as well as anywhere else that needed fairing.

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[Peter A]

Next the hull was removed from the jig and the inside of the hull glassed before the deck skins were glued on.


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[Peter A]

Then the hatch rails were glued in and engine and hardware fitted before making the hatch and painting. Sorry I didn't take any pics of the hatch as I made it though.


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[Peter A]

And voila, it's finished! This build took 8 months, just a bit at a time as I could. The hull is 53 1/2" (1360 mm) long, it is powered by a 27cc RCMK petrol engine and has been designed for offshore endurance racing, with races typically between 20 to 60 mins long.


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[Peter A]

One more of it next to my Pursuit. Had it's maiden run yesterday and I'm pretty happy with it so far. Engine started (first fire ever), two pulls. As the engine is new it has to be run in (this petrol stuff!) and other tuning stuff to be done, so it wasn't running too fast, only around 40mph, but it'll have more yet. As it is a rough water boat rather than a sprint boat I'm only looking for 50 mph ish anyways. All in all a fun build and lots of racing to do with it this year. It also looks great on the water.


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[kfxguy]

Man you did an amazing job on this boat! Build quality looks top notch!

[Make-a-Wake]

That is incredible work there Peter................wow! I didnt realize at first it was so large til you posted the length. Great looking boat and thanks for sharing it!

[Make-a-Wake]

Oh, and is that rope a kill switch?

[Peter A]

No it is a tow rope, it can be a tad tricky to pick up big boats up in rough and windy conditions. Tow ropes are also required for the offshore racing and it makes retreival easier. I know cause I've done this in a rescue dinghy in 60 kph winds.

[785boats]

Very nice Pete. Great work.
Our club is starting up an offshore mono class next year. Big hulls are too expensive to get here in Australia. Postage & the Exchange rate are real killers.
I might have to take a leaf out of your book & build a wooden one, if I'm going to enter in that class.
Out with the drawing board I guess. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Peter A]

One more of it next to my Pursuit. Had it's maiden run yesterday and I'm pretty happy with it so far. Engine started (first fire ever), two pulls. As the engine is new it has to be run in (this petrol stuff!) and other tuning stuff to be done, so it wasn't running too fast, only around 40mph, but it'll have more yet. As it is a rough water boat rather than a sprint boat I'm only looking for 50 mph ish anyways. All in all a fun build and lots of racing to do with it this year. It also looks great on the water.


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Thanks Trav, you just can't get close enough to see the not so good bits! LOL. The paint was not as good as I was trying for, but hey it's a race boat and will undoubtedly get scratched and scraped anyway! This my first non electric build too. Might be the last! I still prefer FE!
Oops stuffed that up, I was sposed to reply to Trav's post.

[Ken_NJ]

Nice job Peter! Love the scratch building!

[Peter A]

Very nice Pete. Great work.
Our club is starting up an offshore mono class next year. Big hulls are too expensive to get here in Australia. Postage & the Exchange rate are real killers.
I might have to take a leaf out of your book & build a wooden one, if I'm going to enter in that class.
Out with the drawing board I guess. Thanks for the inspiration.

Thanks Paul, I think that being a wood hull it should take the big water well. Nothing but my own experience in full size boats to go on here, but wood hulls tend to to absorb the pounding waves better. We'll see...bring on the rough! You know it would have been a lot easier to buy a f/g hull and build from there, but it's just not the same!