his Wet Meet was a ‘ton of running fun’ – that’s kinda catchy. Great weather and rearly AM calm waters.. Runs before the local wakeboarders came out were better. To view the great slew gallery of 58 photos, click here: http://www.texaschapteraomci.com/gallery/lake-lbj-spring-2013/
As an added feature click on this video – http://www.texaschapteraomci.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Di-and-His-1949-Speeditwin.avi to see Di Johnson’s 1949 Evinrude Speeditwin actually running on his 1948 Thompson.
Then go click on this link – http://www.texaschapteraomci.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Di-Jack-Jeff-and-Tony-on-the-Colorado632.avi to see Jack Stevens and Jeff Workman cruising down rhw Colorado River in his Glen-L w/Johnson 40 and Tony Robinson keeping pace in his Wizard w/ Lark power as filmed from Di Johnson’s Thompson (give the video a sec – it hangs up at the strart a bit).
Joe Mccauley reports: The spring meet at the Longhorn Resort (actually fishing camp) on the Llano and Colorado Rivers saw good weather. The weekend held typical Texas spring weather with sunny skies and temps in the 70’s. Early morning and late afternoon runs were the calmest and most pleasurable for our boats. At mid-day the wind and local wake boarders drove the water into roughness in the open-river areas. But, in those conditions, the seaworthiness of our various and sundry craft was well tested. We had a good club turnout and most all who came ran or rode in our boats. The on-lake activity level was very good.
Chip Rathbun showed up with a sleeper, a Gale 60 disguised as a Fat Fifty: 1960 Gale 60 gear case and heads. Unfortunately we don’t have a reliable speed reading yet because what Chip thought was an 11” pitch prop turned out to be a 13” with negative camber. We’ll provide a report on that hot gear case after the October meet. The chapter’s “Spring Nationals” shall herewith be deferred to fall as Scott Atwater “Al Smith” while attending the meet with his family, unfortunately did not muster an entry.
On Friday night Chip and Marilyn Rathbun invited Cornelia and me to a local fish restaurant in Marble Falls, score- “Excellent”. Other members along with family members went for dinner to various local restaurants in Kingsland. The Johnsons, Finns and Slators enjoyed a good local Mexican place.
Rigs were brought and run by Chip, Adam Finn, Di Johnson, Jeff Workman, John Slator, Jerry Lindamood, Doug and Dave Samstag, Jack Stevens, Gus Gustafson, Ben McCauley, Tony Robinson, Eric Peterson, Cornelia and myself. Cornelia got Hans’ Allison/Stinger on the pad and kept it there for the first time. The boat lifts onto the pad above 60 mph. Doug Samstag ran his hydro a lot and it was a pleasure to watch it perform. After Dave Samstag and Meatball fixed a fuel problem on Dave’s Merc 115, that rig made a few runs.
Tony’s Wizard and Adam’s Rexcraft totally restored aluminum boats were quite beautiful. Both boats were 1958 big tail fin style boats and these received a lot of deserving looks. Tony brought his boat to Kingsland last October in its unrestored state and the ++ difference was striking. Jeff Workman spent Saturday trying with little success to coax his recalcitrant Johnson QD to keep running. Possible problem is probably gunk in the fuel due to non-ethanol resistant fuel line. It would have been nice to get his beautiful home-built tiny boat running!
Not too much obvious trading took place, but Tony Robinson took home the Mark “Dirty” 30 with Mark 58 powerhead from John Slator.
Several of us took a club cruise late Saturday afternoon. The swells and wakes from large boats on the Colorado were terrible. I noted the seaworthiness of Adam’s RexCraft and Jack Stevens’ Glen-L with Johnson 40. My 14’ Allison of course will take any water. However, Chip’s Corson has the aforementioned prop issue and portends better performance. Tony’s Wizard delivered some in-the-face splashin’ to passengers and might need some aft hull keel straightening to shift the planing CG aft and get the bow to ride a bit higher.
Earlier, I had the pleasure of a long ride in Di’s beautiful ’48 Thompson and ’49 Speeditwin. The Evinrude initially proved cantankerous when starting but otherwise pushed the old boat on step very well for 22.5 hp. We also ran in wakes and swells on the Colorado and the Thompson TVT handled the rough water as if it had been built for bays. High speed adjustment problems, keenly noticed when Di leaned it out a bit, caused the motor to backfire healthily but smoothed out a bit after enrichening. To be fair to the restored old Evinrude, I’m not very effective as a riding mechanic for an antique as is Louis Rothermel, who was in Paris with his wife. Sagely, as Louis once told Di Johnson, “If you don’t git ‘em quite right, these old Evinrudes will f*rt like an Army Mule”. Yuuup! Got that right!!
At last, Di finally figured out that the carb’s float valve was getting stuck closed after refueling. Sunday morning’s calm early morning run saw more a refined performance from the 64 year old motor including idling vs. rowing into port.
The Saturday evening meal was an excellent BBQ catered in by Adam Finn which included brisket, sausage, smoked turkey and with all the fixin’s. After dinner most everyone sat around visiting and sharing stories. If you haven’t been to the Longhorn Resort, you won’t find a more friendly place to wander out beyond your cabin’s screen door and visit with folks while lounging around the picnic tables and rocking chairs.
For the first time at the LBJ meets, Cornelia and I left for Houston after the Saturday nite BBQ. We had to drive and be present for the first race of the year, the next day, Sunday, at Highlands, and we had to be there at 08:30 AM. We look forward to a full weekend for our club’s return fall meet at Kingsland in October.
Attendees included: Chip & Marilyn Rathbun, Joe McCauley & Cornelia Kuffner, Michael & Erin Worley, John & Cindy Slator, Jeff & Laurie Workman with son- John, Jerry & Rocky Lindamood, Doug & Kyle Samstag, Dave Samstag and son, Adam & Susie Finn, Jack Stevens, Di & Suzie Johnson, Gus Gustafson & granddaughter Kendall Gustafson, Eric & Gayle Peterson, Al Smith and family, Ben McCauley, Tony Robinson, John “Meatball” Murray and Joe & Nelda Moore. .
Respetfully submitted by Joe McCcauley
