Looking for info on this boat

[JimboG]

Does anyone know about this boat or its history? I’m guessing it’s a 12* v drive due to the angle of the motor? Is that why the engine sits so far forward? Just from the pics can pluses and minuses be surmised or determined? Any downside to this boat being a good lake boat, maybe even a larger HP engine? Appreciate any comments from those far more knowledgeable than me. Thanks, Jim

 

[wettrthebettr]

Looks like a nice Flatty, I'm Surprised others did not Shime in,
I was told to Move my Engine forward to the front, So the boat would Ride better. it should be a good lake boat.
I taught my kids how to ski and Wake board on my 71 Aquacraft Flatty pumped up 327 SBC, top load Casale w/12-or 15 over can't remember which, it was agreat family boat for us threw the 80's 90's

 

[JimboG]

Thanks for your thoughts wettrthebettr. I’m wonder is the engine biased correctly or is it backwards like a circle boat? Im not sure what that bell housing looking cover on the front of the engine is. Ideas?

 

[Tpltrbl303]

Looks like it’s driven off the flywheel side. Most circle boats are off the balancer side.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[wettrthebettr]

Thanks for your thoughts wettrthebettr. I’m wonder is the engine biased correctly or is it backwards like a circle boat? Im not sure what that bell housing looking cover on the front of the engine is. Ideas?

Not sure what you are asking wonder is the engine biased correctly or is it backwards like a circle boat? because it's hooked up to the reaof the engine is because it is a V-Drive, But I've seen V-Drives hooked up from the front also, if The engine rotates clockwise hooked up from the rear it will be a left handed drive. you can reverse the rotation by hooking the same engine from the front and have it a right land drive.
What looks like a bell housing on the front could be a Timing cover that covers all of the front and is part of the Front engine mount, I can't see the photo very well to be sure.
Hope that helps,
With that engine angled down in the rear bell housing side will cause the prop shaft Angle to be a lesser angle to the bottom of the boat.
Like your shaft strut could be 5 degree in stead of 10 Degree, (just an example)
I have a 9 degree prop shaft Strut in my campbell V-Drive.

 

[wettrthebettr]

Looks like it’s driven off the flywheel side. Most circle boats are off the balancer side.

thanks Tpltrbl303, i just know alittle about his question, thanks for Chiming in.

 

[JimboG]

Yes guys, that’s what I was looking for when I used the biased term. I believe the “normal“ flat has the flywheel side of the engine toward the v drive and that’s what I was hoping to confirm. I’m also trying to research the block numbers to determine if that 454 is a four bolt main. Not sure that I have enough info yet to confirm that.
I‘d really prefer a T-Deck runner but it seems like they’re getting harder and harder to find!

 

[wettrthebettr]

Google this https://www.enginelabs.com/news/reference-chevy-engine-block-casting-numbers/
361959 Big Block V8 1973-1990 454, 2 bolt or 4 bolt

Big Block Chevy Engine block Identification by minuit10

big block Chevy casting bock

minuit10.net

Hard to see your cast # but if this is it #

361959

1973-85

454

2 or 4 Mains

car & truck

 

[JimboG]

Wettr,
thank you!

 

[warpt71]

I would like to see a better detailed picture of the plates, but, that looks like an early Hondo runner bottom. I say that due to the fact that the outside chine stops before the transom and the plate runs all the way to the edges of the boat. I would say this boat is probably a '72-73. I have a '71 Hondo flat that ran 90 with a 440 BBC. It is rigged with a 12* and the motor does sit up higher because of this. Placement front to back has nothing to do with the v-drive. I also have a '81 t-deck runner bottom. These old Hondos are good boats and rigged properly they can handle plenty of HP

Hope it helps, post more

 

[JimboG]

Warpt, thank you for the info. I dont have any more pics or info of the boat. I wish I had a pic of the plates to verify runner or flat.