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Gar Woods "Typhoon" Re-Creation

Discussion in 'Vintage & Classic Yachts' started by YachtForums, May 17, 2004.

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  1. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    If you truly appreciate wood on water, than take a look at "Typhoon". I saw this boat on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire a few years ago, while attending "Woody Weekend". This event draws in nearly 100 classic wooden runabouts from all over the country. Every boat at the event represented some of the finest craftsmenship and restoration skills you can imagine.

    Typhoon was originally raced by Gar Wood. It has been duplicated down to standards so exacting... that new molds were made just to replicate the hardware alone. I don't remember the exact figure, but I believe this was a $1 million re-creation (in 1994 dollars) :rolleyes:

    Here's a link on the history of Typhoon...

    http://www.acbs-bslol.com/Porthole/Typhoon.htm


    Here's the NEW Typhoon. Enjoy!

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  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    A top deck, bow picture of Typhoon...

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  3. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Cockpit picture of Typhoon...

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  4. Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Excellent thread, Carl!

    Looking back & forth between "Alpha-Z" and "Typhoon" boggles the mind.
    They look to be from the same gene pool and yet...

    The attention to detail and the engineering for both is astonishing.

    I'll bet from the driver's seat it would be tough to tell which boat you were on.

    BTW, which boat is faster?
  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Alpha-Z: 31’ with a Keith Eickert 850 hp engine.
    Speed: Original build specs quoted 100 mph. That number sounds a bit optimistic to me.

    Typhoon: 40’ with a 12-cylinder, 600 hp Wright Typhoon aircraft engine.
    Speed: Not sure, but... darn fast even today!


    My money’s on Alpha-Z! :D
  6. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    Geez, really nice woodens, that alpha Z looks good!
  7. mariog

    mariog New Member

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    Simply stunning...

    thankx Carl
  8. Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Even though the Typhoon has the smaller motor---and less weight than a heavier engine---there is also the issue of that surface-piercing prop, if that's what it actually is.

    As the old f@rt in these forums, I recollect the '80s vintage Magnums, e.g., the 40 & 45 which were built with Arnesons as well as conventional drivelines.
    The Arneson-equipped boats had it over their sisters by a substantial margin in the speed department.
  9. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Glad to share. The real thanx goes to Michael Peters, VanDam Woodcraft and an owner with "woody vision". These guys turned a tree... into Alpha Z, paying homage to the past and taking us fast-forward into the future. We might be able to learn more about the Z from Chris Critchett. He’s a YF member that works with Mike Peters. Chris... you’re up!

    In the meantime, you might want to visit www.mpyd.net to see some more of their work. :)
  10. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    The drive config on Alpha-Z is reminiscent of Harry's Pulse Drive, a trimmable surface drive. It's quite possible the Z was one of the first applications of the design, especially when you look at the single-step (DDC) hull. You have to think Michael & Harry must have collaborated on this? Hopefully Chris can chime-in...

    BTW Loren... I might have you beat in the old f@rt department... I knew Howard Johnsons when they had three flavors! :p
  11. Tad

    Tad New Member

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    Some confusion here. The link above to the Typhoon history seems to be talking about the restoration of the original 40' boat built 1929 for Edsel Ford.

    The photographs of the boat on Lake Winnipesaukee are of a scaled replica of Typhoon called, (wait for it...) Typhoon!!

    The replica was built by Mark Mason of New England Boat & Motor Inc., for his own use. It is an 85% copy of Designer George Crouch's 40' Typhoon. So she is 33'6" LOA by 6'6" beam, weight is supposed to be about 4000 pounds dry, and power (originally 1993) is a GM V8 of 600HP @ 4800RPM. Reduction gear is 1.5:1 turning an 18" by 26" three blade wheel, top speed is reported as 60mph, which sounds optimistic.

    All the best, Tad
  12. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    You're absolutely correct Tad. Previously, there was a link in my post about the new Typhoon, but it's been disabled, so I removed it. It's not professional when a forum has dead links.

    And yes, I remember reading that Mark Mason built the new Typhoon. Wish I had the privilege of meeting him while I was at Woody Weekend, but there were so many terrific tributes to timber, I was a kid lost in a candy store.
  13. Tad

    Tad New Member

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    Here's something similar built about 1990 by Tim Hodgdon, designed by Bruce King and myself.

    31'6" LOA, 25' LWL, 8'1" beam, weight about 6000 pounds, twin 450Hp with Arneson ASD6 turning 17" by 26" five blade Rolla wheels. Top speed 75.3 mph, a hair over 65 knots.

    [​IMG]
  14. Tad

    Tad New Member

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    [​IMG]
  15. Tad

    Tad New Member

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    [​IMG]
  16. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Shiver me timbers and shake me pine cones, that mahogany is moving! Definitely NOT something you see everyday (any day?)… twin engines and surface drives… on a woody!!! Very, very cool. You go Tad!
  17. Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Tad and Carl:

    Will you look at that! A barrel-back honkin' along like a modern-day wonder!

    Carl, you got me beat--- I recall a few more than three flavors, but not many more(!):p
  18. chriscritchett

    chriscritchett New Member

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    Greetings all - I just saw this thread, or I would have responded sooner...

    Many thanks for all the kind words about AZ. She was a sometimes painful excersise in design overkill (for a boat, anyway), but has certainly been worth it all in terms of exposure for our office. And you have to hand it to Steve Van Dam for the way she's built - probably the most perfect example of execution I've seen anywhere. Feadship & Huisman have nothing on him at this scale.

    I say painful design overkill because the owner was fanatical about everything being custom, from the flush, pop-up nav lights and mooring / lifting hardware right down to the fairing over the prop nut. When off-the-shelf solutions proved to be the best choice, we at least had to have all the logos removed (machined off, etc.) There is a Perko fitting in there, but I'll never tell where...

    In terms of performance, you're right about the 100 mph being a bit optimistic. Unfortunately, the custom-built engine originally spec'd at 850 hp only dyno'd out to 800. Initial trials on Lake Charlevoix showed 95-96 mph. The drive is a combination of Arneson thrust tube connected to a BPM chain-drive drop box. Trim is via a custom machined cylinder, but I can't remember exactly who made it. It's mostly the same hardware we specify on our UIM Class I racing cats. That's also where the outboard-hung rudder came from - it's proven to be faster than steering with the drive. And it looks pretty cool, with the steering ram hidden inside the extension box. The rudder was CNC-machined out of a billet of aircraft aluminum, and heat-treated for stiffness (we've seen similar stainless rudders bent over 90 degrees after their first race).

    OK, I need to get back to work - hope everbody enjoys the trivia.
  19. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Great info!

    I recently saw a knock-off Alpha-Z being promoted in the DuPont Registry or the Robb Report, not sure which one. I hope whoever owns the rights is aware of this.

    Good to hear from you. Thanks for chiming in. :)
  20. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
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