Rayson Craft Help [Archive]

AussieSkiRacer

11-29-2006, 02:29 PM

Hi Guys,
I am from Australia and I seen this Rayson Craft on eBay. I dont know to much about them. I would like to know what they are like. I would like to restore it and use it for Social Skiing/Ski Racing.
What year do you think it was made ?
How do they handle/turn/ride ?
Anything you can tell about these boats would be greatly appreciated.
Does this boat look OK ?
I have a 600hp 454 Chev to bolt in, are they a stable boat up to 90m/hr
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RAYSON-CRAFT-20-foot-460-big-block_W0QQitemZ190056326633QQihZ009QQcategoryZ1027 00QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

MAXIMUS

11-29-2006, 03:24 PM

Is 9500.00 U.S. currency??? If so that seems a bit high for the condition that thing appears to be in...

AussieSkiRacer

11-29-2006, 03:31 PM

No, Its Australian Dollars, I was going to make an offer for less engine.

gn7

11-29-2006, 04:45 PM

never seen one with that deck before, but bottom is definitly rayson. The hull needs way more than 400 hp. What does 9500 au work out to in US $. Would sure try to pick that up less motor.

AussieSkiRacer

11-29-2006, 04:58 PM

9500 Australian dollars (AUD) = 7,447.0500 US dollars (USD)
Are they a quick and stable boat with the right running gear ?

MAXIMUS

11-29-2006, 05:02 PM

Quick would equate into lots of torque from a big motor! Stable yes but with work & a proper set up... Otherwise it could be a handfull at the most inconvienant times... :rolleyes:

gn7

11-29-2006, 05:21 PM

thats it maxi, scare him. How much power are you looking to put in it?

AussieSkiRacer

11-29-2006, 05:30 PM

I would want around 90m/hr out of it. What HP would I need ? What about a small block stroker engine, 383 maybe ? If its a slug off the line its no good to me because we still would do a bit of social skiing with it.

Wildchild80

11-29-2006, 05:40 PM

It will take about 700hp to do an honest 100mph the boat will need some serious work too the plate needs a major remodel. the price is OK but I would try to get him down another 2000 or so.
Good Luck and have fun

GofastRacer

11-29-2006, 07:04 PM

The boat definitely has potential and could be a good piece but it does need some changes!. And with a boat like that you need torque to do what you want to do with it, put a big block in it and you will be happy with it!..

AussieSkiRacer

11-29-2006, 07:15 PM

What are some of the changes that need to be done ?
Has anyone got some pics of the same boat ?
Also the cav plate set up is all wrong isn't it ?
Thanks for all of your help so far guys, its greatly appreciated.

GofastRacer

11-29-2006, 07:24 PM

Here's a pic of the back of mine!, this is a tipical setup for those!..
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/216_Transom2.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/215_Transom1.jpg

sawtooth

11-29-2006, 09:13 PM

I was wondering why the cav plates were split on the sides, I noticed this on a couple of boats this past weekend at the Parker races and it made me go HHHMMMMM. I had never seen that before, does it aid in flexing of the plate? Sorry for the highjack.

gn7

11-30-2006, 07:10 AM

couple of reasons, one is the center of the plates get trashed before the out side, so you only have to replace the center plates. The other being that you can set the four plates differently if needed.

gn7

11-30-2006, 07:14 AM

my money says that may be a wood decker thats been painted or the dash was a seperate piece glassed in later. There is no way that deck was pulled from a mold in one piece.

MAXIMUS

11-30-2006, 08:42 AM

You know... now that you mention it, it does look like a wood deck that has been painted! That would be pretty cool if it was structually sound! :)

Roaddogg 4040

11-30-2006, 10:39 AM

Could be, but it dosen't look like any wood deck that I have ever seen. FWIW...
Steve

GofastRacer

11-30-2006, 10:45 AM

couple of reasons, one is the center of the plates get trashed before the out side, so you only have to replace the center plates. The other being that you can set the four plates differently if needed.
Actually they are one piece plates, the slot only goes to the transom, I would say they put them there because of the slight gull in the bottom and that would cause a compound bend in the plates. That is a good idea though if you needed to set the plates different!..

GofastRacer

11-30-2006, 10:47 AM

You know... now that you mention it, it does look like a wood deck that has been painted! That would be pretty cool if it was structually sound! :)
Didn't all wood decks drop down on the side by the front like yours????..

MAXIMUS

11-30-2006, 11:00 AM

Didn't all wood decks drop down on the side by the front like yours????..
Not sure what you mean???

GofastRacer

11-30-2006, 11:06 AM

Not sure what you mean???
That section right where you sit, it dips down a bit then comes up and straight back!..

gn7

11-30-2006, 03:23 PM

wood decks weren't all done att rudy's shop or buy rudy's guys, alot of boats left there with no decks at all, to be done some where else. Therefore there literally dozens of different looking wood deckers. The cut down side gunnel isn't on alot of rayson glass or wood. my glass deck doesn't have cut down side gunnels. infact if your boat is ted kolby's old boat, it has the same deck as mine.

MAXIMUS

11-30-2006, 04:02 PM

From what I have seen & heard with the wood deckers is they are all different as they were done by different people & like mine if it got redone then it would have changed again... Harlen orin redid the deck on plan b. I wish I could see a picture of it before.

GofastRacer

11-30-2006, 05:58 PM

From what I have seen & heard with the wood deckers is they are all different as they were done by different people & like mine if it got redone then it would have changed again... Harlen orin redid the deck on plan b. I wish I could see a picture of it before.
Hmmm, I thought he duplicated the original???..

GofastRacer

11-30-2006, 06:14 PM

wood decks weren't all done att rudy's shop or buy rudy's guys, alot of boats left there with no decks at all, to be done some where else. Therefore there literally dozens of different looking wood deckers. The cut down side gunnel isn't on alot of rayson glass or wood. my glass deck doesn't have cut down side gunnels. infact if your boat is ted kolby's old boat, it has the same deck as mine.
Well I knew different people made decks for Rudy, but I didn't know some of his boats left without decks though!. Yep, I got mine from Ted it's one of Whittset's boats and it's identical to yours!..

gn7

12-01-2006, 07:37 AM

ol' johnnie didn't build mine he just owned it. the boat was actually laid up by newport plastics by jim wilkes, before ol' johnnie was laying up glass or got his hands on the molds.

GofastRacer

12-02-2006, 09:02 PM

ol' johnnie didn't build mine he just owned it. the boat was actually laid up by newport plastics by jim wilkes, before ol' johnnie was laying up glass or got his hands on the molds.
Gotcha!.. :cool: