Info. and history of AQUACRAFT

[WVspeedfreak]

Hi guys, I did some searches of past posts, and turned up verry little info on aquacraft. I recently purchased the one shown in my avatar, and was just curious as to their history, different models, famous race boats, their plus's and weaknesses. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Mine is a 78 long deck I was told by the previous owner, and started life as an SK boat. I have no clue as to previous race history its name, or who piloted it. It now features a 468 with an 861(12 psi), dual 1050 dominators , casale 10 deg. with 25's, menkens 11.5 by 15. 95mph at 5700. 107mph with 15 psi and 15 percent gears.
Mike

[charitycase]

I also have one.Ask RCL,he has alot of info.

[Rattle Can Lou]

Mike, I used to know everything there was to know about Aqua Craft but age has taken its toll. Skip Volk was a young ski racer in the early sixties and he became an accomplished boat bulider and endurance boat racer. He, along with legendary boat builder, Fred Wickens built some of the best circle and enduro boats of the 60's and early 70's. Unfortunatly Skip also found he enjoyed aerobatic stunt flying. He tutored under Art Scholl, who was arguably the best stunt pilot around. They were doing a show together on May 10, 1972 and Skip lost his life in a plane crash. To this day the Chipmunk he was flying that day is the most requested stunt plane model made. I must tell you that I don't think that your boat is a 1978. I don't think many werre built after Skip was killed. He didnt have any kids to take over and he was only 42 when he was killed. Fred Wickens was a wood boat builder that started in the late 40's and built boats up to the 80's. He passed away in Washington in about 1996 and was about 92 years old? He built a plug for a circle boat in about 1965 and called it the Wickens Whirlwind. The mold was a collaboration with Skip and they produced the boat in the Aqua Craft plant in West Covina, CA. This is the boat that Charity Case has with the longdeck version on it. The boat in my avator is a 1966 Wickens with a walnut deck by Harlin Orrin. I will post a pic of my Dad's 1968 18' Aqua Craft. This is the same hull as your boat. They also made a 17' Aqua Craft that was one of the first SS boats. It was a pleasure to watch that boat pivot on single pin turn. I can remember that like it was yesterday. These hulls were not drag boats. Skip and Fred were into circle racing, but mainly the enduro races where they ran these things for 9 hours. I think that is why everybody is telling you to be careful with it, Your boat has a ton of HP for what the hull is. Unfortunately when Skip died so did a lot of the legacy of his boats. If you google Skip Volk there are some cool articles about him and his flying days.If you have any other questions regarding the boats please ask.
This is my Dad's boat,
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2793.jpg?t=1169851074

[Kurtis500]

Rattle Can Lou, Do you have any info on this Aqua Craft? I posted it a while back and I am looking for the boat. The boat with the wood deck is the way it came from Aqua craft and the deck with the splash guard was later added aftetr the wood deck was cut off.
thanks
http://www.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127609

[Rattle Can Lou]

K 500, I do not have any recollection of that boat. I moved to Idaho in 76 from the bay area of Ca. I was done being involved with racing at that point. Honestly I lost a whole generation of boat racers. My memories are of Rudy, Mike Reagan. Tim Wallace, Lou Brummett, Stan Drake, Grich, Gordy, LolOlol, Ernie Rose, Patterson hull named Shockwave....I wish I could help you. I know what it's like to want to find something. Like in my case...my identity.

[Kindsvater Flat]

RCL.. A friend of mine has a 17' aquacraft. I will try and dig up some pics or run over to his house and snap some. Very fun boat and turns really well.

[Rattle Can Lou]

I have looked and looked for a nice one to get a hold of. No luck so far. They were a turning sumbitch. I had a guy send me photos of what he thought was one of Skips first race boats. It was a 1963 17 footer. It was all set up as a circle burner / ski racer. He has had it for many years and in fact when he bought it it was powered by a Holman and Moody 406 Ford. He had since blew that up and it had a potent 390 in it. (Didnt know you could build a potent 390). Anyway, It was a cool boat and had a lot of cool things about it. I have since lost the pictures. K flat..theres a real good chance, considering where you live, that maybe my Dad rigged the boat of your buddies...pictures would be coooooool.

[old rigger]

Fred Wickens, shortly before his death at 91 years old and still building models for future full scale projects.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/fredwickens.jpg

[WVspeedfreak]

Thanks RCL. You have a beautiful boat, the wood deck is awesome. I also love the seating arrangement, and thru hull exhaust on your fathers boat. I have grown up on the Ohio river here in WV, and have been around, and owned many boats, mostly junkers that I have fixed up . None of them had the look, the speed, or the history of a classic v-drive. I measured my boat it is 17' 10" from stem to stern I would really love to know the exact year of my boat. Is there any place where there may be a hull ident. # stamped on it?? I also would like to do away with the fuel cells behind each seat and put stainlees tanks under each gunwale on the sides, to open up the interior a little bit. Would a deadmans tether kill switch be a good idea?? I also would like to add a whirlaway. Is there a kit I can order to install the whirlawy? If so, where from. I know I can't put it into gear while it is running, but can I go from drive to neutral while it is running without hurting the gearcase?? I guess thats enough questions for now..... I'll have plenty more later. Thanks, ahead of time.
Mike

[DaveA]

Hey WVSpeedfreak,
Here's a big ole thread from a few years ago about Skip Volk and Aquacraft boats that you may or may not have read.
http://www.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14249
Hello from way down I-77.
DaveA
.

[Kindsvater Flat]

I have looked and looked for a nice one to get a hold of. No luck so far. They were a turning sumbitch. I had a guy send me photos of what he thought was one of Skips first race boats. It was a 1963 17 footer. It was all set up as a circle burner / ski racer. He has had it for many years and in fact when he bought it it was powered by a Holman and Moody 406 Ford. He had since blew that up and it had a potent 390 in it. (Didnt know you could build a potent 390). Anyway, It was a cool boat and had a lot of cool things about it. I have since lost the pictures. K flat..theres a real good chance, considering where you live, that maybe my Dad rigged the boat of your buddies...pictures would be coooooool.
I called him tonight and its at his brothers house. Oh and its for sale also. He is going to dig it out and call me to come over for the pics. This is all I have. Its in front of mine.
http://www.schoutenranch.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/54.jpg

[CircleJerk]

Fred Wickens, shortly before his death at 91 years old and still building models for future full scale projects.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/fredwickens.jpg
I can share a bit on Fred and it comes from his neighbor in charge of his estate....Seems Fred made a deal with him that if he would take care of him on his bad days so he didnt have to go to a retirement home, he would give him all he owned! This was in Independence Oregon where you could taxi your airplane right to your house. Freds house had only boats stuffed inside his attached hangar!
Also parked beside his craft was a v8 Jag! It sported a 383 Lingenfelter chevy and a dash mounted TV. The story goes that Fred loved to watch Jeopardy and after being pulled over by the Oregon State Police, the officer could not get Fred to roll his window down. After several bangs with his flash light he powered it down but still didnt acknowledge his presense. Finaly, the show broke for a commercial and Fred asked him what he wanted. Sir, you were doing 92 back there can I see your license? So, Fred explained that it was very hard to see the speedometer and view the show at the same time. So if he was giving him a ticket, to hurry up before the TV ad was through! He could NOT miss his show! I believe Fred was in his 80's at the time!
Fred was a favorite with the antique airplane buffs. He could pound out almost any cowling or rare metal part they needed. His last hydro and hiss first 1965 race flatbottom are here in Spokane gathering dust!

[kryptonite]

Hey RCL, where in the bay area are u from? i think my step dad drove a aquacraft when he pulled ski racers in the early 70s before he started to drive endurance classes. i will see if my mom still has pictures. if u went to the races at clear lake im sure you have had to pass each other.

[Kindsvater Flat]

Speaking of Wickens. I forgot that the kid at the lumber yard has one. Real short boat with a small block chevy in it. I will ask him if he has any pictures of it also.

[WVspeedfreak]

Can someone please answer my questions a few posts up??? Thanks a million

[Rattle Can Lou]

I will answer your questions tomorrow when I am on my computer. This si the home one and I dont like typing on it....

[V-DRIVE VIDEO]

Can someone please answer my questions a few posts up??? Thanks a million
Aquacrafts were very successful circle and marathon race boats back in the 60's (from about 65 up) through the very early 70's. They were very well documented and there were several different types of hulls made.
1 problem with these old boats (runabouts) is many are given wrongful paperwork by their owners for a variety of reasons. Obviously they aren't easily identifiable like cars. The only way to absolutely verify year is with a stamped Hull Identification number (HIN).
If there is a hull ID number it will be stamped in the transom. Its very possible you don't have one though. The law to mandate stamped HIN's came in 72, if your boat was built before that its likely it never received the stamp. It could also have been sanded off or painted over.
A kill switch connected to the driver is allways a good idea. Adding a whirlaway is a great idea but that and the addition of the dogs needed for in n out use should be left to a pro. Send it to Tom Bentley (Menkins V-drives) JJ Beaver (Beaverfab) or Casale to get that done.
Nice boat and be careful...
--Jerry

[charitycase]

I have looked and looked for a nice one to get a hold of. No luck so far. They were a turning sumbitch. I had a guy send me photos of what he thought was one of Skips first race boats. It was a 1963 17 footer. It was all set up as a circle burner / ski racer. He has had it for many years and in fact when he bought it it was powered by a Holman and Moody 406 Ford. He had since blew that up and it had a potent 390 in it. (Didnt know you could build a potent 390). Anyway, It was a cool boat and had a lot of cool things about it. I have since lost the pictures. K flat..theres a real good chance, considering where you live, that maybe my Dad rigged the boat of your buddies...pictures would be coooooool.
I still have my Aquacraft.Come & get it.BTW,nothing on any old sprint cars around here.Talk to ya later.
Casey

[lucky]

:D :devil: :D I still have my Aquacraft.Come & get it.BTW,nothing on any old sprint cars around here.Talk to ya later.
Casey
hold out for the Cheap focker , i'm on my way :D :D :D

[Rattle Can Lou]

I already got one like yours...only it's a wood deck. The
17' Aqua Craft is the one I would want. K Flat is checking on one. No word on old sprinters huh? That guy still calls and asks me if I have heard anything on the car....

[charitycase]

:D :devil: :D
hold out for the Cheap focker , i'm on my way :D :D :D
I figured that would get a rise outta ya.
I knew Lou didn't want mine.
Just stirrin the pot a bit Chris.(it's still inside stored)
C-YA Casey

[vdriver4ever]

Hey Kryptonite...
this is RCL's brother. We hung out at Clear Lake a lot back in the mid 60's to early 70's Our mom water ski raced and so did RCL when he was lets say younger and thinner. :D
We lived in Cupertino and our Dad's shop was in Los Altos area. Who is your step dad? We knew an awful lot of those guys back then as kids.

[Rattle Can Lou]

Hey Buttface, Dad's shop was in Mountain View. GOSH, your such and idiot! Yeah I was a little slimmer then....There is the before Santa.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/EARLFAMILY2518.jpg?t=1170107576
Youv'e already seen the after....Sad isnt it.

[kryptonite]

Hey Vdriver,
My step-dad is Jim Bohenna. I know his pulled the avilas and others. He lived in Oakland and then in Concord. I know he always went to Clear Lake and he first had a aquacraft. my mom didnt have any pictures...

[aquacraft]

Hello Rattle Can Lou, Thank you so much for the kind words about my dad! We lost him when I was 6 years old and for some reason I have stumbled upon this site. I was just wondering if anyone out there may own one of my dad's boats that would be willing to discuss speaking about parting with it so my boys my have part of our legacy that we lost...
Rattle lou, I hope you see this as I know was written in 2007. And if anyone out there reads this please respond I am trying to piece together my fathers past. Thanks you so very much riverracer community.

[Rattle Can Lou]

Didn't take me long...this is so cool...my Dad is 82 next month and was a dealer for your Dad in the Bay Area of CA..we currently have two of your Dad's boats...by that I mean Dad bought the boats as a dealer and put them together...I have some cool pics of your Dad in some boats my Dad built and them some your Dad built..I posted the pics on Facebook...I will post it up tomorrow for you...or you can call me at 208 375 6328...Mike Minegar