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Pretty good for 1963
All taken from the Switzer Wing website- but pretty amazing. The concept has always fascinated me and to think this was over forty years ago! Infact the year I was born!
This is one of two boats (U6 / U106 and 7000) This photo is of Dave Craig running at well over 120 m.p.h. with a pair of 125 hp "Stackers" on Lake X in the fall of 63.
They say "a picture is worth a thousand words" but may I point out a few facts.
1. This Hull with driver and minimum fuel for speed runs weighed in at 1- TON. Yes.. 2,000 lb..!
2. We had no power trim in those days, we just tried various tilt pin settings and that was where you ran.
3. After my first few runs at Lake X, a few weeks after "The Day I flew a Boat" we were having trouble getting enough water to keep the engines from overheating, so, we actually had to LOWER the engines approx. 2" because as you can see, the "Switzer Wing" likes to fly approx. 3 - 5" off at the transom and 6 - 8" above water at the front sponson (just 8' ahead of the transom.)
4. We pioneered the enclosed capsule almost 40 years ago.
5. And finally, you can't imagine the feeling when this boat leaves the water. There is no sensation that your still in a boat. But rather in a airplane just over the runway to fast to touch down, until you decelerate below 85 mph.
"What a Thrill I'll never forget it!"
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