Here is our latest restoration

[TOF]

the Flying Tiger

The first set of photos is from last weekend when we started to dry fit the deck (6mm Sapele ribbon stripe) the last photo is a shot of some of the powder coating we had done by Midwest Powder Coating in New Brighton, MN.

Phil Mitchell

[TOF]

Here is another batch of photos....

[TOF]

One more batch tonight...

[Tomtall]

Hey Phil - Nice work! What's the history on this boat?

[Peter Crowley]

Was that the name of the boat? My JU boat in 1965 was named "Flying Tiger". It had "flame" numbers and the sharks teeth on the front! My father was in China during most of WWII.

[TOF]

[QUOTE=Tomtall]Hey Phil - Nice work! What's the history on this boat?[/QUOTE

The boat was built in 1978 by John Gibbs. John had worked with Ron Jones, Sr. for many years and decided to build a few boats on his own. He went on to form Gibbs Propeller Service.

Rod Zapf purchased the boat in 1979 or 1980 and ran it as the Flying Tiger until the early 1990's when capsules became manditory. At that time, the boat was painted 'refirgerator white' and was running with the Stiles Development unlimited hydroplane.

Fred Shearer and I purchased the boat this past April. Beginning in August, we stripped all of the white paint off along with repairing some damage that had befallen the boat earlier in its history. At the same time when it was upside down, I rebuilt both sponson bottoms with new battens and sheeting.

The top is ready for decking which will go on this weekend. We are using a 6mm ribbon striped Sapele which is different from the original deck which we believe was Utile, Sapele or Meranti.

The original paint scheme will be adheared to with Midnight Blue, Chrome Yellow and Hooker Red.

We plan on running the Vintage circuit with it starting in April during testing weekend in Dayton, Oh.

Best.

Phil Mitchell

TOF Racing
A30 Avenger (The New Avenger)
F726 the Flying Tiger

[Tomtall]

Thanks for the background on the boat!Keep the pictures com'in as you re-work this piece of hydroplane history.So cool these vintage hydo's are being bought and restored.Maybe I'll see you in Dayton.