Ron Hill
06-19-2007, 12:45 PM
http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4613
I first met Grandpa Seebold in August 1966, at DePue, but had read his name since I knew how to read. When we met, he seemed to know me, like I knew him. I was in "AWE" and he gave me a business card. On the way home from DePue, I drove a few miles out of our way to drive through "Granite City, Illinois" to see Seebold's boat shop...It was smaller that I expected, but it was "SEEBOLD's Shop" it was closed at the time, but I took a picture of the shop because it was Bill Seebold's shop....
Everytime I ever saw Grandpa Seebold after that, which was more than a hundred times, he treated me as one of his best friends. We talked like we hadn't seen each other in years even if we'd seen each other the week before.
Over the years, I'd sent many customers to Big Bill as some called him, plus he did many wheels for me, also. Bob MacFarland, his son-in-law did much of his work and after Bob's death Grandpa backed off on doing a lot of prop work.
Bill was the first to "ROLL" the edges and use a "FULL DISH CUP" on Mercury wheels. Bills wheels were about 5 faster than Factory wheels, and until Mercury developed their cleaver, "SEEBOLD PROPS" and "FAST" were in the same sentence...
On my twin Jones, Like Johnny Woods may still have, my two blade Records were faster, but they'd break the gearcases...Seebold three blades were smoother and almost as fast...
I'd buy Mercury wheels from my dad (Mercury Dealer) have Seebold work them, then sell them to OMC...as they were faster than OMC's wheels......at the time.
Here is Molly Ballou's 17 Seebold....Classic Seebold "GRIND" on the leading edge...
I first met Grandpa Seebold in August 1966, at DePue, but had read his name since I knew how to read. When we met, he seemed to know me, like I knew him. I was in "AWE" and he gave me a business card. On the way home from DePue, I drove a few miles out of our way to drive through "Granite City, Illinois" to see Seebold's boat shop...It was smaller that I expected, but it was "SEEBOLD's Shop" it was closed at the time, but I took a picture of the shop because it was Bill Seebold's shop....
Everytime I ever saw Grandpa Seebold after that, which was more than a hundred times, he treated me as one of his best friends. We talked like we hadn't seen each other in years even if we'd seen each other the week before.
Over the years, I'd sent many customers to Big Bill as some called him, plus he did many wheels for me, also. Bob MacFarland, his son-in-law did much of his work and after Bob's death Grandpa backed off on doing a lot of prop work.
Bill was the first to "ROLL" the edges and use a "FULL DISH CUP" on Mercury wheels. Bills wheels were about 5 faster than Factory wheels, and until Mercury developed their cleaver, "SEEBOLD PROPS" and "FAST" were in the same sentence...
On my twin Jones, Like Johnny Woods may still have, my two blade Records were faster, but they'd break the gearcases...Seebold three blades were smoother and almost as fast...
I'd buy Mercury wheels from my dad (Mercury Dealer) have Seebold work them, then sell them to OMC...as they were faster than OMC's wheels......at the time.
Here is Molly Ballou's 17 Seebold....Classic Seebold "GRIND" on the leading edge...