A few motors of the weird...

[Skoontz]

I am a volunteer at Lake Tahoe Maritime Museum. Aside from moving displays I help with resotorations of motors and boats of a different era. With the permission of the director, I've got a few never seen shots from the annex in Truckee, which is only open to the public one time a year. I'm hoping to stump Sam, but, I doubt it. Please enjoy these photos, and if anyone visits Lake Tahoe, please see the museum in Homewood, and if you give me enough time, I can probably get you a tour in the annex.

[Skoontz]

They allowed theese out of the glass cabinet for photographs. Enjoy all ye radio control freeks!

[Skoontz]

In the hey day, Obexers marina now 100 years old, held boat races next door. This is the sign they used to promote the sport. Hanging in the Museum are a 4-60 Evinrude, a PO Johnson, and an A hydro Ernie Dawe built in 1970

[Skoontz]

The design is what nearly got JFK a general court marshall. Navy orders were that all boats must remain idling, and in gear. A PT boat did not use a clutch to shift, therefore the motor had to be stopped to engage the transmission

[Skoontz]

Some pretty amazing histories, including a boat tailed boat which won the ran against a locomotive, 2.25 hours to run 150 miles. The engines, twin Scripps V-12 aircraft motors.

[Skoontz]

This boat uses a Studebaker motor....I am not sure Studebaker ever made a 7 liter motor....Anyone know whose it was?

[Skoontz]

I knew the Johnson Brotehrs began it all on the Wabash river with a bronze 2hp inboard, but, anyone ever see one of these? Sam?

[Skoontz]

First for me, anyone else see one of these?

[Skoontz]

This gem is coming along...

[Skoontz]

Twin ignition, Wizzconsin motor...Essentially it was a pony motor for a sail boat

[Skoontz]

Many of these powerplants were under square, and huge cylindered. Ther 6 volt ignition and cold water intake for cooling kept them running cool, but plugs fouled badly at the altitudes of Tahoe, so, the use of twin plug heads were essential...So the story goes anywho.

[Skoontz]

Chrysler did not change a whole bunch from the motors they ran in cars...

[Skoontz]

Hudson Marine motor, removed from a 31' Hacker Craft for restoration

[Mark75H]

Yes, I have seen pics of another Mac diesel and the Evinrude inboard.

I think you are correct, pretty sure there was no 7 liter (427 cubic inch) Studebaker V-8
I think 6 liter was the biggest at 352 cubic inches. Their 289 was pretty popular.

I'm not sure the Packard V-12 actually has to be stopped to shift, but they never rigged the WWII PT's with remote shift. A Tinker in the engine room had to push the levers on the transmission on command from the bridge.

I think there were a lot of marine engines with dual plugs. I'm pretty sure the museum in Clayton NY has a bunch of Scripps motors with dual plugs there too.


Really cool pics, thank you very much for taking them and sharing them with us!

[194265]

I believe that the 224 cu/in Studebaker V8 engine (a 289/259 with a very short strok) was used in boat racing also. It had a 3.56 bore and a 2.81 stroke and loved to rev, I heard of them turning over 9000 RPM. :D

[Skoontz]

Ive seen a 224 in a car before...But then I guess what I'm after is this. This boat is listed in the museum as a former 7 liter and high point champion I beleive 1962 is on the tail...Sorry for the blurry pics. First, no manufacturer was making a 7 liter motor in 1962, Chrysler was still running the A block Hemi (392/354/331) and the B block was still in development for its hand assmbly in Chrysler Marine laboratory. Chevy had the 409, Ford had not come out with a tunnel port 427 until 1963....So, was there a 7 liter class in 1962, and if so, was a smaller 6 liter motor allowed to be used in the class? I'm wondering if the museums facts are off and would like to help correct them if thats the case.

[Lil Stinker]

The Museum has a nice outboard collection also and some lake racers hanging on the wall at the Homewood facility.