How Ron Hill Would Plan for a 20 HP Four Stroke Class

[Ron Hill]

Tell me if you can see the "Secret" as to why Hill Runabout were very fast. A very clear picture as to why. ARR Kilo record, 70 plus, 1966.

[modracer7b]

Tell me if you can see the "Secret" as to why Hill Runabout were very fast. A very clear picture as to why. ARR Kilo record, 70 plus, 1966.

Of course the secret is that Ron Hill is driving it. On a more serious note it's because the boat runs loose on the last inch or two of the bottom. All my runabouts were made to run like that, which is what made a runabout more fun to run than a hydro. If it wasn't running loose, then you might as well be driving a log.
Bill Rosado

[ClayT]

Your butt is behind the transom at the waterline.

[Ron Hill]

When my butt looked like it was behind the transom, I had a 4 inch set back, an unheard of set up, 1966.

Looking at #9, Hill 12 foot runabout with a 40 Tohatsu on it....We may need a deeper boat than I'm thinking for a 20 Tohatsu.

[modracer7b]

When the OMC came out for the J, I built boats with extended transoms to use the engine weight to counterbalance the boat weight forward of the transom. At the time, everyone was moving the engines into the boats to try to get as high as possible with the engine. I did not care about engine height as my focus was on the weight distribution across the entire length of the rig. I could put a single sawhorse at the transom and both the hydro and runabout would balance on it. Many were sure my rigs would not go fast, yet they ended up being the two fastest J rigs in the country running 40 and 60 lbs overweight and my son able to sit in the middle of the cockpits able to drive with comfort. The only thing everyone saw was how deep we ran the engines and they could not understand why they went so fast. Bill Rosado

[Mini Max]

My first race was Jessup marathon, as in first time I ever raced a boat. I love my seat. Fixed the sliding seat after the first day. The steering slides 18” also. It was like working out on the rowing machine at the gym while playing the trombone. I did not have the thrust jack stop nut tightened properly so I had 5 degrees of tuck by the end of the race. I also learned to reduce throttle on right turns after the first 5 spin outs. Must do better.

Fitted 20 hp to a Desilva and building a new boat for another 20 for TOPO if they let the class race.

[Ron Hill]

When was this marathon? How long was it? How many entries?

[Mini Max]

When was this marathon? How long was it? How many entries?

https://www.apba.org/old/internal/pr...swrJY-aAQnCSWk

The Marathon was timed, 20 minutes. One Marathon Saturday, One Marathon Sunday.

Howie Nichols was the race Director and stated there were 144 pre-registrations.

CSR Marathon with perhaps 5 or 6 boats and one DSR

I took my 20 hp Tohatsu to the race and Kurt Romberg displayed it at the inspection tent.