1973 17ft Witchcraft

[badgurl]

I recently purchased a 73 Witchcraft with a 86 Mercury Black Max 150 .... I was looking for some information on the Witchcraft Boats. I am told that possibly that brand boat was used in the 70's in Mod VP racing. Does anyone know anything specific about the boat as far as the limit/id tag ?

[Miss BK]

A couple of my friends drove "Witchcraft" boats in the late 70's and early 80's. (Mark & Keith Yunger) But I can't remember the history of the company. I think Ron knows...

[Ron Hill]

Actually, BK I don't know any thingabout a 17 foot Witch Craft. But I know you are confused about the Younger Younger and Mark Younger. They ran a Lavey MOD VP for Sea Witch Marine. Big John Hadden owned Sea Witch Marine, and may still. Big John as not to be confused with John Castelli. Witch Crafts were out of the picture when Tim Soares and myself started running Eliminartor.

Al Stoker, drove a 19 foot Witch Craft at the 1978 Parker Nine Hour and won Mod VP. This Witch Craft was owned by Earl McKinney and Earl had a daughter that AL was MORE THAN CRAZY FOR...anyway, after Parker, Earl decided he wanted his own a second Mod VP and ordered another Witch Craft.

It was with this second Witch Craft that it was discovered, that Witch Craft had two molds for 19 footers. One MOLD made boats that were "Turning Mothers" and the other mold built regular boats.

About this time, Stoker and Evinrude were building motors with much more power than 235 and John Stoker decided they need a larger boat. John cut Al's Parker winning boat in half and added, I'll say 18 inches to the middle fo th boat and added a step at about where he added th length.

The hired Jerry Baker to build a mold of this bottom. Fred Bowden owned a Taylor and it was decided to "SPLASH" the Taylor deck to put on the bottom of the new Stoker...which was the 19 foot "TURNING MOTHER" Witch Craft.

Taylor actually sued Fred for splashing his deck, never got any money but sued anyway.

I know more...but it really goes to Stoker/Baker Boats (If you look at the December issue of Powerboat, you'll see my son Chad driving an old Baker, MOD VP, not V) .....but this Baker has the Witch Craft "Turning Mother" Keel...It also has the Taylor, rounded sides deck...

As far as the 17 Witch Craft goes, unless this is the 17 that Jerry Baker modified, and Jim Wilkes now owns, I've got nothing!!!!

Here is a link to a picture of Tim Soare's Witch Craft that Tim and I drove at Havasu...1980...maybe 1979
http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97&highlight=Witch+craft

[vishus]

Ron,

what December issue of Powerboat do you have? I stopped by a local bookstore and the December issue has a picture of the "Reliable Carriers" Offshore Cat on the cover and has a big article covering the "Lake of the Ozarks shootout" with the "Callan" turbine Cat running 208mph.

BUT NO PARKER ENDURO!!!!

could your copy be a Jan issue??? I know that some magazines have a West Coast and an East Coast Cover, but I wouldn't think that they would run different articles...

[Miss BK]

Hi Ron,

Well, my memory certainly isn't as good as it used to be, I guess. But at least I got the "witch" part right! :D


BTW - the article is in the JANUARY 2007 issue of Powerboat. ;)

[Ted March]

2006 Parker Blue Water Casino 300 Mile Enduro - Page 46.

[Ron Hill]

Stopped by Wilkes Marine, his 17 Baker mold was cut up, but Jom said,
T he 17 Baker was NOT the Witch Craft 17."

Here's a picture of John Haddon mixing gas at Parker with the Soares gas pump...