My Craig Craft

[craigcraftdave]

I have had this boat hanging in my garage for 20 years my dad gave it to my when i was 3 or so. I would love any info on it as my goal is to get it on the water this year! please help me out i would love to get into this sport and would love to learn about my boat it says its a 1971 craig craft for mark m. denabay .. i think that is the last name it is hard to read

[craigcraftdave]

as of tonight this is what my boat looks like...:)

[Miss BK]

Craig Craft boats were designed by Craig Selvidge of Region 10.

Here's a thread that discusses him:

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2750

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

There is a possiblility the name is Mark Demaray, instead of the way you have spelled it. I remember a person by that name from the NW that raced for a while, back in the 70's I believe.

You might try that spelling of the name on the search feature of BRF and see if you come up with anything. Also there is a person in your area named Dean Hobart that might have some info on your boat or at least the builder. He has been around boat racing in that area for a long time. I am sure Dean is a member here on BRF and maybe you could contact him thru the members list and send him a PM.

Good Luck

[carl lewis]

There is a possiblility the name is Mark Demaray, instead of the way you have spelled it. I remember a person by that name from the NW that raced for a while, back in the 70's I believe.

You might try that spelling of the name on the search feature of BRF and see if you come up with anything. Also there is a person in your area named Dean Hobart that might have some info on your boat or at least the builder. He has been around boat racing in that area for a long time. I am sure Dean is a member here on BRF and maybe you could contact him thru the members list and send him a PM.

Good Luck
yep, that's marks old boat he lives in the edmonds area

[DeanFHobart]

There is a possiblility the name is Mark Demaray, instead of the way you have spelled it. I remember a person by that name from the NW that raced for a while, back in the 70's I believe.

You might try that spelling of the name on the search feature of BRF and see if you come up with anything. Also there is a person in your area named Dean Hobart that might have some info on your boat or at least the builder. He has been around boat racing in that area for a long time. I am sure Dean is a member here on BRF and maybe you could contact him thru the members list and send him a PM.

Good Luck

Here's Mark Demaray's e-maill address:

E-Mail: markdemaray@msn.com

Good Luck,

:cool::cool::D:D

[MarkD]

That is indeed my old boat – Craig Selvidge and I built it in the winter of 1970-1 and I raced it in the 1971 season in Region 10 in the A Stock Hydro class with a KG-4 Merc. I have some photos of it when it was new and while I was racing in those days. It was a very fast boat - built it in Edmonds on the waterfront in a building that burned down in the late 70's.

That particular design was influenced in part by Hedlund Hydros - guys from
60's in Illiniois - in part by a great woodworker who built airplanes and other cool things named Jim Jatho, that helped Craig Selvidge and all of us in the very early days, and part by Criag's own ideas. In 1972 the designs wwere changed a bit - there were maybe 5 or 6 of the Hedlund/Jatho/Craig style boats made like this one. This one was mostly made of 3 mm Ultilie and was light as a feather.

I will try to find some photos of it when it was new and post them.

Mark Demaray

[craigcraftdave]

Thanks for the Info Mark I am really exited about this boat! It is going to be alot of fun!

[craigcraftdave]

Also to comment this boat is does weight next to nothing the only problem is keeping the plywood from cracking it is so thin and brittle!

[MarkD]

That was the nature of that species of wood - we used mostly Ocumie after this one as the thin 3mm Utilie was pretty brittle as you say.

Let me try to dig out some photos tonight and send them to you or post them.

Mark

[MarkD]

Here you go David - the good old days...........

Here is your boat in 1971 at Quincy, WA - Crecent Bar - on the Columbia River. That is me driving and my number was 136-R that year - the class is A Stock Hydro, running a Mercury KG-4 motor. The second photo shows it in the race - and the boat behind me is Gerry Hopp. Gerry is still racing - although now he races Unlimiteds - a slight step up from A Stock Hydro....

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4/markdemaray/102_2562.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4/markdemaray/102_2561.jpg

Here it is right before I sold it with my dad racing his one race in A Stock Hydro - 1972 at Rockaway Beach, Oregon. The motor on this one is a Merc Mark 15.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4/markdemaray/102_2559.jpg

Here is a nearly identical "sister ship" - also made in 1971 by Craig Craft - this shot of Jill Kingdon (my wife of 30 years) in 1971 winning the "Powder Puff" ASH race at Silver Lake in Everett. Every year we let the girls run an A Stock Hydro race at Silver Lake for the Powder Puff Trophy.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4/markdemaray/102_2560.jpg

We had a lot of fun in those days huh Dean ?

Mark

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

That is indeed my old boat – Craig Selvidge and I built it in the winter of 1970-1 and I raced it in the 1971 season in Region 10 in the A Stock Hydro class with a KG-4 Merc. I have some photos of it when it was new and while I was racing in those days. It was a very fast boat - built it in Edmonds on the waterfront in a building that burned down in the late 70's.

That particular design was influenced in part by Hedlund Hydros - guys from
60's in Illiniois - in part by a great woodworker who built airplanes and other cool things named Jim Jatho, that helped Craig Selvidge and all of us in the very early days, and part by Criag's own ideas. In 1972 the designs wwere changed a bit - there were maybe 5 or 6 of the Hedlund/Jatho/Craig style boats made like this one. This one was mostly made of 3 mm Ultilie and was light as a feather.

I will try to find some photos of it when it was new and post them.

Mark Demaray

Mark,

I knew that you would respond. Didn't you win the Nationals with this boat?

[MarkD]

John - I did not win the Nationals in that boat - although it was fast enough to have won in its day. I built a new boat every year in those days with changes in design each time - and usually sold my old one each year to pay most of my college tuition for the year.

I won the A Stock Hydro Nationals in 1977 on Lake Ming at Bakersfield, CA in a boat I finished building 2 weeks before that race. I put a lot of design changes into that one that made it much faster thru the turns (including an off-set cockpit & stepped sponsons). Here is a photo of that one from 1978 at Silver Lake in Everett taken from the wonderful book of Bob Carver's photos (available at the Hydroplane musuem - you all should buy this book). I am in the 1-US boat.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4/markdemaray/100_1491.jpg

That is Ed Karelson's son John Karelson in the 90-R (Rest in Peace John - John was just a wonderful young man who died a few years after this shot in a tragic testing accident), that would be Brian Anderson on the inside in 546-R - and although I am not certain, it may very well be none other than the now world famous announcer and vocalist Patrick Gleason in the X boat.

Mark

[Mark75H]

Those are beautiful boats. They show an advanced understanding of aerodynamics for the time period they were made.

[DeanFHobart]

[QUOTE We had a lot of fun in those days huh Dean ?

Mark[/QUOTE]

Mark,

Yes we did.... way too much fun !!!!! I had a Hedlund in those days.

I think Neal Baum had one of the Hedlund/Jatho/Craig/Mark boats also.

Deano
:cool::cool::D:D

[WESTBros.]

Hey Dean, don't you have a couple of 45's? Where are your pictures?

[craigcraftdave]

Mark,
Thank you for all the pictures. When I get the boat going it will be up at lake cavanaugh and you are more than welcome to come out and take it for a drive if you want... Does anyone have any idea of where i might be able to find a old racing merc like this boat should have I want to keep my motor pretty stock but maybe stacks would be ok.-Dave

[F-12]

Check with A/B Speedliner here on BRF. Should be able to get you smokin' in no time...........

[Bunker Hill]

You'll have to pay but....
from time to time they show up on ebay.
There is 20 h on ebay now without the "toilet Bowl" conversion. It would be a option for you
Here's the link
ahttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130324136047&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en
Bunker

[DeanFHobart]

Mark,

Check this out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:cool::cool::D:D

Deano..................................

[KG4]

Those are awesome pictures,Thanks for sharing them.You just made my day:)

[craigcraftdave]

Here are some pictures of me taking the boat out fir its first time! I dont think it has seen water in around 30 years. Mark told me that my boats maiden voyage was on this very same lake in 1971! My motor was not working very well so I could barely go above a fast idle but I still made 25 mph or so..

[craigcraftdave]

I have been so busy with life that my Craig Craft has been put away since this picture was taken. I am about to start on it again to get it ready for this summer.
look for lots of pictures to come!

[zul8tr]

Nice restoration.:cool: I think the hydros of that era were really sharp designs. I raced against Craig Crafts, Hudlands, Bezoats, and others I can't recall. I note that your fin is pretty far to starboard on the left sponson. After you get it going with a good running engine consider moving the fin outboard several inches beyond the rear deck outer edge so spray will clear it.

Cool Running :)

[craigcraftdave]

I have a kg4h for it and soon hopefully i will also have a kg7h. I have a lot of setting up to do and will take note of fin placement.
I have since removed the extension on the transom to expose the "vented transom" and now its the right height for a quickie lower. I have to varnish a little more and put back on the craig-craft decals like in the old picture as well as paint the white panels on the bow.

[zul8tr]

I have a kg4h for it and soon hopefully i will also have a kg7h. I have a lot of setting up to do and will take note of fin placement.
I have since removed the extension on the transom to expose the "vented transom" and now its the right height for a quickie lower. I have to varnish a little more and put back on the craig-craft decals like in the old picture as well as paint the white panels on the bow.

What about a nice 20h or a first version 25ss?

[craigcraftdave]

just an update

[buff5]

Craigcraft Dave. I see this is a old post, BUT did you ever have the Craig Craft decals made & do you have any extra's. I just bought a Craig Craft runabout, do not have the boat in my possession yet, (to cold in N.C Wisconsin)!!!!!, but have pictures & I do not think it has a decals which I would like to put on. Incidentally the runabout is either a M or small A class boat?, or any one else who has or knows of where I can find the Craig Craft decals. The boat is of the 'Shovel Nose" dersign.
Buff10@charter.net