Rapier X.
The recent (and on-going) interest in the LesRo Rapier has now reached a peak where more people would like to own one than there are available.
Very few LesRo Rapiers were sold as new kits because they were not liked - probably because of the long pointed bows (that are now quite common on current power boats).
I restored my fuel soaked and twisted wreck of a Rapier during the Covid lockdown when there was not much else to do and this old boat had been thrown away and was recovered from a skip!
After I had straightened it and rebuilt it with new cabin sides and made some minor changes, I fitted a brushless motor and drove it on the Southport Club Lake when the Covid restrictions began to be relaxed
The first run of this rebuilt and restored Classic Model Power Boat showed that it had far more performance than anyone of us that were present that day could have imagined possible.
After a minor problem with a leaking (new) alloy water-cooled motor mount that did its best to fill the hull with water, the boat was given its second outing where it added a remarkably tight turning performance to its unexpected turn of speed.
Its ability to drive well in rough water made it a very popular model to see in action.
I reduced the power by fitting a smaller brushless out-runner as the boat was covering the club lake far too quickly and causing some concern with owners of “fast” powerboats that were being overtaken by this wooden vintage cabin cruiser.
Even with the much smaller motor, this 39” long classic has a fair turn of speed and continues to impress, and many that have seen it in action are now hoping to own one themselves.
Even the kit plans for the Rapier are hard to come by, so if we could get a set of drawings done that included the improved wrap-around windscreen and the removable wheel-house cabin roof it could easly lead to a lot more copies of this Classic Model Power Boat finding there way onto many more club waters.
With the updated spec, the classic lines of the original Rapier would be retained, and the fabulous hull shape would not be touched…..and the Rapier X would be born.
Bob.
Very few LesRo Rapiers were sold as new kits because they were not liked - probably because of the long pointed bows (that are now quite common on current power boats).
I restored my fuel soaked and twisted wreck of a Rapier during the Covid lockdown when there was not much else to do and this old boat had been thrown away and was recovered from a skip!
After I had straightened it and rebuilt it with new cabin sides and made some minor changes, I fitted a brushless motor and drove it on the Southport Club Lake when the Covid restrictions began to be relaxed
The first run of this rebuilt and restored Classic Model Power Boat showed that it had far more performance than anyone of us that were present that day could have imagined possible.
After a minor problem with a leaking (new) alloy water-cooled motor mount that did its best to fill the hull with water, the boat was given its second outing where it added a remarkably tight turning performance to its unexpected turn of speed.
Its ability to drive well in rough water made it a very popular model to see in action.
I reduced the power by fitting a smaller brushless out-runner as the boat was covering the club lake far too quickly and causing some concern with owners of “fast” powerboats that were being overtaken by this wooden vintage cabin cruiser.
Even with the much smaller motor, this 39” long classic has a fair turn of speed and continues to impress, and many that have seen it in action are now hoping to own one themselves.
Even the kit plans for the Rapier are hard to come by, so if we could get a set of drawings done that included the improved wrap-around windscreen and the removable wheel-house cabin roof it could easly lead to a lot more copies of this Classic Model Power Boat finding there way onto many more club waters.
With the updated spec, the classic lines of the original Rapier would be retained, and the fabulous hull shape would not be touched…..and the Rapier X would be born.
Bob.
Liked by DWBrinkman and DuncanP and
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