Thank you Mike,

I actually prefer restoring old Classic Model Powerboats to building new ones as it’s usually more of a challenge with lots of new and different problems to try to resolve.

Bob.

Hey Bob . . .
But honestly, you've taken on a tough job!
Hats off to you, keep up the good work! 👍👍👍
Michel-C.

Javelin 2.

Getting back to the Javelin 2 that I acquired recently to restore.

With the motor and its mounting removed the engine bay is now empty, but scruffy and in need of a good clean and tidy-up.

The “wheelhouse” area has also been cleared with the tuned pipe and fuel tank removed and the rear cabin area emptied too.

With an empty hull, the inner surface of the bottom skin can be scraped clean of any glass fibre residue and other glues along with any remnants of engine mount etc that remain fixed to the skins.

I have some narrow scrapers here in the caravan that I use when scraping away the oiled finish on the decking posts and rails that I think may be safer that my usual method of using a wide wood chisel when cleaning-up the insides of old hulls.

No signs of rot or fuel soaked wood suggests that this boat was seldom (if ever) run with the Merco 61 glow engine in it.

The poor engine fixing and prop shaft alignment also suggests that the boat would not have been run for long before encountering some problems.

Checking the M5 prop shaft, it was found it to be very well lubricated with a white grease and no visible signs of wear to further support the theory that this boat did not have much use before it was abandoned.

The hull has no strakes fitted, and I am tempted to give it a initial run without any (just to compare with those that do have strakes), but strakes add so much to the looks of this design that I doubt I will be able to resist cutting some more from obechie and fitting them as the hull is restored.

Bob.

Super Rapier.

As a matter of interest, a friend of mine on another model boat forum described my Super Rapier design update as a "floating gin palace" - so presumably he thought it looked a bit "swanky".

My aim was to try to update the superstructure to look a little better "suited" to the excellent hull shape that works so well as this "pointed hull" design is now quite a current shape on many of the upmarket power boats

Bob.

Super Rapier?

Some years ago, I did design a "Super Rapier", a more up to date "racy" design that I thought would look good on the magnificent Javelin/Rapier hull.

I did this originally because the Rapier was such an ugly looking boat, but I have got used to it now and with the large strakes fitted and the wrap around wheelhouse screen I really like it and have no plans to cut the cabin off to replace it.

Rapiers are also quite rare and hard to find, but the Javelin sold much better and so there are a LOT of them around and they can be bought for very little money.

With this in mind, a nice used Javelin would make a good "donor" hull to use as a base for a Super Rapier.

I did cut a pair of cabin sides out from 4mm plywood when I first drew-up this design, so I am looking again at this possibility to see if I like the idea as much as I did back when I first thought about it?

The original full size drawing can be seen lurking behind a pair of 4mm cabin sides that were cut from it.....and alongside the new un-started Rapier kit that I was originally tempted to use for it!

Bob.

OK Will,

Let's go for it!

The target could be for us both to get a Javelin on the water this summer and meet-up to run them together.

I don't know what condition your two Javelins are in, but if you picture them here and let me know if you need a hand with anything, we can use this build log to show our progress and help each other get at least one (each !) running later this year.

Bob.

To be fair Bob, it would be good to see me get any of my boats on the water 🙄
But yes, getting one of my Javelins on the water, and have a meet to run the two together would be good.
Running alongside your Rapier would also be good for comparison too.

Will

Hi Will,

It would be good to see you with one of your two Javelins on the water one day.

Maybe when you do get one of them finished we could get together and have a "Javelin Meet" and run them together somewhere?

I would also like to bring my Rapier along to see how the Javelins perform alongside their ugly sibling 😎

Bob.

Fair play Bob, you're making great progress with the Javelin already.
Those are some pretty hefty plates, I'm not surprised it was so heavy.
Without those, the ic motor, and fuel tank etc, the conversion to brushless should make it a good bit lighter, even with the weight of a lipo battery.

The inside of the hull looks much better already, and a good bit cleaner, good progress in a short period.

I'll have to look at my Javelin, and Arrow, and see what the spray rails are like at the bow ends on those.

Will

Zooma,
That was some great eBay hunting...you really scored with her.
I check my eBay listings several times a day hoping to catch a good deal like yours.

Nevertheless, you definitely have your hands full restoring your newly acquired LesRo Javelin.
I’d honestly be afraid to take on a project like that myself, so credit where credit is due.
I sincerely admire the dedication and skill it takes to tackle a restoration of that caliber.
😎