Demon Chaser Renovation - Part two

The years as a championship race boat had taken its toll on the Demon Chaser. A careful examination of the boat just prior to painting revealed a problem that no one could have foreseen. 

A small crack, which ran under a piece of metal on the nontrip and bottom of boat, needed to be further examined. Unfortunately the metal "sheathed" the length of boat as well as the entire nontrip section. To simply get to the point where the problem could be fully identified, entailed several days of work. Rather than just epoxy over a potential lethal problem and "button" everything up, the owner opted to tear the boat down.

Everyone's worst fears were realized; there was extensive dry rot where the wood and metal had come together and the boat was simply an accident waiting to happen. 

The silver lining in all this is that a potentially dangerous situation was averted. Steve and Henry have completed a VERY extensive reconstruction on the inner left and right sponsons and nontrip areas. The boat is now stronger than ever.

Steve then applied his magic as a painter; first shooting the boat entirely in black, then applying two chromallusion graphics, which change into six separate colors as one looks down the boat. On the sponsons, interspersed between the chromallusion is a black and silver marbleized design, outlined with a blue pinstripe. The canopy and engine cowling are finished in a blue and black marbleized design with the pinstriped chromallusion graphics.

In searching for an engine builder, the owner wanted the best. There are a great number of good engine builders out there; but there are few that can make a big block GNH/UL engine live at high Rpm's. Art Davidson of Olympia, Washington was commissioned to build a sister engine for the engine already procured. Both engines have been dynoed and are ready to go.

The owner is out of money. The boat is ready to race.

Page last updated Sunday, March 27, 2005