Very Rare Italian Pileofwoodia, Maybe. Or The Russian Version, Pileofcrapya.

, ,

I would put this in the Preserved category.

A huge thanks to fellow Woody Boater Robert Murdock bringing his latest back yard find to the 2020 Lake Dorona Virtual Boat Show. .. This.. Work of Mid Century art? Left over wood from some sort of beach party? NOPE. It’s a Thompson “Repurposed”

Makes Stinky look like a… well sister.

Rudder

A little paint, and .. and

cool throttle

cool cushion

carbs!

The Innovation and craziness from one of the back yard shops all over the world. If you look closely though, there is some real thought to it and speed goodies added too. The welded up bracketing is as clean as a whistle.

Love an old flathead

art

Robert thinks it’s possibly like an old Thompson rowboat just got “repurposed”…………!


A huge thanks to Robert and his pile. Tomorrow TUNE IN. KENT O. SMITH JR has a special treat for us all and then tomorrow evening, tune in  and tan up for the LAKE DORONA VIRTUAL WELCOME PARTY. YUP. We are gonna keep it alive here so we can all stay alive. Also, T shirts have been boxed back up and shipped back to our shop in Chicago. And they will go on sale. Virtually.

Woody Gal and Larry will be there. Larry you don’t look like you’ve aged a bit.

If we can do this right. Chances are low, but if we can, this could be kinda fun.. As fun as can be honkered down in your house.

20 replies
  1. Dean
    Dean says:

    This doesn’t have anything to do with boats but the heads on this engine sent me down a rabbit hole reading about Earl “Pappy” Evan’s and his Flathead speed equipment. I stumbled upon this classic 50’s video about racing. Pretty Cool!

    Watch “Evans Speed Equipment – SCTA Road Runners Film” on YouTube

    https://youtu.be/ByYMTi7T_x0

  2. Bob Murdock
    Bob Murdock says:

    Kevin Behymer at Golden Rule Garage has been good enough to go all forensic for me on this one. He’s got a great shop that specializes in all kinds of dreams and craziness, so this was right up his alley.
    More to come as we uncover more……….
    We’ll have it up north at Howe Marine this summer for more showroom eye-candy!

  3. Captain Nemo
    Captain Nemo says:

    I would have liked to see this build after completion. It had to have been quite impressive. I’ll bet it was a handful to run, kinda like a Jersey Skiff.

  4. Tim Robinson
    Tim Robinson says:

    Evans speed equipment was manufactured in Bellflower Ca. Mr. Evans was the Father of one of my closest friends. He operated a general automotive repair shop late into the late 70s/early 80s. The story goes that he couldn’t compete with Offenhauser speed equipment (different then the engine builder). So the line of Evans speed equipment was fairly short lived and to see Evans parts is quite rair.

  5. Keith Brayer
    Keith Brayer says:

    Ford Flathead V8 with twin Stromberg 97’s and an outboard rudder! Somebody was trying to go fast! Would love to see a side view photo!

  6. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P ) says:

    Now that is a project! I hope that he completes it. I would like to know more about the hull. That engine looks like a 1938 to 1940 60 hp Ford flathead. With those Evans heads, that vortex magneto, an unidentified intake with 2 stromberg 97s, it had to cook. Enjoyed all the other projects he had going on in the shop also. The early 80s Comaro, the VW Super Beetle, 49 Ford F1, looks like a 35 or 36 Ford roadster on the rack, and isn’t that a mid 70s Triumph sitting next to the boat. Reminds me of all the things I have worked on in my life. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Gary Van Tassel
    Gary Van Tassel says:

    I would love to see other photos of the rudder assembly, shaft strut, where the shaft exits the hull, etc. looks like a home brew surface piercing propeller arrangement. My naval Architech self would love to see more photos. I have done much work with surface drives over the years.

  8. Bob Murdock
    Bob Murdock says:

    Promise more pix as we separate hull and drive, etc.
    The boat could be saved with a blank checkbook and strong desire, but even finding any history will be difficult in this case. Not impossible, but forensic.
    I doubt it belonged to Jimmy Hoffa or Al Capone, so it’s just easier to pick up another Thompson rowboat and rebuild if you have a death wish.
    Nothing left of the transom but the really scary part, we found the transom mounted ski tow ring and bracket!
    So, one lunatic genius with a death wish that was obviously dropped at birth towing another raving lunatic on skis or a flat board.
    It brings to mind the old phrase “Hey! Hold my beer and watch this!!!”
    Behind every warning label is a really good back story…….

  9. Al Schinnerer
    Al Schinnerer says:

    In 1950 I had a 1931 Cadillac V-16 all-weather phaeton with two Evans manifolds (one on each bank of cylinders) and 4 Stromberg 97 carbs. Ran it through the Santa Ana drag strip for laughs. Don’t remember what my time was but it was great fun. The car had been modified and used by Northrup Aviation to tow gliders testing the Flying Wing concept. my brother still has the car.

  10. thomas d
    thomas d says:

    i’d like to have that coupling, had one similar to it on a chris craft back in the early ’70’s. works like a shock absorber.

  11. Wolfgang
    Wolfgang says:

    That was some cool find. There is a young chap in Bay City, MI that has created a similar boat with a small block Chevy 350. There is a new style of shaft coupling out there that is used also to help with alignment also. Check out Levi surface drives and there is a photo of a similar coupling.

    • Bob Murdock
      Bob Murdock says:

      Promise Frazzle XI is safe and sound under cover, just waiting for summer!!!
      This will just be coming to keep her company soon up north!!!

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