Me and my dad each just picked up some vintage GW Invader boats to play around with. Mine is a 69 hull with a pull start 50 hp Mercury outboard. Dad's is a similar year ( not quite sure of year yet) with an electric start Mercury 35 hp outboard on it. Both of these are in need of some work and restoration,,,, mine is in a lot better shape then dad's though. These are the 10ft mini speed boats that look somewhat like a little jetboat only with an outboard on the back. Anyways we have not been able to find much info at all on these things on the net. So we were wondering if anybody had info/experience/ photos of these little buggers on here. I remember a thread about a year ago that had some on so maybe it isn't as off topic as i though!!! Thank you gentlemen 12pack
Lots of good stuff here. HOTBOAT Maybe someone will have some info for ya.... I dig old speedboats......
A neighbor up at the lake had one. 10 footer with a 50 hp Merc outboard on it. Good lord was it fast! After he added some sort of fin to the lower end, it really planed out fast. Kinda scary in rough water but god what fun! BTW....His had electric start!
I think Dad outsmarted you on this one. That electric start 35 is preferred over a 50 manual start. Pull starting a 50 outboard is for the younger guys and/or gorillas with 6' arms. Sounds like fun and they are fast little waterbugs.
I don't have pics yet,,, dads is coming home on friday and mine is sitting in a barn in another town for storage. But here is a link to some of the same kind off the web http://images.google.com/imgres?img...images%3Fq=GW+INVADER&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en None of the regular boat sites seem to really have much on these things.
LOL,,,,,,,, I'm only 27 so i wanted the big motor over the electric start. I think i'll be able to at least get it fired up for a few more years!!!!
ME TOO!!! I've seen these before come to think of it......not often though....hotrod puddle jumpers... Would be just killer with a multi-color 'flake job!
I graduated high school in 1968 I had a buddy that worked at a marina and he bought one new, He bought a brand new 50-55 hp (?)Johnson and put a short lower unit on it with a cupped Michigan prop. He stripped the boat and would sit on the gas tank. He could get a little better than 60 mph out of it on calm water. It was a SCREAMER!!! Have a ball!
You know if you were the industrious type (as many here are) you might want to look at these two build 'em yerself boats. Same boat - diff engine options.... Dyno Jet - Inbourd https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=212 Dyno Mite - Outboard https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=320
I was thinking the same thing. My dad and brother had to pull-start a 65 hp Merc once. It's an electric start, but the battery failed in the middle of the lake. Out came the emergency starting rope. In that situation I'd say it's advisable to save one's energy for rowing.
hey im bob crousore my father was the designer in part for the gw inveder if you have any questions im glad to help.