WW II Storm Boat and Motor + video

The Correct Craft Boat Company, celebrating their 100 year anniversary, has re-created a WW 2 Storm Boat which used an Evinrude 50 hp Big Four "storm boat motor". Correct Craft was one of the original suppliers for the war effort, and produced about 400 boats for the European theatre. Storm boats were an assault boat used for landing troops in combat, specifically for inland waters. Their lightweight construction allowed for them to be carried by multiple men on foot.and could either be paddled or fitted with an outboard motor for high-speed operation. AOMCI members participated by providing a restored storm boat motor and the technical expertise to go with it. The following You Tube video by the Correct Craft Co documents this effort.

Rebuilding History: Correct Craft’s 1945 Storm Boat, 80 Years Later

 

Great story and great video. As I look for more information on the 4cyl Evinrude engine, it looks very similar to the Elto engine that found it's way into dirt track midgets after WWII. With all the cowling in place I cannot confirm anything visually. I could not find any definitive info online either. There was info about these engines being used on pumps in ship hulls to remove bilge water. That was also usage for the Elto engines. The Elto engines would be installed in midgets with the flywheel/crankshaft vertical and then adapted to a right angle gearbox to got back to the quickchange rear axle. I had two Elto engines over the years, but never got them installed in several midgets I had. Last time I was in the Speedway Museum in Lincoln Neb. there was a really nice right angle gearbox on the shelf in the "backroom" just in case ! Thanks again for a neat story.

 

That was great! Thanks for posting.

 

Elto engines became Evinrude.