The "Dillon Pro Tunnel"
I built the Dillon Pro Tunnel in the winter of 2009 and sold the bare hull to another member of our Twin City Powerboat racing club. Jeff finished and rigged the boat and, after a rough start, became a dominant member of our GT Pro class with six wins in eleven races and second place in the Highpoints Championship. He may well be the man to beat in the 2010 racing season.
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Length: 11' 1" (3.38m)
Beam: 78" (1.98m)
Bare Hull Weight: ~220 lbs. (100kg)
Max. Power: 40 hp / 130 lbs.
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My goal for the Pro Tunnel was to generate maximum aerodynamic lift in a boat meeting the GT Pro weight requirement of at least 650 lbs. (boat, motor and driver), and with an expected top speed of 45-50 mph. The result is a deep, low-camber aifoil body on a 41" wide tunnel of moderate depth. This a wide boat with a tunnel that gulps air and rides it to nearly lift off the water. Jeff has nearly blown this boat over at least once.
So far, the Pro Tunnel has raced at 45-46 mph, but there is still more work to be done on the setup, and more propeller work to do. This may well be the boat that takes GT Pro to the 50 mph mark.
The Dillon Pro Tunnel boat was designed for the 31.8 cubic inch Johnson or Evinrude outboard motor. This two-stroke, two-cylinder motor was manufactured in 20, 25, 30 and 35 horsepower versions from 1976 through 2005. It is the 35 horsepower model that we use in GT Pro.
For purposes other than GT Pro racing, I do not recommend using an engine that exceeds a weight of 130 lbs.
About the Plans: I am not a naval architect, or an engineer, or even a draftsman. I am a forester by education, a furniture-maker by profession, and a boat-builder, sailor and racer by inclination. I have built a number of boats over the last 35 years or so: from the 8-foot hydroplane I built when I was fourteen, to a 21-foot sailboat built in the 1990s, and several more since then, including several Mini GT and GT Pro racers.
I have drawn these plans on my computer. As such, they are not, and do not resemble, an architect's blueprints. I do not have the capability to print out full size drawings. However, scale drawings with all necessary measurements are provided so the builder can expand these drawings full-size, onto paper or right on the plywood.
The plans package, available via email or postal mail, includes sixteen measured drawings; a scantling list; and some notes on wood, hardware and other materials needed to complete your boat and set it up for racing or just for fun. Also, I provide extensive online construction notes, including more than 100 photos, which will guide you through the entire building process (see link below right). And, I will be just an email away if you have questions.
The plans package costs $55 US via email; or $65 printed on 8.5" x 14" sheets and sent via postal mail. You can pay online through Paypal (you do not need a Paypal account), or you may send a check or money order.
