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The "Dillon Pro Vee"
Racing V-bottom Boat Plans
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Length: 12' 7" (3.84m)
Beam: 62" (1.57m)
Hull Weight: ~190 lbs. (86kg)
Max. Power: 35 hp / 130 lbs.
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The original Dillon Pro Vee, designed and built in the winter of 2007/2008, won eight races in 2008 and 2009, only finished off the podium once, and won the GT Pro Highpoints Championship both years. The Pro Vee consistently has been the fastest boat in GT Pro.
The Pro Vee is a 12' 7" long v-bottom racing boat specifically designed for the APBA Sportman class called GT Pro. This class is raced in Minnesota and surrounding states, in races organized by the Twin City Powerboat Association.
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The Pro Vee was born of a desire to improve on the basic v-bottom profile that I used for my (very successful) Mini Vee. I took as inspiration a family of boats -- from Allison, Critchfield, Lee Craft, Rapid Craft, and others -- which share the same bottom shape. The Pro Vee has that same basic bottom profile, though it bears little resemblance otherwise.
While the above mentioned boats are substantial and relatively heavy and can accomodate as much as 75 hp, the Pro Vee was specifically designed for the 35 hp OMC motors used in GT Pro racing.
The result is a boat that rides softer and is more stable in rough water than the Mini Vee. With a 35 hp Johnson or Evinrude motor, equipped with an off-the-shelf OMC propeller (somewhat modified), the Pro Vee has attained speeds near 47 mph . I am currently experimenting with a larger diameter prop and aiming for a top speed at or near 50 mph.
Due to it's complex bottom shape, the Pro Vee presents some challenges to the boatbuilder. Less experienced builders might want to opt for the Mini Vee.
The evolution of the Pro Vee was not without some difficulties. Initial testing revealed a boat prone to severe porpoising and chinewalk. Shifting weight forward dampened these tendancies, and that is how we entered the racing season. After six races the Pro Vee had only one win, but lead in points. With no races scheduled for August, I used the time off to do some transom surgery (see my original online reports). The success of this change allowed me to move some weight aft again. Also during this period, I refinished the bottom and dropped down to a smaller carburetor jet. These improvements boosted my top speed by three mph which lead to two more victories at the end of the racing season.
The Dillon Pro Vee was designed with the 31.8 cubic inch Johnson or Evinrude in mind. 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.
If you do not intend to race your boat, 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-years-old; to a 21-foot sailboat I built in the 1990s; and several Mini GT and GT Pro racers in the 2000s.
I design my boats on a "computer aided design" (CAD) program on my computer. Once the basic lines have been developed, I draw the plans full-size on a loft table to ensure all curves are fair. Corrections made in the loft plan are then carried back to the CAD drawings and the plans are finalized.
The resulting plans are NOT a set of blueprints or full-size drawings. The plans are (in part) a collection of digital scale drawings of all the major parts which the builder can print out on regular printer paper. (Pre-printed drawings shipped via postal mail are also available.) The drawings include all necessary measurements so that the builder can expand them full-size -- onto paper templates if desired, or better yet right onto the plywood.
There are some critical curves to draw for the Pro Vee. Again, this may be a project for a more experienced (or at least more ambitious and/or confident) boatbuilder. You will need some patience to do an accurate job, but that patience will serve you well thoughout the building process.
The plans package, available via direct download or by postal mail, includes thirteen measured drawings; a scantling list; and some notes on wood, other materials and hardware needed to complete your boat. Also, I provide extensive online construction notes, including nearly 100 photos, which will guide you through the entire building process. And, I will be just an email away if you have questions.
The plans package costs $45 US. You can pay online through Paypal (you do not need a Paypal account), or you may send a check or money order.
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