A sneak peek at the Whiplash wood kit I am building for review...will be ready to hit the lake soon as we get soft water! I am almost done with sanding and epoxy! Quite an interesting build! This is a picture of the framework.

Looks great Marc.. I have a couple more I am building right now. One from scratch the other from kit. The kit parts are really cut well I think. I have been helping Brian at Blazer Marine writing a new manual for him. It will also now contain a seperate manual for cowl installation. It is much more thorough and new builder friendly.. For the mounting of the turn fin add at least another 1/4 inch backing for the tee nuts. Then use the longer shanked t nut and this helps alot holding the bracket firmly to the boat. Just a suggestion. Good luck with your build, great boat. TomB)

Wish I had known the turn fin thing earlier Tom, I'm actually way passed that point now..the picture above was taken a while back. I finished mounting the cowl today. The boat is basically complete less the carb shield I want to make. Your thread on Jim's helped me out greatly, as the instructions are lacking a LOT. Definitely not a first timer's build project in my opinion, at least not with the current instructions. A lot of guess work if you don't know basics of building wood boats. Luckily I have done a few before attacking the Whip so I managed ok I think, but I still learned stuff I will do differently on the second one I have to build.

Good to know you are working on a new manual, it is needed.

:drinks:

Good job ... going to join the ranks of us FAST whiplash owners :drinks:

Wood is GOOD !

This is how I did the turnfin re-inforcement its a 3/16 thick piece of 6061, cut to the shape of the sponson transom, then etched and epoxied in place with west systems and colloidal, then drilled and tapped for the fin. Probably overkill... Tony J

That looks pretty strong Tony! :drinks:

Tony I dont think it is over kill. Looks good. What grade are tnuts I'd guess 5?? There softer for sure than the stainless bolts we put in them.. Can you tork that pretty good without worrying to much about strip out? The turn fin like I,ve seen Scott s threads on, takes tremendous forces at speed in the corners.. Definately a spot to strengthen I think. Thanks Mark the new manual will be pretty much like the build thread but more wording to help the builder out.. I think people will like it.. Brian puts out a great kit man these boats are fast and the first time I saw one running could not believe how they stick to the water in the turns.. Cant wait to join the Whiplash Owners Group. Hey that could be a tee shirt right there!!!lol Tom:dance2:

Very nice work guys!!:drinks:

Here are a few pics of the boat as it is today, finished cowl installation and just need to do the carb water shield now. Then seal it all. I am a little bit concerned about the way the front of the cowl sits on the boat...leaves a small crack that water could infiltrate (in the nose section). I am considering making a small edge around the cowl in the nose section to make sure no water comes in. Some 1/16th ply maybe. Not sure yet.

Pic 2