New Bartender Video

[Bill Childs]

Here's a shakedown run I made several days ago with a new custom 20' Bartender I'm building for a Great Lakes customer. Topsides are still in grey epoxy primer and the rest is just epoxy sealed at this point.

Power is a 70hp gas Westerbeke (Mazda engine), ZF 1.5:1 gear. Boat weighs just under 1700 lbs. Top speed 25 knots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gSuQI2seVA

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

It's got a "hep" beat and the kids can dance to it. ;)

Nice boat nice video of her sea trial.

[dmede]

Very nice. This one is an inboard I see. What motor? And whats the cabin arrangment up front, is there room to camp in her?

[Bill Childs]

Thanks guys.
Not exactly the way I would have done it but it'll be perfect for the customer. It's a day boat - the cabin bulkhead was actually moved forward from the standard position to make more space in the cockpit. With the standard cuddy arrangement (as seen in the little thumbnail photo by my name) there's about 6'- 4" of length in there for a couple to roll out for the night. This one has about 5' of length forward in the cabin - a sizeable storage locker and perhaps room to curl up in there if need be.

As for the engine, it's a 70 hp gas Westerbeke, but Westerbeke doesn't make the actual engine. They do an excellent job of marinizing industrial engines from a variety of engine makers. This one happens to be a Mazda (not a rotary). It's an inline overhead valve four banger. Been used in a variety of industrial application all over the world - like generators and forklifts.

Some still shots of this project can be seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/f8tsu

[dmede]

Bill I PM'd you about costs, but I have a few other question sI'll ask here since they don't invlove money.

I read on your website that you (or Mr. Caulkins) spec'd gas for inboards and that diesels are generally too heavy for this boat. Is that still the case? With the cost of gas rising seems like diesel would have something to offer especially in a design intended for some long distance cruising (weekend trips)?

Also, when you build a Bartender do you use the same ply frames as in the kits or do you use solid wood?

thanks,
dave

[Figment]

So sweet. It appears to generate VERY little wake.

[Bill Perkins]

Bill I really enjoyed the video; the first time I've seen the Bartender in motion . The advent of YouTube is going to force me to finally give up on my dial up connection I see . How does the feel of the inboard boat differ from one equipped with an outboard ?

Looking at the still shots , I would be intimidated by the inboard engine installation , is there a history of amateur builders figuring that all out from the info on and with the plans ?The boat really represents The Road Not Taken for me .This would have been my second choice in designs to build . Congratulations .

[Tom Lathrop]

Bill, It looks very nice and runs well also. Two questions. Are those splash rails that turn into planing strakes on the plans? The are quite different from the ones I've seen on other bartenders. The boat heels differently on turns at tmes. Sometimes inward and sometimes outward. Any thoughts on that?

[rbgarr]

Did the owner request that specific engine or did he follow your rec. Have you used those engines before? Any others considered? Comparisons? Thx-

[Bill Childs]

Holy cow gentlemen! Inquiring minds here. Here's some thoughts on some of your questions:

dmede - Didn't get your PM.
Are the new diesels still too heavy? They certainly are getting lighter, but I still can't justify the installation of one in the smaller Bartenders - 19' to 22'. The power to weight ratios have become more attractive in recent years but I'm not convinced that a light aluminum block is what I want in a high compression and higher revving situation such as diesel power in a planing boat. Besides the absurd prices they are getting for these light engines, they do not have the lifespans associated with the older and heavier industrial diesels. In some gas vs. diesel price comparisons I could buy three gas engines for the price of one diesel. I just can't make it pencil out - even considering the consumption differences.

Bill P - The inboard does have a little different feel than the ob version. The outboard version is of course lighter and snappier - fun for squirting around and showing off. The inboard version displays the wonderful virtues of a double ended design with perfect balance. Although heavier, the inboard version feels and sounds like a real boat to me. It's the one I want to be in when caught out in a big stinky mess.

As for amateurs installing inboards - heck yeah. Even though some of the steps will be new to you, there's nothing more complicated about it than building the hull. You really know your boat and its systems well when you install everything. We have a very active Bartender Yahoo Group with tons of experience to lean on. Right now I'm holding a fellers hand through his first inboard installation. He's building a boat very much like what you saw in the new video and even using the same engine.

Tom - The spray rails and planing fins you see on this boat are exactly what has been shown on the plans for over 40 years. I have no doubt that you've seen a variety of interpretations. Many folks like to deviate from the plans and think they have a better idea... even though they have no experience with these boats - heavy sigh. Mr. Calkins really spent a bunch of time working the details of these designs out - and not just on paper.

Tom, you say the boat heels different ways during turns? If you mean during low speed turns in displacement mode, yes. This is what narrow boats do at low speeds when there is wind and waves and you are turning in tight circles. The beam at chine is about 5' - 2". You won't see it heel different ways during turns on plane.

rbgarr - The owner chose this engine after I threw many different choices at him. Power options for these boats are varied to say the least. Some just power them with a little putt- putt inboard for cruising in displacement mode. Others want nothing less than G-forces and loosened teeth.

[BrianW]

Like most singles, she backs to port pretty good, or at least it would seem from watching the video. I liked how she got up and scooted along without a lot bow rise.

Neat boat.