Runabout Reflections

The engine, or how to drive a boat without putting it in the water

It seems that half the work of restoring a runabout goes into the body of the ship, the wood planking and the hardware, while the other half goes into the engine -- this is one area of restoration in which modern materials and designs can only improve on the original, and make the boat even more exciting to pilot out on the lake. Afterall, these are speedboats we're working on, here!

While keeping the engine as true as possible to the original, Runabout Reflections can add power (and speed) to a restored runabout. The actual engine work is done by Roy Domke's "neighbors," in the same warehouse complex. John Matson of Race Designs has done excellent engine restorations for several boats restored in Domke's shop. Currently, engine restoration and tuning work is done by Robert Smeltzer (the pictured engine is his handiwork).

Although Runabout Reflections does not make its home on lake-front property, it is still essential to "sea-trial" the motor before delivering the restored boat to her owner!

With a little enginuity, as seen here, the engine is tested without putting the boat in the water at all. Water is run directly through the engine's water intake with a garden hose -- water flows through the engine and out the tailpipe, just as it will when the boat is put into a lake.

Then, everyone who worked on the restoration of the boat, and bystanders attracted to the area by the wonderfully loud sound of the engine, observes the running motor carefully, to determine whether any final adjustments need to be made.

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