My dad built one with his dad 30 years ago and he kept it. Just recently my dad and I built another one. We have had a ton of fun racing eachother around our cottage Lake. Nice video:)
Glad to see people are still building these. I built one when I was 17 years old and put a 10 horse Johnson on it. Given the fact that I swim almost as well as a bowling ball I sold it after its maiden voyage.
hey Northerner, thanks for the GREAT trip down memory lane. Fun video. Here's my Minimax story; My Grandad build a MiniMax (which he called the "Skipjack". His joke, cause that's a large cabin cruiser) for his son, just like yours, from plans in a 1960 Popular Mechanics issue. BTW, I like your color choice. Mine was Baby Blue and White. He wouldn't let my Uncle Pete put anything larger than a 5hp on it, so it didn't perform. It was given to me, and I ran it every summer (14-18yrs old, 1964-68) on the lakes of Maine. I'd rent a 10hp Johnson Fisherman from the marina that another relative had on Damariscotta Lake. On mine (Grandad being a master wood worker), the boat was built with 3/4" Marine Plywood, double fiberglass and x3 airtight compartments. It was unsinkable. Hit a big bow wake, that becomes important, as I'm sure you've learned! A faster boat clocked my 4'x8' sheet(s) of plywood at 32mph (I was about 160lbs and 5'11"). Who knows really how accurate it was, but it was one of the fastest boats on the lakes in those days. "Fast & Furious" has nothing on me/us! The last year, Uncle George didn't want to rent me a motor; "Every time I do, I have to rebuild it when I get it back". What? Just because I never shut it off from WFO at the start of summer to the end, and only to get more gas? ;-) He finally said I could rent it if it was used on the family row boat. Oh, OK. We took it to camp, and put it on the row boat. I ran it out to the middle of the lake and turned around. "Dad, I can't run this on that boat. We've got to take it back". He looked at me and said; "Well, you DID put it on the row boat". And was silent. Uhhh, SOOO, onto the Skipjack that Newly rebuilt Johnson went, and that was the year I got it's best speed!! Sorry, Uncle George!!!!! Thanks again Northener. Minimax Rule!. cheers Boots Langley PS; I attribute those screaming two stokes in my ears, to the fact I became a 2 stroke Kawasaki Triples Grand Prix Roadracer several years later. Thanks Grampy (RIP) and Uncle Pete.
I love hearing these stories. The original boat was build by my grandfather and father and they also opted for the 3 airtight compartments. This boat was built by my father and I using the same engine and controls, but with a larger prop to try to load the motor a little more. As you say it was unsinkable with the 3 pontoons.
My dad and I built one of these almost 30 years ago... I still have the plans and have always planed on making another one... 15HP Johnson Seahorse was perfect on it!
I really wouldn't advise a 15hp, with the weight to power ratio your not increasing speed enough to justify carrying more gas, a ten horse should be good enough given your under 180lbs
Built 2 out of a boat builders book say around 1980. I had the prints and instructions blown up large. I still have the plastic laminate prints. These boats were a lot of fun. Normally had a 6 hp motor on it. Tried a 10 horse and it was to much. Thanks for the upload.
Building one this week, as i had one a few years ago but it was made poorly and i ended up selling it. i've got a old 20hp merc i plan to run on it, nice looking minimax!
my back hurt just watching ;-) looks like lots of fun - while my back was hurting, I was imagining what something like this could do with hyrdrofoils. ?
Flat water only, but fun as all get out. When I was a little kid, my dad built one and put a handle on the bow right up front. That's where I rode. Felt like we were going 100. It does pound a lot if you hadn't noticed.
Would it make sense to fill the gunnel spaces and the foredeck area w/insulfoam (or something like it that's fully waterproof)? Seems like it would increase rigidity and be nearly unsinkable (Titanic take heed). Or am I just fullovit ?
Sorry, caught me at a bad time. There are four air tight compartments which have drain plugs to equalize the pressure(cold morning vs hot afternoon) as well as let any water out, if it got in for whatever reason. You have the right principle because the gas tank spends a lot of time floating around when the cockpit is full of water. It will float with these air chambers completely swamped. To drain it to just apply throttle and the water all drains out the back and away you go. Sorry for the initial grumpy response.
I'm considering building one of these, or the minimost. Would you mind telling me how tall you are, how much you weigh, and if there's enough room to be reasonably comfortable in there while cutting high speed turns? Also, if you have any idea how fast you can go with your setup. Thanks for any help!
these boats tend to be lake boats and take advantage of the flat bottom for that reason. You won't turn very well especially if it's windy so if you looking for something that can handle a little more chop I would highly recommend a boat called "spitfire".
@@TheNortherner88 I went online and got plans as you said they are not clear can't read all the measurements the cut on the nose of the bottom is very blurry also the piece where the steering wheel rest across the four peace the measurements on them I can't read if you can advise on the kerf cut on the bottom and a little more details about the plans everything else I can read pretty good I appreciate your help thank you for sharing
Hi If you change the rake of the prop it should stop the proposing. Rake is the angle the blade is to the shaft. less rake less lift on the bow of the boat.then set your trim on the motor.Just my 2 cents. enjoy your boat .
There is a small hook in the hull which causes the porpoising. Thank you for your interest in the handling. It's tough enough finding props for these motors as it is. The motor comes with a 9x9 prop and this has a 9x10 on it to try to load the motor and bring the rpm back down.
![บุษบา - เมนทอล [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGnWPokSEis/mqdefault.jpg)
My dad built one with his dad 30 years ago and he kept it. Just recently my dad and I built another one. We have had a ton of fun racing eachother around our cottage Lake. Nice video:)
I love these stories!
Glad to see people are still building these. I built one when I was 17 years old and put a 10 horse Johnson on it. Given the fact that I swim almost as well as a bowling ball I sold it after its maiden voyage.
I can smell that motor through my phone
hey Northerner,
thanks for the GREAT trip down memory lane. Fun video.
Here's my Minimax story;
My Grandad build a MiniMax (which he called the "Skipjack". His joke, cause that's a large cabin cruiser) for his son, just like yours, from plans in a 1960 Popular Mechanics issue.
BTW, I like your color choice. Mine was Baby Blue and White.
He wouldn't let my Uncle Pete put anything larger than a 5hp on it, so it didn't perform.
It was given to me, and I ran it every summer (14-18yrs old, 1964-68) on the lakes of Maine. I'd rent a 10hp Johnson Fisherman from the marina that another relative had on Damariscotta Lake.
On mine (Grandad being a master wood worker), the boat was built with 3/4" Marine Plywood, double fiberglass and x3 airtight compartments. It was unsinkable. Hit a big bow wake, that becomes important, as I'm sure you've learned!
A faster boat clocked my 4'x8' sheet(s) of plywood at 32mph (I was about 160lbs and 5'11"). Who knows really how accurate it was, but it was one of the fastest boats on the lakes in those days.
"Fast & Furious" has nothing on me/us!
The last year, Uncle George didn't want to rent me a motor; "Every time I do, I have to rebuild it when I get it back".
What? Just because I never shut it off from WFO at the start of summer to the end, and only to get more gas? ;-)
He finally said I could rent it if it was used on the family row boat. Oh, OK. We took it to camp, and put it on the row boat. I ran it out to the middle of the lake and turned around.
"Dad, I can't run this on that boat. We've got to take it back".
He looked at me and said; "Well, you DID put it on the row boat". And was silent.
Uhhh, SOOO, onto the Skipjack that Newly rebuilt Johnson went, and that was the year I got it's best speed!!
Sorry, Uncle George!!!!!
Thanks again Northener.
Minimax Rule!.
cheers
Boots Langley
PS; I attribute those screaming two stokes in my ears, to the fact I became a 2 stroke Kawasaki Triples Grand Prix Roadracer several years later.
Thanks Grampy (RIP) and Uncle Pete.
I love hearing these stories. The original boat was build by my grandfather and father and they also opted for the 3 airtight compartments. This boat was built by my father and I using the same engine and controls, but with a larger prop to try to load the motor a little more. As you say it was unsinkable with the 3 pontoons.
My dad and I built one of these almost 30 years ago... I still have the plans and have always planed on making another one... 15HP Johnson Seahorse was perfect on it!
I really wouldn't advise a 15hp, with the weight to power ratio your not increasing speed enough to justify carrying more gas, a ten horse should be good enough given your under 180lbs
Do it and get a prop with extra pitch to load up the motor ;)
@@TheNortherner88 anyone say 31 pitch prop???? Lol
Built 2 out of a boat builders book say around 1980. I had the prints and instructions blown up large. I still have the plastic laminate prints. These boats were a lot of fun. Normally had a 6 hp motor on it. Tried a 10 horse and it was to much. Thanks for the upload.
what a nice little boat!! I'm thinking of building something like this...as soon as I finish my current river boat!
Gun it!! I built one circa 1969. Loved it
Building one this week, as i had one a few years ago but it was made poorly and i ended up selling it. i've got a old 20hp merc i plan to run on it, nice looking minimax!
my back hurt just watching ;-)
looks like lots of fun - while my back was hurting, I was imagining what something like this could do with hyrdrofoils. ?
Flat water only, but fun as all get out. When I was a little kid, my dad built one and put a handle on the bow right up front. That's where I rode. Felt like we were going 100. It does pound a lot if you hadn't noticed.
Racing kart of the water.
Awesome video. I’m building a boat just like that.
How fast does it rip?
What kind of boat did that lucite steering wheel come from?
hey what steering components did you use i built one of these but am having problems finding steering and throttle components
You kinda have to make them yourself or find them from old bathtub racers, I have yet to find a company that still manufactures them.
Can you tell me, where did you get the steering assembly (wheel, shaft, pulley) for your cable system?
It was the same unit bought in the 60's for my fathers original boat. Try Glen-L Marine
Would it make sense to fill the gunnel spaces and the foredeck area w/insulfoam (or something like it that's fully waterproof)? Seems like it would increase rigidity and be nearly unsinkable (Titanic take heed). Or am I just fullovit ?
lebomm johnson they are sealed off and air tight when the plugs are in. Why make it heavier?
Well, it seems perhaps I AM just fullovit ! Tnx for the education.
Sorry, caught me at a bad time. There are four air tight compartments which have drain plugs to equalize the pressure(cold morning vs hot afternoon) as well as let any water out, if it got in for whatever reason. You have the right principle because the gas tank spends a lot of time floating around when the cockpit is full of water. It will float with these air chambers completely swamped. To drain it to just apply throttle and the water all drains out the back and away you go. Sorry for the initial grumpy response.
Quite alright ! I only took it as, if anything, a trifle curt. Never felt grumped-at, I didn't even consider the foam adding mass, so my duh !
I'm considering building one of these, or the minimost. Would you mind telling me how tall you are, how much you weigh, and if there's enough room to be reasonably comfortable in there while cutting high speed turns? Also, if you have any idea how fast you can go with your setup. Thanks for any help!
6'3" and 165lbs, no idea on speed and comfort is entirely subjective. Neither boat will turn great, they are flat bottom boats.
these boats tend to be lake boats and take advantage of the flat bottom for that reason. You won't turn very well especially if it's windy so if you looking for something that can handle a little more chop I would highly recommend a boat called "spitfire".
Haha, this is the funniest thing I saw recently. Besides the engine, how much was the build?
I believe including the West System Fiberglass materials it hit $1,000(1998 prices)
Do sea fleas have to have registration in Ontario???
10hp and up must be registered
Good thing I only have a 9.5
Great little boat where can you get the plans I would like to build one thanks for sharing
Contact Cope Marine for plans, this is the 11'
Sorry I wasn't paying attention, this is the "minimax" and the plans are available all over the internet. I used the ones posted on Svensons
Great thanks for your help I will let you know how it goes
@@TheNortherner88 I went online and got plans as you said they are not clear can't read all the measurements the cut on the nose of the bottom is very blurry also the piece where the steering wheel rest across the four peace the measurements on them I can't read if you can advise on the kerf cut on the bottom and a little more details about the plans everything else I can read pretty good I appreciate your help thank you for sharing
@@huxmetalworks7371 koo9
Hi If you change the rake of the prop it should stop the proposing. Rake is the angle the blade is to the shaft. less rake less lift on the bow of the boat.then set your trim on the motor.Just my 2 cents. enjoy your boat .
B
There is a small hook in the hull which causes the porpoising. Thank you for your interest in the handling. It's tough enough finding props for these motors as it is. The motor comes with a 9x9 prop and this has a 9x10 on it to try to load the motor and bring the rpm back down.
Parker McWilliams
Parker McWilliams a hydrofoil would most likely remedy the issue. 40$ bolt on for the cavatation plate