On Thu, 03 Jun 2004 07:52:56 -0400, "Karsten"
wrote:

Hello:

I am looking for a set of plans for a group of High School students to
build a small, fast, and stable power/speedboat. It should not go much
faster than 30mph, feel much faster, be stable in a chop and in turns,
hold one person, and be appropriate for being build by 10 students in
about quarter of a year with one hour of building time per day. I would
like to experiment with the engine to run as environmentally friendly as
possible. Budget: $1500. Used engines could be available. I have never
build a boat, but have plenty of construction and mechanical experience.

Any recommendations for plan sets?
Outboard or inboard? Why?
Any other tips/links/etc?

Small, 30mph and $1,500 budget sound like contradictory design goals
to me, unless you would consider some of the tiny boat designs from
folks like Glen-L
(http://www.glen-l.com/designs/outboard/tinytitan.html). If you mean
something big enough for 2-4 people, and not spending much money, your
speed goal of 30mph might have to give. Going 20 in a 12-foot boat
sure feels a lot faster.

My first two thoughts -- which might just barely be affordable if you
got materials donated or very cheap -- are Evan Gatehouse's GV11 at
www.boatplans-online.com, and the Bolger Diablo at
http://www.instantboats.com/powerboats.htm.

At your price range, you are almost certainly going to be using an old
outboard. High performance inboard engines simply aren't going to be
a feasible solution at your price point.

This group is a great resource. One of my other favorites is the
builder's group at www.bateau2.com and www.amateurboatbuilding.com.
The first is dedicated to the plans from Jacques Mertens and a small
number of other designers, and the second is wide open.

Good luck on your project. Check back in and let us know how it's
going.

- Rick Tyler

--
"Ignorant voracity -- a wingless vulture -- can soar only into the
depths of ignominy." Patrick O'Brian