Cole/Giroux TR2 builds

[Rickybobby]

More rigging going together!!!

 

[Hammer]

:thumbup:

 

[Rickybobby]

I love watching the work going into this racer...

Check out the support for the plate system and the mock up of the wing mounts.... gonna look a lot different once completed!!!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

Here is some other "stuff" Pete and Sean layup..... Jr is considering one of these scoops for the top of his tr... Ummm.... what ya think ???

 

[Rickybobby]

 

[CoolCruzin]

This is a very impressive thread on how they build these flat bottom type of boats .
Very Cool .

 

[Rickybobby]

This is a wood deck they did awhile back.

 

[Rickybobby]

I'll try to get more pics of the woodie this weekend.

 

[Rickybobby]

This thing just looks like 170mph sittin on the dolly !!! Rubrail got some gelcoat and the wait for more parts!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

V-Drive showed up!!!!!

 

[warpt71]

Absolutely! One of the best looking scoops out there in my opinion.

View attachment 363031

Here is some other "stuff" Pete and Sean layup..... Jr is considering one of these scoops for the top of his tr... Ummm.... what ya think ???

 

[Rickybobby]

 

[warpt71]

Oh man I want a new one soo damn bad! Thanks for the pic's

 

[Rickybobby]

warpt
Go by and see Pete, he's a great dude and I am sure he would work something out. Still blows me away how much work goes into these babies !!!! From the outside they look simple enough, big ass motor a seat and some fiberglass.... but watching and learnin how difficult it is to build it right.... no snap together stuff there !!! So far the black one, does not have a production piece on her (maybe the wing if that counts???) and most is done in house.

 

[warpt71]

warpt
Go by and see Pete, he's a great dude and I am sure he would work something out. Still blows me away how much work goes into these babies !!!! From the outside they look simple enough, big ass motor a seat and some fiberglass.... but watching and learnin how difficult it is to build it right.... no snap together stuff there !!! So far the black one, does not have a production piece on her (maybe the wing if that counts???) and most is done in house.

On my list for things to do after the first of the year. I have some financial responsibilities to take care of first then I can get back to my Hondo.

 

[Rickybobby]

More polish work!!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

Just love me sum wood !!! Pete and the boys doing some woodworking a few years back. She was in recently for a little axle work.

 

[Rickybobby]

MS
Now I gotta get the "back" story on that one !!~! lol...

Here are some shots from the rigging work that is on going... This thing just keeps getting prettier and prettier !!!

 

[Rickybobby]

more mock up work goin on, love those stacks !!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

More work going on at the Giroux shop... Someone's getting a pretty red trailer!!!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

Some more pieces for the go fast boat!!!! Part of the wing support. Wish I had a shot of the chunk of aluminum before !!!:yikes:yikes

 

[Rickybobby]

Deck work on the blue boat coming together.... Not sure most people understand how much work goes into these things... very labor intensive... no snap together parts here !!!!

 

[titanpb27]

Absolutely gorgeous work.

being a boat fanatic and a hobbyist woodworker, these look awesome to me.

If it is NOT a trade secret that cannot be shared...tell me how do you put the wood into the deck and fiberglass over it from the back?
I have a little 13 foot fiberglass boat mold and Id like build something like this for my grandson. fiberglass bottom with wood showing inside, and wood deck showing on the outside.

Again ...beautiful work.. you guys are truly craftsmen, I hope someone in the younger generations is learning how to do this.

 

[Rickybobby]

Titan
I am not sure I completely understand your question, but these boats are laid up in the mold and built from the outside in. The deck or top half is the same, with wood reinforcing the structure of the mold and form of the boat. I am by far not the expert on this but I think there are two ways to build a wood decker. One is to build a complete subframe (or top deck) for the wood deck to mount to. The other is to "inlay" wood veneer into the fiberglass deck to get the "effect" of a wood deck.
rb

ps
Pete can get it done either way.

 

[AzGeo]

Over the decades I have come to learn quite a few things, one thing in this 'west coast boating world' that has not changed is the original true 'custom built boat' . Many use the term, few understand what it means, and where it came from . I have no problem with 'big shot and /or big boat builders' there is room for everyone . But when you have the 'founder/CEO/boss' actually working alongside his family and friends to 'handcraft' a vessel for 'one customer at a time', I call that CUSTOM BUILT . I'm old and I long for the 'old small owner operated boat shop days', and I feel that there is nothing (at any price) like dealing directly with the person (s) who will be HANDS ON building a single boat for me . Back in the late 1960's early 1970's most 'performance boats' were built to these very high kinds of standards, and everyone involved was proud of the work they contributed to the project . 40+ years later and so many 'personal boating standards' have changed, yet true quality in the final product still remains . (if you look for it) 20+ years ago, new boaters were 'awakened' to NEW rigging methods for west coast boats, and were required to pay much more for the NEW BRAND NAMED STUFF . Little did those new boaters know, that they were now paying 'premium prices' for what was 'standard equipment' in real custom boats just 10 years prior . Put the money in magazine ads instead of putting it in the product ? First let me say that if you equate some hourly employee 'drilling holes and installing gauges, drives, motors and tabs' to 'rigging a performance boat', don't read any further . I feel that 'how the boat performs' is as important as 'how the boat looks', but I feel that performance always trumps 'artwork' . You may be a great 'CNC' artist, but do you really know how to make the boat run fast/safe ? Sure there are a number of ways this 'custom boat' road may go, Mercury Marine has the money to steer it away from 'old small owner operated boat shop', and they are doing a great job of that right now . John Stoker was a very successful inboard boat racer before he and Allan went outboard . (we talked about it at Needles 2013) As he closes his shop, who will/can take his place as a 'hands on owner builder' of real CUSTOM BOATS ? Who will pass on all the knowledge and promote the sport/business ? I feel the that time is running short, for those who seek a true 'hand crafted, custom built powerboat', with all the regulations, and the market changes, I hope that all of you who really want your own 'one off, custom built for YOU boat' won't wait too long . Pete and Sean live this stuff, they confer with Lange, Jamie, and others, they build cruisers with the same methods as the race boats . I hope we can keep this west coast V-drive and true custom boat thing alive for a few more years ......

 

[Rickybobby]

AzGeo
I have no where near the experience you have in this business but I could not agree more with you and partly why I started this thread was to show case these guys. As you know, they have no sales staff, no service staff, no financing guy in the corner office, but instead they live and breath this stuff from start to finish on their product which has their name on it. I have seen the beads of sweat as Pete struggled to get that piece of matt to lay just the way he wanted it, when I might have said what the hell no one would know or see it!!!! or as Sean struggled to set up the rigging and dial in the measurements of each piece (which honestly boggled my head !!!). They know what a fast boat feels like and can back that up with past and recent victories in the drag boat world. I am just stoked these guys let me hang out and ask a bunch of dumbass questions.
rb

 

[Rickybobby]

Some more work on the drag boat.... I saw some new parts in the shop the other day, so maybe I'll get some more pics.

 

[Rickybobby]

Results of this past year's effort. Movie to follow....

 

[Gelcoater]

This thread just wreaks of pure Awesome!:thumbup:

RB,in those shots above of the "blue boat" they are laying up a new deck in a mold,right?
These are the old Cole molds?They have the hull mold also?

I only leaned against that mold a couple of times,did a red boat with a mild gel pattern in the mold.
It was very challenging.The way the hull mold "wraps" made it pretty difficult to lay tape in.Upside down is taken to a new level working that mold

 

[AzGeo]

is going to be an Olympic sport in the next Summer Games ! HA HA

 

[Rickybobby]

Gel
I have hard time thinking straight most times, not sure how you guys do it upside down and backwards !!!!

 

[Always Floored]

Awesome!!!!!!!! Don't shoot me for asking this question, but I want a jet. Anyone know if the Starfire is around?

 

[warpt71]

Awesome!!!!!!!! Don't shoot me for asking this question, but I want a jet. Anyone know if the Starfire is around?

I believe if you check their web site, http://www.girouxboats.com/Index.asp , you will see that they advertise that they have it.

 

[Rickybobby]

I stopped by the shop today and the boys were hard at it on the deck of the blue boat... I should have grabbed some pics but maybe this weekend ??? :boobeyes::boobeyes:

 

[Rickybobby]

The main man, get'er done...

 

[Rickybobby]

Went by the shop to see what was going on. Final stages of the deck and hull of the blue boat before they both come out of the mold.

 

[Rickybobby]

Engineering continues on the black race boat, working out the battery placement....

 

[Rickybobby]

I saw these shots of Sean at Havasu lying around the shop and could not resist sharing. I like the second one with the water coming off the bottom of the hull, doesn't this look like fun ????

 

[warpt71]

Soo much want!

 

[AzGeo]

Change your shaft angle and prop, so you can run with the 9.0 class . OR buy a new boat from Pete and Sean and go for the new stuff . I sent Art Ramos to them after his history of meticulous road racing bikes . He stepped up to a new hull, and if that is what you need, go for it . Let me know when your old hull is for sale . I know how to fix that bottom, just ask Pete Holms . He had a Landy 426/720 that I rigged and I set up the boat (1984). Pete called me from the lake and said "it won't run over 5300" . Pete called Tom Black (his prop) and Tom told him it had "too much gear", (22) then he called another boat builder, and he too said 'too much gear' . I called back to Castaic lake and told my customer, "take off the BS BDS scoop" that thing is worthless" . This is a true 426 Hemi by Mike and Dick Landy that Dick told me had a true 750 HP . Don't F**** with me . The owner took the scoop off, reinstalled the flame arresters and made a pass . The boat ran 7100 RPMs and scared the owner and his wife . Knowing the 'total set up' is the only way these boats will go fast and controllable . Pete's boat being a 1 1/2 degree V-bottom needed a little 'turbulence' under the hull to get any speed . I used more gear (blade speed) and less pitch (15) to get this flat hull to 'loosen' the tail to get the better top speeds . Please let me know when you buy a new hull, I would like 'first bid' on your old flat hull . George

 

[Rickybobby]

Tried to post this up yesterday for TBT but no luck, so here it is.... Drop by and see Pete and Sean and see if they will build a hydro like this one for you !!!!! I think this was taken at the last race at lower Castaic lake.

 

[Rickybobby]

I did hear a similar rumor, I just hope they shoot it in the fastest color !!!!:boobeyes::boobeyes:

 

[Hyperpasta]

RickyBobby good to see your posting away here!

It was nice meeting you and your son this month at the shop.

Mike, it was cool meeting you at the World Finals this year! Man you had some stories/life experiences to share. What a hoot!!!
I also hear that "New" Hydro is in the works. I can't wait to set it come out of the mold. It should be one "Bad Ass" hull. Sort of makes me wish I went with a Hydro in the first place!

Geo good to see you posting here, yep you started it all with me. I do have to thank you for recommending the Giroux Boyz to me. Thanks!

Spent the season crewing with Pete and Sean at the Lucas Oil DragBoat series. I learned a ton from these guys during the season, had a blast, and won our Division Championship! What a way for a newbie to get his feet wet in a new hobby/sport.

I'm getting some new tooling to make more parts for my build and am looking forward to getting my hull wet. I can't wait!!

 

[Rickybobby]

Each hull is weighed before it leaves the mold to get an exact number.



Deck and Hull are getting closer to a match up date.... Looking forward to seeing this one. More parts for the go fast black boat should be in house next week.

 

[Rickybobby]

What you get when you, put together a boat with a great crew and then go out and consistently drive it better than anyone else.... Nice work Sean, Congrats.

 

[Rickybobby]

More fab work going on the race boat!!!

 

[Rickybobby]

So, my job at the shop is to show up and ask all the dumbass questions. "WTF Sean, why all the drama with the mounting and support for the tank???" Sean kinda looks at me funny and responds that, the stock brackets could not stand up to the abuse of drag racing. "Ok, I get it."

 

[poncho]

More fab work going on the race boat!!!

Do you know what the black material is holding the tank at the circle cut out, i have one i'm going to sell and would like to make it complete.
Thanks

 

[warpt71]

Do you know what the black material is holding the tank at the circle cut out, i have one i'm going to sell and would like to make it complete.
Thanks

How bout splitting some 3/8ths fuel hose?

 

[Rickybobby]

Poncho
I will go by on Monday and find out exactly what was used but I think Warpt71 is correct. This is the kind of stuff that makes hanging out with these guys fun. The hose could simply be cut by hand with a razor blade and would functionally work, but the chance that you could cut a straight line in the hose is pretty questionable and would most likely look like crapola when done. Pete and Sean made a tool specially for this job, to cut the hose, perfectly straight. Most would not see that kind of detail going on with this stuff unless you have been there.