Hull design for Wellcraft Nova - Nova II - Nova ST - Nova Spyder

[Tim.M]

Does anyone know the history / changes of the actual hull design Wellcraft built between the 1970s Nova, the 80s Nova II, the later Nova Spyder, and the 90s Nova ST? Did the same person design these all?

[Jeff]

As I understand it, the original Nova was designed before Wellcraft bought the Nova boat company. Distinctive features include the center section (most) of the transom extending a few inches further aft, leaving a small ~9" inset section on both port and starboard, but a nice stiff transom.

See pictures in this thread Mercruiser 188 hp/888 starts but will not stay running

The original Nova has a good deal of flare on the bow and was a nice dry boat. I think the original was built through 1978 or 1979. With twin 302s I belive it would see around 40 knots, with 350s or 351s it ran 50 to 55 knots. I spent many hours running a 1976 250 Nova in the 1990s. A bit long to plane with the bow high, and definitely has a strong 70's look, but it ran nice and dry and sliced easily through moderate waves.

[Jeff]

Sorry there wasn't an answer posted yet -- but thanks to this thread I did some looking around which brought back a lot of good memories. I happened to come upon a deal that was too good to pass up from a nice guy who had upgraded to a 30' and now had one too many boats, so I picked up a 1990 Wellcraft 26' Nova ST at a real steal. I can't remember in detail what the Nova II and Spider (basically the same as the II but with a lower windscreen) hull was like. But in the late 80's with the Nova III they added a relatively simple single step.

Then starting in 1990 the ST has one step, strakes that end at the step, and a center flat pad aft of the step.

The step is pretty simple, but I really like the newer configuration as it comes up on plane very smooth and easy as if it doesn't weight a thing compared to the older 250 I remember. I got an ST with a pair of small blocks - I believe most of the ST though were sold with twin 454s but the space is so tight I can't imagine where you'd have an inch of space to work on the big blocks.

[vrod02]

The nova hull pictured above was a Richard Cole design, a Donzi 7 Meter till 1970 . Then a Nova marine "sprint"70-71 ,Allen brownie brown, designed the cap. Wellcraft bought the molds in 71 or 72.
More info and pics at www.nmxtreme.com

Some pics.

Mine 1970 Donzi.


Nova Marine. 1971

[novaowner]

The 24'-10" Nova was originally designed by Nova Marine owned by Allan "Brownie" Brown and Bill Wishnick which was sold to Wellcraft in 1971. It was originally designed for twin vee drives.

[novaowner]

Check this out for a great restoration of the 1969 Allen Brown Nimbus
http://www.lminewport.com/lmi-24-allen-brown.php

[novaowner]

Here is a site that you must bookmark if you're into the old Novas
http://supernova19.com/nova_marine_a...nova19_com.htm

The Nova 24 was the first boat offered by Nova Marine. The original concept for the NOVA24, according to Brownie came about something like this.

explained Brownie.

The boat was always advertised as having a 8' beam to make it legal to be trailered without having special permit. The Nova24 weighed 4400 pounds with a deep-V hull form with a deadrise of 24.7 degrees making her a floating wedge. Standard power was a pair of Holman and Moody engines producing 235hp each. The power was delivered by two vee-drives with a gear reduction of 1.15 to 1 or within 87% of being straight drive. There was no expense spared fitting out the boat with Ni Bral alloy 14 X 16 heavily cupped props. "I think those wheels could chop up a two-by-four." Brownie would add, "The shafts were stainless steel and we spent a lot more money under the boat then we had to in order to make everything five times stronger than she has to be." The reason for this was to spare the buyer headaches from mishaps. For an example the rudders were mounted on the transom in housings with the housing tops above the water line. If you tore a rudder off there should be no leaks. With its base option motors it leaps on a plane in four seconds flat. Top speed was 47mph and cruising speed was around 43mph and the Nova24 would take seas of three feet or more at full throttle with little notice. The boat would sell new in 1970 for $14,250.00 base price and options were extra.

Take a look at the great original ads and photos at http://supernova19.com/nova_marine_a...nova19_com.htm

[novaowner]

Nice site too vrod!

[holorinhal]

I have a 73 nova. My question is how can You tell the diffrence from a wellcraft Nova and a Nova marine.
My registration is listed as nova marine 24'-8", but the dash pannel has a wellcraft emblem engraved on it. The HIN is N325165, but comes up with no info. I think there are some letters ofr numbers missing.
Any way here are a couple of pics.









This pic I have removed the bow rails. i think it looks much better without them.

[vrod02]

Nice Boat!! Dont know if you found www.nmxtreme.com or www.chinewalking.com yet. Its a Wellcraft Nova. Window's and alpha's are a giveaway. The hulls are the same on the outside but constructed differently. Wellcraft is a heavier hull. Love to see some pics of the interior.

[holorinhal]

I just inherited the Nova. It needs alot of work on the interior.
Some one from Offshore only suggested that it might be a "Brownie" Nova due to the fact that there are stringers under the engines instead of a bildge liner.
Any way here are some interior shots.

[holorinhal]

A couple of the engines and drives.

[vrod02]

Great boat but its a wellcraft. insig. on the dash. If in doubt on the inside cuddy port side should have #'s if its a nova marine.Feel free to post on one of the sites I gave you. The Nova guru's other than me have not seen this yet.I post this thread!

[Jeff]

This pic I have removed the bow rails. i think it looks much better without them.

Like the look of your boat. On my 250 I took the bow rail down to the level of the windshield so the rail followed the line where the fiberglass/glass meet there. That also looked good to my eye while still giving a sense of security on the bow (and helped with my bow-envy as it made the bow seem just a bit larger to my eye in proportion to the rest of the boat than without any rail at all.) But it looks good both ways.

[holorinhal]

Well I sent a p.m. to Brownie (Allen Brown, the designer,owner and builder of Nova Marine)over on Offshore Only. He said that Mine is a Wellcraft, due to the fact that Mine is a '73 and He sold Nova Marine in 1971.
Jeff, Do You have any pic's of Your Nova. I love to see Pics of other Novas....Hal