formula jr. thunderbird need info

formula jr

lenny help me with a supplier or contact for rub rails. also please send another picture of your red boat I think that is the original color and layout of stripes or my boat . p.s. what color red did you use. Help ron

 

66 formula jr

Just wondering if you recieved any information or pictures. I'm stating to restore my boat and have lots of questions on its original color since mine was painted several times and none the same color.

 

Ron, the Red one I sent pics of is not mine. It is one I have spent a lot of time in. It resides in mid Oregon. Those pics are from when he brought it up to Puget Sound to play with and then the Gulf Islands (where I live)

The stripe lay-out is correct, as for colour, I don't know but it is close.
Mine is light blue and also in need of a LOT of work but all there other than the clamshell vents and rails. The rails are the same as the early DONZI's as well.

There is not much I can help with du to the small numbers of these boats.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/WynnMill_Drawings_001sm.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/WynnMill_Drawings_002sm.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/WynMillHullsm.jpg

The original Plywood plan boat from Popular Mechanics article years and years ago...
http://www.donzi.net/photos/Wynn-Mill_II.jpg

Mid sixties advertisement

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10571

 

formula jr

Just A Quick Thank You The Drawings And Info Will Be A Great Help . I,ll Keep You Informed On How The Restoration Is Going

 

66 formula jr t-bird

hi everyone. i also own a 66 formula jr t-bird. i have owned the boat for a little over 9 years; boat has been in family since the early '70s; and haven't been able to find any info on the boats,until know. my boat is in good overall shape,is red and white, has a 302 v8(ford) and a volvo penta lower unit. i would like to restore my boat in the near future but need a little help finding info on the boat and would like some ideas on possibly putting newer fuel injected motor and newer style volvo penta lower unit in the boat. also my steering in the boat is just plain horrible ,it has a lot of torque steer( no power steering) would also like to know what kind of steering systems everybody else has. if anybody has any advice,info,pictures,anything about our boats please email me at Sawa2u77@yahoo.com. thanks josh

 

I am new to this discussion but wanted to say I have gotten the Wynn-Mill II plans and I am entering the table of offsets into a CAD program. I intend to build one using my CNC router to cut the frames.

If anyone wants to sell their Formula Jr. project boats, let me know as I would love to have one!

 

Capt jdr just recently acquired a Formula Jr 1967 with a 4-cylinder 120 hp Mer-Cruiser that has been neglected in a RI back yard for 20 years. Finally I found this web site, what a relief! Will post pictures as soon as I can, plan to restore it. Looking for advice. Glad to know there are more out there!

 

I HAVE A FORMULA JR. FOR SALE, PROJECT BOAT IS IN PENSACOLA, FL CALL 850.434.7361

 

Formula Jr. For Sale, Project Boat Is Located In Pensacola, Fl Call 850.434.7361

 

Pensacola FJ owner

Can you send me some pics to highlnd@telus.net and an asking price?

 

formula jr

Guys I to have a 1965 17.2 formula jr. I have had this boat for 20 years and it is a blast. I thought I had the only one sinse I have never seen another one in my state of south carolina. Mine has white roll pleat thru out and I took a bass boat seat and had it recovered in pleat and navy inserts since the boat color is old ford blue. I had a teak dash made to house a stereo and tweeters. Mine came with a windshield and ss tubing on front but i did away with that . It has a six cylinder and the old mercruser in it. Would love to see some more pictures from other members. The red one on the site is great and looks just like mine except mine has a roll pleat pad on the back motor deck lid.

 

I would love to have your old windshield for a pattern. I am using my light blue Formula Junior as a plug (for now) to get a fresh mold together. These are fabulous running boats, and very forgiving in larger water at speed. Jim Wynne did his homework with this design.

The original windshield would make a great pattern for reproduction purposes. Let me know if you still have it.

 

Lenny, I am sorry to report that I do not have original windshield. I tossed years ago. Thought I might go with a low profile type that you see on the sweet sixteen, the other was so bulky and obstructed and I didnt think about originality. Sorry Andy

 

Guys,

I would love to see some pictures of your Furmula jr.s. My dad used to have one I think. it was 17-18ft, closed bow, barell back, had a 150hp mercruiser and wraparound seating. I sure would like to find one of those to restore and keep

 

The guy that owns the red on in the pics from Lenny

I'll be happy to answer any questions you guys have on these boats.
I've done extensive and exhaustive research on them so maybe I can save some one a little time and give informed suggestions.

The boat was never really designed, as stock, to go faster than say 51 MPH.
With out Trim Tabs it will start to walk at precisely 54 MPH with one 190lbs pilot. With Trim Tabs, I have Bennett's, the boat is completely stable up to my max speed of 62 mph at sea level and in salt, with a mild tuned 351 Cleveland Ford, Merc Type 1MR ( pre-alpha) at 1.33:1 with 23 Pitch cupped Prop. (The Standard Merc aluminum 23 pitch, three blade.) It will go 64 with a SS Prop of the same dimensions. The boats seems to be designed to run at 7 degrees positive trim. Which is a little higher than the normal 5 degrees.

The engine is right in the apex of the torque curve here at 4600 RPM.
The hull is a straight 24 degree deadrise hull. Even with a 351 Small Block, its still something of a choir to get the boat "on top" of the water. This boat does not want to plane from a standstill. You will not win any drag races with it and there is noticeable slip and blow out till the prop hooks up. I always revert to the S-turn maneuver to get it up and to get some of the keel turbulence away from the prop. When that happens, this thing is pure pleasure to drive, especially with tabs.

I get her to 7 degrees using the out-drive trim, then make the tabs just kiss the water. Now this boat is ready for anything.
The most amazing aspect is how this hull, set up in this way, will auto-correct for you. It will forgive and stabilize on almost any type of wave environment. Its almost too easy to drive this boat and then get into trouble when something clearly did need attention like a rouge wave or a huge drop out.
When that happens, you will appreciate the pronounced flair and beam of the mid-ships. It will recover. You'll be wet and freaked, but the boat did what it was designed to do, as a race boat, and stayed right-side up.

Wynne designed many boats in his life. If he was still alive, my first question would be, "what was YOUR favorite." I sometimes feel like I know the answer to that question.

owens