1960 biesemeyer 4 point hydro info

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by cp325, Jul 7, 2020.

  1. OWG
    Joined: Aug 2020
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    Location: Dallas,Tx

    OWG Junior Member

    Just one stage in the evolution.......albeit short-lived.....shortly thereafter it looks like the whole era of drag boat hull design and application took off and the early pioneers were really right on with what they did back in Genesis as it is fundamentally the same now IMHO.
     
  2. OWG
    Joined: Aug 2020
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    Location: Dallas,Tx

    OWG Junior Member

    It was proposed to me a while back.....and seems logical.......that at the time in the evolution, the transition from principally wood hulls with fiberglass covering to hulls primarily fiberglass with wood structure (bones?) that builders then really didn't have any reliable way to gauge what was a sufficient amount of glass/resin to provide the strength needed, so it was often a matter of "more is better" and hence, some very thick and heavy layups were birthed early on. That explanation seemed logical to me.
    I have a number of theories and assumptions on the 4 Point, no doubt universally incorrect............but I'll throw them out there anyway in the hope that it helps keep the conversation going, and more importantly, someone who actually knows something will respond with some better insight and opinions of their own. Hence, my take on how the 4 Point came to be such a weighty character. Really unfortunate that Bill (Biesemeyer) has passed on and that he's not here to throw light on any Bz discussion.......but there are still some dudes hanging in out there who do have much better insight and/or opinions, and I'm hoping they will chime in and help set things straight.
    I'm looking forward to being able to determine the weight of my 4 Point hull.......but in any case I'm pretty sure it's gonna be about double what would typically come out of the mold today on average.

    According to the Bz history book, the 4 Point (Pettijohn's "Wrangler") held the APBA 1/4 mile world record at one time (doesn't say for how long) at ~126 MPH in 1962.....however in the Drag Boats of the 60's pictorial book it says that Golden Thing had a ~149 mph world record in 1961, so it may have been different sanctioning bodies, or? But the fact is the 4 Point at it's weight and design was just a blip on the radar of drag boat racing. Insight anyone?
     
  3. OWG
    Joined: Aug 2020
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    Location: Dallas,Tx

    OWG Junior Member

    cp325 you have any straight-on side shots.....any from above showing entire length...full width shot of the transom? I can create a template from those if you have them....something I think we could both use in the process. I can have one of our designers knock out a template in a day. My hull is still covered and not readily accessible to get images at the time.
     
  4. OWG
    Joined: Aug 2020
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    Location: Dallas,Tx

    OWG Junior Member

    Well, that was a short dialogue. lol

    The elusive 4 Pointer strikes again.

    Over and Out.
     
  5. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

    You should look to the high performance boat sites for info on that boat, specifically use 'v-drive' in the searches and then network the **** out of any contacts you find, which is probably exactly what you're doing. I saw an unlimited race in the San Diego Bay once, around '76 or so, back when they still had WWll v-12 Allison or Rolls-Royce engines. In between heats they had v drive ski boat races, first time I'd seen them in real time, and they were awesome. One of the heats they towed skiers on looong tow ropes, I guess those were the same people maniacs that do the San Diego - Catalina Island Ski Race. Here's a few maybe helpful sites....

    Home Page https://v-driveboats.com/Home_Page.html

    V-drive clubs http://www.riverracer.net/forums/showthread.php?90391-V-drive-clubs

    1960 biesemeyer https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/1960-biesemeyer.41467/

    I found this on 'Fiberglassics.com'...

    The History of Biesemeyer Boats https://books.google.com/books?id=8r6zoAEACAAJ&dq=Biesemeyer&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7wMD2vO3JAhXEyT4KHUeJBNsQ6AEILzAA

    You might be able to download it here, otherwise it's for sale at Abe's Books, Amazon etc.

    download The History of Biesemeyer Boats: by Bill Biesemeyer - Bill Biesemeyer, Diane Palmer, Tawna Pryor .pdf - franinunon https://sites.google.com/site/franinunon/the-history-of-biesemeyer-boats-by-bill-biesemeyer-66533877
     
  6. OWG
    Joined: Aug 2020
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    Location: Dallas,Tx

    OWG Junior Member

    Was familiar with or subsequently went to sites above.....thanks for the heads up on those. I have been trying to no avail to get a response out of the V-driveboats.com folks but nothing in the past week - 10 days, so not sure what the hang up is (?) I let them know I'm ready to pay appropriate dues and get access, but can't get a response.....?
    Since the Beezer is a more-or-less West Coast business...back when anyway....I was/am hopeful peeps on there will be familiar with the 4 Pointer, or able to turn me on to folks who are.

    But, can't shoot a rabbit in the hole, so just have to wait for someone to surface over there I guess. Anyone knows anyone over in that group maybe you can alert them?

    Thanks. OWG
     
  7. Bryce Denen
    Joined: Sep 2020
    Posts: 1
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    Location: Phoenix Arizona

    Bryce Denen New Member

    Hello, I know I am about a month late to the conversation but I own a original 1961 Biesemeyer 4 point hydro. I am the third owner of it. The original owners parked it in a barn in Nevada in the mid 80's where it sat for over 30 years. They then sold it to a guy in northern California who owned it for a couple years till I recently bough it and hauled it back to Phoenix Arizona where it was originally made. It is in amazing shape. I would be happy to give you guys any pictures or info you would need. My pops and his friend use to own and ride around back in the mid-late 60s on one before his friend came home on leave from the Army and went out on another boat that flipped and he died. No one really knew what happened to the 4 point they had as my pops was in the service as well and didn't return back to Arizona till several years later. At the time it had a 430 Lincoln with zommie style headers and was painted in a gold metal flake paint with the name MISS-BEHAVIN. Id love to find that exact one but I knew the odds of finding one, let alone the original one where slim so I am happy with the one I have for now. It took me over 5 years to find one for sale and I got lucky finding the one I did randomly one night searching face book marketplace way up the coast out of curiosity. Please reach out like I said, my email is Bryceworks@live.com
     

  8. cp325
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 13
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: crown point,in

    cp325 Junior Member

    Would love to see a couple pics of your 61
     
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