Zip boat

Share This Page! Hull type: Vee bottom hard chine hull developed for sheet plywood planking. Power: Short shaft outboard motor to 40 hp 15 hp min.

Long shaft motor can be used if transom modified. Can the hull be extended or shortened? Extend: No. Shorten: Yes. We do not recommend increasing the beam. Includes instructions and Bill of Materials.

Zip Complete Wood Parts Kit. Complete wood parts kit to build a Glen-L Zip shipped via truck freight within the 48 contiguous US states. Zip Bronze Fastening Kit. Zip Carriage Bolt Kit. Contains all carriage bolts needed to build the Zip. Choice of bronze or galvanized. Powered by a Mercury Mark I have used it for 2 summers now, and it is a fun boat. I am very satisfied with it. October I did not build the boat myself. It was built by a Norwegian guy whose name is Kent Andreassen.

My beauty. Took her to two wooden boat shows here on the Oregon coast and she was a big hit. I will put a little history display together for each of the boats as to when they first hit the drawing board or when the plans were first available. Twin Jet Zip! The cute little plywood boat with no engine was mostly rotted and in very poor shape. I looked it over and thought I can work wood right, with a little effort something nice might emerge? After some research I determined with some degree of certainty that this was once a kit boat from Glen-L Designs called the Zip.

The hull was similar to a Jet Ski bottom so could I design and engineer all the required parts and pieces to make a little jet boat, maybe, I thought? But my search for a ski with a big enough engine also failed. Could I build a twin? Four oak engine mounts were used to mount the two cc engines sitting side by side, and then a laser was used to perfectly line up the intake tunnels, the pump mounts and pumps.

Building and making the dual throttle quadrant work correctly took a great deal of time and effort. Next was modifying the existing steering cable system to a single push pull rod that would steer both nozzles. Two fuel tanks were mounted forward with an electric pump that moves fuel to the header tank mounted in the engine compartment. A sturdy battery mount placed far forward and the mechanicals were about complete.

Then close up the top and paint the bottom blue, the sides white then add some cool custom graphics just for fun. Wanting reverse required removing both engines for a complete stern overhaul in The reverse buckets required removing the original nozzle connecting rod then installing a new push pull cable between the two nozzles that routes back thru the transom and under the engines. I have finally finished building a Zip and put it in the water in July I received the plans in August I am a very slow builder and had a full time job so it took me a long time.

I have attached some photos so of key points of its construction. This proves that anyone can build a boat as long as you stick to it and never give up.

Marine plywood is hard to find in NZ unless you live in one of the big cities even then it be rather expensive. Price does not include outboard engine but the Zip is fitted with a new 30HP Mercury two-stroke which pushes the boat with a family of four towards 25KN. Zip Design. June 14, 14 Photos. Zip by Charles Bresette Jr. Zip by Ron Salvino. Zip by Rick Stokes. Zip by Darrell Hodo. Zip by Pierre C. Zip by Petter Kruger.

Zip by Don Witherspoon. Zip by Robert Pinske. Zip by Nathan Miller. The plans call for a deck of mahogany or fir plywood, and while that would be sufficient for a utilitarian boat, many builders of Glen-L runabouts opt to dress the plywood up with covering boards and deck planking.

It makes a striking difference. I used mahogany for all of my decking. I bookmatched the broad covering boards to create a symmetrical pattern in the wood grain, then dyed them to create contrast with the deck planks.

I added some decking beyond what was detailed in the plans to reduce the open area of the motorwell and provide a tidier appearance. Rather than use white caulk to accent the deck seams, I filled them with epoxy mixed with white pigment.

When covered with varnish, the bright white took on a nice, aged golden color. The plans for the Zip call for a plywood deck, but builders of Glen-L runabouts often lay deck planking over the plywood for a classic look. I later equipped my Zip with a , hp four-stroke outboard. With four adults aboard the boat does get up on plane quickly—it just does so a few moments after giving it the gas. I have had five people in my Zip many times, and I feel very safe in this boat with it fully loaded.

I have no hesitation to go at full speed; I am just more aware of my weight and balance by always putting the heaviest passengers in the front.

The only issue when it is fully loaded is that the bow will pitch up a little higher and the boat takes a few more seconds to get up on plane. The speed and handling characteristics do not seem to be affected by a full load. The boat does well in light chop and begins to porpoise in moderate chop unless I apply full throttle and get up on plane. The boat handles like a dream, and I credit this part of the performance to the skeg; in calm water, I can race along at full throttle and make a sharp turn with little skidding.

The Zip has bumper rails to protect the hull below the tumblehome at the stern; they also serve to deflect water away from the aft cockpit, but if there are passengers in the rear seats, I need to warn them they may get some spray in a sharp turn. Builder Ted Gauthier has three young passengers aboard here, but has carried four with him in comfort.

It took me 22 months of working on and off to build the Zip, and I could not be happier with its performance. I gladly recommend the design to others. It is a great first boat to build and an exciting boat to use. It is easy to trailer, and everyone who sees it gives it a thumbs-up. It is a great pleasure to own a boat you can proudly say you built yourself that has both classic design and modern features.

His passion outside of his dream job as a fireman has always been boating and flying. Ted has built himself many things including an airplane, a hot-air balloon, a kayak, and a CNC machine.

He grew up with his five brothers by a lake in lower Michigan where he learned to swim, water-ski, and handle boats. He spent almost all his free time as a child saving for gas so he could go out in small boats to enjoy the summer days. He always remembers his first ride in an old wooden boat and has promised himself that one day he will have his own.

Ted documented his progress on the Zip in his blog. He would be happy to help or answer any questions readers may have about building a Glen-L Zip. Emails to Small Boats Monthly will be forwarded to him. His review of a rivet spacing fan appears in this issue. We welcome your comments about this article. Beautiful job on a neat design. Love the windshield too.