Dream Boat Annie will be at the 2017 International Boat Show in Racine, Wisconsin entered in the ACBS Contemporary Class and the subject of the first symposium presentation.
This 2015 Glen-L Torpedo was built by Roberta Hegy, Glacier Lakes Chapter, using a pattern from the Glen-L Company. The action photo above was taken on the Tennessee River with passenger Gayle Brantuk, Glen L. Witt’s daughter, member of the Southern California Chapter.
The construction of the Torpedo will be the subject of one of the symposiums presented at this year’s ACBS International Show. The presentation will teach you step-by-step the process of building a boat from plans.
Thank you, Roberta Ann Hegy, for sharing the following background story about this stunning boat:
Growing up, I was given the opportunity to help my Dad with various projects most girls never get a chance to participate in. Whether it was doing carpentry, auto repair, or whatever required attention, I was the “go to kid” when help was needed. The skills I learned became interests and stuck with me throughout my life in both hobbies and career.
I started out building a 14.5-foot outboard runabout called the Zip that I found in the Glen L boat plans catalog. It was a fairly simple design made with plywood planking and wood framing. Building this boat only added fuel to my passion to build something truly unique and challenge all my skills. Then I found the Torpedo.
The Torpedo is Glen L. Witt’s latest design done in his retirement from the company he founded. His daughter, Gayle, and her husband, John Brantuk, currently run the company. Glen L was noted for their classic style boats and have provided plans and kits for their designs for decades. Kits are limited these days, but the full line of their plans along with Ken Hankinson designs are available as well as fastening kits, hardware, and building supplies. [ author’s note – Glen L. Witt passed away June 13, 2017. See tribute on Woody Boater June 17, 2017]
The Torpedo was introduced into the lineup about 7 years ago. I immediately fell in love with the lines of the boat and knew I had to build it.
The boat is made from mahogany framing placed on white oak and Okoume plywood stringers. The hull is planked with Okoume plywood using the “cold molded” process of epoxied double diagonal strips of the Okoume. The hull bottom is 5 layers of 3mm and the sides are 3 layers of the 3mm Okoume plywood. The hull has been sealed with a layer of 7 oz. fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin and then painted with 5 coats of two-part poly-urethane paint.
The decking is comprised of a 1/4″ Okoume plywood substrate and 3/8″ mahogany planking. This has been stained and coated with clear gloss poly-urethane top coat. Caulking was done with 3m 4000 uv.
The boat is powered by a 330 hp Crusader Captain’s Choice 5.7 MPI V8 engine coupled to a Velvet Drive 8 deg. down angle Liberty “A” transmission. I am currently using an OJ 13X13 full cup four blade prop. The boat accelerates very quickly to speeds in excess of 50 mph and handles just great!!
One of the unique features of the boat is the very large engine hatch. Due to the limited access to items in the aft end of the boat, I decided to enlarge the hatch and use electric hatch lifts for access. This has worked out well and allows easy access to all items in the aft section of the boat. Along with that I added my own spin with the ’59 Caddy tail light and the reverse hood scoop on the aft deck hatch. This boat is the result of Glen’s dream pet project and my dream of a truly unique woody boat.
Thanks, Roberta, for the story. We’ll be eager to learn the details at the ACBS International Symposiums, Sept.8 in Racine.