Dixie’s Dinghy
Tammy caved in and allowed me to break the maximum fleet numbers for my addiction and I purchased another little mini boat, but only because Dixie wanted it. The Addictor will be going up for sale in Wisconsin as will the Sea Doo Jet boat we never use out here in AZ now that the houseboat is in. Hopefully the mini will fit on a jet ski dock at the marina so I (and hopefully Dixie) can easily use it in the mornings while it’s calm and allow Tammy to sleep in. It should also fit on the swim platform or easily tow behind if we go out to camp out so we can take Dixie to shore for bathroom breaks.
I purchased it from someone in California and apparently his brother and a friend have one also. It’s a 1989 year from the Hull ID and color scheme also puts it around that age. It has a 1990 Yamaha 40 HP that apparently is an Australian motor from the model number. The only thing is the motor does not have trim and tilt on it which would be nice.
Overall it’s a good shape for it’s age. Some major spider cracks in the front but part of those will be covered up when I install a bow light. But for an 11′-6″ boat there is quite a bit of room in it with the back seat that many mini boats do not have.
I’ve buffed and waxed the topside. Installed a new battery, new fuses, and it started up fine. The lower unit only held 7 psi when they tested it so waiting on a seal to be installed in that along with a new water pump so hopefully it will hit the water on Friday 8/3/2012. I’m planning on installing lights to make it legal at night and I would like to put a built-in tank into it.
I’m not sure why they added the grab bars onto the front but I might have to remove those and either put some popup cleats or something there.
Unfortunately where the radio is mounted it doesn’t leave enough room for gauges so I’m still up in the air on if I will add any or not.
I’ll likely add a bimini and probably get a custom cover made to keep it in good shape since it will be out in the Arizona sun so much.
They thought it was a mini Hallett boat but in researching it I found Ron Hill’s post and it looks like it was made in Mexico.
http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=122268
According to Ron.
I never knew what Hallett called their boat, this boat was designed by Bob Carlson, the plug was built be my dad in his garage in Garden Grove. Ron Eddy of Eliminator Daytona and other boats fame, finished the deck and actually lengthened the plug.
Somehow, Nick Barron and I “Hooked Up” and Nick build the mold. We called our boats “Snappers”, I never knew what Nick called his.
Nick told me their was no money in these Mini Boats, so I I sold the mold for $6,000 to a guy in Oceanside. He took the mold to Eliminator’s Mexico shop. My friend, Marion Davies has had the mold since the late ’80’s in Mexico.
I met with Marion in March, 2012, and asked what he’d charge me to build a boat. We have not “Hooked up” since March…He said he was busy, I told him I was real busy.
What these boats needed was a 50-60 HP, not 30 HP as the Coast Guard required…They ran like a “Rocket” with a 50 Yamaha, with power trim.
Nick decided that Hallett Boats didn’t want to be in the Mini Boat Business, so he sold me his half of the mold. I in turn sold the mold to a guy in Oceanside. A man named Bud Holtz took the molds to Mexico and Marion Davies built several for Bud and the guy from Oceanside.
Marion still has the mold in Mexico, as I talk to him earlier this year.
Bob Carlson, the son of Art Carlson, drew the plans for this boat. My dad built the plug in his garage in Garden Grove. Art Carlson refused to finish the plug because he had not designed it or built it. So, I hired Ron Eddy, of Eliminator Fame to finish the deck. He finished the deck, but also lengthened the boat about 14 to 16 inches.
If you compare the deck of this Mini Boat to an SST Stoker, and several other Eliminators you’ll see the similarity of the lines, all of which were tooled by Ron Eddy.
Nick Barron finished the “PLUG” and built the mold…This boat in the above pictures is no a Hallett lay up. It for sure is a Mexican built “SNAPPER” as we called these little “Pipsqueaks”….
Thanks Ron for the info and I can’t wait to get the boat in the water.
The Pink Flamingo in Arizona 