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16' special race boats

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jschwamm
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16' special race boats

Post by jschwamm » Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:37 am

How rare are the 16' special race boats? How do they handle compared to longer barrelbacks?
Perform well with the KB 121HP engine? Are the triple downdraft carbs an ok system? Any issues there?
Appears maybe the drawbacks on them are smaller cockpit and rear maybe not really useable?
Just curious about how the 16' handles/rides.
Thanks,
John

Greg Wallace
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by Greg Wallace » Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:57 am

The only bad things you will hear about a 16 SRB is that there are not enough of them (less than 170 made) and they are too expensive (unless you already own one). Great "little" boat that thinks its bigger. KB has all the attributes of a great hot rod engine, lumpy idle, great sound, and finicky (relatively speaking) to keep that way. Unfortunately comfort is inversely proportional to ones size and flexibility. My grandmother thought these were "cute" little boats and gave one of these (from inventory) to my dad and his brother to use one summer. They were 7 and 9 years old respectively. My dad and uncle, of course, were quite taken with it. It wasn't until the end of the season that the they convinced Grandma to take a ride with them. BIG mistake! Boat taken away and sold immediately after performance demonstration.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

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Captain Nemo
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by Captain Nemo » Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:07 pm

Greg Wallace wrote:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:57 am
BIG mistake! Boat taken away and sold immediately after performance demonstration.
:lol:
Boats are to be made of wood, otherwise, God would have grown fiberglass trees.

jschwamm
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by jschwamm » Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:16 am

Greg,
How would you compare the 19' RR to the 16' Special?
Please give me your input there.
Thanks,
John

Greg Wallace
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by Greg Wallace » Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:45 am

The 16 is more dimensionally challenged.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

jschwamm
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by jschwamm » Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:12 am

Greg,
Is the ride and handling of the 16' good? Just wondering how the shorter length does compared to a 19'RR.
Approx weight of a 16'?
Thanks,
John

jim g
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by jim g » Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:02 pm

The shorter the length the worse it rides in choppy water.

The 19' racing runabout can be a rough ride in choppy water. They were built with a fairly flat bottom. Great for speed. Not so much for riding comfort if its a busy day on the lake.

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matthew.smith
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Re: 16' special race boats

Post by matthew.smith » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:40 pm

I have owned both. a 19 Barrel Back and currently a 16 Racer. The ride is rougher in the 16 but if you speed up, its fine. The 19 is kinda better, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 16. It is what it is, For a smooth ride, a U22 or my other boat is a 25 Sportsman, and after a ride in the 16 makes the 25 feel like a Rolls Royce. One more thing about the 16, they are more affordable, more fun, and feel very hot rod like. They come in Red White and Blue, or Varnished. I like the RWB ones. Because they are more extreme.
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stinky love 12.jpg
Woody Boater
1948 CC 25' Sportsman - WECATCHEM
1937 CC 16' Special Racer - Stinky
1968 Rice 40 - Trawler - Sweet Pea

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