I bought a 10 1/2 foot Sid Craft rag nose hydro with a 30h last weekend. I am going to restore this boat for a garage ornament, but I was wondering what the value of it is. Is it worth restoring, or am I just plain going to lose money? Thanks, Alan

Alan, I'd say the Sid is a definite keeper. It is one of the recognized vintage hulls, and along with a 30H, it well worth restoring. When I bought my Furnal Flyer, Chris wouldn't sell me his Sid, as he wanted to keep it. While it will make a very nice wall hanger, it would make a lot better runner every now and then. We really need Vintage & Historic events that are designed for these kneel-down boats. There are so many of them with tons of history, but we don't have a venue with the right water to run them. Most of the current V&H sites often have rougher water or conditions that aren't suited to the A-F runabouts or hydros. I'd be surprised if the kneel-down guys & gals on BRF or HydroRacer don't agree that the Sid Craft is well worth restoring. Enjoy it! - Roger

My Sid Craft is a very cool boat, but needs all new decking everywhere. I'm a carpenter, by trade, so no problem there, but the paint and rag nose might be spendy. The 30H is all stock. It was the 1979 season champion for my area for C Stock. Most of the restored 30H motors I see that are on restored boats are mod motors.(like yours) Do you think it's more or less desirable to have a mod motor? Anyone out there who can ID my Sid Craft? It has the original tag. I can't upload pics because I don't know how to reduce the size. Thanks, Alan

Alan,
I raced a "C" 30H Merc in APBA and CBF-bought the Sid from Don Christy in WA in 1968 and ran it in the Nationals in Hinton W.Va. Won the Cdn High Points with it in 1969.
If the hull is good, and the acetate deck replaced, they're worth $1000, depending if the wheel and throttle are all there. Nice package-any idea who ran the outfit? When was it last in the water?
Regards
Wain

I bought both the hull and the motor seperately here in Spokane, WA. The hull came from Missouri, I believe. The nuber on it is M 144 or something like that. The throttle is a Quincy in very nice shape and the steering is Keller. Both are prehistoric and very cool. The motor was always local and Dennis Reed won the season championship for C stock with it in '79. I bought the hull from a guy who bought it just for the motor. It had a Yamamoto. That is about all the history I have for them, but I might try to find out more about the hull and possibly the motor. Do people desire the stock 30H motors or do they primarily want mod motors? Thanks, Alan

Alan, I think that a stock 30H is just as "valuable" as a Mod-motor 30H. It really boils down to what you want. I started doing race motors because very few of them remained strictly stock for very long. I didn't want to be bothered with "perfect" paint and paint colors,for example. The mod motors have a macho appeal but are rather impractical if you plan on running the outfit. Society today just doesn't have any tolerance to the noise of someone else having fun. I like to modify various aspects (ignition, exhaust, carbs, etc...) of my restored motors yet spend a lot of time to make them totally functional as well as look good. The gearcases on the older Mercs are the high priced item to find and to make/keep functional. I have several stock Mercury's with minor exceptions to color, decals, and paint. (20H, 30H, 55H, Mk55E, 2-Mk75's). I must admit I am partial to the Mod motors as it allows me to modify them the way I want to and many of the modifications may include very rare parts, or parts that you make.
It sounds to me that you have a boat and motor that is certainly worth your time and money to restore. The fabric deck isn't that big a deal. Go down to a local private airport (glider club etc.) and you will find all the help and advice you need. Good luck & enjoy!

Hey Roger, thanks for the motivation and insight. I was kinda kicking around just restoring the boat and repainting the motor, but I may just freshen up the motor. he motor was painted black and I'd like to get it back to red and white. There isn't much red or white to see under the black. Does anyone have the color numbers for them? By the way, the race number is M 143. I was told it was from the Missouri area. I'm guessing since the letter M is first, it was an alcohol class? Anyone recognize the number? If not, it's going to get painted red and white to match the motor. Thanks, Alan

Now there's a name from the past!!! I think he won every outboard race he could put a boat in the water for. As I recall he pretty much dominated outboard racing on the east coast for many years.

Alan,
Get a hold of any local APBA race member and he can research the 144 M and tell you the name and address of the owner. Members get a membership list. I just bought #3H -a D stock Hemp from E-Bay and found the previous owner through an APBA member at the local CBF / APBA joint sanction race meet here in Canada.
Regards
Wain

Bob,
He was a great guy. Bob Henry introduced me, and the Sid I bought from Don, with "C-1" on the deck, with a few stainless props, allowed me to beat Ted Abel, John Stone and Wannamaker on more tha one occasion. The Sid was called Red Devil II and I'm still looking for it!!
Regards
Wain

Anyone have any contact info on Mr. Christy? I'd love to get some copies of pictures of the boat. It was green on the cloth and had a red stripe running diagonal. Christmas colors. I guess that fits. His nickname must be Christmas eh? It would be interesting to know what motor he ran on it. Thanks much for the info. Alan

Was Don Christy's number M 143? I mistakenly said the race number was M 144 in a previous post. I hope his race number was M 143. I'm excited to find out more. Thanks, Alan

Im a stock outboard racer from the past and have some contact's of people who are still racing. E-Mail me @ stockcarracer91@yahoo.com and I can give you some contact's. I know these motors are bringing big money in the stock configuration so I would definately keep it stock, plus the stacks are loud and make it harder to find a place to run it.


Greg Sheldon

P.S. I still have my KG4H I raced when I was 12 in ASH.

I was told my 10 1/2' hyro belonged to Don Christy, but I called him and he told me it wasn't. Super nice guy, by the way. Does anyone know who raced number M-143? Thanks, Alan

Don Cristy was the,"GUY to Beat" when I was a kid [11-12]..... IN the middle '80s, a guy I went to school with "Len Lupton" bought all his stuff [even the trailer]. Len put all the stuff in perfect running order [he is like that]and displayed it many times at St Michaels, MD. and Solomon Islands, MD. HE ran it a few times at Sharptown, MD. Too.
I haven't seen him for 5-6 yrs. now [HE was always at MT. Dora. I did meet a guy this year [can't remember his name] at Tavares [vintage not CRA] who bought all the stuff Lenny had, SOOOOO that stuff is around...........

Alan, I talked to R.C. Hawie and (Racing Historian officer) for the antique outboard moter club. He also said he did not believe this to be Mr. Christy's boat. The M-143 is a Mich. designated #. but he did not know nor is there any record's thru APBA that would say. Good luck Alan. Look at it this way You will have a nice boat when you are finished.

Regards, Greg

Hey Greg, thanks much for trying. I appreciate the effort. I am going to look at it like I can paint it any way I want now. I think I might paint it to match my motor. Red and white. By the way, how do you join plywood to make it 10 1/2 foot? The longest marine plywood I can find on the West Coast is 10 foot and I need 10 1/2 foot. Any suggestions? Thanks again, Alan

You taper the the two ends so they overlap each other. Im sure somebody on here can find a picture so you can see how it's done. If You get a chance give me a call and I can give some #'s for some more people up your way that Im sure you would find interesting. Have a good 1 !!! Greg Sheldon