• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

Laz's boat

floridacrakr0470

Well-known member
is that a 220 converted to a 520? at first i thought it was a 520, but i looked closer and it seems to be a 220. if so, who did the engine conversion? are you happy with it? im thinkin about convertin mine with 470 cyls, so i wont have to do any machine work.
 
Laz started with a 12' fiberglass hull and a 220GPU, OK for starters but not enough power. He added the 2nd Mag and dual plugs it was a little better. Soon he wanted more power so he changed to Lycoming rods (I guess they are a little longer for more stroke?) He still needed more so he changed over to a lightweight aluminum hull and upgraded to the aircraft o-470 angle valve cylinders, carb and intake. The final result is a GPU case with Lycoming rods and the rest is Continental o-470. He was very happy with the end result, somewhere in the neighborhood of 280 Horsepower, 75+ MPH. He is a good mechanic who did most of the work himself, with a few favors and help from friends along the way.
 
Is Laz sellin' his boat? I saw the pictures...pretty cool. I believe I rode on this boat in 2003, out in the north area past Tower camp. Awesome power, though I kept wonderin' if the "bumblebees" would ever catch us......

And if any of you talk to him, tell him Doc Holliday said howdy!! I'll call Mark M. and see if he knows what's up.
 
Hey Doc, Unfortunately Laz already sold his boat. A guy from Louisiana drove all the way down here to look at it and liked it so much he handed over a fistfull of cash took it home. I talk to him often, I'll let him know you said 'howdy'. By the way, is Mark M the bald guy who lives on the next street over from Donny?
 
Yep, Mark's the bald dude......I don't know where Donny lives, but it's probably pretty close, cause I remember when me and Mark's brother Chris was stuck out in WCA-2A last year, Mark borrowed Donny's boat to come and pull us out. Donny also worked on our Holley carb once and got it running real sweet......then I had to go and sink the damn boat in North New River canal.....never did run the same. But that was nearly three years ago. I've never met Donny personally. Me and Mark's brother Chris are pretty good friends, and partners in "our" boat.

Is Laz building another boat? Or is the crane business too busy to allow him the time?
 
What's up Doc, I know Mark and have met his brother Chris a few times. I remember hearing about some of your adventures. Sinking the boat, getting stuck, and the big f***ing hole left in the case of the other GPU that was on your boat (what a mess). I was out riding with Mark and your partner on the North side one day and when we got back to the ramp and ready to leave, Chris decided to drive the boat up the ramp, across the parking lot, up on the trailer, and almost into the back of the parked truck. He played it off too cool, just hopped in and drove off. Yeah Donny is alright when it comes to turning wrenches, and a good friend as well. He lives one street over from Mark. I even knew the guy who had your boat before you guys bought it, he worked with another friend off mine and lived just a few streets west from Donny and Mark(small world ain't it). Marks boat is pretty impressive and can hold his own now that he put the upstack 200+HP 4cyl and 6 blade warp drive on it. Mark and Donny helped me out a few months ago when the alternator on my boat went out and the battery went dead at the worst possible time, trailblazing on the north side when the water was real low, leaving me stuck in the rain. Man it's good to have friends. Laz got ocean boat fever and bought a 24' center console with a 250 outboard. It's alot easier to go bar hopping on the intercoastal and looking for soft-tails that smell real good when you've got an ocean cruiser. The crane business still keeps him as busy as he wants to be. He's got an open invitation on my boat anytime he wants to get a swamp fix. I will look for you in the woods. Are you gonna be out this weekend?
 
Yea, I was at the ramp that day Chris drove the boat onto the trailer. Me and Bill Vaughn used to laugh our a&s off at that one. I certainly met you that day (I'm the big guy, 6' about 290), and come to remember, maybe another time at Bill's shop, cause I remember meeting someone there who saw Chris pull that stunt. Damn beer seems to cloud the memories though.......

Chris has been after me to go out to the North area again, especially since Mark joined a camp out there (I can't remember the name of the camp, but it's the next one after Tower camp). I haven't been out to that area for a couple of years it seems. I live in Margate, and WCA-2A is just too damn convenient.

We'll definitely have to get together. I'll see what Chris is doing this weekend....but Saturday afternoon is definitely a possibility.
 
Back
Top