Tornado Design

June 21, 2018 - Tornado conversion--it went from s 90 mph runabout to 45 mph outboard fishing skiff.

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Update November 2013 Here are a few of so many pictures we took during the building process. Just to be sure you don\'t forget, all congratulations goes to my dad, who build the boat. (He doesn\'t speak English very well so I translate for him). Here\'s the info about the boat and the builder: Name: Fernand Bouchard Age: 61 Location: South shore of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Boat: The Tornado plan was brought more than 20 years ago. We still have the old Glen-L catalog at home and if it falls on the ground, it always fall open at the Tornado\'s page! The building started in 2006. Engine: 1961 Ford FE 390ci. This motor was also brought more than 20 years ago, pistons has to be hammered out of the cylinders. Completely disassembled and stored for about 15 years... Then successfully rebuilt in 2003. Transmission: Velvet drive 70C or 71C... Sorry, I don\'t remember... V-Drive: Casale (before the split case). My dad did not only build the boat but, as being a machinist, built also all the metal parts (except the gas pedal), including the trim tab control lever, the steering hub, the shifter and all brackets and mounts. If you look closely on some pictures, on the wall you can see pictures of another Tornado. Many pictures of Rob Kauffman\'s Tornado as inspiration. You can also post his e-mail on you website, I will proudly translate for him! ffernand002@sympatico.ca For the pleasure of your eyes and mostly your ears, you can also see some videos of the tornado on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/zoel29 Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. -Joel Bouchard

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5-17-03 Having obtained the plans for the Tornado in November of 2002 it has been \"full speed ahead\" in the construction of the boat. The boat is being built in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia and since it is in the tropics, boating all year round is possible, including the building. The boat at the moment is in the stage of just having the top decking fitted. Next step is to add some trim and mouldings for decorative purposes. In Australia we have a problem of obtaining such timbers as Douglas-fir (here it is called Oregon). The timber we have available is called Meranti. It is used a lot for making external doors and mouldings and being a lightweight yet strong timber it is common to find it used in boat building projects. Marine ply made from plantation pine is available as well in the AA grade and does seem to be readily available. The boat project can be addictive and I have found that all my spare time is devoted to it. When first looking at the plans and pattens it looked like a complicated project, but when the actual construction started it all came into place with relative ease. I took two weeks holidays to fair in the frame work for the bottom and side decking and I found this to be the process that took the longest. I had started a week before and as this is a high speed boat it had to have the time taken to make sure it was correct. 3 weeks at 9 hours a day with 6 days per week calculates to 162 hours of fairing. I am now an expert at a plane and blade sharpening. I find that now the main construction is through, it is a little sad as it has been an enjoyable experience doing this project. I still have the mouldings and epoxy sheathing with the sanding and painting to go along with it. The boat is being built in the middle of a workshop with engineering and carpentry going along around it. Everyone who comes into the workshop notices the boat and not the furniture being made or the metalwork going on as the boat looks impressive even in the raw stage. Regards and happy boat building, Tony.

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Tornado by Jeff, Toronto, Canada 28 August 2010 Here are some pics of my old Tornado. I originally bought the frame kit in 1983 and the boat saw the water for the first time in 1988.

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