We Bought A Super Rare Race Boat From Copart!!! 

This is indeed a rare boat. 98% or all Sanger hydro hulls were set up with v-drives and propellers and not jet drives. This is because the hydro hull is designed to ride on three points; the bottom of the sponsons and the propeller, which is usually located under the rearmost portion of the hull. Jet boat hulls are designed to ride on the last two-three feet of the hull, right where the jet drive intake is located in the bottom of the boat. Very few jet-driven hydros were ever successfully campaigned at the boat races because it takes a lot of re-working of the hull to feed the jet drive. Congrats on the purchase, fellas. It's a cool looking float.

BE CAREFUL GUYS, have been around drag boats all my life, and lost a lot of friends. They are no toy, they will hurt or kill you in a heart beat.

Grew up around the apba, worked on several crews over the years. That’s not the kinda boat you jump in to with no experience. Hope you don’t get hurt.

I'm really praying this doesn't become their final build. Guys, you must respect this one. Once you have this thing in the water, do not play around like we have seen you do before. I can't stress that enough. Helmets, life jackets, all the proper safety gear, maturity and knowledge of these types of machinery are a must.

Helicopter probably would have been safer than that boat 😂

Dangerous boat!Remember you both have wife and kids, don't be crazy doing stupid stunts😮!!

Call that boat , WIDOWMAKER!!

I was the engine builder/ crew-chief for a world championship drag boat team in the 90's. I am not crazy, was not stupid and never drove our boat. I was probably more nervous every time it went down the 1/4 mile pass because our driver's life was in my hands. One rod through the bottom of the boat and that thing will disintegrate. If you get out of an open seat drag boat doing over 120 mph you can loose your life. The driver wears a parachute on his back and ballistic shorts for a reason. High speed impact with water is no joke. I have had several friends injured permanently and some have even lost their life's. It is the most dangerous sport and probably the most addictive. Once it is in your blood there is no return. Just more need for speed.

Boost retard allows you to retard timing 1 degree, 2 degrees, 3 degrees per pound of boost so you don't melt your pistons. Start with max retard 3 degrees to be safe. It also depends on where the total timing is set. Set Total timing (not initial timing) at 36 degrees to start. Better fuel allows you to use less retard on ignition. Check your plugs for sign of detonation frequently. If you start to see aluminum on your plugs, either go back to more retard or use higher octane gas. You also may want to put the big blower pulley on the super charger and the smaller pulley on the crank for lower boost until you figure things out. That is a BBC, probably 454 but could be stroker 496 (common marine size) or bigger. The blower is a 8-71. It should be good for 800-1000hp depending on tune. You'll blow it up with nitrous for sure. Don't do it. You don't have the experience.

Need to talk to Mike Finnegan about that boat. He can probably tell you everything you want to know.

That thing just screams “DEATH ON A TRAILER” 😅😅

Sanger Boats were one of the premier drag boat builders in their day. Sanger is from Fresno, CA. The pickle fork with the setup I am looking at will have a top speed well in excess of 100 mph. The top speed when set up for drag racing was over 200 mph and this style boat did hold the record several times. These drag boats usually were prop driven. Both the pickle fork and the flat bottom boats from Sanger were record holders. Both boats will skim across the water with next to no draft. If you received a VM (Valley Muffler) trailer with the boat, that is the original trailer for these boats. The VM trailer is very well built (also made in Fresno). As you notice the tandem wheels allow this trailer to balance very easily. Sanger Boats are still open, but do not build boats in the same volume.

Reach out to Finnegan’s Garage. Dude is a jet boat whisperer.

Cleetus and Finnegan can totally point you in the right direction on the boat.

Pickle fork is the street name for Tunnel-Hull race boats because a pickle fork has 2 barbed prongs and the tunnel hull design looks like a big one. That boat is no joke ... I've seen too many take flight after hitting a small ripple wave doing 120 + so like many here in the comments have said, reach out to Mike Finnigan and he can steer you in the right directions.

Thats insane, I can't believe that you guys bought a speed boat! Those boats can go really fast and they flip so often. Those boats are made for professional sports, please 🙏 sell it fast

Hey guys, I can't encourage y'all enough, to find somebody with pickle fork boat experience to show y'all how to run that boat as safe as possible. While fun and cool, those things are incredibly sketch and dangerous at the same time.

Woah...that's a surprise. Pursnikity means fussy. Us old farts used to say that back in the day.

Mike Finnegan is the go to guy on these boats if you all don’t get with someone who knows what they are doing with this thing it could turn deadly fast!

Finally got an update on Thomas 💪🏽💪🏽

You guys need to bring up Mike Finnegan, blown drag boats are his bread and butter. I'm sure he would be down to show you guys what's up. Just know those boats aren't meant for driving around all day on the water and can be extremely dangerous.

Someone needs to make a meme with Simon getting super excited when there is something cammed out 😂 I’m not mad I just think it’s funny that every build they get Simon goes “you know what would be crazy… if we cammed the motor!” 😂

You NEED to get with someone like Mike Finnegan about this before you drive it. There is a bunch of things that could go deadly wrong in those on the water.

Hey Simon: You guys bought a real gem. Sanger Boats were really popular back in the late 70's earl 80's. Mostly safe to run on Very, Very Smooth Lakes or Rivers. Your motor is probably a 454 BBC. It has Cast Iron heads Probably square Port. it's not a super High HP motor, probably 425 maybe 450 HP. The Super Charger is a small 6-71 unit probably under driven. Running two Holley's it's probably a Pump gas motor maybe 600HP at most. The Valves and temp gauges on each head are to control engine temps while running on the water. The headers are water cooled and that's where your exhaust and engine cooling water exit the boat. Those Boats were known as a Whole in The Water you throw Money in. GOOD LUCK.

These boats are called death machines for a good reason.

That eng would look great in the camaro. Tks for sharing.

Lol, what's insane is you guys attempting to drive that boat, R.I.P.

You stepped into a new level of power with that boat. Pickle forks are deadly fast. Make sure when you get that thing running you wear all the safty gear. I have seen one launch of 50 feet in the air before landing upside down and exploding.

You guys never been to the boat races?? Its a a real Blower engine race boat and they can flip over easily.

1978! glory days son! that boat knows what country it's in, you must preserve that artwork... oh, and... 40's

Never let Simon take the controls of anything with a motor.

You HAVE to be careful with that thing, Jet Boats are NO JOKE! Stay safe guys!

Top fuel dragsters (among others) have straps holding the supercharger down -- like you say, it's for when things go south. You see on the side of the boat, APBA ... American Power Boat Association - this tunnel-hull is built for one thing & one thing only, going flat out on flat water. They can't race if the wind is up, as when these boats are on the plane, pretty much the jet drive, pick-up & turn fins are the only things in the water; very easy for them to flip if the wind gets up.

I know everyone is saying Finnegan and I agree because I would love to see him on your channel also doesn’t hurt to have someone who knows what he’s looking at explain it on your channel for viewers like me who would love to learn about it!

I love that you boys just wake up & buy random stuff. Me & my brother do the same exact thing

I have a sanger hydro..motor out now but a fast hull. You have a big block Chevy blown motor. Probably 9.5 compression. Blower motor. Straps are to prevent blower blowing away. 😂. 740 holleys. Trick rig. Need advise I'm here. Know this setup .well.

You don't hop out of that boat, if it goes bad you are LAUNCHED 😮

Epic…!! Add high back bucket race seats, Harnesses & a windshield!

Growing up, Dad would take the boys to the boat shop. Bro and I hung around those jet boats while pops was over at the cabin cruiser section. We begged and pleaded for him to get one. Didn’t work out in our flavor.

havent seen them this excited in a very long time!

Man you guys surprised me with this...gotcha a jet boat drag. You definitely gonna need to read up on these, and for help, Mike Finnegan (@Finnegan's Garage) from HotRod magazine and Roadkill would be your guy. This is one of his hobbies, and he actually participates in the drags. I know theres plenty of other people in that world, but Finnegan would probably help you out and maybe do a colab with you. He's a good guy in my books.

They paid $11,400 plus fees (about$500) plus shipping (about $2000). So all in, $14,000. If the motor's good I think you made an excellent buy. These vintage race boats have a strong market.

Thomas the tecnician is probably managing his own project, right now.

Dudes, call Cleetus and get JackStand Jimmy up here to get a gander at this beast.

Dude I got pictures of your boat coming through salt lake City it was at discount tire getting tires on the trailer small world

Man, that poor Hellcat went to Hell and back.LOL

I know I already commented once but you guys should watch videos of things going wrong on the water. They are actually extremely dangerous

Ethanol clogging, no reverse having, straight line only, closed coarse, death trap! Wear all the safety gear if you attempt to put that in the water

Make sure you use hydropel resin on your repair it resists water

U can check with Mike Finnegan down in Georgia if u payed to much he's big in to jet boats pluse he would probably love to see it was checking stuff out from finneganns think that's a drag boat

Straps are too keep the Blower from becoming a lunar lander when you crater the engine in a ball of flames. That dial will retard the timing according to boost level. Be careful, that thing is a two seater, watery grave digger if something goes wrong.

if there was ever a vehicle for a cleetus mcfarland crossover video, this is it

By careful with that thing guys. It looks wild and dangerous. I've never been this worried for you guys. Apart from the heli

Water at high speed is like concrete

Simon with his 1000up quote... Everything to him must be 1000hp. Sish!!!

Dangerous speed boat.

That boat remind me "helicopter project" )

A boat like that can kill you really quick. Been there, seen that.

Sanger Boats made in Fresno less than 10 miles from my house. I grew up with a neighbor with multiple Sanger hot rods, used to drive my parents crazy when he would rev the engine in his driveway. Hit up Sanger boats, they are still in business and might be able to give recommendations on how to fix. They do predominantly wakeboard and wakesurf boats now. Quality boats, V210 is still one of my favorite wakes.

Can't wait for the boys to swap in the hellcat motor in the cop car.

I am amazed that you guys can have a successful RU-vid channel and you can’t tell the difference between a small block and a big block!

The front end of that boat looks like Batman's boat

Fun watching you guys genuinely overly excited 😁

Hey Goonzquad! I’m interested in buying pops truck as is. Would you guys consider selling it?

Few cans of GreatStuff and some 200mph Duck tape and y’all be ready to take it to the river 😂👍👍

David out here looking like the third missing brother. He was all jolly this episode. It’s good to see him getting more comfortable around the camera.

The boat looks amazing. It will be awesome when it is finished.

Jackstand get the toolbox 😂

Simeon really said "Skill Issue" haha, put some respect on Billy's Fork skills bro!

That boat is crazy!!!! I can’t wait to see it on the water

I had one of those boats in matchbox form when I was a kid. Completely forgot about them! Brings back memories for sure!

Race fuel, blower is overdriven. Which means the blower is turning faster than the engine. Small pulley on the top big pulley on the bottom. Im guessing 2000 hp. Unless its way under tuned and is just for show. It appears to be setup for drag racing.

Invest in Kevlar shorts before taking that rig out.

Awsome. Can't to see what's going to happen with both of these projects.

You don't ever cease to amaze me with those wild builds

Word of warning, If you don't have experience operating a boat like that you can end up in a world of hurt real fast.

I see the helicopter all over again I hope you do finish this one but I think it is out if your league like the copter was

Sweet fined boys i cant wait to watch yall work on the boat fantastic fined

Looks like another fun day .nice work .

Mike finnegan's garage here on RU-vid can tell you what you need to know about the boat he builds them all the time.

That hellcat motor, is hopefully going in the cop car. Thats gonna be sick!! Its all ready looking good.

Nice score boys. Indeed a rare and very well kept classic. One to respect that can bite you if you are not careful. Take your time to learn about it. Surely it runs on some high octane, probably race fuel and might even have some methanol or water injection to keep it from detonating. Hopefully you can find the previous owner and get the low down. Keep fire extinguishers handy.

That’s one sick boat. Not for the faint of heart.

Guys, what you have there is a drag racing boat. It’s not a toy and could kill you quick. Do some homework before you fuck around and find out. Peace!

I don't think you will be able to fully test this jet boat out at the farm lake! 😁😁😁 We made it to the other side of the lake in one second! 😂😂😂

So cool 🤩 Love these boat videos 🚤🚤🚤🚤

love all the boat vids keep it up lads!

I believe the original owner of the race boat was laughing and said, "Young people" Haha

That boat is gonna roar... I can't wait to see you guys rip it.

DDUUUUUDDEE. DANG SON!! THATS AWESOME!!

🌴 Hey squirrels, y’all might be in over your head on this one ! , it’s been crashed ! I’m a retired FRP specialist boat and yacht builder retired, built boats for 32 yrs , y’all can’t be just throwing a couple layers of 1 1/2 oz. Mat to try and bandage that deck and hull it’s made of bi axle and composite laminated for certain strength parameters, and you don’t know if that engine went under water ? If you do finally get it up and running that bad boy ain’t nothing like your ski boat if you cross wave that sucker at a high speed the nose will come up and you’ll flip it , this is a serious go fast boat y’all can check on who the last owner was if there is registration numbers still on the hull thru that state , and find a nice person at the DMV to look it up or a friendly water cop , to check it out for info. Pull the spark plugs out stick on of those inspection cameras in there see if there’s water inside , check for water in the oil , don’t run it hot , and yes it’s got a big freak’n cam ! Special heads , and ignition. Good luck guys your gonna need it !

Hellcat motor for the rock crawler, nice 😜

Excited to see what you guys do next with this jet boat!!!

Forget about the hellcat I want to see the boat!!!! Can't wait! That has to be one of the coolest jet boat I ever seen!

The black cat on the hood is sick!

Finally news on Thomas Kitty" Hope hes alright.

That's going to be a blast!

We have hydroplane class racing on the Columbia river in Washington state every summer. The boat you have looks very similar. It looks silly fast and a fun project.

Perfect drop got my bowl of noodles cooling off right now already know it’s gonna be a banger.

Good news, you can find out information of the owner as it is listed by the US Coast Guard. Bad news... if you can look it up, lots of others can also. It only costs $8 to obtain the information.