riffle runner

[nobrownline]

I saw an ad for a "riffle runner" a few years back.It claimes to make a prop run in the same amount of water as a pump.Anyone heard of them? do they work? are they still around? contact info? thanks T

[KingFisher85]

I've been looking for one myself...no luck...I've seen um, I also know someone who has one..Wish I could find one for my boat motor.

[nobrownline]

I would build one if I had some plans or drawings

[Gizmo Man]

I have one in storage. I am thinking of putting it on my 25hp johnson.

Several years ago, I made an installation video for the owner of the company.

Don't know if they are still in production as he was in his 70's when I did the video about 12 years ago.

I still have the master video somewhere.

As to performance, not quite as good as a pump, but I did run side by side with a pump up the Lewis in low water from the mouth to the dam. I hit a few times but overall I think they are a good idea.


Giz...

[OutTrolling (ot)]

GM, what is it, how and where to attach. I'm assuming it is to allow you to run in shallow water. I've never heard of it before. Just curious. Please post a little info about it.
OutTrolling

[nobrownline]

I need one for the Lewis. I called the number on the ad last year and it was disconnected.I'd love to look at your vid
trev

[Gizmo Man]

The unit is designed to encase the prop. The front of the unit is like a scoop to fit under the edge of the boat. The sides are about 9" and when from looking from the back you see a tunnel with the prop in the center...kinda like looking at a tunnel digger.

The motor is raised 7" leaving only a few inches hanging under the boat.

Send me a pm and we can make a time when you can come by and look at it.

I had it on a different motor but have a 25 johnson it should fit.

Giz...

[KingFisher85]

I got my hands on one. I need a 25-30hp Johnson motor now. I was trying to figure out how I could make it work on my Merc but my prop is to big.
They look pretty easy to make. If you want to take a look at it PM me and I'll met up with you some time in woodland.

[Gizmo Man]

YOu may have to shave off about 1/8" off each blade on the prop.

Even on the Johnson, you will have to do this.

Giz...

[Seahare]

I used to be a "riffle runner" dealer back in the eighties.
The unit was designed by a retired aerospace engineer who at that time was somewhere around seventy, that of course was twenty years ago. He made them in his garage in So.Cal.
I'm not surprised that no one is answering the phone. He was a one man operation. He be in his nineties by now. I remember wanting to buy one to try and possibly later become a dealer but he wouldn't discount one to me. To qualify for a discount and a dealer status, I had to buy three of them. I did, I sold one to a friend, used one, and took the other to a tackle shop in Klamath Glen to be sold on consignment.

They do have some advantages. Horsepower loss is negligent compared to a jet and they were an inexpensive alternate. You can raise your engine up several inches and they work fine but, they are a compromise and do stick down. Don't hit anything, the darn thing has to be sealed perfectly to the lower unit housing and if the seal isn't intact, it won't work (sucks air). Additionally, they break since they're made of plastic. It's tough plastic, but not that tough. I even made one out of 3/16 aluminum which I welded to the lower unit of a 20hp Merc. because the one I had just got too beat up.
That worked pretty good for awhile but they didn't call me Capt.Crunch for nothing. I tore that off too.

Eventually I went to an outboard jet. They waste HP and burn a lot of gas but nothing compares to them when you have to run through thin water.

[Old Darb]

I saw an ad for a "riffle runner" a few years back.It claimes to make a prop run in the same amount of water as a pump.Anyone heard of them? do they work? are they still around? contact info? thanks T
I have been trying to respond to this thread, hope it goes through this time.
About 11 years ago I bought the mould and several of the Riffel Runner units from Ed Spauldings widow. She gave me the instructions for cutting the units for different engines and how to mount them.
They work on engines from 10hp up to 60hp. The maximum size prop is 10" in diameter.
I mounted a unit on a 50hp Mercury on a 17' Gregory "Garvey" hull. I played with different prop pitches until I got the most top speed and RPM, 28mph @ 5500rpm. This was on Frenchmans Lake in CA. at 5,000+ ft. elevation, with two 200 pound guys in the boat.
If any one is interested, I'm in Reno,NV.
Thanks Old Darb

[budnate]

Cool thread guys, I also have a NOS unit that was bolted on a '76 Merc 20hp and never ran, grabbed it a couple years ago out of the paper...I also recently came across all the paperwork Ed mailed me in about '93 when I was thinking about buying one new....really cool item!...the thing you guys are not mentioning is the scissor device that goes with these on the transom for lifting and lowering the motor for more bite in deeper water...Darb did you get any of them or the plans for them?

I will try to grab a picture of mine tomorrow.

B.

[Old Darb]

Cool thread guys, I also have a NOS unit that was bolted on a '76 Merc 20hp and never ran, grabbed it a couple years ago out of the paper...I also recently came across all the paperwork Ed mailed me in about '93 when I was thinking about buying one new....really cool item!...the thing you guys are not mentioning is the scissor device that goes with these on the transom for lifting and lowering the motor for more bite in deeper water...Darb did you get any of them or the plans for them?

I will try to grab a picture of mine tomorrow.

B.
B. There is no scissor device with this Riffel Runner. Mrs. Spaulding gave me pictures from the begining to the final product. If you bought a "KIt" form Ed you got the unit pre cut to fit your engine, 2 pieces of 2x4 and 1 piece of 2x8 pre drilled to mount to the transum, bolts, nuts,, washers and even a tube of sealer. This raises and moves the engine back about 7". There is NO up, down, or trim with this unit. There is even a small cable that mounts to the lower unit and fastens to the transum to keep the engine from kicking up when you decelerate.
I saw a clip, several years ago, of a scissor device being used on a boat, I think in Alaska and I saw one that some one had here in Reno. That thing weighed well over 100 pounds. But no Riffel Runner.
If some one is interested in buying the mold, let me know. It weighs about 2,000 pounds.
I still have 8 of the units, some are cut, some not.
Old Darb

[budnate]

I was told by a old dealer a few years ago about the lift...I never saw one, I will try and grab a pic of mine tonight...I bought it as a wall hanger in the shop. another neat piece of good old USA craftsmanship, :flag2:
it sure would be cool if you put up the test videos of it running, Photo bucket is a free place to download it, or I can put it in my account and put it up, I have always been fascinated with this unit.

B.

[budnate]

Grabbed some pics for fun.

.http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0326.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0327.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0328.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0331.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0329.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0330.jpg

[Old Darb]

Grabbed some pics for fun.
That's the same unit, only mine are all white.
Darb


.http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0326.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0327.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0328.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0331.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0329.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/budnate/outboards/DSCN0330.jpg

[Gizmo Man]

I may have the only video of Ed installing one for me on a 25hp suzuki and my 12' zodiac. I have video of it running on the boat. It was fast..

I made the video in exchange for the unit which I still have.

Giz...

[treeguy24]

I may have the only video of Ed installing one for me on a 25hp suzuki and my 12' zodiac. I have video of it running on the boat. It was fast..

I made the video in exchange for the unit which I still have.

Giz...


I have one of these riffle runers, I just bought an old 14 foot jon boat with 9.8 mercury and the runnr was laying in the boat. Whoever had it had the riffe runner calked and bolted to the motor.

[Gizmo Man]

I have one of these riffle runers, I just bought an old 14 foot jon boat with 9.8 mercury and the runnr was laying in the boat. Whoever had it had the riffe runner calked and bolted to the motor.


I sent you a pm about your rr.

Please contact me.

Thanks, Giz.

[tlc2]

I sent you a pm about your rr.

Please contact me.

Thanks, Giz.

i have one, they do work... i had a short shaft 40 on a smoker craft sled... ran in 4 in water... but i can do the same with jack plate and a setback and a good stainless prop.... old technology... but they do work... especially on small short engines on tall transoms where stinless steel propellers my not be a viable option. the sissor lift you refer to was a jack-ass lift it ws first used by woolridge boats..