THE OFFICIAL ACE-CRAFT FAN PAGE

[thika]

Good 2010 to all you folks!

For the sake of completeness and to show that any vessel ventures out to sea at own risk, here is a pic of a 30 foot Ace Craft that became unstuck

Hapenned near Durbs, apparently struck a container

Very sobering....saddest thing is she was not recovered off the beach and is now broken.. maybe it was the Insurer's decision?  Pity about the inboards though and about that hull...think the 30 footers were all built by Robert's Yachts in Cape Town

 

[thika]

Acrorellik, a new member, found this old Ace Craft abandoned at a dam in Gauteng

Him and a mate are going to use it as a template to build a complete replica out of wood, from scratch!

An amazing project

Here it is and here is his thread:

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=31365&forum_id=21

 

 

[thika]

Some history:

 

 

Interview - Harry Naidoo
[align=justify]Harry Naidoo is a born and bred Natalian, having been born in Durban in 1937, which makes him a fit and energetic 71 years young!  His zest for life, he says, is driven by his passion for boats and boat building, which he has pursued for as long as he can remember.

He first started work as a shop fitter and served his apprenticeship in shop fitting (and as a machinist) and this was to be his occupation for the next twelve years.  In 1970 he joined a company owned by Gus Gerrado called Ace Craft in Gale Street, Durban and this was his introduction to the world of boat building.  

Ace Craft and their range of sea glider boats were the bench mark against which many deep sea fishing boats were measured in the past.  In the early days these Ace Craft boats were built entirely of wood, so the craftsmanship had to be perfect, and believe me, it was!

The company was subsequently taken over by Clive Olivier, who was known in fishing circles, and it was under Clive that Harry started designing fibreglass boats.  Wooden boats were being phased out as they were very labour-intensive and took too long to build for clients who were in a hurry to go fishing!

By now the factory had moved to larger premises in Pinetown and had changed ownership again.  Under fishing personality Ivan Clerk, Harry then started working on the first Cobra Cat 480, together with well known Mush Nicholls.  Mush in turn handed over the Ace Craft reigns to Theo Meyer who moved his factory into Austral Marine's premises which are owned by Don Jarret.

Meanwhile Harry, who had moved along with every new owner and built his fair share of ski boats, stayed at the Austral premises for some four years.  

He then started building kit boats, in which Geoff Barnes of Mallards Boating took an interest.  In 1989 he left Ace Craft to walk into a new beginning with Geoff in an empty factory in College Lane in Durban.  It was here that the first of the Swift 165 waterski boats was designed and went into production.  By the time Mallards moved to their current Pinetown premises, they were bursting at the seams.  Harry was in charge of overall production and worked both in a supervisory position and physically on the boats.  He was involved from 1989 to 2003 in assisting and designing the now countrywide and well-known Swift and the Swift Classic ranges.  So from the original, Cobra Cats 525, 585 , 700 and 900 were developed.  

Following a spinal operation and illness, Harry left Mallards, and after recuperation found sitting at home too boring.  He then designed the Allegro bowrider, which had a new and very different look to the many other bowriders available due to its higher sides, big windscreen, width and self draining deck.  

He teamed up with Dayalan Naidoo and Gavin Moodley to start Ace Boating, which is now situated off North Coast Road in Durban.  After the Allegro, they designed and built the Ace Jazz, which is ideal for general purpose and entry level boating.  This cathedral-hull boat is perfect for harbours, dams, rivers and estauries for skiing, entertaining and fishing.

Harry's new baby is the Ace Glider 530 Cat.  She's almost ready for launching and many ski boaters will appreciate her fine lines and many features.  A boat review of the 530 is expected to be done for the January issue for the Leisure Boating. She will be powered by twin 75ELPTO Mercury motors, although 60 Big Foots should work well too.

Ace Boating, of which he is a co-director, also builds a range of boats for Dean Levy's Boating International.

Harry has no regrets about the path his boating life has taken, and he's made many friends and contacts over the years.  Building and designing is still coursing strongly through his veins, and he is looking forward to future develoments.  There are plans afoot to move the Ace factory,so they're now eyeing bigger sites in order to accomodate their  exciting expansion.

Sadly, Harry lost his wife fifteen years ago after 35 years of marriage, but he has five sons who are all qualifed in different fields and are avid supporters of their father's love of boats.  He has no thoughts of slowing down, so we can look forward to many exciting innovations from Harry and the Ace team in the years ahead.[/align]

 

[Acrorellik]

Thanks Thika...

Hoping to get the project up and going soon..

Will post pics of the build as we get on with it (might take a while though... )

Here just another pic of the boat as we found her, abused and all alone...

 

[Rolf]

I have been looking for a 18' plus ace craft hull and found two of them this morning in a yeard in a small town in north west, no trailers but the hulls still looks good - will make contact with the owner and make him a offer. I want one hull, if anybody is interested in the second just post a reply.

They are what looks like 18'6 mono hulls. (could not get into the yeard)

 

[divedevils]

im keen on a good bargin please let me know

 

[thika]

What's up guys?

Ace Crafts NEVER die!

Gooi the pics and stories!

This one courtesy of Bliksem....somewhere in Tableview I think...anyone know this boat?

And GerritP...THIS is the boat that can carry Geelbek!  

 

[thika]

More...

Housie on top!

 

[thika]

More...this boat is not an original though I suspect?

Buoyancy outmounts Ace Craft never did!

 

[thika]

Last one..for now!

 

[Rolf]

I have a question regarding those outmounts - I have red on sealine that with outmounts the horsepower required for the same boat is a lot less, that tells me that it must be easier to push the boat, so if you use say your current outboards and just put them on outmounts will it not improve your fuel efficiancy ?

 

[thika]

Rolf,

It is not that simple...there is alot of debate about outmounts

I believe it is a good thing, but not only for fuel savings...there are a lot of another benefits!

Go do a search on this site about "outmounts"

Moeg tonight...If you don't come right I will find it tomorrow

 

[Rolf]

Thanks thika

The two hulls I want to show you is a 24" acecraft and a 23" kei. I was wandering if the open acecraft hull is the same as the 660DV just without the cabin or did acecraft have another design on the same lengh that you know of ?

 

[thika]

Rolf,

This is the thread on outmounted outboards

Have a look at the link I put in the 13th comment..it is fairly objective and makes physics sense I think

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=21765&forum_id=19&jump_to=427694#p427694

 

As far as the 24" Ace Craft hull you mention, It has to be a 660DV

The hull is actually just under 22 feet, plus then the outmount cradle

I know they made a Cuddy Cabin which is sort of a walkaround, and a Sportfisher forward contol, not too sure if ever a Centre Console...difficult to find information after so many years, unless you know someone with old Ski-Boat magazines.

If you can get hold of Nick de Kock he may be able to help you.. he is well known in the Western Cape fishing circles...he owned one and was also involved with the  Cape Town Ace Craft branch in the late 80's

If you can figure out to post pics it will help...easiest: resize to below 2 MB, then  make your post, and at the bottom, click "browse" and find your pick and click on it, then press "post reply"

The 23' Kei I do not know but I know they are very seaworthy boats

Hope this helps a bit

PS:

The 23 footer was the biggest boat they made, other than the 30 foot Sportfisher which was actually built my Roberts Yacht is Cape Town

 

[thika]

Rolf,

Howzit going with your boat/s?

Post some pics!

Theo

 

[Kabbelelf]

thika wrote:

Rolf,

Howzit going with your boat/s?

Post some pics!

Theo

Are we allowed to post pics of Kei Marines? Or will that give us an unfair advantage over the Acecrafts? lol -C22

 

[will101]

Kabbelelf wrote:

Are we allowed to post pics of Kei Marines? Or will that give us an unfair advantage over the Acecrafts? lol -C22

Look, Acecrafts are great boats but posting Kei Marine pics here will just p!ss on everyones batteries. It's like posting a Lamborgini pic on a Ford Escort forum. 

 

[shagnrelease]

hahahah:op::op:

 

[Breads]

K-Elf en Willie - julle krap waar dit nie jeuk nie!!!:uzi:uzi:uzi
:lol:1:lol:1
Hoe vaar (pun intended) die lamborghini's as die pad nie plat en gelyk is nie ...::titanic:

Die naweek moet nou kom dat ons op die water kan kom!

 

[thika]

Thanks you for the chirps! 

Lamborghini is also a lightweight fairweather car...

Now start a Kei Marine page so we can chirp you guys and doll!