Barracuda F-77
I am the proud owner of the only known, early-style, Fred Wickens hydroplanes left in existence today. The boat was built in either 1946 or 1947 and I think there was about 10 boats of this style built. Fred Wickens built three boats which campaigned in the 135 cubic inch racing class - Yankee Doodle I, Hurricane (later became Yankee Doodle II), Texan, Rudy Toot and So Long Baby, A-163. There was Suds and Sid's Ace (Sid Street's first boat) also. Fred only built one boat which campaigned in the 225 cubic inch, Division 1/266 cubic inch classes (designated prefix "F") - which is this Barracuda. As far as the other hulls of this style, I have no idea what size they may have been.

History
The boat was first owned and raced by Lou Butler from Zainesville Ohio. Lou raced the Barracuda in the late 1940's to the early 1950's. Lou and Barracuda held the competition (10 mile) speed record in New Martinsville, West Virginia set on October 3, 1948. (Documentation is below)

In 1953, the boat was then sold to Ray Smith of Eaton, Ohio. Ray removed the Mercury Flathead in 1955 and installed a 265 Chevrolet V8 with three two-barrel Strombergs running on alcohol. Ray raced the boat into the late 1950's. Ray was forced to quit boat racing after a micro midget racing accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. 

In the early 1960s, my dad, Glenn Settle, bought the hydroplane but did not race it. Skipping 40 years or so, I am the current owner of the hydroplane. The boat still has the 265 Chevy that Ray Smith installed (including the three deuces) and all the original hardware that Fred Wickens cast for his boats. I even have the trailer that Mr. Wickens built for the boat. 

 The man standing on the deck is the boat's mechanic, Herman "Bob" Vore from Dayton, Ohio. 
The owner and driver was Lou Butler, from Zainesville, Ohio. The year is around 1948. 
(Photo © Jim Davies collection)

 
 
This photo is Lou Butler catching some air. The boat was running a Mercury Flathead at the time. 
(Photo by © John Culver)

 

Phil Kunz found the documentation of the 10 mile competion world speed record of 68.648 mph, 
that the Barracuda set on Oct 3, 1948.



 
Lou Butler at the helm of Barracuda F-77. 
(Photo by © John Culver)

 
 
Ray Smith from Eaton, Ohio bought the boat in 1953. Ray ran the Mercury Flathead until 1955. 
A 265 Chevrolet was installed with three deuces running on alcohol. 
In this photo, Ray Smith is working on the engine. The man holding the boat is Ray's mechanic Gary Vore, 
"Bob" Vore's son. By the way, Herman "Bob" Vore was Merlin Culvers mechanic on the Yankee Doodle. 
(Photo by Smith Speed Shop)

 
 
This photograph, and the following one, show Ray Smith racing in the H class. 
Ray was able to compete the F-77 in the H class by adding a tail fin to the rear of the boat to meet the boat length requirements at that time.
(Photo © Fred Benzinger collection)

 
 
If you look close on the sponson, you can see that for this race, Ray changes the F-77 to H-77. 
The hydroplane in the background is Miss Desoto H-33. 
(Photo by Smith Speed Shop)

 
 
Racing at ? circa ? 
(Photo by Smith Speed Shop)
As stated above, there were other hydros known to be built by Fred Wickens from 1946-47 before lawyers for the Ventnor Boat Company told Fred Wickens to stop building 3-point hydroplanes or pay a licensing fee. Some of these hulls can be seen elsewhere in the boat's section:

 
 Barracuda F-77 & Lyndora F-36
(photo  courtesy of Keith Brayer photo collection)


My dad, Glenn Settle bought the boat in the early 1960s. This picture was taken at Lake Cumberland after dad 
                      repainted it and used it as a toy. That is my dad's brother sitting on the deck and that is me (about 7 years old) leaning up against the side of the boat.

 
 
Thirty eight years later, Phil Kunz stopped in and told me what I had. 
A month later, I moved it to my shop and pushed a few car projects aside to start the restoration which is almost complete. Everything was in fairly good shape considering the age. This boat has a good racing history. I am trying to document more of her history and would be very interested in talking to anybody who may be able to help me out. If you have any knowledge of mine, or any other Fred Wickens hulls, I would like to hear from you.
© Tim Settle






Barracuda F-77
Restoration
Here she is ready to be lifted off the road trailer.

 
 
 First thing is to hoist her off the trailer and unto the jig and ready for rstoration

 
 
Some of the frames have been damaged from years of racing.

 
 
The cockpit framing has been replaced due to some dry rot that was found.

 
 
A new hood was fabricated. 
Photo on the left is before cockpit framing was replaced. Photo on right has the new framing in place.

 
 
It is starting to come together. 
A few more pieces left to dry fit and then permantently fasten and I will be ready to start reskinning the hull.


A new stem was made.
 


Before removing the stem.
 


The aft section before restoration.
 


Lots of work for the bottom awaits me.
 


Aft removed.
 


I rebuilt the transom with new marine plywood. 
Everything behind the transom was stripped and I replaced any rotten or damaged wood
 


Side view
 


This is how it all ties together into the framing network.
 
 


All coming together.
 
 


Before top framing is completed.
 


Starting to look like a boat again.
 


Side view shot of the progress. I found seven bottom frames that were broken along with the the five that were cut for the motor. Already have the seven replaced. The rest can't be done till the sponsons come off .
 


The seat before any work.
 
 


The seat has also been rebuilt using all the old componets I could salvage.
 


The Wickens Identification burned into the stringer. 
  I have been taking pictures from the start and will have the webmaster update as I progress.
 


The further I got into this thing the more damage I found. 
Only two of the bottom frames were worth saving the rest were broken. 
Above photo from stem to stern..... 
below is stern to stem.

 
 
 


I have fit and installed most of the hardware.
 


I again flipped the boat and removed the bottom.
 
 
 


  16' x 1" x 8" peice of Sitka Spruce will be used for the keel. 
Everything is removed, cleaned up and ready to fit.


Left photo is the new keel fitted and screwed into place.
Right photo shows battens now in place.
This completes the framing on the main part of the hull. 

 
 





I have the side skins roughed out drilled and ready to install after I am done with the varnish work. 
I also have the dash done and all of the hardware restored and ready to install. But I am still waiting on the crank.
 


Framing of the boat is hung up and varnish is applied via spray gun.
 


Here's the inside....note the branding. A friend of Fred Wickens still had the original branding iron and loaned it to me.
 


First sheet of plywood is being applied to the boat.
(All skins have now been applied....more pixs to follow)
 


Dash/gauges have been fitted.
 


Here, I'm fastening the plywood on the sides.
 


Now the other side is fastened.
 


As you can see in the photo above, the bottom is being applied next.
A very difficult task as the bottom of this hull as many compound and convex angles. 
Note the 80# bags of concrete mix being employed to hold the bottom plywood into place
 


Next, the aft section of plywood is secured into place.
 
 


The fore section of plywood is next.
Now I can proceed to putting the sponsons back on the hull.


The start of the sponson frames being attched to the hull.


Getting everything squared up working with many different angles.


 
The main supports for the sponsons.
 
The main frames are screwed & glued to the supports.
Notches are made to accept the battens.


The battens are flushed in preparation for the plywood skins.


Battens in place and first sheet of plywood being attached.


The plywood sheeting attached for the sponson chines



Bottom plywood attached to the sponsons.
Sponsons woodworking complete.


The prop shaft hole is bored.



Bottom is completely finished.
As you can see, Fred Wickens had a unique bottom shape on his hull design.



And then the fun part...after three tries the bottom is almost done. I'm still not happy with the finish.
 I will sand it one more time and paint the bottom (hopefully) one more time?


 
With the bottom painted the hardware installed the decks go on.
 


The deck installed and faired in, the rear aluminum cover fit, the boat is prepared for paint.
 


The boat is sanded and primed with a 2 part epoxy primer.
 


After sanding the primer with 320 the Barracuda is ready for paint.
 


With the boat painted, all the original exterior hardware is installed.


 


At last the 265 goes in. Everything is tightened, plumbed and wired.
 


Finally, the last step of the restoration, the lettering.
 


After 40 years of neglect and a two year restoration, the Barracuda is done!
 


Making sure everything is in order, the Barracuda is prepared for her first test session, 40 years to the to the day the boat had last run.
 


The boat is lifted off the original trailer with a front end loader driven by Don Smith, owner of the Boatsmith Marina. 
Don had built over 50 inboard hydroplanes in the 1940-50's.
 


Don then drives the front loader into the river.
 


My heart pounding, and butterflies in my stomach, I am ready for the ride of my life!
 


Other than A few minor problems, the boat worked and ran great for the first time out.
 


After a few slow test runs, it was time to see what the Barracuda would do. 
WOW!!! If you could only see the smile on my face!
 


Running with the big dogs at Hillsboro, Ohio. 
E-4, owned by Gary Vore, driven by Ron Snyder on the inside
Xanadu with Travis Hickman, 
Barracuda Tim Settle driving,
and on the outside (not seen) is Bill Fisk driving the Irishman GP-317
 




A special thanks to Gary Vore for his time and help with the restoration.
Jack Hines for answering alot of tech questions and machine work.
Kevin Burkett for machine work.
A special thanks to Phil Kunz for the time, information, history and photos.
All photos on this page by Phil Kunz.
If it wasn't for Phil, the boat would still be sitting in the barn gathering dust and a condo for raccoons.
Thanks for the time of my life !!!
© Tim Settle


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