The Whitney 13-Foot Ace
Bill Whitney also took up the challenge of building a new Ace and created this pretty 13-footer.
He also illustrated the need of those wedges which the Sandes used.
Just look at that cart on which Bill and Linda's Ace was built!
Bill added two bilge battens on each side.
Bill went back to three transom knees as specified in the original Ace plans.
The Sandes used only one transom knee, the only weakness in their Ace.
Bill's rear cockpit shows real innovation. It has a built-in gas tank with the filler in the center deck. The gauges are for fuel and charging along with a tachometer which is indispensable for prop selection. The controls have been painted to match the motor.
Mercury offered a few other colors for their motors during the famous four-year Cloud White era. Here is the Whitney's stunning 1959 Mark 58A in Bimini Blue. The polished stainless steel wraparound and faceplate from a 1961 Merc 400 really make it shine.
Linda shows off their absolutely beautiful Ace!
Ready to launch.
Bill had resisted installing the wedges which the Sandes used because they would become non-adjustable trim tabs and would have to be right the first time. Because of substantial porpoising without them, he added wedges later. They helped a lot. Now, the Whitney Ace can be run smoothly with two people in the rear cockpit without much effect on performance otherwise."
