Trojan Boat Forum

I took possession of a 1987 Trojan 10.8 Meter last weekend. In reading about its "delta conic hull", I was intrigued by its designer Harry Schoell. Being a newbie and not much of a tech guy, I thought, let me shoot him an email and see what he has to say about my boat. Below is my email chain with him. My queries are in italics. So great of him to respond.

Mr. Schoell,

I just purchased a used 1987 Trojan 10.8 International featuring the hull that you designed. I’m new to boating - this is my first - and I’ve been doing much reading about your hull design.

Since you’re the person who masterminded it, I just would like to ask, what is the most efficient way to operate this boat? It has a pair of new (44 hours) 454 Crusader engines. What do you believe the “sweet spot” is for the most economical (yes, that’s relative) operation?


Hi Roland
The Trojans were a high quality boat and I am sure you will enjoy. Of course the weight of the vessel will have a lot to do the performance. The best miles per gallon of gas will be at slow on plane speed for cruising. The faster you go above that your miles per gallon will decrease. Gas engines use 8% of the horsepower in gallons of gas. example 100 hp X .08 = 8 gal /hr I am not sure but I think that the 454 is 300 hp so that is 24 gph per engine at full throttle or 48 gph wide open. I do not know the weight of your boat or I could figure your top speed and cruising speed. The new designs we have since come up with are so superior that the mpg would be a 60% gain. Also check on Cyclone Power Technologies and see more of the new green technology we are doing.

The Trojan 10.8 Meter weighs 15,000 lbs.

At 15,000# and 600 gross hp your top speed is 35 mph. Our new hull and propulsion systems would give a 50 mph top speed for the same hp to weight ratio. This appears to be a lost technology. Most of the new stuff out there is not new.

Can I share this with Trojanboats.net?

Yes my response is welcome to the Trojan owners. There is a great brand loyalty out there. They were great boats and great people who built them.

One of the new technologies our Cyclone engine was featured on How its Made.

Have a great day
Harry

The 10.8 Meter is a fantastic boat, however, you will never see 35 mph. This is an extended 10 Meter, which was designed and introduced by Schoell and Trojan in 1981. It has changed many times in the 80's, and they eventually came out with the 10.8 Meter Convertible. RWS is probably the most knowledgeable person on the Schoell designed Trojans, but there are several Trojan International Experts on here, including Yorklyn. There was definately some contraversy between Schoell and Trojan engineers. In 1990, Trojan parted ways with Schoell and went a different direction with the New 10.8 Meter International Express (Of which I own). Within 2 years, they went bankrupt and sold to Carver. Its facinating history.

Your top speed will be closer to 27-29 mph. The ideal speed/gph will depend on your load and bottom. The best way to determine the best MPG will be a fuel meter. Definately worth the investment on these gas hogs.

Todd

Thanks Todd. Yes, the boat came with Floscan GPH gauges which I'm learning to live by quickly!

Harry Schoell was interviewed and discussed in the June/July issue of Professional Boat Builder in an article on offshore racing in the early days. Quite an interesting article, though no mention of Trojans.

Waywego wrote:Harry Schoell was interviewed and discussed in the June/July issue of Professional Boat Builder in an article on offshore racing in the early days. Quite an interesting article, though no mention of Trojans.

I don't think the Trojan brand worked out the way Schoell wanted it to. The first 10 Meter produced by Trojan was probably most influenced by Schoell, with the hull design, woodless stringers, fiberglass bulkheads, integrated exhaust, star trek style doors, etc. After that particular model was produced, the subsequent models were extensively changed, with really only the hull design being carried forward. Trojan executives gave Schoell almost exclusive control when they began the International Series, but as I said, Trojan Engineers and Schoell did not see eye-to-eye on most things. Schoell was compared to the "mad scientist" by the engineers. To his credit though, he designed a boat that pulled Trojan out of a slump, and for the most part, produced an express cruiser that, design wise, is still copied today.

There is a whole lot more to the story

keep watching and I'll tell you soon.

RWS

RWS wrote:There is a whole lot more to the story

keep watching and I'll tell you soon.

RWS

Patiently waiting....

ssssssooooooossssssshhhhhhh............

it's coming

RWS