Mirante

LAUNCH YEAR: 1997
LENGTH: 4.6m
DESIGNER: Ray Sargent
BUILDER: Wayne Butt
OWNER: Wayne & Gill Butt

Mirante is a 1940's style wooden, 15 ft runabout designed by Ray Sargesson. It is a gentleman's runabout modelled on similar Chris Craft boats of that era. 

Engine  The plans detail a Subaru automotive conversion – which works really well as a power-plant. The aluminum flat 4 EA82 OHC engine delivers around 80 HP. 

Construction The boat is light, since it is built from plywood using West Systems epoxy “Stitch and Glue” method – with a mahogany veneer.

The mahogany strips are laid on a bed of wet epoxy. When dry, the gaps are filled with pigmented epoxy, before sanding, staining, and clearcoat finishing. This give a beautiful hard light finish.

The hull, with its tumblehome, is still in its marante plywood finish. The sides, at this stage, have had the mahogany 4mm thick “planks” fitted.