Hi Matt,
We love the boat on the wall. It's been finished up nicely, with ensign, mahogany flagstaff, chromed hardware, windshield, etc.,
The 17' Sportsman model weighs in at right around 2000 pounds, so it's more like requesting permission to take off from an airport when you give that SBC a prodding with the throttle. It has a mild V entry with a generally flat aft section, runs great on the flat river system but doesn't like the chop anywhere near as well as your Lyman with the round bilge/keel setup. We've been at boat show rendezvous in the past, where the group all blasted off for a lunchen at a marina down the lake a ways. Some of the fastest boats got there last due to the fact that they couldn't run well in the chop. The Sportsman is NOT a good boat for the chop, it's strictly a smooth-water river or lake boat. That 20' Sea Skiff project of mine is different, that one will run full tilt on the chop from what I've seen so far, semi-deep V lapstrake hull bottom.
MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS for getting the Lyman into the Mid America Boat Show. That's awesome, and it's a testament to the quality of boat, finish, and condition. You know, that Lightning Spar will dry overnight!
I've been to many an antique boat show in the past where I could smell uncured varnish when walking by some of the boats. It just puts a smile on my face because I know exactly what's going on. I need to do some staining and varnishing myself, but since I don't want to do it in my basement shop because it stinks up the house in winter months when we're trying to contain the heat, I'm going to wait until early spring when I can open the garage doors and use some fans. That 1956 Sportsman is getting a major cosmetic make-over now, and a steeper pitch prop too
Regards, Paul