Wazzat JS-97

Owned By:  Jay Armstrong

Year Built:  1981

Built By:  Nowack Bender

Power:  331 Corvette

Resided In: Omaha Nebraska

Photo and information provided by Jay Armstrong

Nowack/Bender hull #003 was built for and raced until the mid nineties by Mike Doud, formerly as Southern Comfort JS76. The boat is now powered by a 331 Chevrolet Corvette with a reverse rotation, velvet drive transmission with a 3 bladed 11 1/4 x 17 inch OJ prop.  The hull has a rocker and a rolled bottom measuring three eight's of an inch fore and aft and side to side as it was modified by Mr. Doud for APBA competition. 

Somewhat unique is the aft mounted rudder, short plate and side exhausts thru mufflers.  I have tried to slightly domesticate this thorough bread into a user friendly pleasure boat by adding the transmission and lights. For the most part she is delightful below 35 knots and a great cruiser at night, but she still has most of the tendencies of her race heritage and design when one applies some shoe and she begins to fly.  During the daytime that is.  I believe this is the only Jersey Speed Skiff in Nebraska. The interest out here in this little boat is remarkable. It may be fiberglass but that is where all similarity ends with other glass boats.  The name WAZZAT?  That's what many said the first time they saw it and thus where the name came from.