




Woody Jet Boat
Including the words ‘jet boat’ in the story headline could be slightly off putting to some, but today’s boat just ticks so many boxes it was an automatic Monday story.
The hull design is inspired by a picture on the workshop manual for the Hamilton Jet Rainbow unit, and is typical of the period of the unit (1956).
The jet unit has been completely rebuilt, including all new gaskets and bearings, and a freshly rebuilt impellor.
The engine is a 1956 Ford 100E Prefect (which the Rainbow unit was designed for). It has been professionally re-conditioned, was re-sleeved, and has new pistons, valves, bearings, oil pump, gaskets etc. All major parts that were re-used (block, head and crank) were crack tested before being re-machined. I.e. No expensive was spared.
The engine is cooled by a modern savage heat exchanger and runs a modern sand filter.
The 12’ hull has an aluminum planning surface (to aid longevity) but is otherwise constructed mainly of recycled kahikatea, rimu, Southland beech and kauri. The sides are Fijian kauri marine ply.
The Art Deco style trailer is a work of art, it was custom built by Ted Sagar of Rivercraft Marine exclusively for this boat.
She was launched in 2007. Her owner has another project planned, shed space is required, so now is the chance for someone else to own this little beauty.
You can view / read more on the original build at the Jet Boating NZ website – link below
http://www.jbnz.co.nz/yabbse/index.php?topic=10897.0
And I want the truck – always had a soft spot for the Willys Wagons.
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If you really like it, here is your opportunity to own it on trademe.
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Hi Ray,
The Hurricane was indeed an F Head conversion of the 4 cylinder side valve Whippet/Willys 77/Jeep engine. The Super Hurricane was a Continental side valve 6 cylinder bought in by Willys, and offered as a higher-powered option and built in the US, then Argentina and Brazil until the 70s. Lots of the rural US was regarded as “Model A country” but by the time I went there first in the late 1960s the Willys wagon had taken the place of the Ford on the farms.
I once used my Super Hurricane wagon to tow an 8 cylinder Nash sedan on a rigid towbar from Auckland to Oxford near Christchurch. The Willys hardly felt the tow.
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Harold, I thought the hurricane was “F”head A.La R.R and Rover
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Yes the Willys has appeal.
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5 stars for the Willys alone. I had two of them, both Super Hurricane Sixes, the ultimate in side valve power, with Borg Warner overdrive. What wagons!
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