Category Archives: Engines

Classic Bling

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC BLING – ONLY $4995….. 

Ok, you have restored the boat, built (bought) the kauri clinker tender & the pocket money is burning a hole in your pocket – best get on to trade me & buy this. If you think its too beautiful to use, think of it as a piece of art 🙂

The A-Series outboard was Johnson’s first ‘kicker’ and it placed Johnson & Brothers well & truly ‘on the map’ – the opposed twin platform provided 2hp & proved a fabulous design and one that is just as beautiful today as it was nearly a century ago – the lightweight, easily handled Water Bug revolutionised power boating in the 20’s for the exact same reasons they are to this very day with Johnson’s advertising slogan ‘ – Dependable Outboards – ‘ certainly prophetic!

The 3 brothers (Clarence, Harry & Lou) sold their growing business to investors from Wall Street at the turn of the decade so this vintage Water Bug (or ‘Light Twin’ as it was also coined) was produced while the brothers were at the tiller so to speak – 360 degree swivelling gave high levels of manoeuvrability, tilting enabled easy beaching plus a ‘1 Year Guarantee’ guaranteed the Bug’s success with it eventually paving the way for the SeaHorse badged Johnson’s – heres some basic specs on this delightful machine: Year & model: 1925 Johnson Water Bug Cooling: Mechanical piston water pump

Horsepower: 2hp @ 2400 rpm      Cylinders: 2 – opposed twin

Ignition: Johnson magneto      Oil/gas mix: 1/2 pt TCW-3

Spark plug: Champion C7      Retail 1925: US$ 142.50

Condition: Restored      Serial: 226xx (1925)

Point gap: 0.020      Weight: 35 lbs.

Stroke: 1.5″      Bore: 2″

Baldrick The Steamer

Posted on by
2

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Baldrick The Steamer

A 16’ Clinker built steam engine launch, built in 1953 by Percy Vos Ltd. Auckland
Converted to steam and completely refurbished by Don Penn from 1999 – 2006.

LOA 16’ LWL 15’.3” Draught 1’.7” Beam 5’.9”
Boiler:- A coal fired VFT ( Vertical fire tube design} by Graeme Wilkinson.

Construction: Planking and Keel – heart kauri. Stem –Pohutukawa natural crook.
Timbers – bent mangaeo. Fore and aft decks – teak 
 
Currently for sale on trademe  http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=548696749

Zoom Zoom – Hogan runabout

Image

Reply

Garth Hogan restored Runabout Jan 29 2013Zoom Zoom - Hogan runabout

The runabout above was built by Ted Hogan & recently restored by his grandson Garth Hogan. The Hogan family including Garth’s Dad Ron, have a long history of preparing the Ford flathead V8 engines that power the boat. In the past most of the go-fast speedway race cars at Western Springs & Waikaraka Pack were running engines tuned by the Hogan’s.

Harold Kidd commented on the CYA forum that his “1930 Ford roadster pickup was putting out 85 bhp at the back wheels on a dyno with standard carb and exhaust manifold. Unbelievable power and torque for a side-valver. It had a wild cam, lightweight invar strut pistons and huge valves and looked like a bog standard 40 bhp Model A engine at a casual glance (apart from the finned alloy Hogan head) but had that really magnificent Model C truck block with fully circular webs. I had it balanced at Air New Zealand so it revved like a banshee and was turbine-smooth.”

John Dory & her Lister engine

Posted on by
4

image002IMG_6201_MG_2377_MG_2395 copy

Built as a commercial fishing boat for coastal long lining the objective of the overall design and construction methods was to create a simple, cost effective and easy driven vessel. John Dory is also an outstanding sea boat and has demonstrated this ability on many occasions.

Her 27hp Lister Diesel is a good example of the type of machinery once used in small coastal fishing boats. John Dory is well maintained to a commercial standard. Howard Pascoe cruised the Coromandel and Northern Coastline up until his death in 2001.

23/09/2014 – The Lister is getting some love, including a new (out of the box) reduction box – love the bronze nuts.