One strange thing to see in Australia is a jet boat where every thing
else is an egg beater. I recently meet up with Matthew who took me
for a spin around the local bays just north of Sydney. Playing on
the sand bar was something different to gravel river boating. The
J73 just cut through the waves with ease and landed very smooth -
something that took me a little to get use to with mine being 16 deg.
There is only problem we had ...... weed which you had to plot your
course around. If you want to check out more on what is happening
in NSW check out http://www.zip.com.au/~gvhull/jetassoc.htm
Update -Matthew has now sold the
J73 and purchased a new late model Hamilton 151a
Specifications
Hull: length 5.18m
beam. 2.08 GRP hand and gun laid, 22.5 degrees variable
Unit: 773 Hamilton Jet with a T3 nozzle.
Engine: Ford 351C Ford 351C Rolco exhaust/risers
Savage heat exchanger,
Seating: 4
Fuel capacity: 170 litre single s/s
tank
Performance and other info
Top speed recorded on Speedo is 59mph at 4250rpm and planes cleanly
at 2800rpm with all aboard. It has a sand trap, fuel / water separator/filter,
mechanical and electrical pumps (in series). Instruments: rpm, oil pressure
, water temp, volts, hour meter, fuel, depth sounder, Speedo. Hours:
This boat has completed 200 hours only since new.
History
This boat was built in 1984 and featured in the 1984 December issue
of Powerboat Magazine. In fact this boat was the 2nd J73 the original
owner had. His first J73 arrived in that year, 1973, and it's delivery
was overseen by Hamilton's Spencer Smith and featured in Sea craft Power
Boats Tests No.4 1973. (if want more the J73 also features in les bloxhams
history of the jet boat book and there it's exploits on the rio balsa
is told with 'twin V8' engines etc...)
The current owner Steve O'Hara NSW Australia who says"For a while
now I thought that jet boats made a lot of sense and now I must say
that I’m a convert." Keep an eye out for some from Steve.
A few Photographs
Click on the image to enlarge.
Video
