17ft Jet Boat V6 Essex project

[Mr fishy]

Bought this boat some months ago as a project, can anyone tell me the make or model? it doesn't seem to have a number printed anywhere. It has a PP jet drive and was running a v6 essex motor.
I don't think its a dateline boat as i've seen many of those and its different in width and hull style I believe.

I also know the trailer is not suitable for the boat it came with the boat and it was got at a bargain price reason i bought it.

I may start up a project thread if people would like to see progress.

Boat came with 2 v6 essex engines, the one installed was seized up and rusted and the other on a pallet inside the boat.

Here is a picture of the old engine installed in boat-

only useful for the exhaust manifolds and oil cooler, Carb was totally seized and in a bad condition.

The engine on the pallet is also a v6 essex 3l, wasn't in the best paint state (don't have any pictures of it before i painted it up) so I painted the block up and rocker covers and added a new 38 dgas carb to it.

everything seems to be okay on engine, bottom end looks good and was also recondition by ivor searle at some point, though i don't have any history of the engine as it was just on a pallet inside.


I may start a project thread if people would like to see furthur progress. Hoping to get engine in by next week then time to refurbish the jet drive.

 

[landlockedpirate]

Welcome to the forum, just thought I would bump the thread a bit.

Its a tough one, the front end has a look of a Dateline, but as you say, its not quite right.If you could reduce the size of the picture and put some more angles up it might help people identify it.

Lots of small UK manufacturers during the 70's, but few did inboards. Has it always been an inboard or has it been altered ?

 

[Mr fishy]

Hi, thanks for the response. I will get more pictures on weekend. As far as I know it looks like it has always been inboard/jet drive. As there is no sign of any transom modifications attal. it has kind of puzzled me about the branding it's not that important just would like to know. hopefully might get the engine in this weekend if the weather allows it

 

[Nautorius]

Could be a Picton or a Driver Special edition, looks like a special build or a custom job. Many brits manufactured boats at this stage and age.

 

[ARE]

Bought this boat some months ago as a project, can anyone tell me the make or model? it doesn't seem to have a number printed anywhere. It has a PP jet drive and was running a v6 essex motor.
I don't think its a dateline boat as i've seen many of those and its different in width and hull style I believe.

I also know the trailer is not suitable for the boat it came with the boat and it was got at a bargain price reason i bought it.

I may start up a project thread if people would like to see progress.

Boat came with 2 v6 essex engines, the one installed was seized up and rusted and the other on a pallet inside the boat.

Here is a picture of the old engine installed in boat-

only useful for the exhaust manifolds and oil cooler, Carb was totally seized and in a bad condition.

The engine on the pallet is also a v6 essex 3l, wasn't in the best paint state (don't have any pictures of it before i painted it up) so I painted the block up and rocker covers and added a new 38 dgas carb to it.

everything seems to be okay on engine, bottom end looks good and was also recondition by ivor searle at some point, though i don't have any history of the engine as it was just on a pallet inside.


I may start a project thread if people would like to see furthur progress. Hoping to get engine in by next week then time to refurbish the jet drive.

Wow, that's my old boat from 10yrs> ago.

I brought it from a guy local to me, who brought it from the Norfolk boards boat auction.

I resprayed it because the original red gelcoat was really badly faded, the engine was fully serviced with new carb, hoses and I rebuilt the jet drive PP65. I fitted new seats and dashboard gauges.

I ran it for 6 months or so and sold it to to guys from Essex.

It still looks in reasonable condition, good luck with the project,

Anthony

 

[Mr fishy]

Small world, thanks for posting on the thread.

Are- what color did you spray it in? as there are some touch up points that need to be done, i was thinking cherry red.
What kind of speeds did you get out of the essex and jet drive combination?

too bad the gauges and seats were not in the boat, well 2 were left rpm and mph gauge left.

If you owned it within 10> years someone after really treated it like ****, all floor was terrible rotten but it looked like chipboard was used for side panels and back, i don't understand how the engine could be in such bad condition. had to angle grind the exhaust manifolds of basically because bolts were just to rusted and the manifolds were corroded to the bolts.

Here are some pictures of the manifolds before and after-

and after

Cheers

 

[Richard Shead]

Simms Super V ? They were fitted with jets ?

 

[Mr fishy]

Simms Super V ? They were fitted with jets ?

Hi Richard, sadly I don't think it's a Simms, though they were fitted with jets but they have totally different hulls but same set up with the jet drive but i think the engine most used in simms was the cross flow.

Thanks

 

[jfm]

It would be good if you posted the pictures at 640 wide Mr fishy. On lots of browsers people cant see pictures at the size you've posted them

 

[Mr fishy]

It would be good if you posted the pictures at 640 wide Mr fishy. On lots of browsers people cant see pictures at the size you've posted them

Pictures now re sized.

 

[ARE]

Small world, thanks for posting on the thread.

Are- what color did you spray it in? as there are some touch up points that need to be done, i was thinking cherry red.
What kind of speeds did you get out of the essex and jet drive combination?

too bad the gauges and seats were not in the boat, well 2 were left rpm and mph gauge left.

If you owned it within 10> years someone after really treated it like ****, all floor was terrible rotten but it looked like chipboard was used for side panels and back, i don't understand how the engine could be in such bad condition. had to angle grind the exhaust manifolds of basically because bolts were just to rusted and the manifolds were corroded to the bolts.

Here are some pictures of the manifolds before and after-

and after

Cheers

I was thinking this morning, and I think I rebuild this around 14-15yrs ago.

Basically I purchased it from a friend who had purchased from Horning boat Auction as a non-runner, He had it on the Norfolk broads a few times but could not get it to run correctly.
I brought it back home and found out that there was a fuel supply problem and fitted a Facet electric fuel pump and filter king regulator. I ran it down the River Nene a few times, but performance was poor
over the winter I removed the engine to replace the rotting sump, I replaced the carb, alternator, all the filters, plugs, leads, cap, points. I also replaced the drive donut between the engine and the jet drive.

I then turned my attention to the jet drive, I stripped cleaned and inspected the complete drive, it was very badly worn at the rear bearing which had worn the impeller. I had the impeller refubished
and I brought a new rear bearing and the impeller wear ring from Vosper's in Southampton. The rear bearing housing was worn badly, so I bored it out and sleeved it with a brass bush and fitted the
new bearings. I also fitted a greese nipple allowing the bearing to be greesed up the jet nozzle.

The gelcoat was very badly faded (Red) and there were a few knick's in places, so I resprayed it in Fiat Bright Red Metalic (Paint code 132) and added the Silver strip's. I also replaced the dash panel
with a stainless steel plate and white faced Faria gauges. The seats were replaced with white vinal items's.

I used the boat on the local river and lakes for a few months before selling it to a guy in Essex, The Essex V6 sounded amazing with the straight through exhausts, I can remember, but I believe 35-38mph
was about max on the speedo.

regards Anthony

 

[Mr fishy]

Thanks for the response Anthony, the facet fuel pump still works tested it to pump out all of the old fuel in the tank. the sump on the original engine engine had some holes in it so that required some brazing which is now good as new. the other engine had a bigger sump so wasn't suitable hence the repair. It's too bad about the rest of the gauges, the only ones left were RPM and speedometer but the stainless plate is still intact. There was no seats only a carpeted low rear bench but that has been taken out due to soft, I've managed to buy a couple of seats for it though.

I think after you sold it on the people after probably didn't look after it so well which is a pity, the only piece of wood that wasn't rotted was the foot board in front on the facet fuel pump.

Could you tell me what this cut out underneath the gauges was for?

Also how much did you sell the boat on to the guy in Essex?, (I'm not doing this for money/profit just wanted a jet boat as a bit of fun)

Cheers

 

[ARE]

The cut out had 6 switches or so for running lights, bilge pump, fuel pump etc mounted on a stainless steel plate, I believe I sold it for around £4.5k, but it was a long time ago,

Regards Anthony

 

[TheOrs]

Not a Sims. Could be a modified Picton.
Post more pic's!

 

[Mr fishy]

Managed to work on the boat this weekend for a couple of hours, Got the Exhaust manifolds on Saturday. Then managed to lift in the engine earlier.
Still have to do all the pipe work and electrical possibly this week depending on weather. Also managed to strip down the jet unit this weekend and will have to replace a bearing and a couple of seals.

Here are some more pictures of the boat plus some with the engine lifted in. If anyone has any clue of what kind of boat it is please just post

pictures look a little squashed as i re sized them

 

[Firefly625]

looks like a Driver 500 to me

edited bit.... not sure any Driver's were inboard..

Had another thought, possibly a dateline bikini ?

 

[Mr fishy]

looks like a Driver 500 to me

edited bit.... not sure any Driver's were inboard..

Had another thought, possibly a dateline bikini ?

Thanks for the input, had a driver 500 a few months ago nice boat but sadly this isn't one

I really don't think it's a Dateline. I've examined some pictures of datelines they have alot more lines in the hull and a different stern to the boat I have.
It's too bad there is no identification plate or anything.

 

[westcoastcooler]

Its a Simms

Hi.

The boat is most likely a Simms Super V.
I have one in original condition and many things are similar.
Most were fitted with the Ford crosssflow engine (as is mine), but they were also fitted with the Essex engine.
I have the manufacturers manuals for the PP65 jet drive and can e mail a copy if you need it.
It goes like a big jet ski.

jim

 

[Richard Shead]

Do I get a gold star? I refer to my earlier comment!

 

[Mr fishy]

Hi.

The boat is most likely a Simms Super V.
I have one in original condition and many things are similar.
Most were fitted with the Ford crosssflow engine (as is mine), but they were also fitted with the Essex engine.
I have the manufacturers manuals for the PP65 jet drive and can e mail a copy if you need it.
It goes like a big jet ski.

jim

Thanks for that, i sent you my email address in pm, hopefully you can show me some pics of the boat also

Cheers

Richard- I pm'ed you about changing thread title if possible and you may of been right.