Alistairr
Well-Known Member
Could be yours if you want it!
http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r307&fc=0
Found via Unit18 lounge thread.
Cheers
Al.
Beautiful 1953 Hydroplane.
- Thread starter Alistairr
- Start date
Could be yours if you want it!
http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r307&fc=0
Found via Unit18 lounge thread.
Cheers
Al.
epervier
Well-Known Member
Could be yours if you want it!
http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r307&fc=0
Found via Unit18 lounge thread.
Cheers
Al.
Al,
I doubt if I could afford the varnish on the deck, never mind the whole boat
Garold
Well-Known Member
Hydroplanes are my earliest boating memories.
In the sixties, I remember my dad buying an old plywood hydroplane. He spent all winter fixing it up, and fitted a large outboard that he had purchased second hand. It was very primitive but exciting. I think that it had cables running down the side for the outboard steering.
In the spring we loaded it on my dad's flatback builders trailer and took it down to the beach at Blackpool (Star Gate). We launched it and my dad climbed in like a spitfire pilot with glass goggles. The engine was old, so took a time to start but after much delay a crowd soon gathered and I can still remember the excitement.
We all tried to hold the boat in postion pointing out to sea till he was ready to pull away. When he shouted that he was ready we all stepped back and he gave it lots of power.
The hydroplane rose up as it hit the first wave, took off on the second, and pirouetted on the third. We all watched as it landed in the waves, swamped and sunk.
As a child I didn't really appreciate the seriousness of the event except to wonder how long my dad could hold his breath. He popped up after a while and swam back towards us. It was obviously easier to get his rotund frame out of the hydroplane than it was to get him in it.
He was a bit worse for wear when he reached us but we were happy he had made it back to us.
I asked him what we were going to do next. A few of his mates attached an old ski rope to the bow which was still sticking up out of the water and we tied it to the trailer so it didn't drift further out.
He had a cup of tea from the flask and we waited till the tide went out when we retrieved the now sand-filled hull and engine. It took everyone's help to load it onto the trailer because it was really heavy.
Amazingly, within a few weeks, my dad and his mates had the whole thing running again and were back on the beach. He eventually had it tearing up and down the shore off Blackpool. However, we soon moved onto ski boats after that. The hydroplane wasn't a very social activity once it was running properly and didn't sink anymore.
Cheers
Garold
Ps I don't remember it looking as pretty as the OPs picture. More of a home-made affair.
In the sixties, I remember my dad buying an old plywood hydroplane. He spent all winter fixing it up, and fitted a large outboard that he had purchased second hand. It was very primitive but exciting. I think that it had cables running down the side for the outboard steering.
In the spring we loaded it on my dad's flatback builders trailer and took it down to the beach at Blackpool (Star Gate). We launched it and my dad climbed in like a spitfire pilot with glass goggles. The engine was old, so took a time to start but after much delay a crowd soon gathered and I can still remember the excitement.
We all tried to hold the boat in postion pointing out to sea till he was ready to pull away. When he shouted that he was ready we all stepped back and he gave it lots of power.
The hydroplane rose up as it hit the first wave, took off on the second, and pirouetted on the third. We all watched as it landed in the waves, swamped and sunk.
As a child I didn't really appreciate the seriousness of the event except to wonder how long my dad could hold his breath. He popped up after a while and swam back towards us. It was obviously easier to get his rotund frame out of the hydroplane than it was to get him in it.
He was a bit worse for wear when he reached us but we were happy he had made it back to us.
I asked him what we were going to do next. A few of his mates attached an old ski rope to the bow which was still sticking up out of the water and we tied it to the trailer so it didn't drift further out.
He had a cup of tea from the flask and we waited till the tide went out when we retrieved the now sand-filled hull and engine. It took everyone's help to load it onto the trailer because it was really heavy.
Amazingly, within a few weeks, my dad and his mates had the whole thing running again and were back on the beach. He eventually had it tearing up and down the shore off Blackpool. However, we soon moved onto ski boats after that. The hydroplane wasn't a very social activity once it was running properly and didn't sink anymore.
Cheers
Garold
Ps I don't remember it looking as pretty as the OPs picture. More of a home-made affair.
Alistairr
Well-Known Member
Brilliant story, thanks for sharing Garold.
Cheers
Al.
Cheers
Al.
Tremlett 15
Well-Known Member
thomshap
Well-Known Member
I actually tried to squash the bug on my iPad screen!!
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
and another plus!
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
Plus another
Man, that is one cool machine, love it
Thanks Ali
Thanks Garold, nice tale
timgriffin
Well-Known Member
The Classic Boat Museum located now in East Cowes has one along with many other restored motor and sail boats well worth a look.
Tim
Tim