Pictures of a classic MoBo

[Whitelighter]

I have posted pictures of Ondine before, and since we were using her as a photo boat on Sunay we got some more of her at full(ish) chat.

A good looking old lady I think you'll agree /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

For those interested, she is a Hunt design made by Canada Yachts from original Fairy moulds in 1961. She was originally supplied with a Volvo engine and drive but this was replaced in the 70's wih a 300Hp Crusader Palmer V8.

Been in the same family since new.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Indeed a classic design.

D'ya think latter day boat builders have lost some expertise? I do. Just look at that hull and the strakes - I bet that boat handles in a way that isn't generally enjoyed by speed-boaters these days. Then note the flared bow to stop it from dipping its prow in the rough stuff.

Yep - I would be happy to own that.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

thats what I said when I saw the picture

"nice hunt hull"

they dont build them like that anymore

 

[burgundyben]

I could not agree more. ;-)

 

[DoubleVision]

Ditto!. That is a beautiful little vessel Jez. Will most likely be around well after the demise of some of the modern bow rider yank imports of the same size have fallen apart. A much softer rid I bet too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[RogerRat]

[ QUOTE ]
. A much softer ride I bet too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing was riding soft on Sunday but she did look good and the acceleration was down right lively. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Piccies by Stuart Irving ?

 

[DoubleVision]

[ QUOTE ]
and the acceleration was down right lively.

[/ QUOTE ]


I should think so with 300hp of Detroit muscle in there! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[GrandDirt]

Hi, I'm Jezbanks' Father. He made the mistake of e-mailing me this link to show me the pix, so now he'll just have to suffer the embarrassment of my presence.

Good observations from you gentlemen about the boat. Truly they don't build'em like they used to. This 1962 Hunt (Raymond Hunt invented the deep V) is a minimum of 12 layers of hand laid fiberglas, and much thicker than that in many places. Jeeze the GEL COAT is thicker than some new sprayed glass boat hulls.

When my Father (now 85) bought that boat, no one had ever seen a deep V in action, except for enthusiasts' rumours that a man named Dick Bertram was cleaning up in the Miami-Nassua race with this new hull concept. All boats at that time, other than hydroplanes, were either slow displacement hulls or bone-jarring flat bottom planing hulls. Dad had to buy the Hunt deep V on faith alone, and for his faith, he got the first deep V of any kind to hit Canadian waters.

With this engine and right prop (27" cupped) the boat has done a clean 60 mph. This was a BIG speed for a family boat back in 1974 when the Volvo 280/Crusader 300 hp package was installed - and it still hauls butt in any man's terms.

My Father and I are so proud to see Jezbanks own and continue to maintain the boat in near new condition. We know that, for the money he has spent on restoration and modification for ocean use, he could have opted for a lot bigger boat.

But no bigger boat has a bigger heart than this one, and certainly no place in hull development history to compare.

 

[rich]

That windshield must be holding her back 15 knots /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

That windscreen is a bit more angular than the melted wrap around visor thingys seen on sports boats these days - but I am sure it is far more effective!
And the overall drag coefficient of the boat is probably no greater than a sports cruiser with its higher freeboard and superstructure (I remember reading somewhere that the drag coefficient of a Morris Minor is less than a Porsche?).

Ray Hunt was to powerboats what Olin Stephens was to the sailing world - both are legends who created revolutionary boat designs that worked supremely well.

Have a look at the Hunt website sometime - lots of good info about them and the deep vee hull there at http://www.huntdesigns.com/about_history.htm

Here is one of their most famous designs, and one of my favourite motor boat designs - the classic Bertram 31 :

 

[Dave_Snelson]

I for one would like to see more of this type of boat being restored. 60mph eh? That'll show a clean pair of heels to many modern boats.

I have a book that records the history of powerboat racing from 1905 to the 1930's with Gar (Garfield) Wood at the centre of most things, bringing the Harmsworth trophy back to the US more times than not (it was originally a British trophy). His boats were as you describe - almost flat bottomed planing boats and the solution to higher speed was more horsepower. Indeed at one stage in "Miss America X" he had installed 4 x 1650 HP Allison aero engines just to get it over the 100mph mark.

He could have done just as well with Jez's Hunt because the hydrofoil boats were downright dangerous in the turn, and the Hunt would execute the turn marks perfectly.

I am somewhat enthused by all this and I might just hang on to Coney Island for some time yet as she turns 21 in October and will start to mellow into one of those "classic" motorboats as the years roll on.

 

[Whitelighter]

I have to say, it isn't my boat but my friend (and Sales Manager) Chris's - he passed the link to his dad in Canada who though I was Chris posting!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif