Very cool boat. Did you notice that the engine was mounted flywheel forward and it did not have the typical marine timing chain cover? Does that mean that it has a V drive with the propeller shaft under the engine?  The engine seemed to be almost level in the hull.

Those guys were surely sitting up in the breeze!

Y-block FED

Y-block rollback

Y-block boat

And the beat goes on. Chuck in NH

YES!  that is very cool.  Me want one too!

Doug, most of the marine engines I have worked on have the flywheel forward and run the planetary trans. with the "sun" gear attached to the snout of the crankshaft. Then direct drive strait back.

Here's the guys re-decking one and Rick if you read this it is a Chris Craft and it will run a 390 FE.

You may be right.  I'd like to hear that thing without the music too.

http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=OU5FAFIDVT9B72CX

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/JUDDCRAFT-SKI-SPEED-BOAT-FORD-V8-INBOARD-5-SEATER-5-MTR_W0QQitemZ250554605432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Boats?hash=item3a5637df78

http://www.cawpba.com/CAWPBA/oh%20buoy%2001.htm

http://www.tradingdock.org/1864

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-boats-watercraft-parts-trailers-accessories-Ford-interceptor-marine-engine-W0QQAdIdZ173511987

Neither!  I'm redish-grey haired dude behind the camera.   That's Bill (the taller one) and Rick.  Rick by the way says he has a new in the box VS57 and would like to sell it if there are any offers, he bought it in I think 1966 for a project that never materialized.

You might want to click on "EDIT///" above and to the far right of your post.  When the edit page comes up, put your cursor between the pictures and hit return.  Then the pictures will stack up and make everyone's text easier to read.  Then hit "Edit Post" at the bottom of that page to finalize the change.

Sure look forward to more pictures as this thing gets finished.  Did you say you were trying to finish by March?  Is there an event or show you are shooting for?

There's no show or event, just want to go boating and I'm using it as a service boat.  I have a mobile marine service here and am going to use it to do dock calls a few days a week.  It should get some good attention and it'll be much more fun than sitting in traffic.

      you may want to consider something smaller than the 600 on a 256. i think I'd go with a 390 or a 450 on a motor that small. OR build a 312!

Hi Dan

Just to get the facts straight.....The First Production Jet Boats in North America were built in 1959....In Canada....Dowty Turbocraft.....272 Ford Interceptor Y Block....In America....1959 Buehler Turbocraft.....292 Ford Interceptor

Check out my Turbocrafts and have fun on your boat once you get it done.....Enjoy

                                                                Nick

I saw your rooster tail video last summer and that sparked my interest as to the strange boats in my neighbor's yard (one of which I now own).  I didn't mean my boat was the first one in North America, just that Buehler (and Dowty) were the first production jets.  I was expecting to find a 272 or 292, but when I checked the numbers, it is a 256 from 1960 and the fuel tank is stenciled 1960.  I've seen only one other tail peice like mine in many months of searching and trying to indentify it and finally ran across a gentleman who worked at Indiand Gear Works on the marine production line and he told me that they had a company in Ohio cast this tailpeice and tested it and decided not to use it in production due to the vane bearings getting clogged with sand.  He seems to recall it as a test boat.  It's number is E 0074.  I love this thing and plan to use it all summer as our lake is now no longer drought stricken.  I'm new to these things and any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated (such as the whereabouts of a pair of Interceptor Marine exhaust manifolds and a gas cap).

Thanks,

Dan

Thanks for the response.  I'm going to try the 450 of the Holley marine flavor.

Are you the Danno that was on a job at Mirant power in Dickerson, MD?

Thanks for all the info, you've cleared up a lot of questions.   welcome to the site!