Re: 1960 16' Starcraft
But more info on the performance rocket there...any video of it running-whats it like to drive?
The turbine makes 1350 hp, and hurls the boat down the water at 145 mph, while going 0 to 100 in about 7 seconds.
We got the jet from a crashed Huey helicopter, and through the Cassell v-drive, it throws a 24?/29p screw via an Arneson surface drive.
The jet spins at about 28k rpm, and has a built in 3:1 reduction unit. That runs into the 1:.83 overdrive (v-drive) which ends up at about 6k screw rpm.
We also installed a disk brake on the output shaft. This not only allows the shifting of the v-drive, but also allows us to stop the output shaft, load the turbine, then release the brake, allowing great hole shots.
The boat is turn key ready, smooth, and built right. While we can build piston engines that make this power, the rebuild schedule would be high. The great thing about turbines is the little wear they produce, and that they are right at home running at 100%, even for long periods of time. Try that with your 400+ hp piston engine...you'll end up picking up the pieces.
We run at an unlimited speed/hp reservoir, and the best fun is these 60mph+ jet skis rolling up on us, posturing to race. We just roll on the throttle a bit...bye bye bumble bee.
The biggest downside is the mileage. It drinks 100 gph at speed. We have 3 tanks...2 60 gallons on each side, and another 40 in the bow. It was not unusual to spend $300 for fuel for a short afternoon of fun. Noise is also an issue. It is VERY noisy. He had to install helicopter communication headsets to talk to each other.
The boat feels real good all the way up to 100 mph. After that, things can get a white knuckley, but we learned keeping the boat trimmed down a little make it more stable, even tho we are probably losing a few mphs.
Once we made a high speed run from one end to the other, and about 10 minutes after we stopped, this water cop come charging up at full throttle (40mph) comes to our side and forcibly says "Do you have any idea how fast you were going??" to which I looked at the GPS and calmly said "Yup, 137 mhp." He gave us a little lecture on how he could still write us up for "to fast for conditions", but after he calmed down, he gave us compliments on the boat, and directed us to be careful.
Here the only video I could find...its rather old and shaky, sorry...
