Classic Australian Wooden Power Boats
Project Boats
Turbo-Fire
Bob Carter
After a fairly long search looking for that classic of all
hull shapes, a 16' winged twin cockpit Lewis runabout,
Bob Carter finally
located Turbo-Fire, which had been renamed Spirit II, in NSW. The ex race
boat, built in
1965, was tired, but complete, with all hardware, running
gear and a Chrysler 318 ci V8.
The refurbishment of Turbo-Fire began in
early 2007, with a write up on the early months in Volume 7, Issue
3 of the
Club's newsletter, "The Hollow Log". The following is more a pictorial
account of the boat's progress
over the past 18 or so months. .
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Turbo-Fire in the 60's, when owned and raced by Phil Reeson |
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As discovered near Dubbo, in NSW |
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The hull was sound, but certainly showing its age after spending many years under cover in a lean too shed |
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Readying the 318 Chrysler V8 for removal |
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The engine had been dry sumped. Plenty of oil and gunk in the bilge |
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The boat originally ran a mean 327 ci Chev, but Bob will stay with the Chrysler. With a battery hooked up and a bit of priming, the engine fired easily and sounded strong. Even so, it will be rebuilt. |
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As the boat is stripped down, the extent of oil soaked timber becomes evident |
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More of the same. Stripping down also revealed suspect planks and ribs |
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And more gunk again, ready to be blasted away and drawn out of the timber |
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The transom looks solid, but would have to be replaced |
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And it virtually fell out |
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Transom out and some planks also coming out |
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Eight planks needed to be replaced, four either side of the red gum keel |
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More detail on the planks work |
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New transom being fitted up. Because of the extent of checking at the end of the planks, the hull was shortened by about three inches |
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The planks being installed. Several ribs also needed to be replaced |