jet engine boat

A few months ago, I was reading a magazine like boating world or something. I remember seeing a commercial for a powerboat powered by a jet engine. I think it was made by fountain, .. I think? I was around 1million$ and had first scheduled maintance in like 30 years.

I was searching all over the web trying to find out more. does anyone know a link or anything about it?

thanks

 

It did something like 140mph too.

 

I suspect that the boat you are talking about would have been powered by a gas turbine engine - such as those used in the Bell Jet-Ranger hellicopter. A number of boats are powered this way and many of them are very fast. Mostly you will find turbines in the enginerooms of big, fast mega yachts where the cost of pouring fuel down their very thirsty throats is less of a concern, but a number of builders have used them in smaller go-fasts

 

Gas Turbine Jet Boats

I think you might be referring to Squirt 1 http://www.nyethermodynamics.com/squirt_1.htm and/or Squirt 2, http://www.nyethermodynamics.com/squirt_2.htm. Squirt 1 was sold in Oct 1999.

Squirt 2 uses a T58-GE-8F turbine engine http://www.nyethermodynamics.com/engines/t58/t58_engine.htm which produces 1,400 SHP @ 20,500 RPM. I believe the T58 is no longer in production but I think it's time between overhaul is 3,000 hours. The only speed claim I could find for Squirt 2 is ~75 mph.

According to Mark Nye's home page, http://www.nyethermodynamics.com/, he has a T58-GE-8F Turbojet engine for sale. Wonder if it is the same engine?

Another turbine powered boat that I am familiar with is Don McLaren's Diablo built in the 1980's. It was a 44' Riviera "Diablo" hull with two Allison turbines driving a Hamilton Beach water jet through a combining gearbox. The Allison produced 650 HP per engine at 40,000 RPM. This boat had a claimed speed of 80 to 100 mph. The Allison's engines had a mean time between overhaul of 6,000 hours.

Diablo was intended for military applications. The main feature was the use of JP-1 fuel, same as the helicopters and the Navy mechanics are familiar with turbines. The problem with the Allison was the Magnesium gear box. Seams saltwater loves Magnesium to death, so to speak.

If anyone is interested in developing a turbine powered boat for military applications use a Marinized turbine, and preferable one in Naval inventory, like the AVCO-Lycoming TF40B used in the LCAC, although these are 3,995 HP each.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

 

Well, what a very small world it is Mike.
My father went to school with Don and has remained good friends with him. They took a look at the Diablo a few years back - quite an impressive beast......

 

We are currently designing and fabricating an exhaust system for a builder here in South Florida. He is using Lycoming turbine engines on speed boats. should be an intersting ride.

 

More Turbine Powered Boats

Here are some more turbine powered boat but these use Arneson surface
piercing drives.

http://www.howardarneson.com/articles/hotboataug97.asp

http://arneson-industries.com/Turbine Applications.htm

And the Callan Marine C55 with twin T55 turbines @ 3,750-hp per side one
Yanmar @ 300 hp in center. http://www.callanmarine.com/

PS If you have to ask the price you can't afford it.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

 

thanks guys.

Those are all intresting links. I like the Howard Arneson 46, wow.

Yea. there was a boat put out by Fountain. i will post the link if I ever find it.

thanks.

 

Hi read your post about the turbine powered Fountain.
A while back ago i read about the boat on www.marineturbine.com which is a company specialising in converting old helicopter engines into marine power units.

Marine turbine has also made a very nice turbine conversion of a Nortech 500 cat. I think it was powered by two Lycoming engines of 1400 Hp each.

Regards

Max

 

Anybody know if the turbines need a clutch, when used with a jet drive?
I think yes, but don't know if it's already in the turbine!
When used in helicopters the spool up the rotors slowly, as if on the turbine directly, not via a clutch..

But then I reed : A brake is installed to help spool up the turbine for the great holeshots..

A clutch must be istalled in this case?

Any info

Morten