1965 turbine thunderbird - Page 2

1965 thunderbird · 10-22-2007, 09:05 PM

here are more pics!

1965 thunderbird · 10-22-2007, 09:07 PM

I got this picture thing figured out, its pretty easy!

racesdad · 10-22-2007, 09:25 PM

the boat was machined with the thunderbird logo on port and starboard side rear below what normally would be the rub rail i believe. man i loved that boat.
any chance of putting the turbine back in her?
mike

1965 thunderbird · 10-22-2007, 09:45 PM

If someone would like to donate some of those expensive turbines to this worthwhile cause I would happily put them in. That would be awesome and I would have the boat of my dreams. But untill then I will have to be satisfied with what is in it. The engines that are in it should provide a little bit of a thrill also. Plus when it is back to its racing colors it should quite an eye catcher!
jim

24degrees · 10-22-2007, 10:52 PM

Fantastic!!!!

racesdad · 10-23-2007, 02:47 AM

find out exactly what turbine were in her. i DO have a connection

Coleman · 10-23-2007, 08:24 PM

Cool keep them pix coming!!!

1965 thunderbird · 10-23-2007, 08:48 PM

As far as I can tell the the turbines were ST-6 made by Pratt&whittney,400 to 500 hp and where used in trains and ground power units for aircraft. The PT-6 was used for aircraft and developed alot more HP. The ST-6 engines were installed by Harrold Hartman as a proving ground for turbines in boats. This boat might be the first ever turbine powered boat, I know it was the first for offshore racing! His son Dave Hartman, I believe is still around, I bet he knows some things about this boat that would be really interesting. If anybody knows how to get ahold of him please let me know.
Yea, I would love to put turbines in this boat again!
jim

Top Banana · 10-25-2007, 10:31 AM

Jim

I have been traveling and not in touch with a computer, but WOW, that is great news.

I do have photos of the boat while it was being built at Alliance that I will send you when I finally get back home.

Charlie McCarthy
HORBA
www.historicraceboats.com

1965 thunderbird · 10-25-2007, 11:12 PM

Charlie, thanks for the reply!
I am looking forward to the pics, That would be great! Are any of the pics in color? Would it be possible to get some original foto's to help document the boat? Or maybe some high quality reproductions. I sure would like to find as much original literature as possible. I would like to make a nice book and display for showing the boat at special events or races. I think a boat like this with it's special history should be shown to the younger generation to spark there interest in offshore racing and to remember what it was like in the early days of racing. It is a special boat and the people that designed and built and raced it were special people too and should always be remember and honored.They helped shape and build offshore racing to what it is today.
Anyway I am going to start stripping tthe boat in earnest starting next week, I will try to post some pictures as the original finish reapears after 30 or 40 years of hideing under 2 or 3 layers of paint . I hope it is in good shape and only needs minor touch-up. I am haveing a hard time sleeping, thinking and wondering what's under that paint! I feel like an archealogist digging up bones from the past to piece together to preserve for the furture generations.
This boat is awesome!!!!!
Thanks
Aviation@kci.net