2017 LOTO Shootout/Supercat Fest - P H O T O S
#41
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Location: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
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Howard's 46 was sold to a guy in Georgia about a year and a half ago. I'd heard they hurt the motor when they first started running the boat, but I'd imagine they repaired the engine and left the boat as it was. That is a very special rig that Howard spent thousands of hours dialing-in, I'm quite certain they haven't changed it much. That boat (and his 40) was way ahead of it's time. Howard is truly the godfather of turbine powered offshore boats.
#43
The output shaft is located at the cold section on the T-55 gas turbine, which places the air intake at the transom. You can see it with the screen encompassing it at the rear in the pics of the engine.When the deck hatch is down, it ends up being right under that black cover at the very back of the hatch - that's also why the hatch is cut out in that large elliptical shape at the rear, to let LOTS of air in.
#44
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The output shaft is located at the cold section on the T-55 gas turbine, which places the air intake at the transom. You can see it with the screen encompassing it at the rear in the pics of the engine.When the deck hatch is down, it ends up being right under that black cover at the very back of the hatch - that's also why the hatch is cut out in that large elliptical shape at the rear, to let LOTS of air in.
#45
If you're interested at all Tank, you can just Google "gas turbine engines" and find all kinds of informative cutaways of how they work and the different types. With Mercury's turbo line of consumer engines from 1,100-1,750hp, I don't think we're going to be seeing a lot more turbine boats being built - there's only one left back at Skater right now (and it's been in the works for a LONG time now). I'm sure glad I was able to spend the time I did in Howard's 4,600hp beast though!
#46
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
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If you're interested at all Tank, you can just Google "gas turbine engines" and find all kinds of informative cutaways of how they work and the different types. With Mercury's turbo line of consumer engines from 1,100-1,750hp, I don't think we're going to be seeing a lot more turbine boats being built - there's only one left back at Skater right now (and it's been in the works for a LONG time now). I'm sure glad I was able to spend the time I did in Howard's 4,600hp beast though!
And I agree, the turbo line has changed the game for real. Though, turbo cats will always have that "holy f*ck" factor LOL. Chengs new (redone) 46 Turbine is just insane.