[QUOTE=scorpion 186;3349299]saw this link about this guy apperantly has published a book or papers about turbine driven jet propulsion for a boat maybe worth contacting him. good luck with the restoration.

I read his articles and he sounded like he knew a lot about turbines so I e-mailed but I haven't heard back from him yet. I sure would have liked to talk to him. Thanks for the lead!

I have been trying to get in touch Gloria Wynne and have not had much luck. Does anyone have her contact info? Please PM me with the info.
thanks!

Any updates???

I have not had a chance to work on it, but I have been able to gather more parts. I have bought two transmissions and some parts for the speed increaser, I have to go from 2200 rpm output speed to 3300 propshaft speed.
I have been real busy with rebuilding airplanes and I am my only employee so it has been slowing down the progress on the boat. By the end of the month I should be caught up a little bit and will be able to dedicate some time to the thunderbird.
I am hoping to be able to attend the OFF 2011, I am looking forward to meeting and talking to legends of offshore racing!
I would like to bring my boat down there, but I better use the money to buy parts and maybe hire some help. I am out in the middle of no where and it is hard to find good mechanics.
I will be moving the thunderbird into the main shop soon to remove the gas engines, that might give me a little boost to get this thing done! I think that when I get started on it this time I won't stop until it is done. I have to get my drag car done this week so I can race sat., won pro class last race with my other car what great feeling! I want to run super pro ( low 9's) this race and let my son run my other car, should be fun!
Anyway I have been learning alot more about offshore boats and might be able to talk intelligently about them someday. It is kind of surprising how much airplanes and boats have in common ( weights , balance's ,props ,some boats fly, hulls are like wings, ect.), it has been quite the learning experience!

I talked to Sharon Wynne a while back, she is a very interesting person. Sounded like Jim was quite a hand full, I guess he had some girlfriends around. Sharon has a scrapbook that one of them made up, it is very large. I have told her about OFF 2011 and suggested that she brings the scrap book, I think that would be quite q hit!
Anyway I think that I am pretty well committed to going to OFF 2011, sounds like too much fun to miss.

Thanks for the update! Take some pics when you get it back in the shop and start the teardown. This is one of my favorite projects on OSO. Good luck!

Am sure everyone will enjoy OFF program, I spoke with Odell Lewis who I am sure will be able to help with your restoration questions,,,,,,,, Odell is 1 of Offshore racing treasures,,,, When we lose him we have elected to have him bronzed, so we can wheel him into the party

The guy worked with Don Aronow & Brownie, Of Course he had some girlfriends around. IDK how they ever got a boat finished

They had Cortez and Parucho----

http://www.youtube.com/hornetmarine#p/a/u/1/ayQ_-nRAzdU