1965 turbine thunderbird
 

I just bought the 1965 turbine thunderbird designed and raced by Jim Wynne in 1966. does anybody have any color pictures of the boat so I can restore it to its original racing colors?

Well done 1965 thunderbird!
Another piece of Offshore history saved!
I have some b/w photos in 1965 Wynne version and maybe only one in colour. I must to find it in my pics archive!
Do you want to restore it in the original version or you are thinking to make it in the Odell Lewis yellow version as Mona Lou III ?

Marco

Thank you for your reply black tornado!
I have stripped some of the paint and the original finish is still very nice! They originaly burled the aluminum instead of painting it. I still have the engine cover for the turbine engines but the boat has been repowered with twin 454 LS-6 engines and then the engines where redone to use twin turbo chargers with 6 lbs of boost. It is set up with Arneson surface drives with borg warner v-drives and a velvet drive transmisions. Everything seems to be original except for the engines and some instruments. The person that I got the boat from said it would run in the 65-70 mph range, thats with a old style speedo, it may be faster or slower. The engines are over 500 hp each is what he said. It has trim tabs so the balast tank up front is not needed. Speeking of tanks, the gas tanks are about 400 gals each!

Make sure you post plenty of photos of the restoration! :D

I have some pictures already and I would post them if I knew how. Do I need to go to a different area on this web site? I am not real good with this computer stuff. I would like to keep everyone up todate on my progress and I would like to attend some classic boat get togethers. Maybe even bring the boat along.
jim

Congrats on the purchase!!!!

Here is another 32 Maritime.......this is the old Mona Lou III. It was turned into a rescue boat.


BTW: I think you need to upgrade your membership to post photos?........

I upgraded my membership so I will be able to attach photos, is there an area on this web site that is set up to show restoration projects?
jim

Try the historic offshore raceboat website, run by Charlie McCarthy, I'm sure he would like to hear about the resto.

www.historicraceboats.com

And right here in this thread would also be a very appropriate place to show us all what you're doing. Great boat! Good luck! Can't wait to see it.

thunderbird pics
 

These pics are kind of dark but they are the best I have got right now. I have more pics. and I will send them in the next reply
jim

more pics
 

here are more pics!

1 more pic
 

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

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

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

Fantastic!!!!

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

Cool keep them pix coming!!!

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

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

What size props are those? I may have a spare set available if you are interested.

Steve

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
[email protected]

props
 

Thank for the reply on the props
When I got the boat he had an extra set of props and 2 extra water cooled turbo charges. I would like to find an extra set of turbines ( might be tuff to find!!)
thanks
jim

Da Is Looking Up Some Of His Pics. He Says He Has Some Somewhere

Julesburg Colorado!........I've driven through about a million times.....not much water around there.....is there?

:)

Yea, I agree! The nearest lake is lake Mc Conaughy in Nebraska, it's about 30 miles from me. The lake is pretty low and is only 11 miles long now, was 20. I went up there with my brother in law in his 36 ft Spetra. We ran it up to 150 on the GPS, it ate up that lake pretty quick! The person he bought the boat from has had it up to 168 and still going!With 1575 HP per side it's kind of scarry, my boat is suppose to top out at 65-70 and cruise at 45-50, I think that might be a little more sane.
jim

Congratulations on your historical find: I have some personal history I will share with you re: the Turbine boat.
I am a former member of the Mercury factory Offshore team, out of Lake X, I was 19 yrs old when I was assigned my first boat to race by Mr. K.
The story is that Mr. K. used to invite the race team up to Fond du lac for a barbeque from time to time, and he would parade us through the factory as his boys, including Odell Lewis, Mel Riggs etc. When at the barbeque at his house we would ride his motorcycles around his property, on rare occasions he would fire up the famous Chrysler 300 stock car that he kept in his garage, and tell us all the stories of his adventures in life. To say the least I was aw struck just to be in his presence, as I am sure everyone was, He eventually became like a step dad to me, and I am beholding to him for evrything he gave to me.
As part of this barbecue we went to the boathouse and rode a few boats that were there at the time, one was a four engine houseboat without the house, the other was the turbine boat which was Mona Lou at the time. About 8 of us piled in the open cockpit, and with the old man driving chewing on a cigar we were off on the ride of my life, naturally Odell was beside him to help.
The startup was very cool. I remember it had two sets of throttles, and two brake peddles on the bulkhead, as well as two automobile shift levers. I was told the shift levers were for two Lasalle transmissions, and that they used high gear forward and reverse for reversing. The brake peddles were for Braking the first stage of the turbine to enable shifting. The whole procdure was exciting to say the least, docking was pretty tricky with both motors running, brakeing shifting etc. while the turbines are screaming away.
When we went on plane mr. K. used one set of throttles, then when up he left the first set wide open and then opened up the second set. I think we topped out at around 75 mph. which in the late sixties was pretty respectable. WHAT A RIDE!!!!!! I will always remember it as one of my most treasured.
The motors were Pratt and Witney I think around 600 or 650hp. I remember at one of the Calif. races evryone protested the boat, so Mr. K. called in the engineers from Pratt which was close by and said detune the motors to 450hp, they did and were allowed to race, where she then kicked their butts again and won. I think it was one of the last races she did, as she was eventually outlawed on the circuit. I wish someone would step-up and help you restore her to original, I will be more than happy to help on the engineering side, and Odell Lewis is still around, and I`m sure could still give her a run.
Enjoy her and good luck with her, she is a proud old girl. I don`t know if you knew but Jim Wynn built her and raced her then Mr. K bought her. Mr. K loved turbines and special types of motors, I drove one of the first Wankel powered Mazdas from Calif. to Fondulac for him when they first came to america, I think he bought the first five cars, He tore the motors apart, and was figuring how to adapt them for marine use, that`s another story. 7XCHAMP Richie

Richie
Thanks for some history on the thunderbird or as I now have found it was called mona lou also. When I bought it, it was called Ocean Strider. Are there anymore names that it has had? I think that it should go back to its original appearance as thunderbird, What do you guys think? Obviously there are alot of people that know alot more about this boat than I do and I would greatly appreciate any input of any kind from anyone out there. I would like to gather as much info as possible to keep with the boat. When I got this boat I didn't know much about it's history except for the articles that I found on the internet, which obviously peeked my interest, I like things that are unique or different. I didn't realize the great historical value of this boat ,it will make owning this boat a very rewarding experience! I would like to put the turbines back in it, but I am not sure how far to go. Should I put the original type V drives or use the Arneson surface drives? The original transmision apparently was from a La Salle which I have 3 ( 1940 club coupe, 1938 covertible coupe and a 1940 sedan) in various stages of restoration, So I have 2 extra transmisions I could use for this project. I may be able to find the original V-drives, I will check with the person I bought the boat from.
Let me know what you guys think.
thanks
jim

Cool Stuff. Thanks Richie. Still Waiting On The Phone Call On The Pt-6 Turbines

That's fabulous news!

Heres a short thread about your boat.

http://www.proprider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287

I talked to the person I got the boat from and he still has the V-drives and other parts! He said I could have them if I paid the shipping. So I am going to get these parts and at least keep them with the boat. If I get some turbines I think that the surface drives would be a better choice. But who know's, how original should it be?
jim

Does anybody know Billy Martin? He bought the boat from Mr K. and re engined it and then Mike bought it from Billy and re engined it again with what it has now. Billy Martin worked for Mr K also.
Thanks
jim

Amazing find. I'm so jealous I could spit - congrats, Jim.

Pictures, pictures and more pictures, please.

Old, new, restoration, inside, outside, cockpit, engine compartment - pictures.

So as not to hijack this thread I'm going to start a new one for any other info on aluminum offshores - I've been interested for years but had no source for info until Jim sent me here...Thank you.

Jay Perrotta
President
Black Lab Plate Alloy Boats

I was wondering if anybody knows how many 32 ft maritimes wwere built? The serial # on mine indicates that it was the fourth one built. Were any of the others built with these huge gas tanks like mine (300+ gallons a side)?
jim

Jim,I know that were at least four Maritime 32' built for the competitions: in 1965-66 two for Wynne, one with the turbines P&W named Thunderbird with the race number #15 and no coloured (what yours should be) and one with a pair of Ford Daytona and called Maritime with the race number #15 and no coloured that became for Wishnick in 1966 with two Daytonas and named Big Broad Jumper with the race number #23 and coloured in white.
In the 1967 Kiekhaefer purchased the 32' of Wynne. That one remained with the turbines and it was renamed Mona Lou II had the race number #70 and it was painted of yellow on the sides and on deck.
Another new? 32' was powered with two MerCruisers, named Mona Lou III, with the race number #49 and also it repainted of yellow in the sides and deck.
Both the boats were driven from Odell Lewis in 1967.
In 1968 only the Mona Lou III was drove by Odell Lewis and Mel Riggs.
The 32' of Wishnick in 1967 was equipped with two Holman & Moody-Ford and it was colored of bronze, maintaining the #23.
In 1968 Wishnick renamed it Boss O'Nova.
Always in 1967 appeared a Maritime in aluminum of 31'(or was a 32'?): it was the Momma Maritime of Merrik Lewis powered with a pair of H&M-Ford. It had the gold painted on the sides and the race number #250. In 1970 the boat was modified in colours and equipped with a new windshield and race number #5.
Merrik Lewis and the Italian Cosentino drove it in two races in 1970.
Then other boats were built in aluminum by the Maritime.
A 20' in the 1965, one or two 25' in 1967, a 24' in 1968.

Here the photos;
1)1965 the first Maritime 32' designed and drove by Jim Wynne and powered with a couple of Daytona turbocharged and v-drive units.
2) The second 32' in 1966,with two P&W turbines and v-drives units and named Thunderbird for Wynne in 1966.
3) The third 32',Big Broad Jumper with two H&M Ford turbocharged and v-drives in 1966 for Wishnick.

1967,Team Mercury,the former boats of Wynne now for Odell Lewis;
1) the Big Broad Jumper with the Mona Lou II at the start of the Long Beach to San Francisco race.
2) the Mona Lou II former Thunderbird.
3) the Mona Lou III powered now with a pair of Mercruiser with stern drives. Odell Lewis alternate to drive the two boats during the US Natinal Championship season in 1967.

Here the fourth 32',the Momma Maritime of Merrik Lewis arrive at Freeport for Cosentino
in the 1070's edition of the Bahamas 500.

Marco
Thanks for the pictures! Would there be a possibility of getting some quality reproductions or some originals of this boat and any other Maritime that was raced? I would like to get some real detailed history of these boats. As far as I can tell there were only 4 made for offshore racing. I would be willing to pay any expenses and shipping. I have no original pictures or good reproductions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
jim

Notice the different colors. Bare aluminum is the original finish, then there is the remenants of yellow from Mona Lou 11 , then the blue from Billy Martins Hustler, then the black from the Ocean Strider.

The original engine cover for the turbine is sitting on top of the cabin. The tires on the trailer are 14 ply and inflate to 115 psi! Pulls good.