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The first Cat out there circa 1876 designed by the Old Man. Even than the cats created a controversy and it was soon banned from competition.
Warning --May Burn your Eyes http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0fa0ee50.jpg Once again a idea that everyone thought was revolutionary was a simply the reintroduction of a very old design. As these guys had already been racing across thousands of miles of open ocean throughout the Pacific ,navigating simply by stars long before the Nile was being torn up by the much slower unconquerable Egyptian Apache. http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...pse972a59a.jpg |
Once again another Revolutionary idea Surfaces
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psb322c800.jpg ORLO III 1921 At Thirty Five Feet With 2 Liberty V-12's ORLO III Hit 70 mph. Even today 85 years later 70 mph on water is really moving. It's about the same as going 140 on land. In 1920 Hickman opened a boatyard in West Mystic, Connecticut and started building a series of raceboats with the peculiar name of ORLO. In Feb 1921 at the Fisher Trophy Series ORLO II broke the record for marine (rather than aircraft engined) "displacement" boats. She lost the race because of poor turning ability and an engine that Hickman believed was sabatoged. A few months later ORLO III appeared and with regular marine engine was hitting 57 mph but loosing the races in the tight turns. In the Wood-Fisher Trophy Race ORLO III was fitted with two Liberty V-12's but was not allowed to officially enter. A very frustrated Hickman who took this personally as chicanery entered it unofficially, but ORLO III blew it's clutch and did not finish Look at the stern of this boat and notice what is popping its head out of the water. http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7a8e381.jpg All Business SEIDMAN: Two years later Hickman gave racing another chance, this time in partnership with George Crouch a prof at the Webb Institute for Naval Architecture. (and a Sea Sled owner / advocate) They worked together on building Rainbow IV for Canadian yachtsman Harry B. Greening. Crouch's hull was double ended with transverse lapstraking bottom. She planed amidships with her pointed stern supported by a Hickman surface propeller that delivered 18% lift and 82% thrust. Rainbow IV was the Ist prop riding racing boat ever made, predating those of its claimed inventor, Arno Apel by XVI years! A neat little write up on Production cats back in the day http://www.powercatboat.com/history/History.htm |
Originally Posted by tommymonza
(Post 4207373)
Once again another Revolutionary idea Surfaces
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psb322c800.jpg ORLO III 1921 At Thirty Five Feet With 2 Liberty V-12's ORLO III Hit 70 mph. Even today 85 years later 70 mph on water is really moving. It's about the same as going 140 on land. In 1920 Hickman opened a boatyard in West Mystic, Connecticut and started building a series of raceboats with the peculiar name of ORLO. In Feb 1921 at the Fisher Trophy Series ORLO II broke the record for marine (rather than aircraft engined) "displacement" boats. She lost the race because of poor turning ability and an engine that Hickman believed was sabatoged. A few months later ORLO III appeared and with regular marine engine was hitting 57 mph but loosing the races in the tight turns. In the Wood-Fisher Trophy Race ORLO III was fitted with two Liberty V-12's but was not allowed to officially enter. A very frustrated Hickman who took this personally as chicanery entered it unofficially, but ORLO III blew it's clutch and did not finish Look at the stern of this boat and notice what is popping its head out of the water. http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7a8e381.jpg All Business SEIDMAN: Two years later Hickman gave racing another chance, this time in partnership with George Crouch a prof at the Webb Institute for Naval Architecture. (and a Sea Sled owner / advocate) They worked together on building Rainbow IV for Canadian yachtsman Harry B. Greening. Crouch's hull was double ended with transverse lapstraking bottom. She planed amidships with her pointed stern supported by a Hickman surface propeller that delivered 18% lift and 82% thrust. Rainbow IV was the Ist prop riding racing boat ever made, predating those of its claimed inventor, Arno Apel by XVI years! A neat little write up on Production cats back in the day http://www.powercatboat.com/history/History.htm |
Originally Posted by tommymonza
(Post 4205811)
Thanks Parnell
Sorry for bringing all this old chit up . Just curiosity. Yea I finally found a thread that mentions that Doug had bought the 41 mold at the government auction of Ben's Apache company. Sucks what happened at Saber , great guys I met them when they were building their very 1st 28 many years ago. Your 21GT is beyond Awesome . So whats the next work of art to come? Did you go to FHN or FHC ? I am a graduate of FHN 1982. FHN 81 |
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I just killed 2 hours sorting through this thread....Great Read!
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Originally Posted by clambake
(Post 4207547)
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I wonder who's phone# that is now?
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This is a great thread, really enjoyed reading it. I just ran across this article looks like one of Ben's associates got out of jail last week.
http://jalopnik.com/the-man-who-turn...-50-1644603033 |
Originally Posted by akaboatman
(Post 4207725)
I wonder who's phone# that is now?
It's probably like 867-5309, retired due to customer request. |
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