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View Full Version : Earliest Tunnel Hull Jet?????


WheelerDealer
10-14-2004, 12:37 AM
Just curious if any of you out there know who built the first tunnel hull jet, when was it built, and what was it??
HavasuDreamin'
10-14-2004, 06:40 AM
19' Eliminator Daytona...........1975........came out for production in 1976.
HD
MikeF
10-14-2004, 06:53 AM
These are the guys that made them work. :cool:
Jeff Bennett and I were big fans of the performance of the outboard tunnels and we were pushing for someone to build one of those. Southwind was the first which was also the first Going Places boat. Keith Walton and Steve Faller had a Southwind tunnel that we nicknamed "hamburger helper" because it chine walked so bad, it beat the driver up and made you feel like hamburger. But, the Placecraft versions of the boat got that worked out. The Eliminator tunnels were the first real tunnel.
My Eliminator 19' tunnel was the first one used in circle racing. It handled well and turned like a Seebold outboard tunnel, but cavitated like mad. So did Norm Grimes' drag Eliminator. Drinking beer one evening while floating in the river at Bluewater after the NJBA races, Jeff Bennett and I (Jeff and I went to Hi-School together with Steve King) looked at my boat on the trailer and said "what if we dropped the intake and....." Jeff then did the bottom on Norm Grimes' Eliminator and it went out and went 125 mph the next time out. We then did the bottom on my boat and I won the Austin Aqua Festival. (quote by Craig Millett from another message board)
1Bahnerjet
10-14-2004, 07:25 AM
ad from '76-'77 (designed '75 by Ron Ehld sp?)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43Intro.jpg
Jim Brock
10-14-2004, 08:02 AM
actually Horizon boats , came up first, it had a bottom called the JETTE they patended it, it ran real good, i have a friend that still has one bought it new, Ron mall and John hall both had one back in the circle days before jet drag racing was popular, Jim
MikeF
10-14-2004, 08:45 AM
1BJ, I stole it from your gallery. :rolleyes: :D
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43HORIZON-med.jpg
kidstuf
10-14-2004, 09:24 AM
ad from '76-'77 (designed '75 by Ron Ehld sp?)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43Intro.jpg
wow, where did you dig that up?...that's my mom in that ad :)
jackpunx
10-14-2004, 09:26 AM
wow, where did you did that up?...that's my mom in that ad :)
Im glad to see you come from good stock :D
kidstuf
10-14-2004, 09:27 AM
Im glad to see you come from good stock :D
she's a hottie isn't she :D
jackpunx
10-14-2004, 09:28 AM
she's a hottie isn't she :D
LOL..
old rigger
10-14-2004, 09:29 AM
This horizon bottom is the one that inspiried Roger Weiman when he wanted to change the bottom on the 18 bonnieville to the TR 19 bonnie and 20 bonnie. Thoses are big ass dropped chines, but not a true tunnel.
And an 8 ft beam! yikes.
[img]http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43HORIZON-med.jpg[/img
jackpunx
10-14-2004, 09:34 AM
she's a hottie isn't she :D
Was that before or after you were born?
kidstuf
10-14-2004, 09:38 AM
Was that before or after you were born?
if that ad was from '76 :idea: 6 years before... you're countin now aren't ya :D
Squirtin Thunder
10-14-2004, 10:00 AM
Can anyone tell me more about the Holmes Horrizon ??? I have a friend that has one that is trying to make it run. It is excelant in rough water. His best speed is right around 62 or 64mph. He has a Dominator bowl Place diverter 5 blade impeller and a mild 0 deck 460 with ported heads.
Jim
1Bahnerjet
10-14-2004, 10:28 AM
wow, where did you dig that up?...that's my mom in that ad :)
got a Color pic of her in boat also, see if I can find it.
on the Horizon, I don't know maybe Tunnel Runner would be a better description. :idea:
jackpunx
10-14-2004, 10:31 AM
if that ad was from '76 :idea: 6 years before... you're countin now aren't ya :D
Busted :wink:
1Bahnerjet
10-14-2004, 10:38 AM
Found it, think it was in Popular Performance Boat Magazine.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43SkJeTu.jpg
superdave013
10-14-2004, 10:59 AM
Found it, think it was in Popular Performance Boat Magazine.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43SkJeTu.jpg
That boat still looks good today. Some just get it right the first time as far as looks go. I could look at the lines of a 19' eliminator all day.
Jake W
10-14-2004, 12:49 PM
Wow I never would have guessed it would be the 19 Daytona that was done first.
Dident they make ones with out the center pod first?
Jake
kidstuf
10-14-2004, 12:51 PM
Found it, think it was in Popular Performance Boat Magazine.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43SkJeTu.jpg
lol... thats cool...thanks for posting it....i'm gonna have to show her :)
kidstuf
10-14-2004, 01:13 PM
Wow I never would have guessed it would be the 19 Daytona that was done first.
Dident they make ones with out the center pod first?
Jake
no the 19' daytona had the center pod from the begining... later on down the road a few (maybe 5) were built without the center pod for outboards and v-drives.
FOURQ
10-14-2004, 03:05 PM
we begain designing our first prototype tunnel mold in 1973 the first one out of the mold was in 1974 and the first production tunnel we sold was in 1975
4Q
snjspencer
10-14-2004, 05:19 PM
Can anyone tell me more about the Holmes Horrizon ??? I have a friend that has one that is trying to make it run. It is excelant in rough water. His best speed is right around 62 or 64mph. He has a Dominator bowl Place diverter 5 blade impeller and a mild 0 deck 460 with ported heads.
Jim
i have a horzon also just about same top speed .stock berk pump mild 460.
WheelerDealer
10-14-2004, 07:24 PM
How long have the Sleekcraft SST's been around??
1Bahnerjet
10-15-2004, 06:41 AM
i have a horzon also just about same top speed .stock berk pump mild 460.
pretty good numbers, concidering the "Hood Ornament" your running. ;)
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6613
1Bahnerjet
10-15-2004, 06:45 AM
how about the First "Jet Hydro" :)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43Willis.jpg
WheelerDealer
10-15-2004, 09:41 AM
how about the First "Jet Hydro"
I didn't think jets worked well in hydros, but 134.52mph is haulin' ass in any kind of jet driven hull, and that was in 1975 no less. I don't really know how much pump modification technology has changed in the last 29 years, but I would have to think that they might have gone even faster with some of the parts and pieces we have available today, ie. bowls, impellors, droops, diverters, custom intakes and various other stuff. Couple today's technology with a modern day Brad Anderson Hemi on nitro and who knows what would happen.
I bet that thing was a scary ass ride!!
1Bahnerjet
10-15-2004, 10:17 AM
I bet that thing was a scary ass ride!!
YES...
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43Again.jpg
snjspencer
10-15-2004, 04:22 PM
pretty good numbers, concidering the "Hood Ornament" your running. ;)
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6613
YA SHE CREATES A LITTLE DRAG BUT I HAVE A GOOD VEIW.
sanger rat
10-15-2004, 07:02 PM
That Willis sure looks like a Sanger. Did Sanger splash it? http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1937pic004.jpg
1Bahnerjet
10-15-2004, 07:21 PM
That Willis sure looks like a Sanger. Did Sanger splash it? http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1937pic004.jpg
Sanger Don't Splash, they just get Splashed*. but I do remember Willis is the one who Designed the Sanger Jet Hydro for Jack Davidson.
(*they Didn't Splash the Spectra, but Bought the Original Molds)