VGs Tiny Squirty Thing - The Chode

[Vintage Grumble]

So i've purchased my first ever boat, and it's adorable! 

According to the guy I got it off, its a late 60's/early 70's mitchum marine spitfire. Its got a 9 foot long fiberglass hull, powered by a parallel twin rotax two stroke, passing a whopping 35hp through a single stage jet unit. It's fairly tidy for a 50 year old boat, but I intend to fix up and modify a few things. 

A few screen shots from TM of the ol gal, 

The spitfire wasn't produced for very long, (the company changed location, changed name, and went to a new model called a meteor which seems to be more common) and the majority were fitted with outboards, so they seem to be fairly rare as a jet. There's a bit of a following of them in Britain (they were made in Surrey & Norfolk) but apparently most were sold in Holland. 

More pics, info and sharns to come once I collect it. 

Regards, VG. 

 

 

[johnnyfive]

Cute! I really need to pull finger and sort out the floaty squirty things at my house. Especially so now.

[keltik]

You sneaky dog

[Vintage Grumble]

23 minutes ago, johnnyfive said:

Cute! I really need to pull finger and sort out the floaty squirty things at my house. Especially so now.

You'll be looking for jobs in the shed a lot more now, so surely you'll get the swap done in no time?

19 minutes ago, keltik said:

You sneaky dog

This is all your fault. And J5s. And Julia's for not stopping me. 

[Vintage Grumble]

SHARNS:

So I collected this on Saturday, 5 mins after picking it up, I stopped to get lunch. I returned from the shop to find an older gentleman taking pics of it. Barry bait confirmed. He was surprised at its county of origin, stating "I didn't know the poms made jet boats?! “

Any how, once home, I did some research on what the boat actually is, as the last owner wasn't 100% sure. He thought it was a Mitchum or Almarine spitfire, but I believe its actually an Apollo, which was also made in England in the early 70's, is VERY similar, but has some slight differences. Its hard to find info on these, this is about all I can find: http://www.oldspeedboats.co.uk/apollo/

I also figured out the engine is correct for an Apollo, a Rotax type 373. The only real bummer is, that rather than the 35hp the rotax in the Spitfire made, the type 373 only makes 26hp, lololols. I'm yet to pilot it, but I'm thinking it might be a bit slow with my fat ass in it. The last owner said with one person of around 80kg in it, it would do 35kmh. So maybe in the future I may have to look into a repower. It did come with two spare motors, so could try hot one up, but might be more trouble than it's worth. The unit is good for 45hp, but can be strengthened for more, but guess a single stage has its limits.

Anyways, for now I'm not going to do anything major, just clean up and un-barry some items, and go on some adventures!

Crazy effect paint, 

368cc of pure grunt! I will clean up the wiring a bit, and possibly the exhaust if I keep this power plant, 

The last owner added a second exhaust outlet above the water line, to reduce the back pressure, apparently it starts off a lot better like this, 

Dual exhaust outlets, and tiny unit. The rubber around the edge of the hull is probably original, so is a bit perished and has shrunk a bit, hence cable ties,

Will slap on some new switches, center the steering wheel, and possibly redo the reverse lever, as it a bit cunty to reach (its just hidden by the steering wheel in this pic) 

Pimping white vinyl with red stitching, 

Last owner just slapped some hoses out the side for the tell tail and bilge pump. I'll probably run the tell tail out the hull on the right hand side, so I can feel/see it. And the bilge will also probably go out the back of the hull somewhere. 

Also the windscreen has been repaired, so might look into making a new one. And then just chuck lots of shiny screws and bolts at it to make it pretty. 

RINNNGGGGGG DING DA DING DING DING DING DA DING DING DING. 

Regards, VG. 

[keltik]

I love the looks of the hull, is that a centrifugal style jet pump?

[nzstato]

That's pretty cool...

Bunch of guys with the super tiny boats run JS300 engines/pumps out of the older stand up jetskis for future jet barry points.

[nzstato]

9 minutes ago, keltik said:

I love the looks of the hull, is that a centrifugal style jet pump?

Looks to be an axial jet but the older 'rudder style' nozzle?

[Vintage Grumble]

18 minutes ago, keltik said:

I love the looks of the hull, is that a centrifugal style jet pump?

A what now? 

 

[nzstato]

[Vintage Grumble]

Ahh, its defiantly Axial. 

[nzstato]

23 minutes ago, nzstato said:

The early prototype Hamilton was a centrifugal type but his real innovation was to get the axial design to work.  Who manufactured the pump that is on it?

[Vintage Grumble]

Its a UA brand, type 64, same as on here, but single stage: http://almarinemeteor.blogspot.com/2011/08/

 

[johnnyfive]

I need to come bask in the glory of this thing in the flesh

[Tumeke]

Do a skid. Cunt. 

xx

[Vintage Grumble]

9 minutes ago, johnnyfive said:

I need to come bask in the glory of this thing in the flesh

I hope to come slam into your beach one day soon. (Not an innuendo) 

3 minutes ago, Tumeke said:

Do a skid. Cunt. 

xx

A cavitation is the closest I can do mate.

[johnnyfive]

You can stick it in my private wet spot, all summer long 

[johnnyfive]

Good luck getting it back out though, Ian nearly lost a tractor in there the other day

[kws]

That paint is amazing. What a cool little boat. 

[HighLUX]

Repower with bike motor plz