Popular Post Vintage Grumble Posted October 16, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 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. 29 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyfive Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 Cute! I really need to pull finger and sort out the floaty squirty things at my house. Especially so now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keltik Posted October 16, 2020 Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 You sneaky dog 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted October 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Vintage Grumble Posted October 18, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keltik Posted October 18, 2020 Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 I love the looks of the hull, is that a centrifugal style jet pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 18, 2020 Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 18, 2020 Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted October 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 18 minutes ago, keltik said: I love the looks of the hull, is that a centrifugal style jet pump? A what now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted October 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Ahh, its defiantly Axial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted October 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Its a UA brand, type 64, same as on here, but single stage: http://almarinemeteor.blogspot.com/2011/08/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyfive Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 I need to come bask in the glory of this thing in the flesh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumeke Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Do a skid. Cunt. xx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted October 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyfive Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 You can stick it in my private wet spot, all summer long 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyfive Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Good luck getting it back out though, Ian nearly lost a tractor in there the other day 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kws Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 That paint is amazing. What a cool little boat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighLUX Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 Repower with bike motor plz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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