The really "Old School" boating thread

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Originally Posted by Havasuing

A couple of quick additions: The tunnel boat (#191) in the OMC ad was Jimbo McConnell's. He drove it in the 1974 Parker 7-Hour (first year it was 7 hours, not 9) and the rotary power was awesome for about the first hour (he almost lapped the entire field on a 13-mile course) until it broke. I never got a really straight answer from OMC's Charile Strang in the months and years that followed about why the rotary project disappeared so quickly after all the R&D that OMC sunk into it. .

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I remember when my uncle moved to Havasu in '71, and shortly after that McCulloch had leased space at the Site 6 compound to OMC and they were testing the rotary then. My understanding is the same thing that plagued them then was the same thing as had always plaqued rotary engines at the time. The wipers. Wiper material that would last couldn't take the RPM, material that could take the RPM wouldn't last.
I can remember watching them testing, and they were ungodly fast.

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Originally Posted by Sharp shooter

Bob Brown...?

Great info! Here's another shot of the Horizon out of the Aug '71 Powerboat. The picture headed a Bill Holmes interview.:thumbsUp:

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This is a later Jones design Holmes built tunnel. Much better looking. One of these with a couple 2.5s would be a cool ride for the Parker enduro.
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Bill Holmes use to joke he built his jets like he did so he and his wife Gracy could both ride in the boats.

Bill, Gracie and their two boys were great. They didn't build the best looking boats, but they all seemed to run very well, and they were well built. Horizon was really the first west coast performance company to go all-out at boat shows with themed displays -- sometimes jungle, pirate, etc. Always fun waiting to see what Gracie came up with. One of their old tunnels well rigged with modern power would definitely be a fun ride.

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Back cover of June 71 Powerboat mag.

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With a stern drive.

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Jimbo was the man.

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1977

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1974
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