Turbine Schiada

[the lynch mob]

I was thinking about old LA boat shows and I remembered Ron Spindler brought a 21 or 22 vdrive with a turbine probably was I the mid 1980s. He had a video playing of it running. Never actually saw it after that. Does anyone remember this boat or what became of it?

 

[BamBam]

Hopefully @schiadastan can ring in here. Yes Ron had a 22' built with a turbine. Apparently it was scary when you let off the throttle as the turbine maintained its speed which is directly related to prop speed meaning the boat would not slow down like an internal combustion engine. It was a cool set-up. I've seen pictures of it. Sorry I don't know what became of it but I believe it was re-rigged with conventional power and sold.

 

[Riverbottom]

Hopefully @schiadastan can ring in here. Yes Ron had a 22' built with a turbine. Apparently it was scary when you let off the throttle as the turbine maintained its speed which is directly related to prop speed meaning the boat would not slow down like an internal combustion engine. It was a cool set-up. I've seen pictures of it. Sorry I don't know what became of it but I believe it was re-rigged with conventional power and sold.

And that is the reason unlimited hydros have huge disc brakes to slow down the turbine. Saw the boat, but I bet that was 45 years ago. I think the little turbine was the same as the ones used in the STP indy cars.

 

[LazyLavey]

What was the turbine that was running around Havasu some years ago?

Saw it for a few years, usually around Nautical area but don't remember ever seeing it underway

 

[coolchange]

When I saw that boat it had a giant nascar type disc brake on the drive shaft at the v drive.

 

[eand28]

I’d love to see some pictures if someone has some

 

[riverrat707]

I believe it sank in Lake Mead in the 80's. Very deep water still hundreds of feet down. About 2/3 down the old 50/ 75 ski race course.