Saucy Jane

[JimJet]

One more

[JimJet]

Bit of a set back with building the mighty E93A engine. Conrods from the UK were so far out in their weights we can't use them. Have to send them back to the UK and get a balanced set.
Hard to imagine these little rods flying round at 3 to 4 thousand revs. They used to run the racing engines up to 7000!!! and 70hp.

[JimJet]

Latest progress. Keelson in, stem in and main engine bearers in. I put two layers of 300gm fibreglass cloth on before the timber frame. Progress slow and learning as I go, but very happy with progress so far. Next will be secondary longitudinal bearers, gunwhale support, chine support and then the lateral framing.

[JimJet]

Perhaps the most well known photo of Saucy Jane

[swifty]

* Saucy Jane * on what river does anyone know ?

[johnmead]

Part of the Waitaki that is buried under a lake?

[JimJet]

Pretty sure it?s the Ohau river that is now under Lake Ruataniwha. I met a guy at the JBNZ Heritage Trust Display at last years Canterbury Show who knew exactly where it was as his family farmed the land in the photo

[swifty]

Cool thanks for the info

[JimJet]

A little bit more progress in the past couple of weeks. Stringer support and dashboard in.

[JimJet]

Progress has slowed now that lockdown is over. Nearly ready to turn her over and fibreglass the outer skin.

[JimJet]

Have now got a hanging trailer for my project. It's an origional Hamilton trailer. First purchased by Hay Smith from the Hakataramea valley in the late 50's. Then sold to Phil Gard from Awatere station. The origional boat was a double skinned Hamilton with a 6 cylinder engine and a 3 stage Chinook. Now lost to history. The trailer was rescued by Tony Green from Kurow from the scrap heap. Quite a bit of work to make it fit Saucy Jane.
I can find no evidence in any photo's that the origional Saucy Jane was on a hanging trailer. I am still going to put Saucy Jane on (under) this trailer to make my project more authentic.
If any one knows of a ply jet on a hanging trailer the Heritage Trust is looking for one.

[Matthewf/Norbert/TuiDog]

great project

[jet30mk1]

Hi,

If you were ever looking at recreating a Briggs hull like Alf Dicks one in similar fashion for your Rainbow unit 024, Id be keen on one for my Rainbow unit 027, ( my hull is in similar condition to your Maui! ) Did you buy that from Jeff Holmes? If not, Jeff may have more info for you re that boat.

Like what you're doing!!

GlennC

[JimJet]

Hi Glenn,
I have been looking for the plans for the Briggs design with no luck so far. I called in at Irishman?s Creek on the slim chance they may have copies of the plans with no luck. Hamilton?s used to sell a Rainbow unit with a set of plans to build your own boat. I have photo?s of one such boat from North Canterbury with Queenstown Harbour Master Marty Black driving it. Failing finding any plans, Alfs boat is in storage for the Canterbury Museum near the airport. Can easily get some full measurements. I know another chap who wants to do a replica of that boat. Could be the start of a Fleet of ?Alfs?.  That?s what I have named my Alf project.  I have also been asked ?not? to strip my boat for the running gear but to leave it as it is for display purposes. Yes I bought the boat off Jeff Holmes much to my wife?s condemnation. I would leave it as it is if I could find another Rainbow and 100E engine.
Maybe someone who reads this post can help us out with Briggs plans and or a Rainbow Jet Unit. I do know of a few Rainbow units around but no-one wants to part with them ?yet?.
Jim 0212557272

[JimJet]

Well I see that I havn't updated my post for more than 120 days so I guess an update is long overdue.
The engine is still not finished. Partly because the engine builder has had some health issues. he's back on deck now so should see some progress soon.
Havn't done anything on the trailer because I need to have the hull mostly done to fit it to the trailer. The trailer was for a slightly longer boat so I have to modify it slightly to fit Saucy Jane.
The name "Saucy Jane" is of course the name of the little blue experimental boat that got the whole world started on water jet propulsion. There is a boat called "Saucy Jane" which is an ex comercial jet boat in Tekapo. It's owned by Mark Morgan (Bill Hamiltons grandson) and is in pristine condition. Mark told me his boat is for sale so if you are looking for a pristine old classic then give Mark a call. He's pretty easy to find in Tekapo.
I am still going to put the name "Saucy Jane" on my boat as it's an authentic replica of the origional.
I'm very pleased that Hamilton Jet are still going to build the jet unit for me. It's part of their apprentices training programme for 2021.
The hull has seen some progress. It has now got two layers of 300 gramme fibreglass matting on the inside "and" outside of the plywood. I then put a thin layer of epoxy filler and sanded smooth so you can't tell it has been fibreglassed.
I went into Altex Coatings (owned by Resene)and between us picked the paint colours from the few photo's we have. It's a two pot epoxy paint.
so I guess photos tell a thousand words so I will download some photo's. I have to re size the photo's I have so they will follow this post.
If anyone has any comments or could help with any details I might not know about then feel free to reply or call me.
Cheers.
Jim L