Pacific 22 Jetboat project

Rokraider · 28 August 2012, 15:33

I just spent the last week getting used to my new toy. It is a Pacific 22 that has been fitted with a Ford Sabre 250 and a Hamilton 273. It is pretty agricultural technology but is great fun. It needs a few things doing to get it up to speed, but will be great once it is finished. The Sabre is pretty smokey on startup buts cleans up once it is up to temperature. It is a bit fumey standing at the back so I will have to do something with the exhaust outlet, maybe exit it under water away from the jet intake. Should be a fun project!
Been trying to find out more about it, as Halmatic apparently didn't produce any Pacific Jet 22's. They may have tried out a few concepts and this could be one of them? If the hull has been modified to take the jet, it is a very neat job. At first I was unsure whether I would like the rear console setup, but after driving it for a week, I find I do like it. It is very comfortable in the waves and you don't get thrown around at all. I was driving about with an open cup of coffee in the drinks holder and didn't spill a drop! The only real drawback is trying to get onto a mooring in a strong tide, I need to improve my sprint times from the stern to the bow. Manouvering with the jet takes some getting used to, but Have started to get the hang of it. Have to be easy on the steering at WOT as it only has 1.5 turns lock to lock and reacts very quickly to the slightest movement.

Searider · 28 August 2012, 17:33

Looks good.

For the older fords it is possible to have a kit that runs the engine on 3 cylinders below a certain speed - this cleans the ehaust up a bit.

Simon B · 30 August 2012, 15:05

Looks great, can we see some more console shots? Is the Ford a 250hp motor?

Solent-Salted · 30 August 2012, 15:42

We had a pac 22 with a castoldi drive on the back with a 250 iveco....

Be interesting to see how they have incorporated the Hamilton as the castoldi was just a bolt on the transom jobby.

nikster · 30 August 2012, 16:59

Im confused why your running from the stern to the bow for mooring??? surely with your jet, 1/4 bucket astern onto the cleat of your choice abeam your standing position take a turn, then 1/4 ahead all at tickover with helm into the pontoon - no dramas nice and safe no running to the bow, especially when single handed??

Apologies if this is all assumption as not knowing your mooring

LURCHER · 30 August 2012, 17:53

Cos most of the time on the mooring he uses there is about 5 kn running one way or the other. Last week during springs I had mine at 1200 rpm just to stand still alongside him!

nikster · 30 August 2012, 18:46

Surely thats even better then!!! irrespective of whether its port or stbd too?

Rokraider · 30 August 2012, 19:20

I now have a bow mooring line that is long enough for me to have ready on the tube by the console. i can now motor up along side the mooring buoy (not on a pontoon) and when the buoy is along side the tube near the driving position, I leave it chugging slightly ahead that will just about hold station whilst I clip on with the large Stainless steel carabina . The problem is I am normally sharing a mooring alongside a committee boat, which actually makes things harder.
When the spring tide is ripping out or in I am not physically strong enough to hold the boat against the tide, yet alone have time to thread a line through the buoy and tie a Bowline.
I am sure that once I get the hang of driving the Jet, it will get easier, but for now I will use my over long mooring line method.

I have got the Pac back at my yard now to carry out some maintenance and modifications. I will take some pictures of the setup. The Hamilton is fitted very neatly, I actually stand over the jet unit in the current driving position.

The engine is a Ford Sabre 250 bhp

I quite like the "Davros" (Dr Who) style of console, I feel I should be giving a sermon or suchlike.

Rokraider · 30 August 2012, 19:48

Some more pics of the jet, console and engine. As you can see the engine, gearbox and jet take up approximately half of the boat length.
One of my first jobs is to make the console unboltable with quick disconnect couplings for the hydraulic steering and to have big sealed multiplugs for the wiring. At the moment it is a right pain trying to get access to the rear of the engine and gearbox, propshaft etc. My aim is to make all of it accessible for maintenance etc. You can get access to the jet through the hatch in the floor which is not too bad. I might put a larger hatch there as well.

paulbrown22 · 30 August 2012, 21:07

A lovely boat - I saw this one on Ebay and almost put in a bid myself! Will be very interesting to see the refit progress.

Regards,

Paul

nikster · 31 August 2012, 06:33

Rokraider,

Do you still have the lifting eyes on the deck or have they been removed?

In a similar situation to yours i have had a stainless piano wire carbine hooked to the two lifting eyes inside on the deck - then you can maintain station, clip on to the floor slider and then drift back on the tide without having an overly long bow line - then it is easy to pick up your normal top gear from your shared buoy?

Anyhow sounds like after a couple more times playing you will have found your comfortable approach - enjoy and blue seas!

robert walker · 06 September 2012, 10:49

Hi guys
Pics look great Im Jealous. Now to the buisness in hand I need help urgently.

My 100 series bottom leg exploded and lost the gears and prop and the casing is shattered.
I have to find a second hand bottom unit with prop to get back on the water.
Please can ask around and e_mail me with some result if you can.

bobwalker3@virginmedia.com

Have a great time on your boat.
Bob