George Smith - the GeeCeeEss and other cars and boats

[woody]

A chap in Dunedin (Bill Patterson) in the late 60s built a vee bottom boat (Aquanaut) powered by a Allison V12 super charged aero engine, 1710 cu. in. developing 1500hp at 3300rpm. The boat won the Masport Cup in 70 at Picton. In 71 Bill defended the cup at Otago harbour but lost to Bill Stokes with Voodoo. Bill owned Highcliff Motors and had Rolls Royce Merlin engines 2000hp as spares. The boat has never been seen since late 71. Anybody around Dunedin that could see if the boat is still around.

[porka]

Bill Paterson sold Highcliff Motors in the early seventies and bought a farm in partnership with his daughter and son in law in the Motueka area.
I think Aquanaut went with him.I remember that he had a 57 Mercedes 4 wheel drive truck that sat in his garage for at least 10 years to be converted to a tow truck but not finished then fitted a flat deck to it and a 2 axle trailer on behind loaded with a lot of gear headed to Motueka.This truck would have been only about 100 hp and reputedly in excess of 20 tons all up but the trip was too slow and ended up leaving the trailer in Oamaru.