50 Cougar Cat w/ GE T58F Aircraft Turbine Engines Start Price USD 250,000.00 Current Price USD 250,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 675,000.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, June 29, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Location Brick, New Jersey See more about '50 Cougar Cat w/ GE T58F Aircraft Turbine Engines' Description 50' Cougar Cat w/ GE T58F Aircraft Turbine Engines Vehicle Description 50' Cougar Cat w/ GE T58F Aircraft Turbine Engines Vehicle Description You are bidding on a piece of History!!   This vessel is located in Brick, NJ     50’ Aluminum Cougar Catamaran made in Sheffield, England this boat has previously been raced as Popeye’s; it was the first of the super cats ever made. It holds several world records and time trials and broke the speed record from the Great Lakes down to Louisiana. World Champion 3 times running. It was owned by Al Copland, it was previously run by Smitty Smiths, Chuck Norris and Don Johnson from Miami Vice.   Previously it has been configured with (4) 1500 hp ford motors but currently it has been re-powered with twin 1500hp GE T58F turbine engines going through a single drive shafts into (2) #6 speed master. Since turbines only turn in one direction, the rotation is turned in the outdrive. These outdrives are brand new 1:1 gear ratio drives. If the outdrives are fitted with a 17x40 inch pitch prop the speed should calculate at 240 mph. The wind canopy is a Gentek.   The gauges on the dashboard includes: complete ignition setups for each Yanmar which is a key ignition with a RPM gauge and temperature gauge. The dash gauges for the turbines include exhaust gas temperature gauge and a percent gauge for your compressor stage tack generator and percent gauge for your rear tack generator. There are a series of fuel pumps and streak igniters. The boat is designed through Nie Technologies out of Canada so that you can introduce fuel through the tail pipes and throw a large spectacular flame. Those are governed by fail safe switches that have covers over them.  Several indicator lights that show which fuel pumps are in process and where the fuel is being transferred to. Throttles on the center console can be throttle from a right hand or left hand position. Steering is on the starboard side.   Just ahead of the turbines in the power sled (aluminum frame that carries all the wiring, the oil tank for the gear box, and oil reserve tank for the turbine. It also carries a 2- cylinder Yanmar diesel engine.) These custom designed sleds are for quick removal and re-installation of the turbines.  Prior to starting the turbines, this generates ample amperage for charging the batteries. There are (2) D8 truck size batteries that have high cranking capacity.   The boat has 4 fuel tanks on each side with a capacity of 2000 gallons, as the fuel burns off there are transfer pumps that transfer from the forward tanks to the center tanks, then the center tanks burn off through the turbines. The Yanmars would be used to maneuver through the marina area as you would leave the dock, putting the Yanmars in neutral leaving them running to keep the batteries charged then light up the turbines.   The start sequence for the turbines is quite simple; it is very similar to a start sequence of a helicopter. You engage the starters and turn the turbines up to about 40% (percent gauge is on the dash board) then you would engage the igniter (you will hear a popping like you would hear on a gas grill) that can run continuously in its aircraft specification.  If you were running through foul weather or rain you would keep the igniter on to make sure the flame is continuous. At 40% you would then introduce fuel and would raise the throttle to ground speed idol which would just begin to engage the power turbine. Once the power turbine engages, you have shaft forward motion and prop forward motion.   To service these items you would need to find someone at a local air field that has any basic turbine knowledge. The turbines are not loud, they sound like a couple of shop vacs. These engines were designed in 1965 and were in production until 1985. The boat has 2 engines installed.  This boat is 95% complete, it needs minor wiring to be completed and fuel and it is ready to go.   The boat travels on a custom Myco trailer, paired with an International TranStar tractor.  It is a complete package ready to go. Also included are 3 additional turbine engines for a total of 5 turbine engines. All Turbine engines are Air Certified by the Navy  and each valued at $800,000 new. This boat will appraise well over its buy it now price with all its upgrades and (5) turbine engines.   The above information was transcribed from a taped interview with the current owner. If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to ask, I will reply as quickly as possible.   This auction is for serious bidders only.  The boat is being sold "As Is" with only the above facts being guaranteed by owner as being true. This boat comes with quite a history and is definitely not for the beginner.  I encourage serious bidder to view vessel prior to bidding.  The pictures of this craft do not do this boat justice. Not enough room to take more accurate 50' pictures.   Feel free to contact via email or by phone at 609.526.2665 Place a Bid!