Lee Taylor & Hustler
Lee Taylor's New Boat [1968]
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With 13,000 pounds of thrust in a 6000 pound hull, a new over-water record
becomes an almost foregone conclusion. Lee Taylor could set a new record
straight up with this kind of power. Lee calls this new boat a guided water missile;
let's hope he's right. Ultra-sophisticated radio and instrumentation will
completely telemeter and record every run. At present Lee is shopping for a
sponsor..
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Not satisfied with his 285.213 mph World Water Speed Record, Lee Taylor of
Downey, California, is presently shopping for a sponsor to build a new boat, one
with a bigger Pratt and Whitney jet engine, in an effort to push the record even
higher.
Incorporating the knowledge gained in the construction and operation of Hustler
I, Lee's new design seems to present more of a problem in flying over water
than in achieving a higher speed. With a weight of 6000 pounds and a thrust of
13,000 pounds, this could prove to be the major obstacle.
Lee calls this boat a guided water missile, and we tend to agree with him.
His original sponsor, Harvey Aluminum, is supplying the aluminum and titanium
for the semi-monocoque hull and superstructure. This project represents a
compound study in aero-hydrodynamics and has been brought up to the present
state of design with the help of the NASA people at one of the space missile
centers. Needless to say, it makes wide use of current aerospace technology,
with its ultra-sophisticated radio and instrumentation installations. The
Motorola Corporation has donated in the neighborhood of $7000 worth of
electronic gear to fully telemeter every run.
Hull dimensions are 40 feet long, with a beam of 8½ feet. This is 12 feet
longer than the original Hustler, designed by Rich Hallett. The original
three-way control system will be retained by using an air rudder and a water
rudder, in conjunction with thrust deflectors in the jet stream. After his
catastrophic experience of running up on the beach with the first boat, Lee has
installed hydraulically controlled dive brake panels, in addition to the Deist
chutes in his hull. Another fail-safe feature is an autopilot that will take
over in case of driver malfunction.
(Reprinted from Eric Rickman's "Rooster Tales" column in Hot Rod
Magazine, October 1968, pp.130-131)
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