Turbine Warlock Project

**John Hice** · 04-24-2018, 06:57 AM

Thanks Everyone for all the motivational compliments!

This last part of the final assembling keeps reminding me that I am not 18 anymore. I feel like someone has beat me with a baseball bat every morning but loving every moment of the pain when I look at the outcome.

Autograph Your Work With Excellence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr.Fun, The ceramic coating is a cold wipe on process, https://showboatcustomcoating.com/ , I have been very happy with to product and have used it on many applications on yachts up here in Panama City Beach. The prep is very simple. Clean the surface to the luster to which you want to keep, wash it twice with blue dawn soap very very thoroughly, wipe down with denatured alcohol and apply with a lint free cloth. You can spray at very lo psi 5-10 psi for an extra smooth finish but it wastes a lot of product. I have coated all of the bronze and all of the aluminum areas that cant be easily polished. The large round area of the fuel tanks I did not coat because there are a few places that need a little more finessing to get all the little scratches out of it. Once the product is put on and cured, it will have to be sanded off and not very easily I might add.

The "Miss Geico" Sticker..... That is one of my most prized possessions on the entire project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a embroidered ballistic scatter blanket that I acquired from Gary Stray one of the team owners and manager of the Race Team. I have never met such a great group of helpful enthusiasts of the sport in my life. Jim Grasham, the guy who built my engine, introduced me to Gary thinking that he would most likely have a few things left over from the turbine powered Miss Geico boat that I could use in the project. The very first time I met with him at their shop Gary was so interested in the project he gathered six to eight guys from the shop to meet in the conference room with a case of after five cold drinks to check out the project pics and discuss the setup. I was beyond honored by the words and input from this group!!!!!! After the show and tell session Gary showed me the warehouse full of stuff from the turbine boat. I felt like a kid in a candy store and that's where Gary pulled the ballistic blanket out of a box and handed it to me. Talk about loving their fans as much as their fans love them is unequaled in my book. That's the story behind the sticker!

**mr fun** · 04-25-2018, 07:43 PM

Wonderful story. years ago Scotty put up an opportunity to join their team, considering the longevity of most race teams and the length of my mortgages i decided to remain in Jax vs Palm Bch. looking back, I kick myself in the ass every day. fun out

**John Hice** · 04-28-2018, 05:39 AM

If all goes according to plan this week,

The first sea-trial and test runs should happen on this coming Saturday May 5th.
The exhaust pipe shipped yesterday and should arrive here on Tuesday and she will be ready for the first test firing of the engine installed in the boat on Wednesday morning

**John Hice** · 05-01-2018, 07:00 PM

Today the Turbine Warlock come to life for the first time after being installed in the boat. It was a little slow to purge the air from the fuel system but ran flawlessly after the initial start up.
First sea-trial and Test run will be this Saturday 05/05/18 from Bay Point Marina around 9:00 AM

https://www.facebook.com/john.hice.5...476863065/?t=7

**WILDMAN** · 05-01-2018, 07:37 PM

Maybe I missed it, but what drive you running?

**John Hice** · 05-01-2018, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by WILDMAN

Maybe I missed it, but what drive you running?

It's a custom ASD-8 Arneson.

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**olboatman** · 05-02-2018, 05:45 AM

WOW......now there is a new meaning for the term "Screamer" ! Great to here it spin up. I am totally impressed!!!!!!
Gary

**Trimmed Out15** · 05-02-2018, 05:59 AM

Sounds and looks great, awesome project to watch come alive. Where can I buy that strobe light you have?

**John Hice** · 05-02-2018, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Trimmed Out15

Sounds and looks great, awesome project to watch come alive. Where can I buy that strobe light you have?

I got this one from here, http://sirennet.com/store/product/wh...de-a-way-light

**Capt.Insane-o** · 05-02-2018, 01:42 PM

Can't wait to see it, this is gonna be cool

**John Hice** · 05-02-2018, 02:59 PM

Part of the scientific stability test. Photos of the water line with half a tank of fuel, 115gal of JP-4 @ 6.8 pounds per gallon then with assistance of 3 of my heaviest buddies to simulate another 700 pounds plus worth of fuel and it still floats. LOL

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**Hippie459MN** · 05-02-2018, 03:05 PM

Very nice! This thing is amazing.

**John Hice** · 05-03-2018, 06:11 AM

First time she’s been wet. Backed her down in the boat ramp to Test the gearbox under a load, check for vibrations and temps. All Systems Are Go for Saturday’s Test run and sea-Trial.
https://www.facebook.com/john.hice.5...626221797/?t=3

**NICE PAIR** · 05-03-2018, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by DRAG'N FEVER

First time she’s been wet. Backed her down in the boat ramp to Test the gearbox under a load, check for vibrations and temps. All Systems Are Go for Saturday’s Test run and sea-Trial.
https://www.facebook.com/john.hice.5...626221797/?t=3

Attachment 406346"Awesome"