![]() ![]() The boat had been sitting under that tarp for over 10 years. He said he hadn’t heard anything for a couple of weeks and drove by to see the progress. He took it to a reputable boat shop in town and they pulled the engine and told him to come get the boat while they worked on the Olds. He said it “started makin a noise” while out on the lake so they brought it in. Now before you call that a screamin deal, it was set up for a 455 Olds which wasn’t in the boat. Ended up trading the $400 appraisal fee for the boat (and trailer). I casually made the comment I could make that happen. ![]() Got to talkin to the owner and he said he wished it would just go away. Was doing an appraisal on a property and it was sitting under a tarp in a lean-to behind a barn. I had a 18ft Challenger with a Berkeley J pump back 20 years ago. I have also been 115 in a tunnel-hull outboard, and was glad to be on a glass-smooth river. 80 mph in a 40+ foot twin or triple engine Fountain feels fairly sane. Speed on the water does feel different than on land, and of course the size of the boat plays a big part in that. That boat had a totally different personality than another friend’s 21′ powered by a twin turbo Chevy big block that one was not very impressive until about 50, when the boost started to kick in, but it would roll after that. He had someone on the adjacent dam with a radar gun we hit 87 on a day with a light chop on the water. ![]() For that reason, he told me to sit upright in the middle of the back seat, so that I would block some of the air flow to the carbs. He didn’t have the carb jetting dialed in yet, and as a result the engine ran a little lean at WOT. Back in the early ’80s when jet boats were more popular, I rode with a friend in his 18′ powered by a fairly stout 485 c.i Chevy with two Holley 1050 Dominators on a tunnel ram. Most public waterways have no speed limit usually the water conditions determine the driver’s limit. This is a seriously cool boat that I’m sure draws a crowd wherever it goes, and I’d love to spend a few hours behind the wheel. However, those seats look downright comfortable, and I could see enjoying an all-day cruise in this Eliminator with one other passenger. The seller lists a few other extras, including a water-proof mooring cover and the competition trailer you see in the photos (which includes Bearing Buddies, newer and lights, and what looks like some sweet polished hubcaps.) The interior is finished nicely for what amounts to a high-speed competition boat that in most cases, wouldn’t be your first choice for a pleasure craft. Mostly, I want to hear an audio clip of this Eliminator at full chat. with three to four passengers, but again, it can comfortably maintain these speeds all day long. speed can be maintained all day long with one passenger the max speed drops to 70 m.p.h. Just look at this monster! Even if it’s not the powerful jet boat out there, this is one intimidating mill. Other upgrades include a JG Berkley pump with SS impeller that’s been polished inside and a new place diverter. The engine features a tunnel ram intake with 2X4BBL 600 Edelbrock carbs. The body is said to be in fine shape as well, benefiting from indoor storage when not in use in a climate-controlled setting, with no crazing noted on the hull and just some minor scratches listed as cosmetic flaws. The engine is described as being “fresh” in 2018 with maybe 30 hours of use on it, and what a build it is. The listing is quite detailed and describes a boat that hasn’t seen much use since the engine was built. on the water, an admirable life goal is you measure your life by how fast you can rip by buoys. The seller notes that the motivation behind the sale is to build a boat that helps him reach 100 m.p.h. How nuts is that? Find it here on eBay where bidding is at $8,100 with no reserve. Lincoln 460 out back that can propel the boat to 80 m.p.h. Regardless, this rare 1978 Eliminator Sprint is the stuff of either your dreams or nightmares depending on your love of danger, and the seller notes it sports a 500 b.h.p. The premise of ripping through narrow channels in a tiny boat with a huge motor hung off the back just seems like the kind of activity that you should try at once in your life, but the risk of self-immolation has always kept me on the sidelines. Jet boat racing is one of those sports I know very little about, but find absolutely intriguing. ![]()
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