Classic Australian Wooden Power Boats

 

Reader's Boats


ATOMIC

 

 

 

 

 

Built around 1958 and originally known as Ol Stoney, the hydro was powered by a Ford Y block. It was owned and raced by Ken Mephan of the Adelaide Speed Boat Club.

The Y block was later replaced by a turbocharged Ford 289 V8

 

 

 

 

Mepham retired from racing and the boat was sold to another Adelaide Speedboat Club member minus the engine. The the new owner fitted a 253 Holden V8.

Eventually retired from racing, it was parked in a suburban back yard in Port Adelaide for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

The boat was purchased in 1999 by Dave Pagano and taken to Sydney for restoration. Renamed Atomic, the 253 was retained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atomic was campaigned for a few years in both nostalgia and regular race meetings

 

 

 

 

The Holden 253 V8 was replaced by a Holden 308 V8, but suffered somewhat with reliability.

The 308 was eventually replaced with a 350 Chev V8