Surfury
as illustrated by Tony Lofthouse - Taken from the book 'Milestones
In My Designs' By Renato "Sonny" Levi.
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“Surfury”
Design & Building.
To continue to compete against the growing challenges of Italy and USA
the Gardners realised a new boat would be required and comply with Class
C1, the highest performance class for European Races & the major
annual UK race the Cowes – Torquay. The rules stipulated the design
must incorporate cabin headroom of 1.8 metres, 4 berths and a maximum
engine capacity of 16.4 litres. If success was going to be achieved
it was to be by a combination of maximising engine power and output
and an ability to convert this into performance and reliability.
Sonny Levi.
The designer of the new craft was Renato “Sonny” Levi the
Italian - British designer who had already made his mark with the innovative
“A Speranziella”. Sonny had also developed a unique Delta
design for 16 & 17 foot inland circuit racing and chose to design
these radical aspects into the new offshore craft. The Delta design
configures a Deep V section with the transom forming the widest part
of the hull. A curvature of the hull profile generates the increased
strength necessary for the rigours of offshore racing. The result was
a 36 ft craft that respected both the C1 rules and an engine installation
of over 1,000 hp. Uniquely Sonny Levi paid significant attention to
the aerodynamic performance of the new boat.
Illustration
taken from the book 'Milestones In My Design' by Renato 'Sonny' Levi.
Charles Gardner.
Charles Gardner worked closely with Sonny Levi on the design suggesting
significant changes by removing the deck over the fuel tanks that reduced
the weight significantly. He also interpreted & bent the rules wherever
possible including a suggestion that the cabin door could be combined
with the use of the mandatory cabin table as well as a dolls plastic
cutlery set for the galley!
Sonny
Levi: “I found Charles enthusiasm for “Surfury”
catching & extremely stimulating, every weight saving refinement
we could think up which might result in a minimum increase in speed
was immediately incorporated in the design".
It was Charles’ requirement that the pair of awesome Daytona Scarab
Turbocharged engines should be installed in tandem, one behind the other,
driving one central propeller through a V drive placed between them.
The engines, based upon the Chevrolet short block engine were turbocharged
& adapted for marine use by the Daytona Corporation in Florida.
This unique use of turbo charging some 12 years before its adoption
in competitive motor racing further exemplifies the innovative development
that was taking place in offshore power boat racing at this time.
Sonny
Levi: “Charles believed that this engine & transmission
combination placing all its power through a single propeller could save
approximately the equivalent of 200 hp output through the reduced drag
compared to twin propellers”.
This
transmission system had only been tested once before in the UK in Sir
Henry Segraves water speed record contender “Miss England”
in 1930.
“Surfury
“Specification 1967:
Weight: 4 tons
Length: 36’0” (10.97m)
Length Waterline: 31’6” (9.60m
Deadrise Transom: 25 Degrees
Beam: 10’ 3” (3.20m)
Beam Chine: 8’0” (2.43m)
Draught: 1’10” (0.58m)
Engines: 2 X Daytona Scarab Petrol Fuelled Turbocharged
Engines Power: 1,050 hp (Quoted) 1,200hp+ (Actual at full boost)
Speed: Max 65 mph (Quoted) 80mph + (Actual)
Fuel Consumption at 3,000 RPM: 60 – 70 gallons/hr
Ivor Verlander.
The controls of the boat were designed with dual duplicate throttle
and steering positions allowing both brothers to view and react to requirements
with complete flexibility. Ivor Verlander the 3rd member of the crew,
who’s job was to manage the engines whilst underway, elected to
be positioned standing and holding a stainless steel bar maintaining
a shotgun position behind the brothers.
He recalls: “I could view the instruments from behind the
brothers and the Daytona’s through Perspex hatch covers that were
specially added into the deck".
W.
A. Souters.
W. A. Souters of Cowes built the boat in the cold moulded system that
had been originally developed in the 1930’s. This system had been
overlooked for offshore power craft for many years but gave the advantage
of a light but exceedingly strong construction. The hull was originated
over a master frame and built up by 4 laminates of plywood 6mm thick,
giving an overall thickness of 24mm laminated from the keel rabbet to
the sheer. The longitudes were of Spruce and the cabin was also cold
moulded with the deck & internal joinery work in plywood. The performance
that this craftsmanship achieved can be compared to the modern composites
for both weight and strength. With an overall length of 36 ft “Surfury”
weighed in at only 4 tons. Just three years previously competing craft
of the same length weighed approximately 8 tons. The recipe for performance
was complete.
"Surfury"
Is Launched.
The colour scheme was of dark blue & white and it suited the new
boat with dramatic effect, even more so when married up to her “modest”
racing number of 111 and Union Jacks her transom. She was launched in
August 1965 and christened “Surfury" to the immediate acclaim
from the UK and International Press.
Michael Souter, son of Wilf Souter, who both built the new boat reflects:
“She was from the onset a significant step forward in the development
of offshore racing craft. She was 20 years ahead of her time, the greatest
powerboat we ever built”.
Sonny
Levi: “The press certainly gave “Surfury” a big
write-up and she certainly marked an important milestone in my career
as a designer.”
