Part 2 - The Hammond Family of Robbin's Island (NW Tas) amphibious Tri Hull "Montagu Tom" (PART 2)

Experimental amphibious boat owned by the Hammond family of Robbins Island. Hull is a Henry Hobson 24' Tri-Hull built in Wynyard, Tas. Gene Hammond's dream was to be able to travel between the family's two properties at Montagu, on NW Tasmania and across a tidal channel to Robbins Island and drive onto the land. Gene designed this vessel on the idea of the "blow boats" in the swamps of America. Initially, a 454 Chev V8 engine was mid mounted on the deck, with an aircraft propeller blade for propulsion which was a frightening thing. This idea proved unsuccessful, so the prop was removed and the V8 engine remained to power a hydraulic pump which then propelled the wheels, steering and raising/lowering the legs. This video was filmed after Gene's passing around 1991 by Danny Neilson of Coastal Marine, Somerset after he fitted the twin 150hp Yamaha outboards. Although Gene's dream became reality, the equipment was far too heavy and unpractical so the boat was stripped and returned to it's conventional state. "Montagu Tom" as the boat is named (after a resident Great White Shark) is still in use today after thousands of crossings to and from the Robbins Island, been sunk several times and has been repowered at least 3 times. Filmed at the helm are a very young John Hammond and his good friend Neil "Kingo" Kingston who engineered the boat. (PART 2).

[@simonkingston6976]

RIP Uncle Neil, I spent school a holiday helping him build it, it was first introduction to anti seize😢

[@bubbleobill267]

Gotta love the smoke from the two bangers on start up!.

[@williamkerr3350]

She's sitting low in the water,must be considerable weight in whats needed for the dry drive train.Gotta love people who have a go.

[@caseyspinks9810]

Hi William, yes you are correct it was way overweight with the big block 454 mounted on the deck driving a hyd pump for the wheels etc. Before the outboards were fitted, the original prototype had a large aircraft propeller fitted to the V8 for propulsion like the American “blow boats” used on the swamps. But this was a failure as well, not only was it unable to move the boat around easily, it was the most terrifying, dangerous machine to operate with straight through extractors and huge propeller just behind helm. But the owner had a dream and did their best to make it happen. By the way, this boat is still in operation today in conventional form and is used daily to commute to an island.

[@gondwanatravels8834]

Mmmm

[@johnboy5167]

The 2 strokes are crap get rid of them and put some decent engines on it

[@caseyspinks9810]

@@johnboy5167 this was filmed in 1991 at the time those engines were new and best available. This boat is still in operation today and is on at least it’s 5th set of engines

[@johnboy5167]

@@caseyspinks9810 👍

[@markuswilmes3694]

Lol