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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).