Propellor Driven Water Speed World Record Holder

Utilising a 12” Diameter twin blade propeller turning at 6200 RPM and driven by a 650bhp V8 Chevy Big engine running on Avgas; Miss Windermere VI reached speeds of over 155 mph, smashing though a series of World Records including fastest ever on wood, fastest boat on Windermere and the Unlimited Hydroplane record.

Aerospace Engineering “On the Water”

A new upgraded propeller shaft from PDS comfortably allowed the V8 Engine to deliver maximum power (650bhp) without fear of twist or shearing as previous attempts had suffered.

Underside view showing the newly machined shaft in place ready to test.

The propeller was also reworked in our Nelson workshops by wire erosion cutting to incredibly accurate tolerances. The centre location hole was increased on the taper to make it fit accurately on the new location.

PDS Engineering stood by to give urgent backup during the record season in case emergency alterations or redesigned components were required. This is the same facility which was utilised by Richard Noble for the THRUST SSC in Black Rock Desert Nevada for the World Landspeed Record runs and also by Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson for the “Round the World Balloon”.