X24 experimental boat
 

A man called me recently telling me about an experimental boat called an X24 that was powered by twin Packard engines that were supposed to be enormous; This boat had problems and sank more than once because it would pop boards in the hull. I am guessing that might have been from torque on the hull, thus twisting the hull and popping planks. He said it was his understanding it was in the Wolfboro area.

He said the boat was run in the 1930's and that Packard made "X24s" so I assume this X24 designation refers to the engines and not a specific boat.

- Does this X24 boat ring a bell with anyone?;

- A large CorrectCraft my buddy dove for me this year (I can't dive while my eardurm heals) with "very large" twins on board that I found on sonar "could" be the X24; Out of the nearly 70 wrecks I have found in Winnipesaukee not one has twin engines, except this recent find. And the hull is big and very old.

I am getting some information mailed to me which I will post if it is helpful.

Thanks.

Packard X 24 cylinder engines
 

Found this in a search regarding the late-'20s vintage Packard 24 cylinder 1500 hp engines-yikes!

If the engine essentially looks like a V-12 engine with another V12 engine bolted below it upside down (forming an X configuration of the cylinders) you've got your boat.

Hope the links work:

http://papers.sae.org/280064/

edit: one of the original links for the x24 engine seemed to have become unavailable and was removed.

Could this be the motor?
 

V12 engine
 

There was a wooden boat restorer on Rte 3 between the Weirs and Meredith, Harper had a V12 engine on a pallet I believe in the 90's. He was building a wooden race boat to put the engine in and race it on the lake. I have not followed the progress, but I believe he has the boat elsewhere.

not V12
 

It's not a V12, it's an X24.

Orion's Link Needs To Be Fixed
 

The extra http:// in the second link needs to be take out so that it looks like this:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...77880786,d.aWw

More information came in on Packard engines in marine uses. I am making progress on what engines are in the twin-engine Correct Craft I found in Wolfboro but nothing definitive yet-not until I can dive the wreck, film it, and take photographs.

Need to look for engine plates etc. also. But this is part of the fun of finding wrecks.

You haven't seen insane power until you read thru this link-just nuts. The Garwood in the picture with the 4 engines installled has a hand written note stating "1933".

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mo...orumpost153298

Great pics and info on that site. Thanks for posting!