Aqua Flyer F-333

This is the only photo I have of the original Water Flyer F-33. 
 
 
Columbus, Ohio - 1960's 
The F-333 sitting with new motor purchased from Durb King.
(See letter's below)


Madison, Indiana 1963 
Photo by Phil Kunz
 


Connelly Snowden driving the F-333 on the Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio in 1971
 
 
 
 

These are original tags that were supplied for the motor build.

 
 

Original letters describing motor build. 


 
 

Thanks for visiting the historical section on Aqua Flyer F-333.








 
Aqua Flyer F-333
Restoration


I thought I would start off the restoration page with how this 1950's Ted Jones 266 ci class hydroplane looked after restoration.
This photo was taken the night before heading out to our first vintage event. 


 


May 9, 2003 - Aqua Flyer F-333 is a late 1950's Ted Jones Gold Cup design. 
This photo, and the next three were taken the first time I saw the boat uncovered. 
 
 

Thirty years of dust from sitting.

 
 
Connelly Snowden drove the boat until his deadly accident driving a 225 ci class hydro in Cincinatti, Ohio in 1972.

 
 
Modified Chevy 265 with Hillborn Fuel Injection.

 
 
This photo was taken at Riverfest, June 2003 sitting on it's original trailer. It wasn't much to see and far from show material but it was good that everyone saw it in it's original splendor.

 


The first chore was cleaning out all the leftovers from a raccoon. 
 


June 30, 2003 - The 265 ci motor before restoration....... 


......and after motor restoration. 
 
 


July 20, 2003 - The F-333 sits on the new trailer for the first time. We eventually lifted the boat another 6" for more room around the sponsons and rudder. The boat went straight from Starbright Trailers in Columbus, Ohio to Hillsboro, Ohio to be painted. Dean Armstrong took over on the bodywork, paint and graphics. 
 
 


August 20, 2003 - 
Dave Nicholson putting the final screws on the rear cowling. We were rushing to get the boat on the water. Things went well until we got to installing the magneto.

 
 
August 23-24, 2003 at Celina, Ohio APBA inboard regatta. This was the first time the boat was shown as a static display. The magneto was still causing problems which kept it from running.

 
 
Butch Nace of Cincinatti, Ohio offered to help out with fine tuning the engine and getting the magneto installed. Butch used to drive F class hydros in the 60's and 70's. His expertise with this type of engine proved invaluable and was well worth the trip to Cincinatti. 
Click here to see a short video clip as we fire up the motor.

 
 
September 21, 2003 - 
Cincinatti, Ohio 
Dave Nicholson, the crew cheif and original owner stands proud after the engine runs for the first time in 35 years. Butch Nace added the final tuning and she sounded right off.

 
 
Driver: Ron Snyder 
Crew Chief: Dave Nicholson

 
 
October 5, 2003 
Ron Snyder driving the F-333 at Louisville, Kentucky. This was the first time the boat was running on the water in 35 years.

 
 
Roar on the River
Left to Right: 
Bill Sterret - Miss Crazy Thing
Ron Snyder - Aqua Flyer
Bill Fisk - Irishman

 
 
Ron Snyder & Kevin Klosterman 
receiving first place vintage award at the 2002 Roar on the River vintage event.

 
Phil Kunz snapped this photo of Ron Snyder driving Aqua Flyer F-333 during the vintage fly-bys at the 2003 Roar on the River APBA inboard races in Louisville, Kentucky.

 
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