I bought it from Poncho Simmonson of Spokane Washington in 2000. He told me that it was originally owned by Miles Eslick and may have been bought from Ron Jones or it was built from Jones plans. It seems most likely that construction was started in the early 60's and finished in 69 (the rt. sponson transom has a date of 11/23/69 on the inside). I understand that Ron Jones had stopped building conventional hydros by the mid to late 60s. As such, I'm guessing my hull must have been built from plans or started as a kit in the early 60s and finished in the late 60s. I’ve been told it was only race a few times in the early 70s when Miles had a guy named Jimmy Johnson of Spokane drive it. It was raced as something Nickel and had a white deck and sides with a 3" orange stripe down the side at the junction of the side and deck. Later Miles sold it to Jimmy (son of Bob Johnson - Bob had something to do with the unlimiteds in Spokane). Word is that Jimmy bought the current cowlings from Ron Jones and set the boat up to run for a kilo record. Apparently it did ok on the first pass but failed miserably on the second after it blew a hose. After that it never really ran much and was sold to Poncho Simmonson about 10 years ago. Speaking to Jack Hines (Miss Peg) he noticed the hull had fewer frames than his hull. As well after reviewing the few Jones plans I have (none of which are of the same 17” 8” length my hull is) I noticed they all have between 12 and 13 frames (including the transom). Mine has only 10 including the transom. It may be that the dry sponson design had fewer frames compared to the wet sponson plans I have. With so little information on this hull I'm turning to you Northwest US hydro fans to see if you can help me learn more about this hull. Please don’t hesitate to drop me an e-mail or call me in California at 925-417-0718.

It seems most likely that construction was started in the early 60's and finished in 69 (the right, inside sponson transom has a date of 11/23/69 on the inside). 

I understand that Ron Jones had stopped building conventional hydros by the mid to late 60s. 
As such, I'm guessing my hull must have been built from plans or started as a kit in the early 60s and finished in the late 60s.
 

I've been told it was only race a few times in the early 70s when Miles had a guy named Jimmy Johnson of Spokane drive it. It was raced as "something" Nickel and had a white deck and sides with a 3" orange stripe down the side at the junction of the side and deck.

Later Miles sold it to Jimmy (son of Bob Johnson - Bob had something to do with the unlimiteds in Spokane). 
Word is that Jimmy bought the current cowlings from Ron Jones and set the boat up to run for a kilo record.
Apparently it did ok on the first pass but failed miserably on the second after it blew a hose. 
After that it never really ran much and was sold to Poncho Simmonson about 10 years ago.
 

Speaking to Jack Hines (Miss Peg) he noticed the hull had fewer frames than his hull. 
As well after reviewing the few Jones plans I have (none of which are of the same 17" 8" length my hull is) I noticed they all have between 12 and 13 frames (including the transom). Mine has only 10 including the transom.  It may be that the dry sponson design had fewer frames compared to the wet sponson plans I have.

With so little information on this hull I'm turning to you Northwest US hydro fans to see if you can help me learn more about this hull. Please don't hesitate to drop me an e-mail or call me in California at 925-417-0718.

name:              _ _ _ _ _ _ _  Nickel?
class/motor:        Unkown 265 or 280
designer/builder:  Maybe built from Ron Jones plans or kit
year built:            11/23/1969
owners name:      Scott Courts
city/state:  Pleasanton, CA 94566

© Scott Courts

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