I've also contacted several Offshore Super Series Cat Lite racing teams to see about purchasing their hull (when the team upgrades to a newer one).

After much careful consideration, it appears to me the Eliminator Daytona 28 is the best hull for my purpose (and budget).

My current boat has an "open bow" and I really like that option for the easy forward access and versatility it offers. A canvas cover would be installed for high-speed running.

This Eliminator Daytona 28 features the Integrated Cockpit Canopies styled after the F-16 canopies and features lots of forward storage areas for your gear.

There's also plenty of room in the aft cockpit for a turbine engine.

Nice graphics and matching trailer make an attractive package. The bimini cover has got to go; it has no function in a turbine boat running at 110+ mph.

Here's some 'before' photos of my project boat. I got a great deal on a Cobra 30' Terminator Cat. Originally designed for offshore racing by Peter Casini, this hull won numerous regional, national, and world offshore championships.

After racking up several years of race victories including regional and national offshore championships (and the World Championship in 1992), Cobra Boats went into production and made this same hull available to the general public for a short period of only three years.

I found this gem 'lounging around' down in the desert. It's been stored for several years and was way under powered with a 385 HP Mercruiser Big Block 454. It was pretty obvious to me it had a real 'hard life' as I inspected the hull and fittings. But, it was perfect for my project and I bought it just for the hull. I intended to 'gut' everything, pull the motor + drive and replace it with my turbine. Perfect for someone's' re-power project, I'll package up the entire EFI motor, manifolds, exhaust system, outdrive, power trim pump, hydraulic steering, stainless prop and drive shower. I'll even include the motor mounts and instruments. Here's a performance review of how well this motor/outdrive performs.

In addition to being extremely rigid, this Kevlar hull weighs only 2455 pounds. Compare to the Spektre 30 which weighs 5,800 lbs. and the Eliminator Daytona 30 which weighs in at 6,800 lbs. This Cobra Terminator is going to rip- What we have here is a thoroughbred race horse!

The following Spring I pulled the engine and outdrive and it sold in less than 24 hours. Everything I won't need for the turbine went with; external steering cylinder, gauges, harness, it's all gone. I ripped out wiring, carpeting, right down to the bare shell. Now I guess I'm committed. Come to think of it, some folks have already told me I should be committed.

The rear bench seat will also be removed (it's only left in place to support the tarp cover in this view on the right looking down from my shop). I should have enough room for seating on each side of the turbine (two up front and two in the rear). Lot's of soundproofing lining a 'doghouse' over the turbine should keep the noise down to manageable levels.

The T58 is bolted in; now it's officially a 'Turbine Powered Boat'.

The rear mounts secure the gearbox to the composite motor mounts.

I used 'quick disconnect' pins so pulling the motor only takes a couple minutes.

While I was in a 'metal cutting mood' I also got the tail pipe cutout.

Brackets have been fabricated to route my throttle cables.

I'm using 'push rod' connected to two-wire aircraft 'pull pull' style (same as the old warbirds).

I'm 'dry fitting' all my hoses. This dry sump tank supplies synthetic lube oil to the gas turbine engine through AN16 Stainless Steel Aircraft Braided Hoses. I'm using 'quick disconnects' everywhere so my engine can be removed in just a couple minutes.

The throttle linkage is visible on this side. This lube oil tank is plumbed to the reduction gearbox (also known as the Speed Decreaser Gearbox or SDG). I plumbed through a heat exchanger from an old warbird to cool the gearbox oil.

I fabricated a bracket to support the end of the Fuel Control.

The use of a connecting link allows the Gas Generator to expand lengthwise while still providing vertical support.

Another bracket supports the center of the combustion chamber; allowing for expansion while still providing support.

The stainless exhaust has been fabricated.

With the exhaust duct in place I can trim the engine hatch to fit Then I'll fabricate a stainless 'collar' to go around the exhaust pipe. This will keep the heat off the fiberglass and allow an exit point (1" gap) for the hot air being vented out of the engine area.

The rear bulkhead is split, so I fabricated a stainless stiff arm for support. Quick disconnect pins allow fast removal for easy access.

A friend of mine over at Hardy Engineering and Manufacturing did some nice machine work on my coupling. Now my 6 Rib serpentine belt runs on the surface drive coupling to power my alternator.

Here's my Disk Brake setup. This allows me to stop the output shaft from turning during the start cycle (effectively provides 'neutral' as it prevents the prop from turning and keeps the boat stationary).

Once the rpm of the gas turbine has stabilized at idle, I release the shaft brake, the prop starts turning, my alternator starts charging, and away we go. Here my alternator bracket is in place; I used a carbon fiber bracket for the top support.

More to follow.

On this side the fuel filters, pumps, and pressure regulators are mounted. The power steering pump has a black shroud over the cooling fins with a fan drawing air out the top to ensure proper cooling.

The gearbox lube oil tank and oil cooler can be seen on this side.

This is where the lube oil lines cross under the gearbox- it's an example of the attention to detail that I consider critical to the success of this project. It takes time, but is worth doing it correctly the first time.

The alternator and brake assembly bracket is installed. Next I'll route the AN3 stainless braided hoses to a "T", then all the way up to the brake valve and brake pedal. The alternator bracket is electrically isolated from the brake caliper bracket, surface drive and gas turbine to reduce stray voltage (which contributes to electrolysis).

With two independent fuel systems dependability is assured. If either tank has a problem, that side can be bypassed and the other tank will provide fuel to the gas turbine. I used AN8 stainless steel braided hose for the fuel supply and return lines.

The hydraulic pumps that power the Arneson Surface Drive trim and Power Hinges are tucked away on the transom above the alternator and shaft brake. The small orange tank supplies gear lube to the surface drive.

Kim and Donald visited my site and provided this photo of their beautiful Cobra Terminator. As the third owners, they described how this boat was originally given away at a raffle by a Coca-Cola distributor. Decorated in Coca-Cola colors, it also had a large Coca-Cola emblem on it that was later removed.

I believe this red is the original base-color of these boats (the stripes were added by the customer specifically for the Coca-Cola promotion) as my hull has this same color under the white gel-coat. I've been promised more photos of this beautiful machine.

Try your best to imagine this; Do you recall your first ride on a roller coaster? You know how you go from the feeling of 'sheer terror' on that first big drop to 'adrenalized elation' when you realize you're still alive (and seated safely in the car)?

That's the feeling you get when you ride in a turbine powered cat!

Over and over, the ride takes you from one thrill to the next. Get some air while jumping across the 'whitecaps'. Taking long sweeping turns at speed. Running full-throttle across the 'flat-as-glass' open bay. It's just one wicked adrenaline rush to the next. All heads turn wherever you take the boat. There's always many technical questions to be answered. And those who 'resist the urge' to look the first time just stop and stare when they hear the unmistakable sound of the turbine. It's quite the legal high. Now that's just what you are able to imagine.

Just wait till you take a ride in the 'real thing' at speeds in excess of 120 mph through the beautiful San Juan Islands! In a word awesome!