X24 experimental boat

Diver1111 · 10-25-2014, 02:23 PM

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.

Orion · 10-25-2014, 05:04 PM

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.

Happy Gourmand · 10-28-2014, 12:50 PM

http://www.pt-boat.com/packard/packard.html

BroadHopper · 10-28-2014, 06:56 PM

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.

Orion · 11-03-2014, 07:07 AM

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

Senter Cove Guy · 11-03-2014, 07:57 AM

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

Diver1111 · 11-16-2014, 11:25 PM

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

8gv · 11-17-2014, 07:01 AM

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

10-25-2014, 02:23 PM	#1
Diver1111 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Exeter NH Posts: 603 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,032 Times in 227 Posts	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.

10-25-2014, 05:04 PM	#2
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	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. Last edited by Orion; 11-06-2014 at 06:18 AM.

10-28-2014, 12:50 PM	#3
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,027 Thanks: 188 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	Could this be the motor? http://www.pt-boat.com/packard/packard.html

10-28-2014, 06:56 PM	#4
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,569 Thanks: 3,199 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	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. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

11-03-2014, 07:07 AM	#5
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	not V12 It's not a V12, it's an X24.

The Following User Says Thank You to Diver1111 For This Useful Post:
ApS (10-25-2014)

11-03-2014, 07:57 AM	#6
Senter Cove Guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 596 Thanks: 291 Thanked 429 Times in 140 Posts	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 __________________ Lake Winni - The only place I want to be during the summer.

The Following User Says Thank You to Senter Cove Guy For This Useful Post:
Orion (11-06-2014)

11-16-2014, 11:25 PM	#7
Diver1111 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Exeter NH Posts: 603 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,032 Times in 227 Posts	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

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Diver1111 For This Useful Post:
8gv (11-17-2014), Senter Cove Guy (11-17-2014), trfour (11-17-2014)

11-17-2014, 07:01 AM	#8
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,087 Thanks: 64 Thanked 727 Times in 474 Posts	Great pics and info on that site. Thanks for posting!