In 1949 the British Government sent 5 Rolls-Royce Griffon 57 engines to Canada for the Offshore Powerboat, Miss Canada IV.
These were one engine plus four spares.
The gearbox was made locally in Canada, but the propeller was a Rotol.
These were new front line engines at the time, and were ultimately returned to the UK when finished with.
Apart from what comes up on Google, does anyone have any knowledge or recollection of this, either from the Rolls-Royce angle, or in Canada.
I am looking for details of how the engine was installed in the craft.
Cheers
Pete
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th November 2011 at 14:23
Griffon work
Well done Peter 😀
DAI
By: MerlinPete - 29th November 2011 at 13:43
It was a single propeller, surprisingly small, but running at least 3 times engine speed, so up to around 9000 rpm.
Latest Press Release:
For Immediate Release
Novemember 23, 2011
Miss Canada Restoration Team sources
Rolls Royce Griffon engine for Miss Canada IV
The Miss Canada IV Restoration Team announced to-day they have hired Flight Engineering from
Cumbria, UK to supply and install a Rolls Royce Griffon engine in Miss Canada IV next summer.
The Restoration Team also announced that they have entered into an agreement with the
Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum from Kent WA. to work with Flight Engineering during the engine
rebuild, transmission construction and assembly of the related engine and transmission running
systems. The Museum team will also support Flight Engineering and boat builder Tom Adams, who
is doing the restoration of Miss Canada IV, during the installation process.
Jamie Smith said during the announcement “This is a remarkable day for the team. We now have
all the components necessary to restore Miss Canada IV to her original 1950 running specifications,
and have also secured the best expertise available in Peter Grieves from Flight Engineering and
Dave Williams and his team from the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum to complete the restoration”
Following the announcement Peter Grieve, Chief Engineer said, “Flight Engineering is proud to be
able to supply the Griffon engine, gearbox and the running systems for Miss Canada IV from here in
the UK. In 1949 -1950 the original engine was on loan and was returned to Rolls Royce; now Miss
Canada IV will have a permanent replacement. It will be amazing to see her in action once again.”
David Williams, Executive Director also added, “The Hydroplane Museum is thrilled to be part of the
Miss Canada IV team. This was an amazing, one of a kind boat, and to be asked to help bring her
back to life is truly an honor”.
The UK and USA groups will meet in Muskoka in early December to set the installation agenda, visit
with Tom Adams to measure Miss Canada IV and set the “test run” schedule.
The search for a Rolls Royce Griffon engine started in March of 2011. A number of suppliers were
located on the west coat of the USA, where rebuilt racing & warbird aircraft and vintage hydroplane
groups source their engines. Friends of the Restoration Team ultimately opened doors to the
Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in early 2011 and to Fight Engineering in mid September.
Engine Rolls Royce Griffon 58, “V” Type 12 Cylinders
Cylinder Displacement 2,339 Cubic Inches
Exhaust System 2 x 6-Inch Diameter Exhaust Pipes
Horsepower 3000
Fuel 150 Octane with special water-methanol
injection at top speed
Top Speed + 200 MPH
Weight of Engine 2,050 LBS
Pete
By: Canuck - 11th October 2011 at 22:50
No contra-props there, Brits.
There perhaps was a V-drive – to a single knife-edged racing prop…
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th October 2011 at 22:18
Miss Canada IV
Did the boat have contra-rotating propellers Peter?
It have a suspicion it/they may have had variable pitch blades.
Anon.
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October 11, 2011 at 10:05 pm