The AIC ASOC has been subjected to numerous land trials and seven sea trials. The following is a brief summary of each of the sea trials.

Sea Trial #1: Date: 16DEC92 Location: Collero Dam

• The craft moved under its own power on land and in the water.
• The suspension retracted and extended as designed.
• The craft has (in my opinion) a good attitude in the water (it sits well).

• Top water speed was plowing at approximately 5 to 10 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge and overemphasized by new parts getting warm for the first time under real load.
• The transfer case emitted grinding noises when engaging/disengaging the jet drive.
• The rear wheels rubbed on the inside of the fender wells in the retracted position when power was applied to them.
• Water came out the rear compartment air intake when power was applied to the rear wheels because the fiber glassing had not yet been completed on the air intake.

• A convex fiberglass "bubble" was molded into the jet drive intake (which was previously concave), a hydrodynamically correct way to "load" the jet drive.
• Steel engine cooling pipes running between the engine water pump and the radiator (in the rear) were replaced with larger diameter rubber hoses.
• A pneumatic rotary ram was installed on the transfer case to facilitate gear changes.
• The read wheel wells were clearanced.
• The rear compartment air intake fiber glassing was completed.

Sea Trial #2: Date: JAN93 Location: Coast Guard Pier, Monterey

• Top water speed was plowing at approximately 5 to 10 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• A stainless steel extension was fabricated and installed on the trailing edge of the jet drive intake in order to extend the entire intake for the jet drive to the bottom of the craft, possibly a hydrodynamically correct way to further "load" the jet drive.
• The fan on the radiator was remounted from the "push" configuration to the "pull" configuration.
• A different pneumatic rotary ram was installed on the transfer case.

Sea Trial #3: Date: JAN93 Location: Coast Guard Pier, Monterey

• Top water speed was plowing at approximately 10 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• Fuel injection was replaced with a carburetor.
• An aluminum "loader" plate was fabricated and attached to the bottom of the craft to isolate the atmosphere from the jet drive intake.
• The rear compartment was made air tight around the air intake inlets and fans were mounted in each of the inlets.
• The electric transfer case clutch was wired to assist power selection.

Sea Trial #4: Date: JAN93 Location: Coast Guard Pier, Monterey

• Top water speed was plowing at approximately 10 to 15 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• A variable "jet-a-vator" attached to the jet drive output to direct output up/down.
• The rear compartment deck lid was removed.
• The electric transfer case clutch was disabled.

Sea Trial #5: Date: FEB93 Location: Del Monte Beach, Monterey Bay

• Top water speed was almost "planing" at approximately 10 to 20 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• An additional fan was attached to the radiator, also in the "pull" configuration.

Sea Trial #6: Date: FEB93 Location: Del Monte Beach, Monterey Bay

• Top water speed was almost "planing" at approximately 10 to 20 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• Engine exhaust pipes and mufflers were additionally wrapped with heat insulation material.
• The radiator was repositioned, further away from the engine exhaust mufflers.

Sea Trial #7: Date: MAR93 Location: Coast Guard Pier, Monterey

• Top water speed was "planing" at approximately 35 mph.
• Engine overheating was evidenced by the temperature gauge.
• Transfer case still must be shifted manually.

• A better radiator.
• Marine water coolers installed into the engine exhaust headers.
• The rear compartment deck lid needs to be reinstalled.
• The transfer case shifting still needs some attention.

This page is maintained by RUSSELL HOLDER and does not represent any views or policies of and is not affiliated in any way with my employer.

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