Age is just a number for Bullet boats

by Bob Wonders on 20 Jul 2013 The name is ‘Bullseye’ and with owner David Milton at the wheel and a 2.5-litre Mercury outboard at the transom, this sleek 1750 Bullet established a new Mod VP record of 104.007mph (167.378 kph) and a new Sports Mono record of 102.00mph (164.14 kph).

Not bad for an eight-year-old hull! ‘Bullseye’ and David Milton were contesting the Kilo runs at the Taree Powerboat Club’s big weekend recently and while going about their ‘business’ the pair also had a crack (unsuccessfully as it turned out) at the long-standing record set by Ken Evans and the legendary ‘Bullet One’ more than 25-years ago.

Ken Evans, who recently retired after a long and successful career at Mercury Marine, established the remarkable mark of 120.92 mph (194.609 kph) on the placid waters of Lake Munmorra.

He also established a Bridge to Bridge Powerboat Race record in 1986 in Unlimited Mono of 37’ 57' in the same boat with the same 2.4-litre Bendix-injected Mercury outboard, and that record still stands.

If any further proof was needed of the sheer efficiency of Bullet hull design, it must be rated highly doubtful if there’s another hull anywhere in the world still capable of performing to this level.

It should be noted that ‘Bullseye’ was no 'ordinary' Bullet – in fact, it was built by the late, great Don Cameron himself sometime in 2005 and the end result is a Kevlar hull, light and quick, very quick.

‘Bullseye’ and owner/driver David Milton can probably be counted on to give some other records something of a shake in the coming months.

Evans who describes himself as 'Bullet, through and through', is confident the Bullet Boat breed will live on successfully in its new Queensland home.

Acting on behalf of the estate of the late Don Cameron, founder of the Bullet Boat Co, Evans has placed the future of Bullet Boats with Paul Tuesley, a well-known industry identity who operates Runaway Bay Marine Covers and Marine Stainless Solutions.

The boat manufacturing arm will be known as Bullet Boats (the original was the Bullet Boat Co.) and the current aim is to produce up to 20 boats annually.

In addition to the 1750 Bullet, other models in the line-up include the 1800, 1850, 1950 and 2100 hulls.

Paul Tuesley has also purchased a bow rider production boat from the United States and this will be introduced to the local market under the name Auzsports Boats.

A specialist wakeboard boat is also planned.

Two dealers for the Bullet breed have been appointed by Paul in the form of noted high-performance Sydney firm TR Marine Services and in Queensland, the range will be marketed by the Broadwater Boating Centre.

Both dealers will display Bullet Boats at their respective premises and at major recreational boating exhibitions.

'We’ve been very fortunate in selecting Paul Tuesley, who has already shown his considerable expertise over the last couple of years and I am extremely confident that the Bullet Boat name will live on,' Ken Evans declared.

For further information contact Runaway Bay Marine Covers, Runaway Bay Marina, Queensland, telephone (07) 5529 6277.