That's when more than thirty Thunderboats were constructed. Not to worry, it wasn't long before the propriders had sufficient numbers to more than offset the temporary decline. Indeed, the 1956 boat count was an unprecedented 31, followed by an all-time high of 33 in 1957. That first generation of propriding three-pointers established an important precedent. The Unlimited hydroplanes of today, at first glance, have little in common with their predecessors of the early 1950s.
Contemporary hulls use turbine power, are much more streamlined, and run faster.
Gone are the primitive two-bladed props that cost a few hundred dollars. In their place are the three-bladed technological marvels that cost many thousands of dollars. But once out on the race course, when those impressive roostertails leap skyward, the Thunderboats of today become one with all of the great propriders of the past. The tradition lives on. All Photos on this page from Dave Williams and the Hydroplane Race Boat Museum.