Bill Hamilton (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles William Feilden Hamilton (26 July 1899 - 30 March 1978), commonly known as Bill Hamilton, was a New Zealand
er who developed the modern jetboat
, and founder of what is now the world's leading water jet manufacturing company - CWF Hamilton Ltd (http://www.hamiltonjet.co.nz).
Hamilton never claimed to have invented the jet boat. He once said "I do not claim to have invented marine jet propulsion. The honour belongs to a gentleman named Archimedes
, who lived some years ago." What he did was refine the design enough to produce the first useful modern jet boat.
(South Island
, New Zealand
).
Hamilton survived an aeroplane accident returning to Rongotai Airport (Wellington) in poor conditions on 19 February 1937. The collision with the anemometer took the starboard wing off the Miles Falcon Six he was travelling in, and killed pilot Malcolm "Mac" McGregor.
. He decided to develop his own heavy machinery. He built a workshop, developed an excavator with an earth scoop and built a dam to supply water for a hydro electric plant to supply power for domestic use and for his engineering projects, and started a manufacturing business.
of Mt Cook airline fame commissioned him to design and build the first tow for the Coronet Peak Ski Field near Queenstown - New Zealand's first commercial skifield. In 1949 he completed a similar tow at Mount Ruapehu
in 1948 from here supplied with heavy machinery - in particular to the Waitaki River
hydroelectric projects.
He investigated the American Hanley Hydro-Jet, a model which drew in water and fired it out through a steerable nozzle underneath the boat. Even when further adapted it did not work well. An employee suggested to have the nozzle just above the waterline.
When he took one of his early demonstration jet boats to the US, the media scoffed when he said he planned to take it up the Colorado River (U.S.), but in 1960 a Hamilton jet became the first boat to travel up through the Grand Canyon
. The critics were silenced further when the boat also went down river through the canyon.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
er who developed the modern jetboat
Jetboat
A jetboat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses a propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jetboat draws the water from under the boat into a pump inside the boat, then expels it through a nozzle at the...
, and founder of what is now the world's leading water jet manufacturing company - CWF Hamilton Ltd (http://www.hamiltonjet.co.nz).
Hamilton never claimed to have invented the jet boat. He once said "I do not claim to have invented marine jet propulsion. The honour belongs to a gentleman named Archimedes
Archimedes
Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an...
, who lived some years ago." What he did was refine the design enough to produce the first useful modern jet boat.
Personal life
He was born at Ashwick Station near FairlieFairlie, New Zealand
FairlieUrban AreaPopulation:723Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Mackenzie District CouncilPopulation:Mayor:Website:Extent:Regional councilName:Environment Canterbury...
(South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
).
Hamilton survived an aeroplane accident returning to Rongotai Airport (Wellington) in poor conditions on 19 February 1937. The collision with the anemometer took the starboard wing off the Miles Falcon Six he was travelling in, and killed pilot Malcolm "Mac" McGregor.
Early engineering
At the age of 21 he bought the 'Irishman Creek' sheep station in South Canterbury. and after a trip to England became fascinated with motor cars, raced a BentleyBentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
. He decided to develop his own heavy machinery. He built a workshop, developed an excavator with an earth scoop and built a dam to supply water for a hydro electric plant to supply power for domestic use and for his engineering projects, and started a manufacturing business.
Ski tows
In 1947 tourism pioneer Harry WigleyHenry Rodolph Wigley
Sir Harry Wigley, born Henry Rodolph Wigley was a pilot, entrepreneur and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry....
of Mt Cook airline fame commissioned him to design and build the first tow for the Coronet Peak Ski Field near Queenstown - New Zealand's first commercial skifield. In 1949 he completed a similar tow at Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park...
Christchurch
The main manufacturing business which had started in the workshop at Irishman Creek in 1939 moved to ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 1948 from here supplied with heavy machinery - in particular to the Waitaki River
Waitaki River
The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. It is the major river of the Mackenzie Basin.It is a braided river which flows through Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki. These are ultimately fed by three large glacial lakes, Pukaki, Tekapo,...
hydroelectric projects.
Jet boats
In the 1950s Hamilton set out to try to build a boat that could navigate the shallow fast flowing rivers where he lived. The rivers were too shallow for propeller driven boats to navigate as the propeller would hit the river bottom.He investigated the American Hanley Hydro-Jet, a model which drew in water and fired it out through a steerable nozzle underneath the boat. Even when further adapted it did not work well. An employee suggested to have the nozzle just above the waterline.
When he took one of his early demonstration jet boats to the US, the media scoffed when he said he planned to take it up the Colorado River (U.S.), but in 1960 a Hamilton jet became the first boat to travel up through the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
. The critics were silenced further when the boat also went down river through the canyon.