Century

1964 Century Resorter with factory jet option.
Power is by a 327 Gray Marine V-8. 

Anybody know the manufacturer of the jet drive unit?
Thanks Todd for sending it in!
Check out the Century Info Below--Thanks to Fred for sending it in.

1973 Century Mark II, 17', originally had 455 Olds and Berkeley, now has 396 Chevy

Thanks to Jason for sending in a pix of his VJB.

I just found your jet boat web page and have been enjoying it very much. I own a Buehler Turbocraft which is supposed to be a 1963 model and to have been used as a tow boat at Cyprus Gardens. It has a tilting safety glass windshield which opens from the bottom and is supported at two levels by two chrome supports when it is not open. It is powered by a 215hp Gray with a single (I think) stage Buehler pump. It is 18' long and the hull tag says MO-126. There are wood inserts on both the front and rear decks and it has steps over the jet outlet. It has left hand drive with a double handle shift and throttel control mounted to the left inwale. It has wooden intake guards mounted on either side of the grill on the outside of the bottom. If you could confirm the year of the boat and any of its pedigree I sure would appreciate it! I have collected some Buehler catalogs and the boats that look closest to mine appear in the 1963 catalog and are called the Turbocraft Jet 35-C and the Conquistador. The interior currently has two bucket front seats and a bench rear seat without a "sun pad" section. I suppose my boat could have a combination of items from both these models if it was actually a special tow boat in Florida. It probably is a 35-C with the special windshield for driver comfort in Florida.

As for the 1964 Century jet boat you show on your page, according to original factory literature, it is a 1964 17' Resorter with a 220hp Gray Fireball V-8 driving a Jacuzzi Marine Jet. It listed for $4,895.00.

Century also made a jet drive available for their 1963 17' Resorter model but it was a Buehler Turbo Marine Jet with a 215hp Gray Fireball V-8 driving it. It listed for $4,795.00.

These are the only two boats Century ever offered with jet drives as a factory option. It is quite possible that a few other jets were special ordered on other models but never listed on price lists or in factory catalogs.

In reviewing the latest Century Boat Club membership directory I have found 3 - 1963 models listed with jets (one currently has a 440 Chrysler hooked up to it!!) and no 1964's listed as having a jet drive.

Fred Marks President, Century Boat Club, Inc. frmarks@dctnet.net