Queensland P76 Private Owners - Brett in Cairns (Boat with P76 motor

Hi to everyone in the P76 club, I have written this small article and included some photo’s of my Boat (what, I thought this is a car club) in response to a request from Adrian who thought this would be of interest to members.

: The following info is divided into two categories, that I know from fact and that I have been told from the previous owner, so here we go.

: 1. Have Been Told from previous owner .

: The person I bought this from is quite reliable and honest but if anyone in P76 Land knows more about this model than please pass it on. He has said this boat was made approx 30-32 years ago, it was manufactured in Adelaide under the brand of Sonic Boats, I have tried to track down more info on the company but there are no leads yet except in the USA which has said they did not build boats in Oz.

: 2. Facts that I know
: The boat would have been top of the line 30 odd years ago, all construction is of high quality and NO shortcuts in any of the components have been found. It is a fully dedicated ski boat with full original Smith instrumentation; I have tidied up the boat with new carpet, wood grain dash and steering wheel and repaint of the hull. On the back of the Speedo and other gauges are the date 1975/76 stamped in them so the age is pretty close to the mark give or take a year.

: Motor of course is the 4.4 lt with a 350 Holley, other wise it is stock standard and fully marinenised with stainless exhaust and Fireball electronic ignition. It has the pulling power of many a larger capacity motors (V8`s) and is very frugal on fuel. It makes a fantastic growl when the boat is at full song on the lake as the exhausts come out of the water on the plane. I have been offered twice what I paid for it (Original price$5500.00) from 3 people wanting to buy it on the spot but where can you find this type of boat again.
: It is the original motor untouched and never removed, it starts with just twitch of the key, has never let me down in 18 months and is so user friendly. Other friends who I have let drive it just won’t get out of the seat, and many a 2 Stroke of 200 + Hp do not even come close to the stump pulling power and fuel economy this motor delivers.

: I had a fellow ski boat owner with a 327 chev(mechanic)lift the engine cowl and could not believe a 4.4 lt could deliver this amount of goods and only with a 2 barrel Holley and not a 4 barrel. It is full fiberglass and it is old school build where the fiberglass is very thick and very strong, fuel tank is original full fiberglass made type, it is a direct drive dog clutch, so it drives from the front of the motor off the crank shaft where you have 200 Hp + delivered.

: After the demise of Leyland Australia, many of the left over 4.4lt motors went into ski boats in Oz and quite a few went over to N Zealand for their jet boats of which many are still running today I believe, while my boat is definitely not the front runner these days, it does everything well, it pulls 2 single skiers, it pulls a parasail, it sounds great and it’s reliable and economical, what more could you ask for.

: I hope this has been an article that has stirred the memory of some who may have had the great boating pleasure with the all invincible 4.4lt Leyland Experience.

: Many thanks to Adrian (Qld Club) for his help regarding advertising for me and his interest to ask for a story on this boat on behalf of fellow members.

: Cheers to All, Brett in Cairns.

Queensland P76 Owners Club Inc. 2007

History Of My Boat.

Brett in Cairns