I have had a huge amount of problems with the restoration of my Dowty's. In the end, I have given up on one and the pictures show why. The engine has a split block, plus much more and is virtually scrap, this is the 3rd Zephyr that I have had with splits blocks. Possibly because the raw water is fed into the engine and when stopped with a hot engine the cold water destroys the block when started again. Also the jet units are very difficult to set up. In the end, I have cut one out and I can see why now. The cork gaskets leak around the hull seal and there is almost no way of removing the 42 bolts to replace it, which are frozen into the jet housing. Two of which are hidden. The picture shows fibreglass in a sad attempt to seal the leaks. With the power of the twin stage jet, fibreglass just is not going to work. Notice even one of the securing bolts on the jet pump has broken, which in fact could be quite dangerous.
One thing is that the hull is so thick, it should stand some very serious abuse.
Anyone else found these problems with their Dowty?
