Advertisements for the Gulpy read, “As an outboard – easy to handle. Performs as well as any propeller
unit with no problems in the shallows or over rocks. If the boat will float,
your GULPY will keep you going”.
Promotion of the GULPY was however not limited to its use as
an outboard motor. Its ability to pump large volumes of water at high pressure
(7000 gallons per hour, and up to 30 feet) made it useful for other
applications also. This included fire fighting on land and on water, irrigating
small crops, and pumping out flooded footings and trenches etc. And of course when
in use as an outboard, It could be easily turned around and used as a bilge
pump if the boat it was powering had taken on water.
Whilst production dates for the Gulpy Jet are not well
documented, there are a few known facts that may give some insight to the
production year range. For example, Victa 70 Series Mk II engines were produced
from late 1971, early 1972 up to 1974 when the 70 Series Mk III was released. Also
from what seems to be well qualified posts on The Old Machinery Forums, it is
understood that Victa ceased the supply of engines to Owen Cox and Co shortly
after it released the Victa-Jet Outboard Motor in 1973.
From the above, it is not unreasonable to speculate that production
of the Gulpy was limited to a period of approximately 2 years from early 1972
to early 1974. The limited production years may also assist to explain why so
many collectors of Australian Vintage Outboard Motors have struggled to add a Gulpy
Jet Outboard to their collection.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Single cylinder, 2-stroke air-cooled, 125cc
- Bore and Stroke 2.125” (53.975mm) x 2.125” (53.975mm)
- 3.5hp (approximately)
- Crankcase of high grade non-corrosive aluminium.
- Crankshaft constructed from forged alloy steel, supported by 3 roller bearings and shaft seals.
- Conrod constructed of hardened alloy steel, with 15 roller bearing elements at big end and a bronze bush at little end
- Ignition timing 1/8th before top dead center
- Points gap 0.020” (0.5mm)
- Spark plug type Champion CJ8
- Spark plug gap 0.025” (0.635mm)
- Fuel/oil mix 25:1
- Pump capacity 7000 gallons per hour (will push a 12ft boat at approximately 6-7knots)
- Fully reversing shaft (single piece drive/exhaust tube)
- Underwater exhaust
- Safety tilt system
