Tornado hull number

[Robbohants]

Anybody know what info I can get from this hull number?

GBTRO156B895

Perhaps the year it was built? Model?

Bought recently and would like to know what I have!

Thanks

[Hat]

I would say it’s a 1995

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

Anybody know what info I can get from this hull number?



GBTRO156B895



Perhaps the year it was built? Model?



Bought recently and would like to know what I have!



Thanks

Try contacting the guys at rib retubes in hull AKA XS ribs they were the builders of tornado before selling the brand & becoming xs ribs I'd imagine they will have as much info as anyone regarding tornado boats.

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

Anybody know what info I can get from this hull number?

GBTRO156B895

Perhaps the year it was built? Model?

Bought recently and would like to know what I have!

Thanks

The fact that it has a hull number means it's not one of the first generation tornadoes as they were made in the owners garage and and weren't numbered so that gives you a starting point at least. Do you feel the tubes are original? If so what is the tornado logo like...is it the name tornado orjust a small letter T in a black circle?
The person to speak to is James at Xs ribs/ ribs retube UK as he is the Son of the chap that started Tornado.
Have you got any pictures you can post?

[Robbohants]

Thanks, Perhaps it has been re-tubed then as it doesn’t say tornado anywhere on them.

It was sold to me as a tornado 5.5 but other than the transom plaque there is nothing on it to indicate that.

I’ve tried linking to some photos below, ignore the motor I’ve re-powered it with a newer merc 90hp

[Robbohants]

Here is 1 pic

[Robbohants]

Here is another

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

Here is 1 pic

I have just sent James your picture on WhatsApp, i will let you know if he comes back with something.

[Robbohants]

That’s really kind, thanks

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

That’s really kind, thanks

If that motor was fitted from new it would make it early 80's, then mariner/mercury moved to the clam shell Cowell before going to a boxy one piece.
The Hull's are super strong along with the transom too.
I rebuilt my 5.0 last year and that was one of the first to be made.
What's your plan for it?

[Robbohants]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

If that motor was fitted from new it would make it early 80's, then mariner/mercury moved to the clam shell Cowell before going to a boxy one piece.
The Hull's are super strong along with the transom too.
I rebuilt my 5.0 last year and that was one of the first to be made.
What's your plan for it?

Yeah the 115 “tower of power” was a 1988, but had many problems so I’ve re-powered with a 2003 mercury 90hp. I’ve rewired the boat, now I’m in the process of fitting a radio and gps. I’d like to get a screen for the console too, not found anything suitable yet though . The tubes are rather faded on the top side so I’ll tackle that next. It seems a very well built boat , I’ve yet to try her out on the water.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

Yeah the 115 “tower of power” was a 1988, but had many problems so I’ve re-powered with a 2003 mercury 90hp. I’ve rewired the boat, now I’m in the process of fitting a radio and gps. I’d like to get a screen for the console too, not found anything suitable yet though . The tubes are rather faded on the top side so I’ll tackle that next. It seems a very well built boat , I’ve yet to try her out on the water.

Evening, James got back to me and has confirmed that the plate is 100% not original. They didn't plate boat's until later in the 90's and they used to put the details on a bit of paper iand glass it into the centre of the transom.
I then sent him a picture of your boat and he says it's definitely 80's looking at the console style.
He said there was a chap buying and selling tornadoes in Birmingham but they never plated them as Tornado ribs but used Tornado international.
I wouldn't worry about the plate and some of the info on it could be transferred off the original tag.
So like we have already said that tower of power probably was sold as the original package so late 80's seems about right. James did confirm that it was a Tornado built in Hull.
You have a nice bit of kit...there is a lot of glass fibre on these old tornadoes making them very sturdy.
Your tubes are Hypalon so have been redone at some point.
Here is my Tornado and it's a little older than yours...roughly 1984 before and after picture's
Hope this info is of use to you.

[Robbohants]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

Evening, James got back to me and has confirmed that the plate is 100% not original. They didn't plate boat's until later in the 90's and they used to put the details on a bit of paper iand glass it into the centre of the transom.
I then sent him a picture of your boat and he says it's definitely 80's looking at the console style.
He said there was a chap buying and selling tornadoes in Birmingham but they never plated them as Tornado ribs but used Tornado international.
I wouldn't worry about the plate and some of the info on it could be transferred off the original tag.
So like we have already said that tower of power probably was sold as the original package so late 80's seems about right. James did confirm that it was a Tornado built in Hull.
You have a nice bit of kit...there is a lot of glass fibre on these old tornadoes making them very sturdy.
Your tubes are Hypalon so have been redone at some point.
Here is my Tornado and it's a little older than yours...roughly 1984 before and after picture's
Hope this info is of use to you.

That’s some great info, thanks very much.

So I guess that means someone has added the plate at some point, seems an odd thing to have done. I hadn’t realised the tubes were hypalon, hopefully I can get the colour back where they’ve gone a bit faded on the top .

Your boat looks great, where did you get the bench seat? I’d like to fit one to mine.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

That’s some great info, thanks very much.

So I guess that means someone has added the plate at some point, seems an odd thing to have done. I hadn’t realised the tubes were hypalon, hopefully I can get the colour back where they’ve gone a bit faded on the top .

Your boat looks great, where did you get the bench seat? I’d like to fit one to mine.

I made the bench seat and had it upholstered.
You won't get the colour back in the tube tops but you could put tube toppers on using a contrasting colour.
Someone probably plated it for insurance purposes. Mine doesn't have a plate and I insured it pretty easy...but the mainstream insurers wanted a Marine survey....nuts to that....daft.
Have you tested the baffles?

[Robbohants]

Metal or fibreglass base?

The baffles seem to be ok, it holds air pretty well and the slight softness appears to happen chamber by chamber, over a long period.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

Metal or fibreglass base?

The baffles seem to be ok, it holds air pretty well and the slight softness appears to happen chamber by chamber, over a long period.

I made a box out of marine ply and covered it in glass fibre then painted it with flocoat.

[Robbohants]

That looks great, I’m thinking of making the same, do you think it was cost effective vs buying one?

I may go for 2 additional single jockey, side by side, rather than a bench, undecided

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Robbohants

That looks great, I’m thinking of making the same, do you think it was cost effective vs buying one?

I may go for 2 additional single jockey, side by side, rather than a bench, undecided

I got all the kit from Eastcoast Fiberglass and i purchased quite a bit of stuff off them....but I also painted the keel after removing the keel guard and painted the deck too. I also have enough resin and matting to make an anchor locker box. Sometimes you can find ready made jockey seat boxes on ebay.....they are usually seconds but they represent good value. The benefits of making your own is you can make it to the size you need....and you have the pride of getting to grips of another skill. I enjoyed the process but it's not for everyone........another benefit is that I made my seat to last and it's very strong.