This little boat was found under a pile of junk in an old cluttered bicycle shop which sold toys on the side. Was looking for a part for my sons cycle in the early 80's when it was found. One of the two relatively ancient (mid 80's) brothers who owned the place said they had had it for years and would sell it for R5. It was made in Italy of polystyrene as a kids toy - obviously there was a motorised version at one time and it had a rubber prop on a fixed shaft plus the top lifted off with three screws. It was quickly converted using a small (180flat) motor, small Graupner rudder, Billings 2mm shaft with the rubber prop and oiler tube, 4 AA batteries and 27mhz Futaba RC for a motorcycle . It was used for years at the Johannesburg MBC as a have a go boat for kids. Very slow so quite safe with them .
Fast forward 20 years whilst living in the UK - strip it down - Speed 300 motor running on 6 x 2/3AA Nimh cells through the same RC setup. Now frighteningly fast for its small size (+-13") it leaps up on the plane almost instantly and has to be run in very smooth water (picture taken in its old mode). The few kids at the club water in the New Forest all want to have a go - sadly have to decline as its much too much for them to handle........
Its name on the stern is Guesta Festa which is Italian slang for Party Pooper (from a friend) - as its a model of an Italian 'Customs Interception Launch'............