Career: Life Mix – Formula 1 Tunnel Boats
June 6, 2022
Image courtesy of Brook Butler
Meet Brook Butler, Quadrant Marine Institute MST instructor in Sidney. On the job, he’s a Marine Systems Lead / Project Manager at Titan Boats. Off the clock, he’s been rebuilding and racing tunnel boats on the competitive Formula 1 circuit with the American Power Boat Association (APBA) for the past 5 years.
Brook was always interested in boats – on oceans, rivers, or lakes, “I always wanted to pursue a career where I could be on or around the water as much as possible.” For the past 17 years, his career has progressed from a boatyard worker to a travel lift operator, marine service technician, and now, project / team leader.
“In the marine service trade you get a broad skill set that takes in all the parts of the industry…so you know and understand everything you’re looking at [in a boat]. In your career you get to apply all those skills you learned along the way.”
Brook’s latest personal project is loaded with speed (140mph) & adrenaline.
Brook purchased a bare Seebold Tunnel Hull (wood and fiberglass construction which still holds 3 world records from the early 2000s and yes, the boat hulls are named as part of the winning record). From there he installed new wiring and a new fuel system, rebuilt the engine powerheads and mechanical rigging.
His first system test (at that speed, you can’t just go on a sea trial anywhere without officials and safety systems!) was the race course on Lake Chelan, WA this month where he blazed through to a 2nd place finish in the Formula 150 Finals.
Congratulations Brook and thanks for sharing your cool project with us!
