2 hydroplanes, engines tested on Grand Lake St. Marys

Those who heard engines roaring on Grand Lake St. Marys Thursday morning were hearing Steve Kelley of Cincinnati testing out his hydroplane and its engine. The hydroplane is a longtime project for the enthusiast who was finally getting it in the water after years of work.

Kelley has owned the hydroplane for 13 years and rebuilt the boat during that time. The engine he uses is the same as in a personal watercraft, such as a jet ski.

The last time this craft was in the water three years ago, Kelley said it ran for 10 minutes before having engine problems.

This time he fine-tuned the motor before setting it into the water. He managed to run the boat for several minutes before getting towed in because of a burnt gear box and an issue with oil usage.

However, finally being on the water after three years felt “fantastic,” according to Kelley. Although he wasn’t counting his knots, Kelley said he went fast enough to have fun.

Local resident Kevin Klosterman provided guidance to Kelley, watching the rotations per minute and the propeller.

The RPM topped out at about 6,000. Klosterman also took the opportunity to put his own hydroplane out on the water.

Klosterman hopes to test a different kind of engine later this year and has been working on a megawatt electric motor with Ohio State University and NASA for years.

He said the engines would put out about 1,800 horsepower and weigh a couple hundred pounds.

Klosterman hopes to use the boat to break records.

He said they are in the process of building the rest of the boat to test out the engine.