Drydocked in this garage for who knows how long is a mostly unheard-of personal watercraft that I’d bet most of you haven’t seen before. It’s a first for me, too. Said to be both the “grandfather of the Jet Ski”, and, “unsinkable”, this 1969 Hydro-Cycle Barracuda is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Caldwell, Texas and the seller is asking $600. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip, and for making sure it’s far enough away from me that I can’t justify buying it with the shipping charges involved in hauling this back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
There isn’t a lot of information on the internet about the Hydro-Cycle company, other than they were at one time located at 215 E. Alma Street in San Jose, California, and/or 375 Umbarger Road in San Jose, California, according to ads from the late-1960s. From what I’ve found, they were made in 1969, 1970, and 1971. This was the era when outdoor sports were taking off with snowmobiles, mini bikes, and other personal “riding machines” were becoming popular. We’ve seen a few Jet Skis and other personal watercraft here, but this Barracuda (the model name) predates the Jet Ski by at least three years.
From what I can find, there were at least three models of the Hydro-Cycle Barracuda and without better photos or photos of numbers or ID plates, we don’t have a clue what this one is. They were around $500 new and could handle up to a 35 hp outboard motor. The seat is missing on this example as well as the shifter/control handle, which pokes out of the hole on the left side where your left foot would be. We don’t know what else is missing but I’m sure most Barn Finds readers could fabricate anything needed to get this one back on the water again.
In case you were wondering what they looked like in action, here it is, with possible help from an artist. And if you thought a Honda three-wheeler was dangerous, here ya go! No life jackets, ouch. They were filled with foam and were supposedly unsinkable, unlike the humans riding them. This would be an incredibly fun project if a person could locate or fabricate all of the missing parts and pieces. Have any of you heard of a Hydro-Cycle Barracuda?
Skimmed it too fast; at first I thought it read: Hydro-Cycle Barnacle.
Musta been a Left Coast thing; never saw one on Right Coast.
Scotty… I love the way you ended this write up,”And if you thought a Honda three-wheeler was dangerous, here ya go! No life jackets, ouch. They were filled with foam and were supposedly unsinkable, unlike the humans riding them.”
That made my night, Here Ya Go!!!
Its neat, but probably not for me. But someone somewhere may want to restore this.
Thanks, Driveinstile. My dad drowned in 1985, having not worn a life jacket in a canoe that flipped over, so anytime I see that now I cringe.
Oh no, Scott. I’m very sorry to hear that about your Dad. Its funny how certain things strike a nerve with us. My sister was hit by a truck in the late 70s when I was a kid she was 16 at the time. She was confined to a wheelchair and limited walker use from 1977 until she passed in 2002. Whenever I see someone parked in a Handicap spot without a plate or decal hanging from their mirror, and if I see them get out and they’re fine, it just ticks me off to no end. ( ask my wife). I am very sorry that you and your family had to endure that.
Dear Lord, how did we get to this???
With that prop waiting to eat you the lack of a life jacket is a minor issue… they make outboard jets motors now. I sincerely hope whomever buys this goes that route!
It takes a lot for the author to post anything water related, as I knew about his dad for a long time, but never brought it up. Life is full of tragedies we never hear about, apparently.
While posting a boat in December goes again most, we must remember, not everyone is shivering and I love when boats are posted. I had thought of sending in a tip on 2 boat related things. One was the Mercury 75 HP in line 6 “Dockbuster” motors, ( old man had one) a bit much for this, or a vintage 8 ft. hydroplane. You. know, the kind dad made in the basement and couldn’t get it out? They all had 10hp. Mercurys, and what this would be best with. A 20, if you have the grapes.
The motor in the illustration appears to be a vintage Johnny, maybe 15 hp. and I agree, for some reason, in the 70s, safety was just implied. To ride anything on the water without some sort of flotation device, well, we sadly can see what can happen. My old man, in an attempt to bolster sagging family values, bought 2 Yamaha Jet skis, older ones, got them cheap, after getting them running, it really was a blast. Lakes in N.Wis. and Minnesota, have a jillion islands to cruise around, and PWCs draw only inches of water, unlike an outboard, and a day of fun is mighty easy.
Sounds like a lot of fun with a sensible motor choice. The pictured outboard is a ’69 or ’70 20 or 25hp Johnson, likely not too happy with getting air as shown. Check the hull and topside for cracks!
This is a nice write up. I recall seeing these back then, but they weren’t really practical. I would suggest that if I’m not mistaken, Bombardier made the Sea Doo in 1968, so it was the grandfather of the PWC movement.
These early PWC’s were pretty dangerous, (no “Jet”) with the prop out back. There was no electric start and those old motors could be hard to pull start. Crazy to think they were riding like that, two up, no life jacket and when you fell off there was no circling feature!!!!
The Kawasaki Jet Ski was the originator of a far superior Jet Ski in 1972. It was a descriptive trademark name that became synonymous with the PWC, but was a much different craft. The jet made it safe, it was a single passenger, highly maneuverable and so much fun to ride it changed the face of water recreation. They were relatively inexpensive and very reliable. It was a brilliant design that took some skill and strength and even after thousands of rentals I never saw anyone get hurt.
I was in the business of Jet Skiis for many years. When the SeaDoo was reintroduced they brought all the features that killed the industry. Speed and noise. I hated to see it morphed into fast, loud and obnoxious “Couch Skiis” of today. I saw many injuries due to speed and no brakes. I got out of the business right before it collapsed from regulation and outright bans.
I agree that with a jet assembly under the seat it might make a neat restoration project.
I have seen something similar on a 60’s black and white TV show, they were standing and sitting as it moved. I only remember they were on the Salton sea and infrastructure still looked nice.
I have a HydroCycle that I sourced out of NorCal. It awaits restoration via splitting the hull and cap, pulling out all the old open-cell floatation foam and rotted stringers, and replacing them with composite versions and closed-cell foam. Green metal flake gelcoat will go on the exterior with a black vinyl seat. I have a brand new, never started, 1989 Mercury 25HP short-shaft that will power the thing. A lanyard kill switch is mandatory, as is prudent riding.
Sounds like a great project. A propeller is a far more efficient means of transferring propulsive power than a jet, requiring far less horsepower.
Your last two words, “prudent riding”, speak volumes in an era where personal responsibility is a rare trait. There is no reason why your project can’t be a safe, enjoyable, and fun boat.
It’s true, a “screw” is better than a jet, but research shows, a jet drive is far less damaging to the water environment. 3 species of aquatic life were eliminated when you gunned those old dockbusters Mercs.
I had a feeling that you would like this one, Scotty. Thanks for the write-up – I had never seen or heard of these before, and now I know a whole lot, thanks to your great article.
Sorry to hear about your Dad, such a tragedy.
What an interesting find. Dangerous enough to make you feel like riding a three wheeler is as safe as being in your mother’s arms in comparison, but that’s what makes it interesting. That picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated really takes it over the top!
Sounds like a great project. A propeller is a far more efficient means of transferring propulsive power than a jet, requiring far less horsepower.
Your last two words, “prudent riding”, speak volumes in an era where personal responsibility is a rare trait. There is no reason why your project can’t be a safe, enjoyable, and fun boat.
I remember that issue of SI from when I was a youth.
I’m in Chonburi Thailand right now and these things are everywhere! Running! Being used daily pulling banana boats taking customers (mostly kids) for rides. They were so unusual to me I took pics and short recordings and sent them to friends and colleagues back home. I’d post some for you but the sight won’t allow. Imagine my surprise when I saw this one.
Pnuts – how cool is that!
If you want, you can email me some pics and/or recordings and I will post them.
pra4snw(at)gmail.com
Don’t know if you got it or not. It stayed in outbox, tried different methods of sending. Doesn’t appear to be in outbox anymore but is also not in sent. I won’t try again so you don’t get it 10 times. Can try again next week when I get home but this will be old news by then. Also only sent pics. If they work I should have a short video of one working. Let me know.
I didn’t get anything.
You can try sending them again, but only send a picture or 2 per email to see if that would work.
Even if you wait until you get home, still send them please. I am curious to see these in action, and other people here would like it too, I’ll bet.
Will do. I’ll probably just wait until I’m back on that side of the globe. I’ll let my son look and make sure I don’t need to do anything different over here.
Pnuts, Thanks for taking and sending and those photos! And thanks to PRA4SNW for gettin them posted! It appears that the blue one shown in the photos has some slight differences on the deck of the bow/nose and aft, upper portion of the sponsons. Perhaps someone in Thailand or Asia at large took an old, original HydroCycle and “splashed” it by making a new mold off the old one, adding those minor aesthetic changes to the mold and popped a bunch out to then sell. A trip to Thailand is now required for me to see these in person!
Pnuts, I got one picture. Holy crap, that thing looks cool and scary at the same time.
Picture 2
Picture 3
I’m looking for the videos. Will send them or I’m still here can make new ones if we get back over there
I got a video. I will upload it to Google Drive and then share a link for anyone who wants to watch it.
Here is the video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wX2kfKxkegXEayk2OvGX7ylYBEJfskkH/view?usp=sharing