A good friend and great machinist passed yesterday.

Paul Hewitt, age 64. Cancer.

He was a good friend and a pretty big deal in the Hydroplane Racing League. His engines are powering 3 of the Top 5 Grand Prix boats in Championship Points including the leader this season. He did all my machine work, engine and otherwise. A machinist's machinist.

He laughingly called himself a non denomination engine builder. You never knew what you were going to see there. Everything from a St Lawrence marine engine to a Rolls Royce Griffon and everything in between.

I am going to miss hanging around the shop and all the lessons to be had.

Kevin

Kevin

Sorry o hear and condolences 🙏

A machinist I used in Calif had gotten and beat cancer 4 or 5 times. Last I knew he was still going and retired in 2020.
Somewhat ironically he also was into the marine side of things. He always wiped his hands with a shop towel sprayed with carb cleaner back in the day. Often wondered if it was the chemical exposure that caused his cancers.

Must be a bad year for machinists. Retired machinist I knew had a garage full of old Bridgeports. He was the guy the commercial machine shops would send jobs they couldn't do. Did some amazing work. Passed earlier this year. All that machining knowledge gone.

Sorry for your loss. Great machinists are getting harder and harder to find.

Wow, thats shocking news !
Been to his amazing shop several times
He built a couple 426 Hemis for local guys here

64 is young. RIP.

i send my condolences...........
as a machinist myself, i feel a sense of loss as well.........

Much too young, you were lucky to know him on many levels it seems.

Sad to hear, it amazes me the mechanical knowledge some people have. I am sure he will be missed by many, my condolences to the family and friends.