Eric's G W Invader
 

This picture was taken in the early 70's at Lakeport Landing. I believe it is Eric's first race boat he owned, that towed skier's in the Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Water Ski Races.
Anyone want to guess who owned the Magnum to the right ?

My first season skiing
 

1978 and my first trophy's. Gunstock's in the background

race boat pics
 

Thanks for sharing the great pics. What's the boat at the dock that you raced with? What is the longer Invader - I've only seen the little 2 seater. That's a great looking boat. I think I've got the same little tunnel in Laconia as the one that lost the transom - it's a Molinari/Glastron that looks just the same. Needs total restoration but I've got an ambitious young friend (a boat mechanic) who hopes to have it on the water next summer, we'll see. Google "tunnel boat racing in the 1970's" for some classic film clips.

Glastron GT 160/mowtorman
 

Boat at dock was never raced, but was my transportation around winni and to and fro Rattlesnake, stay tuned have more pictures. Will check with Eric to make sure Lakeport Landing picture was an Invader. Tunnel boat is a Checkmate

Start Your Engines
 

Eric is Driver, Phil is Observer, and Richard is Skier at the start of a Winnipesaukee Water Ski Race in 1973. Eric's boat is an early 70's 13' Checkmate with a 85 Merc called Kim's Toy, his Daughter's name. I observed in this boat when we took 1st place that same year during the season ending 65 mile race, Phil couldn't be there and I took his place, boy was he MAD.

northland skis
 

1958 brochure provided by the Laconia Historical society

nice !!!!!

Water Ski Races
 

More Pictures, not sure which lake, Winni or Winnisquam

And when the lake froze
 

After the lake froze and the skis were put away Northland had hockey sticks

I had Northland snow skis in the early 1970's. I remember that my boyfriend at the time brought me to visit a guy in Gilford who had a big job with Northland. In fact I purchased my skis through him. I remember that they were extremely heavy and very long.

Northland Metal skis
 

My Uncle and my Dad use to test snow skis for the factory. I remember in the late 60's or early 70's, they had experimental combination fiberglas, metal and wood skis. They were black like Head skis. They use to call them 'Fibertal' skis. The skis were prone to delamination and were heavy.

Yes, Northland did at one time made hockey sticks. Larson Industries bought the factory in the mid 70's and began making the sticks. Because of Larson's expertise in fibreglass manufacturing, both water and snow skis as well as the hockey sticks were wrapped in fibreglass. I believe that was a disaster and the Northland business folded. For a brief time Larson was using the factory for the distribution of boats as well as manufacturing.

Bob Bolduc who owns Piches once told me he has the molding machines used to make the skis stored away somewhere.

Hi BH, interesting story. I am getting a good idea for a thread in the Winter Sports section. Thanx..LOL..

If God had wanted us to ski on fiberglass skis, He would have invented fiberglass trees..:D

are you still lacing while others are racing ?..:cool:

Vintage Northland Water Ski
 

Here is vinatage ski. Bought in 1972 from a place called Downings now known as Parker. The bindings have been replaced with O'briens bought from Thurstons. This may be one of the last skis Northland made, notice the deer head logo had change to just a fancy N.

I read that the Northland factory was in St. Paul, MN and Laconia NH. Where was the Laconia location?

Racing not lacing
 

I hold several NASTAR gold. I race on the WMRL circuit and won the championship in 2005. Broke my left humerous in a dozen pieces at a Saddleback Mtn race in 2008.

Are you lacing?

Previous post.
 

I posted the location earlier. :cool:

So Sorry!!!! I missed the location and I still couldn't find your previous post.

Funny
 

I did post the location. I can't find it either

The building is located on Salem Street across the street from the Laconia Police Station. Landmark Storage is currently occupying the building.

Boat said Spoiler
 

I seem to remember that it said "Spoiler" on the transom. I did some google searches and there was a Correct Craft Spoiler model, also Torino and Seperator. From a 1971 catalog

Oh yeah
 

Not sure what the matching yellow is about but that is one nice looking boat.

Speaking of boats, if we have a gathering of vintage ski boats, kind of a ski race reunion, would it be better at Weirs or Winnisquam? Sort of a "cruise in", focusing on small performance and ski boats. An exhibition or actual race would be possible but more complicated to organize. At Weirs boats on Winnipesaukee are already on the lake, more people have access to the event and we have the channel, with little chance for any type of skiing on a Saturday. On Winnisquam or Opechee, there's less access for people, less boats already in the water, but a better chance to actually have a water event and get out and run around. Any opinions? Emails ok too. Thanks. ;)

Check this out
 

Need entertainment while waiting for the boat season to start?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf3Hy...&feature=share

More vintage photos
 

These have been posted but a while back so here they are again.

Some newly posted video
 

Pretty cool videos of some restored old boats on Winni.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3XVUjVkXqI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI9gVilDnIA

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C3XVUjVkXqI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PI9gVilDnIA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

4 man Down the Bay
 

Great times.....those were the days. I think about Peter & Mr Cooke all the time:( Miss them.

1976 sleekcraft
 

Listed today on Vermont CL, $4k


Make a nice family Christmas present! Nice Christmas color.

They don't winterize everywhere...
 

Happy holidays, only 4 months to ice out! Time to start working on the boat.....

Happy Holidays
 

to all you water ski fans. From our seacoast bretherns.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articl...cid=sitesearch

Magnum Missile at the Wolfeboro Show
 

[I]My first post to any forum - That was my black magnum in Back Bay. My brothers and I put it back together and launched for the first time since '91 in June 2011 and ran it all summer. We had 2 missiles running last summer and looking for a third in 2012. The idea of some sort of a skiboat get together is interesting.

Welcome aboard Sloboat
 

I hope we can pull this off and hopefully have an annual 'reunion'.

One of the most entertaining threads I've read in a long time. I'd be very interested in an event such as this. Good stuff!

1970 Magnum
 

This is the Black Magnum (Hull Number 083) August 2011. First time on the lake since 1991. Anyone else got a magnum hull or working on a project boat?

Magnum Marine
 

One of the most beautiful boats ever made!

I have to agree. but its hard not to like the old allisons, checkmates,sutphens, chris's, ..............

Duo Mystery tunnel
 

I showed the transom ripped out earlier in the post. Basically rebuilt to new now, almost identical to a Magnum. Picture from Mercury catalog. Just got power and steering straightened out, a 150 with hydraulic steering. Looks like the boat will make it. Love that black/grey Magnum, saw it headed for the back bay in Wolfeboro, very nice indeed. Working on a gathering at Opechee mid August on a Saturday. Pros - calm lake, world water ski championships were held there, good launch, park and anchor/beaching potential. Cons - Can't "let 'em rip" or actually have a race demo which might be possible on Winnisquam (Winnisquam Laconia would have to close Bartlett Beach for the day which is not generally done). Weirs Bay is too rough for these small boats on any given Saturday after about 10 am.
No idea how many boats might come (I'll bring 2) so maybe for a first event it's best to think small. Would love to see any boats that were in the ski races and anyone who participated in them. Would appreciate any feedback and suggestions on the best place to stage this event, it's time to make concrete plans. Thanks. MM

1973 fino
 

Mr. Davidson on Long Pt. of Braun Bay had one of these in the early 70's. It was light blue, I saw it up close once at the Meredith docks. It knocked my socks off. Twin 440 inboards when gas was affordable. Luxury, speed, style.
Made I believe in the Magnum factory. Very hard to find, wonder whatever happened to Mr. Davidson's?

We had a Century inboard in the 1970,s. My parents purchased it from Channel Marine. I sure wish we still had that boat. During that time it was one of the fastest boats on the lake.

1973 century coronado
 

Friend of mine picked this up in Gilford a few weeks ago, look for it around Center Harbor this summer.

A very nice boat!!! It reminds me of those lazy ,hazy, crazy days of summer out in the Century.

1975 sutphen sport racer
 

330 hp in a 17' boat. One of these called the Weirs side of Bear Island home for years. There was also a blue one in Krainewood with a Black Max 150, very nice boat. Manufactured in New Jersey. Only issue these days is you can almost watch the gas gauge go down as you go. All we need is a low emission gasoline substitute and we'll be back in business.

Waterski races
 

Check this out. Some people are still living on the edge.....we had this in our own backyard 40 years ago. The last of the eastern cowbuoys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVuxDDkRGsE