vintage ski/raceboat show?

mowtorman · 10-08-2013, 05:59 PM

twin Hydrodyne like this one very prominent back in the day, Vector is a classic thrill ride for sure, and yes that is a 200 (!) on it. Anyone seen any Sutphens around anywhere?

mowtorman · 11-20-2013, 09:34 PM

Wendy at the North Pole Tavern was nice enough to let me borrow and scan this pic. I would guess the vintage is late 50's or early 60's. The vantage point is still the same on Weirs Boulevard. It's not often you see boats this size on the lake these days. I don't know if this gathering was for a particular type of boat but they are of similar design and appear to be mostly plywood with a couple of aluminums. There also appears to be a couple of glass boats in the background. There was no information on the back of the actual photo. Anyone that might know anything about the makes of the boats or the event your input would be appreciated.

BroadHopper · 11-21-2013, 12:00 PM

Many of the small runabouts were actually boats built from plans or kits ordered from Sears Roebuck. My father built one and in the early 60's I built a 14' from plywood. I later fiberglass the hull.

One of my neighbor built a hydroplane from plywood. It was heavy but man it was fast for its size!

I can remember kayak kits using stretched canvas for the hull.

Most popular wood boats in their days were Penn-Yan and Pembroke boats. The Pembroke boats were made in NH and the Penn-Yan were made in a 'dry town' in the Finger Lakes area of NY.

BroadHopper · 11-21-2013, 12:06 PM

They were very popular waterski boats back in the '60's. Not only for the marathon races they were great for the slalom and jumping contests.

I believe Goodhue Marine sold them. Tuppy had a Hydrodyne with twin Quicksilver engines. 'It take two to do it'. Mom wasn't too happy when he docks at the family camp.

Can anyone remember Digangi's boat. I'm trying to remember if that was a Tahiti or Sutphen?

tis · 11-21-2013, 01:13 PM

My brother had a little boat like that when we were kids. I think the engine was a Scott Atwater (sp.?)

mowtorman · 07-30-2014, 10:05 AM

Check out article in the CItizen today. Presentation Tuesday Aug. 5th 7 pm. Lakes Region Waterski Boat Classic Sun. Aug 10th 10-4 at Opechee Park point beach, site of 1959 World Waterskiing Championships and Dick Binette's world record waterskiing jump in 1954.
See old friends and make new ones. Free boat rides at Opechee Park on Sunday Aug. 10th provided by Winnisquam Marine and sponsored by Mike Testa State Farm Insurance.

mowtorman · 08-14-2014, 08:40 AM

We had another great day on the beach where 60 years ago Laconia's Dick Binette set the world waterski jump record. Many thanks to Winnisquam Marine for providing a beautiful new pontoon boat and staff for free boat rides throughout the day. The weather was perfect with no wind and little boat traffic. The Magnums were again a big hit. We had several new additions including a Powercat, a Sharkey, and a Skater, there were quite a few skiers and a speed skiing demonstration. We enjoyed visits from a number of skiers involved in the races in the 60's and 70's. Many people took advantage of the free boat rides, many of whom who were local residents who had not had the chance to be on the water before. Opechee is a great hideaway from the large wakes of Winnipesaukee on the weekends. Many thanks to Mike Testa State Farm for sponsoring the event and the City of Laconia Parks Commission for supporting the event. Look for us again beginning of August next summer, plenty of time to get your vintage ride ready for the water. If you haven't already please consider taking the time to view the Laconia waterski exhibit at the Laconia Library put together by Brenda Kean. Many interesting articles, pictures, artifacts and skis. Happy Mowtoring! Hopefully pics to follow.

SIKSUKR · 08-15-2014, 10:36 AM

Hey,I just noticed that in that photo of the 4 skiers I see bare feet on the ski and no boot.

Was this just a "trick" where the rear foot was pulled out and put in front of the front foot?

Excalibur · 08-15-2014, 01:25 PM

The family's back then knew how to enjoy the lake and I couldn't believe my family rode around the lake in such a small boat.

They had a great boat for its day and won a few long distance waterskiing races. I couldn't find our original slide picture of the boat to post but I found a picture of the boat on the web because Roy Rogers had one !!

http://powercatboat.com/23.html

10-08-2013, 05:59 PM	#1
mowtorman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231 Thanks: 75 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	More nice rides... twin Hydrodyne like this one very prominent back in the day, Vector is a classic thrill ride for sure, and yes that is a 200 (!) on it. Anyone seen any Sutphens around anywhere? Attached Images

11-20-2013, 09:34 PM	#2
mowtorman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231 Thanks: 75 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	Christmas Island Wendy at the North Pole Tavern was nice enough to let me borrow and scan this pic. I would guess the vintage is late 50's or early 60's. The vantage point is still the same on Weirs Boulevard. It's not often you see boats this size on the lake these days. I don't know if this gathering was for a particular type of boat but they are of similar design and appear to be mostly plywood with a couple of aluminums. There also appears to be a couple of glass boats in the background. There was no information on the back of the actual photo. Anyone that might know anything about the makes of the boats or the event your input would be appreciated. Attached Images

11-21-2013, 12:00 PM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,587 Thanks: 3,228 Thanked 1,107 Times in 797 Posts	Wooden boats in the 50's Many of the small runabouts were actually boats built from plans or kits ordered from Sears Roebuck. My father built one and in the early 60's I built a 14' from plywood. I later fiberglass the hull. One of my neighbor built a hydroplane from plywood. It was heavy but man it was fast for its size! I can remember kayak kits using stretched canvas for the hull. Most popular wood boats in their days were Penn-Yan and Pembroke boats. The Pembroke boats were made in NH and the Penn-Yan were made in a 'dry town' in the Finger Lakes area of NY. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

11-21-2013, 12:06 PM	#4
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,587 Thanks: 3,228 Thanked 1,107 Times in 797 Posts	Hydrodynes They were very popular waterski boats back in the '60's. Not only for the marathon races they were great for the slalom and jumping contests. I believe Goodhue Marine sold them. Tuppy had a Hydrodyne with twin Quicksilver engines. 'It take two to do it'. Mom wasn't too happy when he docks at the family camp. Can anyone remember Digangi's boat. I'm trying to remember if that was a Tahiti or Sutphen? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

07-30-2014, 10:05 AM	#6
mowtorman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231 Thanks: 75 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	Waterskiing exhibit Laconia library Check out article in the CItizen today. Presentation Tuesday Aug. 5th 7 pm. Lakes Region Waterski Boat Classic Sun. Aug 10th 10-4 at Opechee Park point beach, site of 1959 World Waterskiing Championships and Dick Binette's world record waterskiing jump in 1954. See old friends and make new ones. Free boat rides at Opechee Park on Sunday Aug. 10th provided by Winnisquam Marine and sponsored by Mike Testa State Farm Insurance. Attached Images Last edited by mowtorman; 07-30-2014 at 01:09 PM.

11-21-2013, 01:13 PM	#5
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,760 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,462 Times in 1,018 Posts	My brother had a little boat like that when we were kids. I think the engine was a Scott Atwater (sp.?)

08-14-2014, 08:40 AM	#7
mowtorman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231 Thanks: 75 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	Opechee Sunday We had another great day on the beach where 60 years ago Laconia's Dick Binette set the world waterski jump record. Many thanks to Winnisquam Marine for providing a beautiful new pontoon boat and staff for free boat rides throughout the day. The weather was perfect with no wind and little boat traffic. The Magnums were again a big hit. We had several new additions including a Powercat, a Sharkey, and a Skater, there were quite a few skiers and a speed skiing demonstration. We enjoyed visits from a number of skiers involved in the races in the 60's and 70's. Many people took advantage of the free boat rides, many of whom who were local residents who had not had the chance to be on the water before. Opechee is a great hideaway from the large wakes of Winnipesaukee on the weekends. Many thanks to Mike Testa State Farm for sponsoring the event and the City of Laconia Parks Commission for supporting the event. Look for us again beginning of August next summer, plenty of time to get your vintage ride ready for the water. If you haven't already please consider taking the time to view the Laconia waterski exhibit at the Laconia Library put together by Brenda Kean. Many interesting articles, pictures, artifacts and skis. Happy Mowtoring! Hopefully pics to follow. Last edited by mowtorman; 08-14-2014 at 09:21 AM.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mowtorman For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (08-14-2014), trfour (08-14-2014)

08-15-2014, 10:36 AM	#8
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Hey,I just noticed that in that photo of the 4 skiers I see bare feet on the ski and no boot.Was this just a "trick" where the rear foot was pulled out and put in front of the front foot? __________________ SIKSUKR

08-15-2014, 01:25 PM	#9
Excalibur Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gilford,NH is where I would like to be and Southborough, MA is where I have to be Posts: 88 Thanks: 14 Thanked 10 Times in 3 Posts	PowerCat The family's back then knew how to enjoy the lake and I couldn't believe my family rode around the lake in such a small boat. They had a great boat for its day and won a few long distance waterskiing races. I couldn't find our original slide picture of the boat to post but I found a picture of the boat on the web because Roy Rogers had one !! http://powercatboat.com/23.html Last edited by Excalibur; 08-15-2014 at 01:39 PM. Reason: adding the website for the picture

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