Winnipesaukee Power Boat Association

Descant · 02-07-2010, 06:48 PM

Thanks for all the memories.

Things we don't do anymore...

I started "skiing" when I was 12-13. A 13 ft MFG with an 18hp Evinrude. We didn't have skis, but used an old outhouse door. The water squirted through the 1/2 moon, and obscured vision. Later I got a 15 ft with 50 hp and we skied all over the lake. Smith Cove was a favorite on windy days as it was protected. Now restricted by more docks and a speed limit. We had a ski jump anchored in Paugus Bay, and I learned that skill.

I was one of those who participated in the water ski races, as a driver. The 18 ft Tompson, 120 hp wasn't as fast as some of the others, but it had one of the new deep vee hulls and was great in rough water and good for the skier. At top speed we probably did 38 mph. At that speed, the fuel tank wasn't big enough for the long races (50 & 60 mile marathons) so we carried an extra five gallons and poured it into the main tank while maintaining full speed.

I was also one of the lucky ones who had a summer job at the Weirs driving the "Miss Winni's".

A lifetime of memories squeezed into a few summer months...

Anybody out there who was one of the kids diving for coins at the Mount Washington docks? Or who jumoped off the Weirs bridge? By the time I was old enough to do those things, it was apparently all illegal.

02-07-2010, 06:48 PM	#1
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,459 Thanks: 1,376 Thanked 1,654 Times in 1,082 Posts	Great memories Thanks for all the memories. Things we don't do anymore... I started "skiing" when I was 12-13. A 13 ft MFG with an 18hp Evinrude. We didn't have skis, but used an old outhouse door. The water squirted through the 1/2 moon, and obscured vision. Later I got a 15 ft with 50 hp and we skied all over the lake. Smith Cove was a favorite on windy days as it was protected. Now restricted by more docks and a speed limit. We had a ski jump anchored in Paugus Bay, and I learned that skill. I was one of those who participated in the water ski races, as a driver. The 18 ft Tompson, 120 hp wasn't as fast as some of the others, but it had one of the new deep vee hulls and was great in rough water and good for the skier. At top speed we probably did 38 mph. At that speed, the fuel tank wasn't big enough for the long races (50 & 60 mile marathons) so we carried an extra five gallons and poured it into the main tank while maintaining full speed. I was also one of the lucky ones who had a summer job at the Weirs driving the "Miss Winni's". A lifetime of memories squeezed into a few summer months... Anybody out there who was one of the kids diving for coins at the Mount Washington docks? Or who jumoped off the Weirs bridge? By the time I was old enough to do those things, it was apparently all illegal.