Well it's no longer "Woodray" but now is "Electron"
Great day today. Closed the loop on the history of my boat. Met up with Robert McNair who was a close friend of the 1st owner the late Bruce Owen who sadly passed in 2015. Interestingly the boat was never physically named during Bruce's ownership but was to be named as "Electron" - Bruce was an Electronics engineer. Woodray was the second owners name. It's funny how I couldn't push myself to put a name on it. Seems there was a reason!
Bruce was a close friend of Charlie Tull as they used to sail together. "Electron" was built on request of Bruce as a walk around against Charlies objections. The main issues were the forward mount ski pole which would cause the boat to rock side to side during slalom skiing and the manufacture of the curved engine cover which caused Charlie no end of grief. The boat was purchased as a bare hull in 63 and subsequently fitted out by Bruce the following year. This includes fitting the all new red motor rather than a grey motor
Looks like I'll have to find another boat or maybe that skiff?
Anyway I have learned a lot more and am wrapped that every thing I didn't like about the boat and trailer turned about to be all the additions later in its life, mostly all of which are now gone.
Thanks for the meet up Robert.
Bruce Owen is a life member of the Geelong Water-ski Club. Robert also had an interesting story of how Bruce managed to teach himself to ski with the boat - on his own!
Pictures are in Mildura late 60's
- Electron.JPG (21.91 KiB) Viewed 6657 times
- Electron2.JPG (20.5 KiB) Viewed 6657 times