Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

Probably one of the better photos of Venus that I have seen, with Franklin and others. Great ad for Lewis boats.

Great photo. Is that the deck of Mandy on the bottom right?

That is a good photo , the black and white deck at the bottom is Keith Hoopers Runabout "Mandy"

Venus was replaced with a Hydroplane/Runabout" (became Redline) and later by a STEVENS "SK" from USA and Mandy was replaced by the black and white Skiff.

Interesting that it is named VENUS II

Yes I noticed the Venus II as well but I'd never heard of it being referred to has Venus II, wasn't a Venus smashed at Albert Park, is this the one after that?

I have the 6 pack carbys of this boat or one of them but I remember one that had a supercharger on it, the boat looks very new there

Interesting question relating to the boat being VENUS 11 , I cannot give a definite answer to this question but am able to share a possible answer to the issue raised.
In late 1961 a Lewis Speedboat was being towed towards Lake Glenmaggie to attend a Kilo Trial/Race Meeting when outside the small country town of Toongabbie a Cattle Truck entered the Main Road from a side Lane after failing to see the approaching traffic (said Truck was being driven by a Family member).
The car with boat behind attempted to swing out to pass and the trailer started to sway. The car cleared the Truck however the Boat on the trailer sideswiped the Trucks tray smashing the left hand side from just ahead of the windscreen back towards the transom taking out 4 planks and deck over about a 2 metre length.
After an interesting discussion the damaged Hull was towed to the Family Farm and parked while Alan Fordam and crew continued on to Glenmaggie to now watch the Races.
As a 15 year old I was happy to climb into and around the boat looking at the Corvette motor and all its “Go Gear”, this was the first time I ever sat in a Lewis.
The boats name was VENUS.
The damaged boat was picked up on Fordams way back home that evening.
In those days badly damaged Race boats were usually replaced rather than repaired and raced, if repaired they were usually sold off with low powered engines to be Ski Boats.
The number 11 on the Boat in the picture may be the replacement it may be the repaired hull?

Wild Woody

What a great story, it's always great to hear readers memories of boats and their owners. While we're on the subject, does anyone out there have any old photo's of my Ronda or Ronda 2. Erwin Grieb does not have any neither does Ronda's second owner, i can't believe a boat can have existed for so long "anonymous"

That hull is a skiffabout have a look where the fuel tank out let is and how far back the rear seat is to the transom

If you have the Ron Hodge booklet, there's a couple of pics of Venus(ii) on page 73. They're pretty small and black and white, so doubt that they would come out ok on the forum.