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Originally Posted by Just Sold
Thanks for your good work McD.
You brought back these memories with your post.
The Bob Jones mentioned in the article along with his brother Downing Jones owned Downings Boat Yard now known as Parker Marine. Bob Jones (Downings) purchased a speed boat in the 60's which I only saw him drive a few times. I remember it had a big block Chevy motor which had a lot of chrome. He actually bought 2 and sold one to a man who had a cottage w/boat house near the Oak Birch Inn. The boats were reported to go in excess of 70MPH. He said he would only sell a boat like that to a person who was qualified to drive it when someone would asked to order one.
I can remember watching the boat go up the bay in the late afternoon when it was calm and you had to keep your eyes and head moving just to keep up with it. It just flew by.
As for Goodhue and Hawkins they made custom boats in the 60's. For those who remember Friends Beans, Bob Friend sold the company to JJ Nissan and spent the next winter at his Tuftonboro Neck home, which is right on the tip of the neck, while he had a new boat built at Goodhues. He and his wife kept an eye on the boat as it was built. I believe it was similar to the Goodhue Utility Launch. I never did get a ride in it though.
I never rode in the Legionnaire but I remember seeing it in the bay and at Downings Landing.
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As a kid young Ray Ouellette told me about the fastest boat on the lake I guess he was referring to the Legionnaire.
I also remember the 2 speed boats. I think they were RAYSON CRAFTs or that style known and in racing as SS or Ski depending on engine size. As a kid I wanted one just like them. The closest I came was a model boat from AMT models. You think those off shore baots are loud there is nothing like an open set of headers above the water but when they are up on a plane there is little to no wake.
Our first boat came from Downings way back in 1966. No high speed job just a 15' aluminum StarCraft Jet Star with a 33HP Evinrude. Later repowered with a 50HP. We had lots of fun with it and did a lot of water skiing behind her.