Boat building 101 for preschoolers

[epugh66]

Last week Gary helped Ryan(4) and Regan(2) knock out some new boats. Built out of Okume and Paulownia they should be as fast as they are light. Regan has a SST45 while Ryan is ready to trim out the SST120.

Viewers with sharp eyes will pick ou the rent-a-wreck leaning against the wall. Many racers got wins using that boat while theirs was being built or repaired. Its probably one of the best boats of the 80's.

[T Chance]

I remember when Gary was about ten and he would build little wooden boats a few inches long and all the kids would tie strings to them and run around in circles "racing them". for example on the football field back behind the pits at Depue. We still have one - an original: original Pugh hydro.

[sam]

Is Paulownia used in big Pughs? I know it is very light (the tree grows very fast)

[ian]

Yep, that Rent A Wreck was a great handling boat. Right up until the fin bracket ripped off, anyway.....

[epugh66]

Tim, I would be interested in a pic of that boat. We made lots of them for the big races at Depue.

Sam, Gary uses paulownia in everything, there's always a place where a lighter piece of wood can be used.

Ian, yup, I guess it just wasnt Augustine proof by that time

[Jeff Brewster 59s]

Being in the tree business all of my life, I am curious about this 'paulownia' wood. Surprised to say I have never heard about it.

Great pic of the kids, very cute... Nice to see Gary again too!

Here's my favorite Art Pugh quote from Ocoee '91.........

"Gary and I tested that thing all day and I have decided that that motor is nothing but a horsepower sponge!"

We fell off our lawn chairs laughing at that one!

Please tell that ol' wood whittler, that the sawdust maker's from up north said hi.

[MiSs PrIsS]

boats on strings

I was one of those kids pulling a boat by the string made by Gary. I can remember the Hooghkirk, Voss, Hellsten and Gohery, etc. kids pulling them around - we had a great "race course" wore the grass right down. We "raced" everyday. Gosh the good ole days! He always made sure that everyone had a boat to pull, back then kids were more generous about "sharing" we would all take turns if someone wanted to join in but didn't have a boat to pull.
Cynthia Hooghkirk

[T Chance]

Sits in a place of honor

This boat sits on the top of our antique desk (Built by Ann's Great, Great, Great - I'm not sure how many Greats - Grandfather in Germany a couple of centuries ago, right next to the display of 4 spark plugs out of A.J. Foyt's Offy.

[epugh66]

Jeff, here's a link to an info page about the tree http://www.paulownia.org/ around here it grows wild, but can be cultivated. The leaves are large, like a catalpa. I've thinking about that quote, I guessing it would be about a boat. Around then Gary was using the "Witchy Woman" A boat so evil, Hell spat her back. gary tried some funky stuff on the bottom to make it more like a tunnel. In the end, he rebuilt it to be more traditional. For awhile it was a horse power sponge.

Cynthia, were'nt those days alot of fun? Well, it was till Pete Nydahl showed up with the "Goat Boat" It was so wide that even an "misplaced foot" wouldnt turn it over

Tim, that sounds like a very special spot in the house.

[epugh66]

Great photos Tim!

Hey look, i've hijacked my own thread.

The Witchy Woman about '93 at Depue.

[benf27]

good looking boats in the background!

[gpugh6]

You guy's reminded me about the good ole days of the "real boat races" up in the field at Depue. We used beer cans for buoys (seemed to always be a good supply of emptys), the rules were simple, if your boat turned over, you were out. It was kind of hard to be running as fast as you could pulling your boat on a string while looking back to make sure your boat stayed upright. Just like today, it took a certain technique. If your boat did turn over, there were plenty of competitors to let you know. We had our share of controversy and even one injury that I remember. I had just built my first picklefork, and in the tall grass it did not work to well, it kept digging in and cartwheeling, of course putting me out of the race. But as the grass wore down smooth, it became the boat to beat. I was letting Kristy Hellsten- Ellison race it, and she was complaining about Scott Hall( brother of Doug&Mark) chopping her off in the turns. The problem persisted, she warned him, then finally with a flick of the wrist she ran her boat in the back of scotts leg leaving a hole, no ambulance was needed though. When Kristy says something, better listen, later years we were in Winona MN, playing softball, and she told me to quit pitching spinners or she would hit me with the bat. I didn't and she did.
Gary Pugh

[Kristi Ellison]

Maybe I need to start driving my 125H like the old days in the field....I might start doing better!!

Kristi