Tony Davis
Senior member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2004
- Messages
- 5,319
- Location
- In a box
- Cruising area
- In the bath
- Boat make
- Spectre 30
- Engines(s)
- 2 x Promax 225
Here's one to get it all rolling again.
In 98 I was approached by David Sewell of "Raceboat Int" and asked if we would go powerboat racing in a "factory class". All boats were to be powered by a single 130hp Honda.
Loads of manufacturers showed interest, but all declined except for us, so it was decided that it would be "one design" using our boats.
We were asked to build 10 for the 99 season, but they wouldn't confirm anything in writing or pay any monies over. We had several meetings with various Honda bods, and we were promised that if we built a boat for them to display at Earls Court, they would hand over a cheque on pressday.
I decided to take the chance, so we hurriedly built a sterndrive boat that we fitted with an outboard bracket. The boat was built whilst I was on one of my many holidays, and we delivered it to Earls Court where Honda in their wisdom had in displayed on it's side. Maybe someone had forseen how the boats would run!!!!
Needless to say the payment didn't materialise, and although we went on two build 7 more boats, we struggled getting payment for every one of them!!!
There are two sides to every story, and I don't doubt that Honda weren't best pleased with us at times, but we sure did learn alot about large companies and broken promises!!!
The photo below is the "show" boat that went on to win the championship a couple of times, mind you it was built different to all the others!!!! If you ever get the chance, check out the thickness (thin ness) of the deck!!!
In 98 I was approached by David Sewell of "Raceboat Int" and asked if we would go powerboat racing in a "factory class". All boats were to be powered by a single 130hp Honda.
Loads of manufacturers showed interest, but all declined except for us, so it was decided that it would be "one design" using our boats.
We were asked to build 10 for the 99 season, but they wouldn't confirm anything in writing or pay any monies over. We had several meetings with various Honda bods, and we were promised that if we built a boat for them to display at Earls Court, they would hand over a cheque on pressday.
I decided to take the chance, so we hurriedly built a sterndrive boat that we fitted with an outboard bracket. The boat was built whilst I was on one of my many holidays, and we delivered it to Earls Court where Honda in their wisdom had in displayed on it's side. Maybe someone had forseen how the boats would run!!!!
Needless to say the payment didn't materialise, and although we went on two build 7 more boats, we struggled getting payment for every one of them!!!
There are two sides to every story, and I don't doubt that Honda weren't best pleased with us at times, but we sure did learn alot about large companies and broken promises!!!
The photo below is the "show" boat that went on to win the championship a couple of times, mind you it was built different to all the others!!!! If you ever get the chance, check out the thickness (thin ness) of the deck!!!
