Jack Stephenson, Teddy Larraber, and Cl. Clark prepare to launch their motorboat. (Courtesy Omena Historical Society)
They just go together. Always have, always will.
Fred Gorham III his outboard motorboat in 1924. (Courtesy of Omena Historical Society)
While most of the early cottagers come to Omena for rest and relaxation, the boys needed challenges and boats provided that.
Everyone had rowboats and canoes, but the lucky ones had motorboats. They leaked, and the engines were unreliable, and you had to pull on the starter cord for a half hour or so to get them started.
They would get you to where you wanted to go all right, and then break in the rough weather on the return.
Then there was the 1932 motorboat race
Billy and Robert Marbach playing with toy boats. The love of boats starts early in Omena. (Courtesy of Omena Historical Society)
Ingalls Bay challenged Omena Bay and was determined to win. There were about six racers for each contingent. The race was on Sunday afternoon. On Friday, the Ingalls Bay boys came up with a plan. The Grafs’s big 16 HP motor would be combined with the Fishers sleek, light racing shell “Fierce Error”. It was a sure combination.
However, it was skittish and almost uncontrollable. And to make matters worse, Doc Carmichael for the Omena Bay team purchased a 32HP Johnson especially for the race on Friday. He ran it in his boathouse for 40 hours to break it in, and brought it out for the race. It was estimated he was going 42 miles per hour and of course, he won.
There were no accidents…and everyone had a lot of fun and isn’t that what summer is for?
Vin Moore and Freemont Fisher prepare for the 1932 motorboat race. The “Fierce Error” is on the left. (Courtesy of Omena Historical Society)