Since I've joined Niagara Frontier Antique & Classic Boats, I've volunteered my time to photographic any boating event that the Club is having. From the 2006 Boat Show, workshops, special events at the Buffalo Launch Club, and the moving of the "Huckster", I've got to say that what your about to read, tops all the previous events.

A call went out to meet at Isle View Park, Tonawanda, NY on a Saturday morning in September, for a ride in Rich’s Jersey Speed Skiff. I've seen these boats run on the river before. Didn't think too much about riding a skiff. It’s a little red boat, how fast can this go? Not many people turned out, but I was there to photographic this boat in action.

Rich, owner of the Jersey Speed Skiff, JS-88, "Stormalong", took me out in the Niagara River for what could be my finest half hour of boating ever. With a stiff breeze on the river and a good chop developing, he immediately pushed the petal to the floor and off we went. Many a time we were air born. The engine was running real fine. Rich yells over to me, I can turn her on a dime. Just then we make a right angle turn. Spray is coming over the bow. I'm getting wet, but it really doesn't matter. If Rich had the stereo on, I couldn't hear it. Hanging on for dear life as he looked ahead for traffic, I'm hoping we don't make the 11 pm news. Up and down the river we went. Does this guy ever drive this boat slow enough so my eyes don't water? So after many passes by the launch site, we headed back to the dock. It was the fastest on water, for this guy, in a long time, 65+ mph. I'm an old guy who takes his photos from land, good thing I left my camera at the dock.

As we were tying up, a 37' offshore boat had just pulled in, on trailer, to the launch area. This beauty was packing twin 500 h.p. Mercs. Rich talked with the owner, Kevin, about swapping rides. My eyes just dried out and now I’m going on a faster boat. After Rich took Kevin for a few laps and it looked like Rich sold Kevin on adding a new type of boat to his collection, JS-88 was pulled from the water.

I watched as Kevin backed the trailer with this huge offshore boat craddled in it, to the waters edge. It was a perfect parallel park to the dock. Rich asked if Harold, Keith & I could come along. Kevin says sure, we have room for everyone. So, after four middle aged guys preceded to climb on board, Kevin started up the engines and maneuvered the boat into the Niagara River. For a long period of time we were just puttering along. I'm thinking, this boat has got to go faster that this. Is Kevin taking it easy because there are four, over forty, gentlemen aboard? Is this a re-creation of the famous "Three Hour Cruise", you know, the Skipper and Gilligan?

Just at that point, Kevin moved the throttles forward and off we went. It was by far a smoother ride than the Jersey Speed Skiff and the computer displayed 45 mph and climbing. Heading to the Northeast corner of Grand Island, the four of us took turns at the co-pilot's seat. Molded to fit snug to the body, it allows one to stand up. We were all like little kids with a new toy. We made a turn around and in heading up the river, the boat speed was starting to increase. It's amazing what the human face looks like at 60 mph as you can see in the posted photos. Except the speed was 77.3 mph. Heading under the South Grand Island bridge, turning around and heading back. This is quite a boat.

The next time your driving on the New York State Thruway, imagine taking your vehicle up to 77 mph and sticking your head out the window. Please do not attempt this.

Rich and Kevin, thanks for a great Saturday morning. When I got home, I started up the lawn mower and my top speed was 7 mph.

Larry Fortunato