Owner:  Paul & Donna Nowack

E-Mail:  pauln@nowacksales.com

Year Built:  1983

Hull Design:  Bender / Nowack

Power:  Chevy 350

Currently Resides In:  Stuart Fl.

Video:  Heartbeat in Detriot

After 3 years of looking, I bought my first Jersey Speed Skiff in 1978 from a 15-year-old boy.

He had bought a spare hull from a friends, mother. Her husband had laid up two hulls from Bud Bender molds, a well know Skiff builder in the 70's in Highlands NJ.

The boy’s mothers name was Connie Cottrell who had raced it and had been APBA National Points Champion several years in a row during the 70’s. Her boats name was Egg Beater and it was PINK. The name of her team was "Think Pink".

This boy, as I was told, took the boat back to Bud Bender and outfitted the boat with a 350hp-327 cu Chevy, a Chris Craft Manual transmission and his newer style raised deck.

They repainted the boat Honduras Maroon and White. It was PINK when he bought it from Connie.

The reason it was for sale was that this 15-year-old got two many tickets and his father would no longer drive him to the launch ramp.( at that time (1978) it was a 85 mph boat )

I replaced the 327 with a Stock 250 HP 350 and Velvet Drive Transmission.

It only pushed the Skiff 63 mph, but as I was only using it mostly for pleasure, and in 1979 that was fast enough. The Donzi’s and Jet boats were only doing 51-53 mph.

In 1980 I thought I wanted to sell pleasured versions and I had a set of molds made. I made minor modifications to both the Hull and the Deck.

My current boat was built in 1983. Buddy Melges Boat works in Zenda Wisconsin did the fiberglass work. Even though Buddy is a well renown Sailor and Builder of fast sailboats, he did a great Job on my Jersey Speed Skiff.

APBA Vintage Experience

In September of 2001, my wife Donna (My Riding Mechanic) and I participated in the Wolfeboro’s Vintage Race Boat Regatta and in the March, 2002 Mt Dora Vintage Boat Show.

We enjoyed the people we met as much as the races themselves. Since than we have participated in over 30 events around the country. We are looking forward to participating in many of the Vintage and Classic events in the near future.