Homecoming for my Baby, 1978 Tournament Skiier

Well, its official, May 14. 2010 my Tournament Skier is going to be reborn. Just as I made the trip from Moorhead, MN 32 years ago with my friend to the school house in Spencerville to start my love affair with my Hydrodyne, New owners Kevin and Jen made the trip to Minnesota from Pennsylvania. As with my trip to Indiana which I will never forget, this couple had an unforgettable adventure of their own. Over the past couple of days I have had some tears of happiness on how much fun I have had with this boat that I bought when I was twenty one years old. I spent many hours teaching friends, family and eager strangers to ski. The boat was a legend in my area and it was the most fun thing to drive ever. As I have seasoned in my life a lot of things have changed. The boat spent 6 years in the shed once and then I got it going again and then it has spent the last four years in storage. The transom started to fail and I quit driving because I did not want to destroy the boat. I watched Bano's presentation on replacing the transom and was truly inspired. I just don't think I have the time to get it done. I don't have the much interest in skiing any more even though I loved water skiing more than anything except my family. My family got our first set of skis when I was about eight and we skied behind a 14 foot aluminum boat for years. My mom and dad would love to fish and after fishing we would get to ski. It was great. I learned to barefoot when my dad got a big boat and I was 14. No one did it and it was amazing. I purchased the Hydrodyne when I was 21, before I was married and my wife and I were dating. Just some triva, the interest rate on my boat loan was 11.75%. Fun!. We tricked, slalomed and barefooted from morning to night. When the boat had the resting periods in storage I found out an amazing thing. I felt better. I was so congested all summer because of allergies, I suffered a lot. I would ski all weekend, start to feel better, go ski on Wednesday night to ski and get all stuffed up again, a then back to skiing on the weekend. When the skiing slowed down I started to realize I was allergic to something in Lake water. I learn to stay out of the water.
I still loved the boat ride and always would give in to a ski and then suffer again. Anyways,
even though Banana George skied in to his 80's that's not going to happen for me. My skiing and Hydrodyne memories will never go away. And now, I have a new brother, Kevin whom we will related to forever though this boat. Often times when you sell something you get the money and the guy drives away and that is it. This was quite different. Kevin had some car troubles on the trip and we had to fix his car when he got to Minnesota. This was after I got him acquainted to the Hydrodyne. Then we had to remove the motor from the boat for the trek to the new home of the boat. I makes me so happy that my, Hydrodyne is going to a private lake with 16 of its brothers and sisters, three of which are born the same year. Kevin will preserve this great piece of history that Ab Crosby and Ab Crosby Jr. along with Tom Miller created. I think one of these boats belong in the Smithsonian since that it has survived through decades of changes and shows timeless beauty and function, and even entertaining at the worlds fair. I am so happy that the boat has a new great home.

A trip down memory lane.
1. Sitting on my step at my parents home trying to figure out if I should buy the boat.
2. Going to Spencerville with my good friend Steve in his 75 Camaro mag wheels and all.
3. Getting the boat home with my New 175 Johnson, driving it all night on the lake with a full moon in order to get it broke in so that we can ski right away at daylight.
4. Pulling 11 skiers from a deep water start.
5. Pulling 7 barefooters
6. Using the boat for the opening boat entrances at the the Detroit Lakes Water Carnival while skiing in the Detroit Lakes Water Ski Show club.
7. Practicing slalom skiing for tournament and winning the Waterama in Glenwood MN.
8. Spending tons of time with my wife Susie in the boat.
9. Pulling Joe Lahlum back barefoot on a perfectly calm day in across the middle of Toad Lake.
10. Pulling Joe on his Delta wing kite.
11. Pulling my kids tubing and skiing behind the boat. They never had the love for skiing but could tube for hours and that meant more Hydrodyne time for Susie and I.
12. Dreaming about how much fun Kevin will have with this piece of history.

I know this is a little overboard, no pun intended, but this has been an emotinal week, I am so happy how it looks like it will turn out.

Bruce Bekkerus
Moorhead, MN

 

GREAT !!! story Bruce.

It brings back many similar memories to me. I too would ski all weekend and suffer from allergies all the next week. I knew what it was , but was not willing to give up my skiing.
My love for the Dynes has lasted through out the years, but I too must start selling off some of my collection. Can't drive them all at once.

Bob

 

Great story. I am 72 now and the boat only goes out about 10 or less days a year when our daughter is here. I will not sell it. I will just give it to our daughter when I am too old to drive it. She has a 17.6, but a Dyne collection is complete without an 18.

jim

 

For anyone who made a trip to the Spencerville School House to pick up a Hydrodyne, we can remember the experience as you have. My visit to the Spencerville factory was only 22 years ago but it still is a memory my wife and two children remember fondly. Backing up to my new Teal 20' Dyne Comp at the back of the school house was very exciting, especially knowing it was built by Ab Crosby, Jr. and /or Tom Miller. I still get a proud feeling, evan today, when taking out this Hydrodyne. I still run the original 200 Yamaha on my Dyne just as it was equiped in 1989.

I enjoyed hearing your experience. Older Hydrodynes never die thay just keep on pulling.

 

Loved your story.

Thanks for sharing it.

MarkBano

 

Hey Bruce this is Kevin. I am so glad we decided to make the trip out to see you. I have to say that this is the nicest hydrodyne that I have ever seen, even with a weak transom. I am preparing to start on the restoration this weekend. I will keep it all updated here on this site each step of the way. This boat is a dream come true for me, as the hydrodyne is in my mind more than a boat, it is not only a work of art, it is the best ski boat ever built. As I have worked through the restoration of my 73, I have seen workmanship and quality that is not found in any other boat. I want to thank you for all of your hospitality and all of the history of the boat. As I said before, we would love to have you come when it is finished for vacation. You are welcome to take it out and enjoy it on our lake with all of the other dynes. This trip reminded me that there are still great people left in this world. Thank you and I will be talking to you soon.

Kevin Saeler
Stoneboro Lake, PA

 

Here goes...
I own the 1978 StranDyne, also masterfully created in Indiana by the same brain trust as the former mnskibb Dyne. I am fortunate to have a few contacts that willingly allowed my Dyne to rest comfortably in a heated warehouse for the winter to help it last another year. Mike Strandquist went out of his way to keep it in top condition, wiping it down and then keeping it in a garage after every magnificent use. This summer it will receive the same treatment. There is always a lot of pre-season maintenance and little by little, it is coming along. My wife is even a little anxious to get in and drive, provided she can yank me around at the end of the ski rope or out on the barefoot boom. It will be up in the 70's this weekend (maybe) and a trip to southwest Michigan is in order. Perhaps a nice ride in the St. Joe River as the big water can go from ripples to rollers in the time it takes to read this bit. Then it is time to take the 14' out on the big water as I haven't quite got a flivver yet. Seems to me that going up off of a 5 foot roller would be a bunch of fun, as long as there is enough water to land in. There are skiers out on the big water and even more tubers, but seemingly no Dynes.
It is excellent to see the transfer of a Dyne that has seen many great years of service go on to another avid aficionado and live well into the future; Keep up the good work.

 

Bruce,

Thanks for the story and the memories. I was 8-9 when you bought the Hydrodyne. It was the most amazing boat I had ever seen. I spent countless hours on the boat with a stop watch timing you, Susie, Linda, and your friends through the slalom course on Toad Lake. You also taught me to slalom and barefoot behind this boat. I can't listen to a Beach Boys or Boston song without thinking of the sun on my skin, the smell of sunscreen, and the sound of the 175. Thanks again for the memories and being the patient older cousin!

Jeff Melby

 

Well its official the new transom is installed and we are currently reassembling the boat. Everything Haas gone great so far and looks like the boat will be in the water for the 4th