Dave Panetti's initiation into boating came as it does for many: start with a beat-up plywood
hydroplane and an engine that needs help, and work on it until it's suitable for the water. Dave
Panetti was only 10 years old when he got that first boat in 1966; the little hydroplane was tired,
and the Martin 200 was way too much for it.
It was the first in a long succession of boats that he would buy as a hopeless project and
lovingly bring back to life. His father taught him the basics of outboard motor repair and sparked
a lifelong interest in boating. Dave's ability to see the potential in things well beyond their
prime has always allowed him to select projects that can and will, once again, serve purpose.
Dave's latest project surfaced when a neighbor spotted a derelict boat a couple of blocks from
his house. "When I saw it, I wasn't really interested," admits Dave. "My girlfriend, Colleen Lewis,
thought that it looked real cute. I went back later that day and bought it. I just didn't want to
see it deteriorate any more than it had. This boat was very different, very unique. But I didn't
really know that it was all that rare, so it sat for the next three years under my porch."
Dave and Colleen had
come across a 1959 Volksboat, a valiant attempt to cash in on the import car craze that was
beginning to make serious inroads in the American automotive market in the late '50s.
The advertising copy claimed "Heinrich Hydro-Flight Hull" as the next new innovation that put
the boat in a class of its own, but in actuality, its size was the most important factor. Weighing
in at a scant 150 pounds, the boat was easy to handle for two people. It was claimed to handle up
to three skiers comfortably and to fit easily into the back of a pickup truck or station wagon.
An announcement in November 1960 stated that the Volksboat henceforth would be manufactured and
distributed by Jet Boat Inc. of Chicago with a new plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, producing the
boats. Jet Boat Inc. also changed the boat model name from Volksboat to Jetra.
"I was searching on the web for more information on the boat," says Dave. "I found out just how
rare these boats are and got seriously involved in the restoration. The Volksboat gave me my first
opportunity for structural fiberglass repairs. I had done some fiberglass work on cars before, but
just little cosmetic stuff. The bottom of this boat was paper-thin, so I fiberglassed both the
inside and outside of the hull."
Dave did most of the work himself. "I had the seatback professionally done but did the cushions
and windshield myself," says Dave. "The boat was so easy to work on, because it was so easy to move
around - just pick it up and move it."
The newly restored boat may not compare to its fast-powered rivals, but that's fine with
Dave.
"It's kind of tippy on anything but the calmest water," says Dave, "but with a smooth lake, it's
the perfect boat. With the 20-hp MerCruiser, it goes around 25 mph. With the right prop, it'll go
around 32 mph."
Dave realizes just
how fortunate he is to have come across such a rare find. "This boat is something that I'm going to
hang on to," says Dave. "It doesn't take up much room, and it's so easy to handle. More
importantly, Colleen wants me to keep it. I'll continue to take it to shows as it stirs a lot of
interest. People have so many questions about it, and I love to tell them the whole story."
The comparisons between Dave's current boat and his first boat are more than coincidental. It's almost as if he has come full circle, with the exception that his renovation and mechanical skills have gained 40 years of practical experience. Throughout the years, the main ingredient is still the same: fun on the water!