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Thanks for posting that Peter.

This news is of special significance to Nigel Wong and myself, we had the honour of meeting Ed Hughey and competing against him on our big trip in 1981 to the World Endurance Champs and IMPBA Internats that were held in Ed Hughey’s home town of Indianapolis.

I had the honour of competing against Ed twice at that regatta. The first event was the A Class 2 hour endurance for the World Championship where I finished 3rd and Ed 7th (for NZ and USA respectively), to be fair Ed was running a Hughey boats tunnel with 3.5 K&B outboard as opposed to my purpose build (NZ John Belworthy Dart Naviga hull) endurance boat even so Ed put up a good show.

The second event was in the 3.5 hydro where we were drawn together in the final heat (of four rounds), there were about 40 boats entered, so I was lucky to get the opportunity to be in the same heat as Ed just once. As I remember it I got away to a good start and thought ‘help’ here is me running behind Ed Hughey and keeping up with him, well got to make the most of this opportunity so I pushed and ran a tight course. Must have freaked Ed out a bit having an all but silent 85dB compliant boat running up behind an unsilenced mini pipe boat. Ed did open it up a bit to keep ahead and finish the heat in first with me second. And thus Ed secured 1st place for the heat racing and overall class title. Afterwards Ed walked over to talk to me, the conversation going something like ‘was that you’ and how quiet it was that I had designed and built the boat myself (just like himself) and that I was all the way from NZ and giving him a run for it. We talked a bit more about r/c boats in general and technical and what we did boatwise in NZ. Ed considered his proudest achievement was doing 77 mph with a 3.5 hydro, a standout speed at the time and at the same time John Ackerman had also done the first ever 80 mph, with a 40 hydro.

So, I can say on the water head to head it was 1-1 for Ed Hughey and me.

At the same event we attended a function for Ed’s 50th birthday, which makes it 36 years ago, almost seems like it was only yesterday.

Also, on that trip we stayed with Emmerson Dee Hughey and family, Ed’s brother also mentioned in the obituary and also deceased, for about two weeks. Many conversations were had about the family and of course the inside view on boating. Fair to say Ed and Dee did not always share the same views on boating stuff, Ed ran Hughey boats and Dee ran Crapshooters. Dee was the inventor of the dial-a-prop system for making your own props and he gave me one. That little device was put to good use making propellors that were used for breaking a few hydro records here in NZ.

That trip created a lifelong memory for Nigel and myself that we still talk about as the years have gone by, and again stirred with Ed’s passing. RIP.

Regards Peter

and more thoughts from Dave Richardson

Reading of the passing of Ed Hughey's brought back some thoughts about him-

He was a good guy thru & thru.....good family man, honest & hard working, independent thinker, good wooden boat builder & racer.

I never ever heard anybody bad mouth him or this products. A Good bloke.. in a way I'm glad he left this world now to not witness our current torment here in this country...

Back in the day (1972) when I started my boating he was one of the pioneers in modelling in getting good products & help to everyone.

He played no favorites with anyone & helped all boaters the same.....well & as often as needed to keep them going-

He always had time for on the phone to answer my many questions...about which I had many 'later night deamon tweeks' that were poo poo when finished.....as he predicted...LOL

My 3.5 hydro was one of kit boats that provided me with 5 years of fun & agony (at times) on the road to the NAMBA 3.5 SAW class record......(still have it).

As I progressed with my business, I needed help at times with customers that decided to not pay for parts-

which could effected us all in the modelling business.

A call to Ed would usually get me info on the offender via one of his customers..... most times the bill was paid.... Ed could talk the right talk if needed.....& did.....

We had a 'silent club/brother hood' that worked well at those times : the 'BIG FIVE'-

It was Ed Hughey/Hughey/Crapshooter boats, Tom P./ Octura, Bob Murphy/ Shamrock/OPS , John Brodbeck/K&B Motors,& me/RPM Inc (rods)-

Between us we would let all know if anybody was f...king around & not paying..... that worked a treat all the time to shut the offending party down as we were the main suppliers of needed parts, motors etcetc

geez..... all those guys are gone from us now ....all builders of a nice hobby....

geez.....his boats were loud with straight headers/no mufflers.....sure were fast......

RIP Ed - you earned it- we will miss you-

Dave