Year: 1954

Owner: Howard Price (Seattle, Wash.)

Driver: Ryan Opfer

Model Builder: Howard Price

Construction: Carbon fiber

Year Built: 2006

Motor: Himax 3630-1500 brushless

Radio: Spektrum

Electronic Speed Control: Castle Baracuda 80

Propeller: Graupner K45

Paint: Lime green, mahogany, royal blue.

Graphics: Screen printed vinyl.

Notes about the Model: Howard’s father was one of the volunteer crewmen on the Gales when the came to Seattle in the 1950’s and Howard has fond memories of the boat and those times as a boy growing up in Seattle. This hull saw action for the first time toward the end of the 2006 season and was beset with mechanical and electrical problems. This is E-RCU’s Grandfather-Grandson team. Their best finish under the control of driver Ryan Opfer was second in the Gardner Trophy at Lake Pleasant in 2007.

Notes about the real boat: This is the first in a line of boats that bore the name Gale V dating back to 1954 owned by Joe Schoenith of Detroit. This Gale V was National High Point champion in 1954 and won the Gold Cup in 1955. The Gale V was designed and built by and Les Staudacher in 1954. She measured 30 feet in length with a 12 foot beam and weighed 6400 pounds. Powered by an Allison engine, she raced out of the Detroit Yacht Club and was driven by Lee Schoenith. Mysteriously, the hull was never seen again, at least in public after the end of the 1955 season and was replaced the following year by the second Gale V.

Notes about 2009: The Gale V is a fast boat with a lot of promise for 2008 but only competed in four ERCU events. Ron Daum drove the boat to her best finish in 2008 at the Columbia Cup in Tualatin, Ore. This hull will likely see limited duty in 2009.