JIM HUTCHISON - Inducted 2004

Pioneer - Power Boat Racing

By John Carlson, 2004

Jim Hutchison  (John Carlson collection)

Jim Hutchison was born in England, May 10, 1909. In 1939, he became the first person in Canada to design, build, and race a three-point hydroplane. Jim became an internationally recognized authority on hydroplane design, construction, and operation. He was instrumental in popularizing hydroplane racing in British Columbia. He and his wife Nina were founding members of the Vancouver Power Boat Association (VPBA).

During the years 1946 to 1964 Jim built 135, 145, and 150 ci hydros and the highly modified engines that accom-panied them. His early 135 ci racers were named Strip Teaser, as Jim loved to salmon fish. Eventually they became the legendary Teaser. Jim literally broke every record in the 135 ci class. His boats regularly outperformed both American and European competitors. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch him race in English Bay in the 1950’s. He and his Teaser established three Canadian one-mile class speed records between 1952 and 1954. He won the Pacific Northwest Gold Cup for four consecutive years. He won the Challenge Trophy and the Western Canadian High Point Awards for 1955 and 1956. Jim Hutchison set every
record in the 135 class before the American Power Boat Association

Jim Hutchison on right

(APBA) officially retired the class.

Jim retired from active competition in the early 60s, but he continued to design and build hydroplanes for several years. In Jim’s own words, “I love to help others play boats.”

He truly lived the sport. He was always willing to help a fellow com-petitor, as is attested to by ex-boat racer John Carlson. Jim talked John into trad-ing in his sleek class B utility outboard racer for a used, very tired, limited in-board. Within one year, “Hutch” had guided John and his partner Ron Trudeau to a Region 19 high point championship. Jim designed and built winning boats for many boat racers in-cluding Ray Ordano, Colin McLennan, and Earl Roberts.

In 1969, Hutch designed and built the legendary War Canoe for Ron

Derrickson of Westbank, BC.

This hydroplane won the overall US National Championship in 1970. War Canoe also held the world APBA high point record for several years by amassing an astonishing 11,763 points in one season.

Jim’s son Dave was obviously in-fluenced by his dad’s skills and success with performance boats. Dave started California Marine, specializing in performance boat parts in 1968. Jim and his wife Nina worked with their son in the business. Dave described his father’s input this way: “Dad was a perfectionist, his fabricating skills were second to none, and his mechanical and design talents were incredible.”

In the late 1940s and early ‘50s many local Ford V8 owners and early hot rod enthusiasts had engine work done in Jim's shop.

Jim was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He was the only motorsport participant to be so honoured until Trev Deeley and Greg Moore were inducted in 2000.

Jim Hutchison passed away peacefully on January 3, 1995, at the age of 85.