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PostPosted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:44 pm
by Chappy
The Scooter Ski was really a Reliant venture with Scooter Ski (Sales) Ltd. of Victoria Road, Draycott, Derbyshire. It has been included in this section only because the first batch were all built by Bonds in Preston.

Eight feet in length and with a beam of three feet six inches, the Scooter Ski was powered by a 185 cc Rotax single cylinder light alloy two stroke engine. A pair of motor cycle type handlebars incorporating the twist grip accelerator steered the ski by a rudder in the forward section. A self-winding recoil rope was used to start the engine and a centrifugal clutch allowed the Scooter Ski to remain stationary in the water. It appears all Scooter Skis had a white hull with a yellow upper deck and a green tinted screen. Retail price is quoted as £269.00 ex-works.

The first prototype was built at India Mill in July 1969 and production commenced two months later in September. The Scooter Ski stayed in Preston until August 1970 when the factory closed and production was transferred elsewhere.


Chappy