Every Boat has a Story – "Chapter Two" West Winds" 1947 Chris-Craft 25' Sportsman

West Winds was manufactured and shipped – without engine or propeller – from Chris Craft on December 5, 1947, to Tahoe Boat Company.

The original owner was Rudolph Zimmerman of Lake Tahoe’s west shore (near Homewood), who installed the Scripps Model 302 V-12 engine and named her ZIMMERU.

The second owner was his friend, Howard (Howie) Bloom, of Lake Tahoe’s north shore (Lake Forest), who changed her name from ZIMMERU to HOBO.

From the 1950’s, Howie and HOBO delighted family and friends with endless days of memorable boating and towing water skiers, including Lake Forest neighborhood youth Allan and Warren Bray, their cousin Grandin West, and friend William (Billy) Hunter. Memories of HOBO have spawned legends passing through succeeding gererations.

In June, 2004, HOBO arrived at the Sierra Boat Co., on Lake Tahoe’s north shore (Carnelian Bay) for disposition. By chance, she was seen by Warren Bray and cousin David West before she was warehoused.

In October 2004, HOBO was purchased by David West and wife Nancy, but remained warehoused at Sierra Boat Co. until preservation & restoration began in the fall of 2005.

The preservation & restoration project at Sierra Boat Co. proceeded in successive stages, under the direction of Chris Brogna, with Mike Boone attending to the mechanical work and rebuilding the engine. Upon completion, HOBO was renamed West Winds.

West Winds re-entered the water in June 2009, just in time for the 2009 Lake Tahoe Concours d’ Elegance Boat Show, and is expected to be used and enjoyed for years to come.