For Chris Bruwer, a Marine Technician at Family Boats, the thrill of jetski racing isn’t just about crossing the finish line - it’s about the journey of problem-solving that begins long before the race starts.
After moving to New Zealand from South Africa in 2019, Chris brought with him a wealth of expertise as a qualified motorcycle mechanic and transitioned into marine mechanics. Since then, he has completed two Power Boat Systems qualifications in rigging, as well as in servicing and repair.
Chris’s skills truly stand out in his jetski racing ventures. In 2022, he competed in and won the Jetski N9 class at the inaugural Bridge 2 Bridge Waterski Classic. "It was a stock-standard ski, and it finished ahead of newer models," says Chris. This was the start of what he calls 'fighting for speed.'
While that particular jetski was stripped down to be as light as possible, it sparked an idea that would take Chris two years of planning, engineering, and experimentation to bring to life. “Everyone thinks it’s all about more power creating more speed,” Chris says. “But for me, more power means more weight, and that’s friction on the water. I went the other way—I took the weight out. If I didn’t need it, it came off.”
"It’s all about the power-to-weight ratio and shifting the weight around—changing things up and making it work," says Chris. One of his boldest moves involved reconfiguring the fuel tanks, essentially repositioning the weight. “The fuel pumps I used were adapted from a Yamaha F350 V8 outboard system,” he adds.
The process wasn’t without its challenges, and this year’s Bridge to Bridge race was no exception. Chris faced several intense moments on the water, including one right off the start line when the engine was too cold to perform properly. “I was on half throttle, doing 80 miles an hour,” he recalls.
Reflecting on the experience, Chris says, "There were some hairy moments, but I just had to trust the work we’d done in the workshop. And for me, the win was in finishing."
Chris credits much of his success to collaboration. “Ryan Wilson was key—he supplied many of the parts for the engine, and we developed a lot of our ideas in what we call ‘the carpark.’” His manager, Sean, was equally instrumental, working on the hull and helping strip out excess weight.
At Family Boats, Chris and his workshop co-worker, Josh, take the same approach of innovation and problem-solving to tackle any challenge that comes through the door. “We call ourselves the ‘A-Team,’” Chris says with a grin. “You can put anything in our workshop, and we’ll sort it out.”
Looking ahead, Chris is eager to push the limits even further. “There’s more in this ski,” he says. “Like they say, a race is won and lost in the workshop. I’ve got a few more ideas in the carpark.”
For Chris, racing isn’t just a sport—it’s a testament to ingenuity, resilience, and the unrelenting pursuit of perfection.
