Dr. Rick Van Groningen custom built what he dubbed the “Wilson” Jet Ski; naming it after the volleyball in the Tom Hanks film, “Castaway.” Inspired by the death of his 24-year-old daughter who was killed in a car crash, he lived alone and needed a project to him going and to help keep his mind off difficult things. “Since I live in Port by myself, I needed a project to take my mind off things, particularly at night,” he explained in an interview with the Port Douglas News.
Van Groningen spent two years and $150,000 building the craft, tender, and floating dock. He had help from Port Douglass Engineering, SB Canvas, Port Paint and Panel, and On the Spot Signs. He intended to ride the ski from the Port Douglass Marina, Australia to Indonesia because that is where his deceased daughter had lived. In his mind, that made it an appropriate destination.
The ski was built with the idea that he could easily explore coastal areas that were not accessible to regular boats. He also wanted to get away “castaway” style. “Kate and I (and my other daughter Jessica, aged 30), used to live in Indonesia, and the remote islands are just out of this world; it seemed an appropriate destination.”
He equipped his boat with two 3.5 meter NACRA racing catamaran outriggers, integrated alloy super structure which included a cabin, roof hammock, and board rack. He opted for the ocean-faring Kawasaki Ultra for its 300-horsepower supercharged engine that was capable of running 60knots. Two chart plotters were included, a fish finder radar, VHF, stereo, 3 sonars, and INMARSAT satellite phone with Internet. He even had PFM Blue Fuel Management so his motor would run cleaner. Van Groningen even had day and night vision aboard along with a 3.5 meter long Duck 330 equipped with a water marker and shark deterrent system.
The man had his boat well prepared for the long journey. This was a huge endeavor for him since his Jet Ski experience was limited to a 3-hour trip with Kate, his deceased daughter. They had traveled around Magnetic Island on a hired ski.
His biggest concern about the trip was having enough fuel at the drop stations he had set in place along the way. This information was available from newsport.com.au. Van Groningen and Wilson were scheduled for a 2014 appearance on NatGeo’s, “The Explorers.”
