hornedogg79
dodgin' bass boats
I believe he told me 80
RIP augustaf
- Thread starter McDog
- Start date
Same
- Location
- Orlando, Florida
He was 81. He was a veteran, and worked on subway trains in his working years.We met for the first time at the Spot.Told me as he did Jon,he didn’t need my help.Then proceeded to tell me that if he came off his ski in the surf,not to help him! He would ride it back to the shore and get back on it there.And of course,making you a drink.Got a buzz at 9am at daytona a bunch of years back when he made that concoction.
Does anyone know how old he was or what he did for a living in his working years?
- Location
- Orlando, Florida
An incredible man. He lived about ten minutes from me, and I became close to him after I bought my Superjet in June of last year and was introduced to him via @callmefinch (Michael Imm). He support all my wild and rapid building aspirations to modify my ski for more power as soon as I got it, and always encouraged me to ride when I was intimidated by my lack of skill being new to the sport. He helped me do a full rebuild on my ski, and I always insisted on doing as much as I could on my ski and all the other jet ski and boat projects I helped him with alongside him to soak up his knowledge. Always would call and tell me to bring my ski over to help with any ski issues or things I wanted done on it when I never wanted to ask or be a burden. Met me at Flatwater Friday and the Daytona Freeride this year with his beach dolly to help me load my ski in and out of the water and watch me ride. So purely generous and selfless. We took him out to dinner at the local German restaurant a couple times. Everyone he meets enjoys his personality, including my family when he came over for dinner last Easter. A class act, gifting my mother an orchid when he got there. He spent countless nights and days at our lake, with his cocktail setup, making drinks for us and our neighbors. He loved his German Shepard dog, Bear, who we will insure will be taken care of in his absence, which he was very adamant about wanting. I will greatly miss our back and forth phone calls and talking to him every day, updating him on all the jet ski things when I see him, hearing his Virginia, dirty, and otherwise jokes, his funny emails, and unfaltering kindness to anyone in need. He became family to me.
As @Jr. mentioned, Michael and I would like to organize a memorial for him. Michael was extremely close to him as well these past years, having met him at the Daytona Freeride in 2016.
As @Jr. mentioned, Michael and I would like to organize a memorial for him. Michael was extremely close to him as well these past years, having met him at the Daytona Freeride in 2016.
Attachments
So sorry to hear about Fred's passing on Wednesday. He had been in declining health recently, and in the hospital awaiting surgery, but then took a sudden turn for the worse. We all thought there would be more time...so sad! The passing of a true jet ski legend.
I met Fred aka 'Augustaf' here on the X in 2008 after I messaged him about an a/m hull he was helping to sell for another X member. He lived local, and we setup a time for me to go over and see the hull.
Little did I know at the time what a big surprise I was in for. Fred was an O.G. 'jetmaniac' all the way. He had rented a Kawi 440 the first year they came out, and was instantly hooked. He went right out and bought one and had been riding standups ever since. He was a walking jetski encyclopedia, and liked to share his knowledge with other riders. School was in session for me that first day, we talked for hours. We had been friends ever since.
Fred's garage was packed with skis and parts. At that time, he had probably had more new parts in stock than JetManiac. Later we would joke about it. It was also like a jet ski museum with older parts mixed in with the new, with Fred always the enthusiastic curator. I remember one time talking about the differences in SN midshafts, and he goes and digs around a lower shelf an OEM upgrade kit long discontinued for upgrading the midshaft for 90SN. That was typical for him to bring up obscure references to parts and repairs, which I soaked up like a sponge. I will always be in his debt.
Fred was much more than a rider, he had lots of work experience as a mechanic, machinist, etc., so he was passionate about wrenching on skis too. He built his own skis and stroker motors, and was very knowledgable about everything related to skis. I would take sometimes to take used cranks over to him for his inspection. He would say "that is total crap and I wouldn't put that in my enemy's ski" or "that is in great condition, how much you want for it?"
He taught me so much about proper assembly techniques for pumps and midshafts in those early years of JetManiac. He was a stickler for details and absolutely OCD with everything mechanical which made us kindred spirits. He was always very generous with his time if you were a standup rider and especially if you were interested in learning, and listening to his jokes and stories all the better. He helped countless younger newbie locals with their skis over the years. But "I haven't got time for couch riders" he used to say.
He was old for a standup rider even then, but was always young at heart and a total character. He loved telling stories and cracking jokes. If you didn't respond to his sometimes unconventional or dry delivery or punchlines fast enough, he would say always say 'kindly laugh please.'
Fred rode with multiple groups around Orlando. He was a fixture at freerides and events like Daytona freeride and WaveDaze. Even after he stopped riding surf, he was there to help newbies, hang out, and make strong fruity drinks. In Orlando, one of his favorite ride spots was Lake Fairview, which has a lakefront VFW post where he could launch and also get drinks lol. He would ride there with Scott, a long time ride buddy.
Fred would frequently drop by the shop just to talk jetski, and see new parts and stuff. Later he became good friends with my wife Pavi, and the visits were as much to visit her as me. He would bring her little gifts of European food and also support for her cat mission. They both shared a love of animals.
I know he will be sorely missed by the freeride community and everyone who knew him.
I met Fred aka 'Augustaf' here on the X in 2008 after I messaged him about an a/m hull he was helping to sell for another X member. He lived local, and we setup a time for me to go over and see the hull.
Little did I know at the time what a big surprise I was in for. Fred was an O.G. 'jetmaniac' all the way. He had rented a Kawi 440 the first year they came out, and was instantly hooked. He went right out and bought one and had been riding standups ever since. He was a walking jetski encyclopedia, and liked to share his knowledge with other riders. School was in session for me that first day, we talked for hours. We had been friends ever since.
Fred's garage was packed with skis and parts. At that time, he had probably had more new parts in stock than JetManiac. Later we would joke about it. It was also like a jet ski museum with older parts mixed in with the new, with Fred always the enthusiastic curator. I remember one time talking about the differences in SN midshafts, and he goes and digs around a lower shelf an OEM upgrade kit long discontinued for upgrading the midshaft for 90SN. That was typical for him to bring up obscure references to parts and repairs, which I soaked up like a sponge. I will always be in his debt.
Fred was much more than a rider, he had lots of work experience as a mechanic, machinist, etc., so he was passionate about wrenching on skis too. He built his own skis and stroker motors, and was very knowledgable about everything related to skis. I would take sometimes to take used cranks over to him for his inspection. He would say "that is total crap and I wouldn't put that in my enemy's ski" or "that is in great condition, how much you want for it?"
He taught me so much about proper assembly techniques for pumps and midshafts in those early years of JetManiac. He was a stickler for details and absolutely OCD with everything mechanical which made us kindred spirits. He was always very generous with his time if you were a standup rider and especially if you were interested in learning, and listening to his jokes and stories all the better. He helped countless younger newbie locals with their skis over the years. But "I haven't got time for couch riders" he used to say.
He was old for a standup rider even then, but was always young at heart and a total character. He loved telling stories and cracking jokes. If you didn't respond to his sometimes unconventional or dry delivery or punchlines fast enough, he would say always say 'kindly laugh please.'
Fred rode with multiple groups around Orlando. He was a fixture at freerides and events like Daytona freeride and WaveDaze. Even after he stopped riding surf, he was there to help newbies, hang out, and make strong fruity drinks. In Orlando, one of his favorite ride spots was Lake Fairview, which has a lakefront VFW post where he could launch and also get drinks lol. He would ride there with Scott, a long time ride buddy.
Fred would frequently drop by the shop just to talk jetski, and see new parts and stuff. Later he became good friends with my wife Pavi, and the visits were as much to visit her as me. He would bring her little gifts of European food and also support for her cat mission. They both shared a love of animals.
I know he will be sorely missed by the freeride community and everyone who knew him.
- Location
- florida
I met Fred at the 2016 Daytona Freeride. I was working on my ski and a long chevy truck with a camper topper pulls up next to me. An older man stepped out and came over and just hunched over my ski (a bone stock SN 650). After a few moments he asked what was wrong with it. I didn't know, I was new and couldn't figure it out. He immediately sees my fuel filter and tells me I had salt water in my gas tank, he then went up and down the beach with me ignoring the rest of the Freeride to collect water bottles to dump my tainted fuel into so i can go back out and ride again. That old man was Fred. After chatting for awhile he asked me where I live and told him Winter Springs, that I had just moved there to go to college at UCF. He then began to tell me he lived in Winter Springs as well. And so began our friendship.
He had me come over to replace a failing start stop switch that he swapped free of charge. Fred began telling me I needed more power and needed a RN hull for the larger exhaust outlet diameter. He said that it really woke up an engine compared to a SN. The next day I listed my SN and found a gutted RN hull in south Florida. I then found a beat old 62t in a Waveraider we used as a donor for the Superjet. We had it ready well before the next Freeride. And as the years went on we upgraded my ski to what it is now. With all the goodies. Through the years Fred has entertained my obsession with always getting new things and wanting to build them. Together we built a blaster, and a Boston Whaler Rage from the ground up and worked on many many skis with him. He was always willing to help and never complained about the days we spent building. I knew nothing about engines and skis before I met Fred. He taught me so much over the years that Im confident to tear down or rebuild any 2 stroke motor you can throw at me.
Fred and I also had a close friendship, I would often come to his house to help with yard work or climb on the roof for him to repair his skylights (with him guiding me from the ground of course) or any help with projects he may have needed. We would often go out to breakfast on Saturday and he would share much about his life to me, and yes his jokes which were something else. I spent much of my time going to his house. Like you typically would a best friend. He even came to my UCF graduation party and I was so excited to finally introduce him to my family. Of course like everyone else they loved his sense of humor and enjoyed talking to him. Fred often attended our "Lake Howell drinking club" gatherings and would often come with his crazy alcoholic concoctions and his "racy" t-shirts.
Fred was like family to me, I never knew my grandfathers and he was the closest thing I ever had to it. I am so fortunate to have met him on that Freeride day. He introduced me to so many great jet ski people.
I will miss Fred dearly and would hope to be half the caring man he was and carry on the love and passion for this sport as he did. Fred didn't care about what you had under the hood but as long as you had love for stand ups like he did, you became part of his family.
He had me come over to replace a failing start stop switch that he swapped free of charge. Fred began telling me I needed more power and needed a RN hull for the larger exhaust outlet diameter. He said that it really woke up an engine compared to a SN. The next day I listed my SN and found a gutted RN hull in south Florida. I then found a beat old 62t in a Waveraider we used as a donor for the Superjet. We had it ready well before the next Freeride. And as the years went on we upgraded my ski to what it is now. With all the goodies. Through the years Fred has entertained my obsession with always getting new things and wanting to build them. Together we built a blaster, and a Boston Whaler Rage from the ground up and worked on many many skis with him. He was always willing to help and never complained about the days we spent building. I knew nothing about engines and skis before I met Fred. He taught me so much over the years that Im confident to tear down or rebuild any 2 stroke motor you can throw at me.
Fred and I also had a close friendship, I would often come to his house to help with yard work or climb on the roof for him to repair his skylights (with him guiding me from the ground of course) or any help with projects he may have needed. We would often go out to breakfast on Saturday and he would share much about his life to me, and yes his jokes which were something else. I spent much of my time going to his house. Like you typically would a best friend. He even came to my UCF graduation party and I was so excited to finally introduce him to my family. Of course like everyone else they loved his sense of humor and enjoyed talking to him. Fred often attended our "Lake Howell drinking club" gatherings and would often come with his crazy alcoholic concoctions and his "racy" t-shirts.
Fred was like family to me, I never knew my grandfathers and he was the closest thing I ever had to it. I am so fortunate to have met him on that Freeride day. He introduced me to so many great jet ski people.
I will miss Fred dearly and would hope to be half the caring man he was and carry on the love and passion for this sport as he did. Fred didn't care about what you had under the hood but as long as you had love for stand ups like he did, you became part of his family.
loictahiti
Site Supporter
- Location
- Tahiti, french polynesia
R.I.P Fred
Big Kahuna
Administrator
- Location
- Tuscaloosa, AL
Let me correct you on this. Fred was your family....... Yours and Allison's Grandfather! The world is a little duller today and a whole lot more sober!!!!!! I met Fred at 2014 Daytona Freeride at Flatwater Friday. Hes, he drug me to his car ( I think it was a car, not remembering him being in the truck) and mixed me a concoction that had me blowing flames out my ass for days!!!!!!!!!!!
He will be missed. I wish I knew him better. I cherished his advise he gave here on the X........
- Location
- jacksonville florida
Anyone here remember getting stuck at Matanzas inlet when the entry road got covered with water. Fred was making us some kind of purple drink. We ended up at the bar by the bridge and over to Dans house to sober up. He sure was a great guy. Jet ski community lost a good one. RI.P. Fred
- Location
- Orlando, Florida
We held a memorial ride for Fred yesterday on a lake I live on that he frequent in more recent years. Happy to have had so many that were able to make it and share more stories like those that I read on this thread.
