"I just didn't like bikes - too many people fall off," the 57-year old Cromwell stock agent said yesterday.
This weekend, with son Aaron as navigator, he will begin the gruelling five-day, 780km, 2012 New Zealand Jet Boat Marathon, on Otago and Southland rivers.
The event has attracted 22 crews from as far away as Canada.
The aim of the game is to get to the finish line fastest but the rivers they will race on will provide a complex mix of fast-flowing, narrow and shallow braids which can often mean trouble for competitors.
Mr Davidson said boats often got stuck in shallow water if crews chose the wrong route.
Once a boat was beached, the hard work began.
"You have to get out and push and push and push until you get into deep enough water, then get going again as fast as you can."
There is no time to be looking at the scenery, either.
"When you are going that fast, you just hang on and try to get to the top without getting stuck."
Mr Davidson said he was relatively new to jet boat-racing, starting seven years ago.
He confessed he had "got the bug" when acting as a navigator in the 2005 marathon and his wife convinced him to do more racing before he got "too old".
It is an expensive sport, costing an estimated $2000 to $4000 per boat per day, and while other competitors have large support crews, Mr Davidson gets friends to help.
"I have to rely on a lot of guys.
My previous navigator, for example, was a mechanic and I rely on a lot of mates that are mechanics and engineers to keep us going.
Race organiser Tim Guthrie said the race attracted 17 entrants from around New Zealand plus four from Canada and one from the United States.
He said it was a coup to attract so many international entrants, and most would be familiarising themselves with the race rivers, as the 2013 World Jet Boat Marathon would take place over the same course.
He said Davidson was the only Otago entrant but there were some strong contenders from Southland, including Roger Preston from Otautau.
He encouraged southern people to watch the racing, saying one of the best days would be the circuit race on the Clutha River at Balclutha on Sunday.
Apart from the leg, his advice was to "find any bridge that crosses a river where they will be racing and you will get a good view".
Spectator guide
Sat, Oct 6: Tech inspection and boat show, 2pm, Rosebank Lodge, Balclutha.
Sun, Oct 7: Circuit race from 9.30am, Clutha River from Balclutha.
Mon, Oct 8: Waiau River from 10am, from Tuatapere.
Tues, Oct 9: Oreti River from 10am, from Lumsden.
Wed, Oct 10: Lay day
Thurs, Oct 11: Matukituki and Clutha Rivers from 9am, from Glendhu Bay.
Friday Oct 12: Dart River from 8.30am, from Glenorchy ramp.
