CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Robert Harrington, a Citrus Heights entrepreneur, has quietly developed a reputation for hand crafted boomerangs which he sells through his Etsy and Ebay store. His company, Backatcha Boomerangs, promises his customers “many happy returns.”

And they do.

Harrington, originally from San Bernardino, tends bar at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort, when he’s not busily sawing out and hand painting his varied boomerang patterns from his Citrus Heights apartment.

The making of custom boomerangs is both a unique art, and a wonderfully challenging throwing sport among a growing number of enthusiasts. The overall history of the boomerangs isn’t just confined to Australia where they became best known, he said.

Harrington has been teaching people, young and old to throw boomerangs since 1981 when he lived in Southern California. He’s provided lessons to members of Boys and Girls Clubs, social charities and other organizations throughout the state.

Harrington stepped away from the full-time boomerang business to raise his family and has enthusiastically returned to a hobby and a business he loves. His wife Crystal adds her own decorative touch as the pair custom paints boomerangs to order.

“Each order is a collaborative one, as the customer must tell us whether they are right or left-handed, what color scheme they prefer, or even custom design what they might like,” Harrington said.

In his Citrus Heights apartment, Harrington’s spirit and imagination is still “back at the beach.” The couple’s décor is decidedly beach themed, and many of Harrington’s boomerangs were on wall display.

Several unfinished boomerangs were also awaiting paint on his dining room table, and the multiple coats of lacquer each will receive for durability before being shipped.

All of Harrington’s hand-crafted boomerangs have smooth, flat edges for safe returns and a good hover for repetitive catches, he said. His most popular design is what Harrington calls his “little wing.”

Harrington’s boomerangs are made from locally purchased, individual sheets of five-ply, quarter-inch Baltic or finished Birch plywood. A five-foot by five-foot, individual sheet of plywood typically yields 130 individual boomerangs.

On average, Harrington said he makes about 300 boomerangs each month, and during spring and summer months, when there’s good throwing weather, they tend to sell quickly.

In their order, the reason why Harrington specifically asks his customers whether they are left or right-handed is that determines how the leading edges of each boomerang are to be properly shaped for each thrower.

“I individually flight test each boomerang multiple times before they are sold,” Harrington said.

Each Backatcha Boomerang also comes with written safety instructions.

Since boomerangs literally fly “back-at-cha”, customers are urged to always wear eye protection and throw from the same spot.

“Remember, you are always the target,” Harrington’s enclosed instructions caution.

An optional instructional DVD for $5.00, and instructional videos are posted on YouTube. In the past, Harrington has also offered private lessons to local customers and may do so again.

When Harrington isn’t busy making boomerangs, he’s often out throwing his designs in parks throughout Citrus Heights and nearby Fair Oaks. The curious sometimes become his customers.

A 60-yard throwing range, in a clear, well-lit location, free of people, trees or fences is highly recommended, Harrington said.

Customers can visit Harrington’s etsy.com store to view and order one of 14 different custom painted sample boomerangs at www.etsy.com/shop/BackAtChaboomerangs

“I make all kinds of shapes and even lettered boomerangs in your first or last initial. Just give me a challenge to make yours,” Harrington said.

Contact Robert Harrington at Backatcha Boomerangs at (805) 302-6431 or email at [email protected]. His eBay and Etsy store can be found under boomerangrob.