What is your "first" memory in water? A kid..

[Robby321]

ME? Actually my first memory anything (born June, 1950), was my mom giving me a "bath" in the kitchen sink. At that time I fit!:eek:. I simple loved it! Then the "take a bath" days, with my then play toy boats, and the old..(DAMN now SO collectable"), dad bought "electric" OB's rigged on. Mom?..GET OUT before ya grow gills! :p

I'll be 63 in June now, but heres what my mom..(RIP, as dad, a gearhead cage and boats) did for me 61 years ago. From my "baby book", that mom wrote. And I was the youngest of 3 sibs too...(and if the first kid ya can "bamboozle" the parents..the third? now WAY...as they seen it the other 2 older!;))

Pic from my baby book. And been in boats/water, and "Bikes", 55 years both. And what cracks me up I was called "Da" Before I learned to talk?..(Ramble on now!):D

Bet it was the elders, AS ALL THERE FRIENDS, as they ALL helped raise any kid, as those days were .."takes a village to raise a child", then real, not now. Me called "Da"? Probably saying to me ."wanna ride your bike?.."DA", wanna go in the water.."DA", wanna go out the boat? ..DA"!;)

Couple pix. Baby book, and the earliest pic me in a boat, and I'm the little curly head rug rat there! Last attached, is probably me at 12, my dads old "Lancer" And ya Illinois chain kids, the 2nd pick was taken the ..'White Feather Indian Club", off 132, close Lindenhurst, Munn rd, east side Crooked lake. I grew up there weekends in the 50's. And I did a "road trip back there 2006 for a "all year last blast " HS picnic. Went back the old "stomping ground a kid" , and saw zip but new housing the sides..(old resorts still there on the lake) the way the end the road thought.."its gotta be leveled, and condos". HA. It was like I remember DECADES ago. Turns out a childhood friends then, now runs it. We BS'ed, and he said to me.."it will never be changed here if I got something to say about it" Last me there, dads "Regal Lancer", think had a slip Fox.."Last Resort"

[mr fun]

I'm gonna skip ahead to my first boating event, which was on a "pacemaker yacht" on the the Chessapeake (sp?) bay at the age of 4 being in the cabin watching the men outside walking on the catwalks by the cabin windows and only seeing their ankles was too cool, will never forget the sound of those DETROITS hummin !!!! just like the city bus I rode home from school after track practace. fun out

[Ted Stryker]

First memory was looking out a back sliding glass window at a backyard with a big tree, and mostly dirt on the ground... Immediately behind the fenced backyard was a junked old rusted orange truck that was in delapidated condition with tall grass around it, then just woods behind that... This was before I was 2 years old..

First boating memory was laying down in the floor of my dad's bassboat on my back and looking up at the tree tops going by as we drove down the sabine river that leads into and forms Toledo Bend lake... Didn't make much sense of that abstract memory till my dad explained it to me many years later...

[CDave]

I guess the bathtub. :D

[Capt.Insane-o]

Playing in the minnow bucket when I was 3 or 4 years old.

[1BadAction]

Atlantic ocean, 18 months. :)

[Robby321]

First boating memory was laying down in the floor of my dad's bassboat on my back and looking up at the tree tops going by as we drove down the sabine river that leads into and forms Toledo Bend lake... Didn't make much sense of that abstract memory till my dad explained it to me many years later...

I know what saying there! DAMN! I can't remember the same "look up". But think long ago on the Fox Lake Chain when dad doing a "lake to lake" ..no wake, channel cruise. That last pic mine my dads old Regal Lancer. That front wood cabin "hatch" was hinged to open. Twin bunks in front and us kids would lay there, and watch the treetops go by! The OB think most 35 HP Johnny, motor idling sound ringing our brains..and the great smell of a 2 stoke OB oil :thumbsup:..wafting to the cabin!

Hit a l new lake out, and dad said.."hang on" :eek::rolleyes: If it did 25 mph a miracle, but did plane.

Also remember well then my bro had a "Baby Switzer", with a 20H Merc. So my dad lunched what ever motor he had on the cabin cruiser. He took the 20H off the brothers boat, and jury rigged a tiller steer, slapped it on. He was one one those.."if it gets me 10 feet from the dock, I'm happy! :D

Heres more pix, me and dad. And at me 14, he bought a "Amphicar"..FREAKING GRIN to "splash it, turn signal on, toot the horn! Then go hit some beach that no way a car could get too, .."and leave tire tracks!..(crop circles ? HA! damn kids!) Last, my first boat.
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[rev.ronnie]

This may not be the earliest exact memory, but it is etched into my head.

I was probably 3 and we were vacationing with another family who were friends of my parents. We were at a resort in Balsam Lake Wi and they had these little plastic boats for kids to play in the water with . I was in one,and my dad and his buddy Don were shooting me back and forth to each other and spinning me around in half circles getting a run at it. I was holding on for dear life and loving it. Man, I could have done that all day! That was the beginning of my love for boats! I just couldn't go fast enough!

I remember the little boat, that seemed kind of big actually. It was probably 3 feet long and made of heavy blue plastic, like a kiddie pool. It had a flatish bottom with a V bow.

A kiddie pool or bath tub was probably my first real water memory. I always played with toy boats.

[CDave]

The youngest time in water away from the house would be the beach where I live. Then it would be fishing with my pop and brother in the Louisiana marshes and up at Toledo Bend.

[Robby321]

The youngest time in water away from the house would be the beach where I live. Then it would be fishing with my pop in the Louisiana marshes and up at Toledo Bend.

I have to admit, as a (northerner (Il Fox Chain freak at one time, now PNW 19 years now), but many friends in both coast FL, and "Florabama". Done a zillion miles on bike rides, but I have NEVER been in a "airboat" and must admit, I never been..in the "bayou". Swamps, chasing gators, etc. You down there are a "special breed".

My old GF is in Fort Meyers (sp) now. a R/E agent, owns 3 condos and a house there. Keeps sending me .."place's to move". Trouble is I got too many toys and tools I could NOT ever sell, or go broke moving it. I'm 62 now, and shes still hot at 59. Both retired now. I told her....."how about 6 months here, out hot humid FLA summer, and lock up here winter, 6 months FLA? If this does plan out, I gotta stop some ya in.."Wizzieanna"! Don't worry, as I show up with all the beer and food needed you. And crash out in my van..(the perfect guest, as leave ya alone), then "show me what ya got to offer".. Like "Ya gotta see this, hang on"

I still like meeting new people, (as I THINK I might know everything and been everywhere, I simple aint seen "nothing some others life"...just not been there yet!

[CDave]

My mom use to take me, my sister and brother to a place about 30min. south of our house where we could bank fish in the marsh. We use to love going there. My mom would pack us lunches in the ice chest and we'd spend the whole day there. I still remember those ham sandwiches and a cold glass bottle Coke to wash it down with. :)

[warren]

First boat home made 8 ft with a 3 hp went 2 a 10 ft john witha ted williams 7.5 sears 360 swivel made a hitch on the back of my bike and towed it 2 the canal 14ft john with a 9.9 john and than a 15 john side winder with a 75 john 3cyl woodson tri hull witha 33 evenrude 20 action with a 2thirsty 5 high ringer 19 action witha gt200 and thana gt300v8 04 stv rocket 2.5 drag witha speedy and nitrous thana 280 ros 24 skater 280 ros twin and another 04 rocket witha 280 ros /what a ride from start 2 finish so far/red rocket out

[Robby321]

First boat home made 8 ft with a 3 hp went 2 a 10 ft john witha ted williams 7.5 sears 360 swivel made a hitch on the back of my bike and towed it 2 the canal 14ft john with a 9.9 john and than a 15 john side winder with a 75 john 3cyl woodson tri hull witha 33 evenrude 20 action with a 2thirsty 5 high ringer 19 action witha gt200 and thana gt300v8 04 stv rocket 2.5 drag witha speedy and nitrous thana 280 ros 24 skater 280 ros twin and another 04 rocket witha 280 ros /what a ride from start 2 finish so far/red rocket out

HA! See how chit gets in your blood!;):D:thumbsup:

[Robby321]

Also me long ago remember my dad after closing down his "Radio and TV repair" biz..(50's/60's), Friday afternoon at 5. My mom, and the kids, .."HAD BETTER BE READY TO HIT THE ROAD AND THE LAKE", as about 5:15 he came in the pull through driveway the station wagon, barely slowed down while we piled in the picnic baskets, weekend "stuff", and "hit the road!" And I didn't know his "feeling", of hitting the lake fast as possible then. But later years 70/80's me it sure hit. Same damn 50 mile ride the lake house, but I can't tell ya how many times I told the boss at work.."I can't last to 3pm out here..let me out at noon! :eek:

Then (this all the Fox Lake Chain days)...they started the Thursday night drags at Blarneys. Hit the road after work, get in the boat, "do the fun", "TRY and stay sober and not meet a new "honey", and back the house, alarm set 5am, do the ride back to work at 7am. And then back on Friday for a wild weekend the "Chain"

HA! I can't tell ya how many Fridays at work I missed, and my boss was cool so I didn't even try to BS him with any excuse. "Not today Don, still getting a BJ off a new one , ..Or..(I'm too damn hung over to drive, and ya would not want me there today anyway, as "useless":p

Just got a new "Boating" Mag in the box today. Editorial is? First remembrance boating! One quoted here..a sum it up.

"Boating is the most hard work you can do while having fun" And I SURE do agree! DAMN, I probably do 99 hours "prepare", for one hour wet any my 3 boats!;):D:thumbsup:

[Robby321]

I was probably 3 and we were vacationing with another family who were friends of my parents. We were at a resort in Balsam Lake Wi and they had these little plastic boats for kids to play in the water with . I was in one,and my dad and his buddy Don were shooting me back and forth to each other and spinning me around in half circles getting a run at it. I was holding on for dear life and loving it. Man, I could have done that all day!

HA! I know what meant, as got "spun around" myself, a kid. Spin ya dizzy, then a push off!:thumbsup:

Reminds me of hitting SoCal out Illinois..(parents ROAD TRIP RT 66, and done 3 before I was 12!) See my Uncle there. Went a kid to the new opened (1956?) "Disney land", in 1960 . That damn "Tea Cup" you spin ride was a gas. Ya get it spinning, then the ride started. Always too loved old "Bumper car" rides, as "bumper boats!

Damn, who outlawed that fun? Pic me Disneyland..:thumbsup:..(PS, yep many time FL to Disney World too, and still a freak, "Mr Toads wild ride". RIP Walt, as Mel Blanc, the master of "voice! (Wascally wabbit!)
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[flabum1017]

First memory in water was in the kitchen sink, mom giving me a bath. I can remember that like it was yesterday...... funny how the mind is, I can remember that clear as day but other big parts are missing.

[Forkin' Crazy]

Can't remember being in the sink, but in the bath tub. :)

Dad taught me how to drive a boat, a early 60's Johnson 3 on a 14' Arkansas Traveler aluminum boat.

In '73 he bought a Terry Bass with a Johnson 50. Stick steering. :) Once he figured out I could drive it and work the troller, it was on. 11 years old and I was sole driver, including putting it off and on the trailer, running the troller, all of it. He had the boat so he could fish, and I fished so I could run the boat!!! :cool: I still have it and it still runs! :cool:

[afr]

sea plane lake of the Ozarks Mo and big block flat bottoms the next year

1965 ish

[Robby321]

Can't remember being in the sink, but in the bath tub. :)! :cool:

This you? HA!

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[warren]

Robby i likey the pic forkin is that u wow look at u now/red ocket out

[dnr78]

Other than kiddie pools that were far from memorable, except for the time when our neighbor called my mom because i was naked in their backyard pool and when my mom asked why my answer was that she told me to stop getting my clothes wet, so...
my first memorable thrill with the water was finally being able to swim out to the raft in front of the house on lake delavan, it must've been 15-20 feet out

[Capt.Insane-o]

I can still remember my first Hydrostream sighting, july 1978 6 years old. Pestered my dad relentlessly until he took me up river where the guy was parked so I could look at it. Bruiser Vector with a 175.

[rock]

I can still remember my first Hydrostream sighting,.

Me too. 1980 Viking with a 200 Merc at a boat show in a mall. Seen it on a Saturday morning and drove it the following Monday. Bought it that Monday and the madness began. Would love to have that boat back even though it is probably rotten.

Rock

[Robby321]

First Merc/Switzer sighting me? Crooked Lake, Ill. 10/12 years old. All the normal boats around our side the lake were well, normal. Wood, or fiberglass, lotta J rudes, Small Mercs on Hydros only cool excitement to me. But across the lake was this boat, big white side swirl with Merc TOP. White dockbuster probably, maybe a FSG. All I remember this thing hauled , but that SOUND! Been an IL6 freak since. Couple years ago, finally found a pic one F/S some site. Same area too, and wonder 50 years later if it was the one I lusted after? This one has a smaller motor, and I don't remember any white top, but who cares. Still have Switzer running through my veins too!

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[Robby321]

Me too. 1980 Viking with a 200 Merc at a boat show in a mall. Seen it on a Saturday morning and drove it the following Monday. Bought it that Monday and the madness began. Would love to have that boat back even though it is probably rotten.Rock

I remember one of my first H/Stream sightings too! And the end of my days..(my thinking anyway), King of the lake with my Switzer. One Thurs night at the Blarneys drags later 70's, some dude shows up with a Stream running a 200 or 235 then new Rude. Damn, balls to the walls kick yer azz ride! Thing is, back there Bobby Switzer kinda rules anything fast on the Chain, as were he was located and built the boats there. Then this new punk shows us ALL up! Lotta fun. Hard to believe that was 35 +years ago at Blarneys, (the 8th wonder of the world, Thursdays nites!

[Mr.Rude]

My water world started in 1984 when I was 5. My dad got a whim to go to a land auction and bought acreage on a small private 8 mile long lake. Very shortly after, he started building a dock, boat house, and a boat ramp. The first day we could use the ramp, I got to drive his 1980 Fisher Marine Marshhawk with a 70HP Johnson on it. I may have only been going 35, but I was DRIVING! From that day on I was on that lake nonstop. He got me a 12' jon boat with a 6HP Evinrude and set me free to roam the lake by myself. When I got 8 he gave me the Fisher to use, then at 12 he bought a new Stratos bass boat with a 150 FastStrike (same boat in mentioned in my sig)... Life has not been the same since!!!

[Robby321]

My water world started in 1984 when I was 5. My dad got a whim to go to a land auction and bought acreage on a small private 8 mile long lake. Very shortly after, he started building a dock, boat house, and a boat ramp. The first day we could use the ramp, I got to drive his 1980 Fisher Marine Marshhawk with a 70HP Johnson on it. I may have only been going 35, but I was DRIVING! From that day on I was on that lake nonstop. He got me a 12' jon boat with a 6HP Evinrude and set me free to roam the lake by myself. When I got 8 he gave me the Fisher to use, then at 12 he bought a new Stratos bass boat with a 150 FastStrike (same boat in mentioned in my sig)... Life has not been the same since!!!

This.."My dad got a whim to go to a land auction and bought acreage on a small private 8 mile long lake. :D:thumbsup:

Damn! I think you win the .."coolest dad!" My dad was a cheap bohack, but party monster, as my mom. But they knew MANY others. I don't know how the Crooked Lake, Il, "White Feather Indian Club" started, but weekends? THEY ALL had to be there! Community kitchen, the main house (like a hotel) where the wife's crashed with the young kids, rest the guys and older kids crashed out "Bunk House", over the party bar/Rec Room below. Full bar, Jukebox .."doing Polka! :p Then they would get "wound up", and ..(any remember "Sherrys bar", Lake Villa?) So they did a new bar road trip, and us kids went down there and.."Tapped" us a M/T quart soda bottle , and filled it with the beer off the tap the bar. Only 12 then, as we thought as them drinking, and having fun? Lets try it. :confused:

Well, I handled it well!.. (still like my beers!) But some the wimps got sick and tossed lunch..(idiots CHUGGED IT DOWN)..not a sip and get funny stupid!

I'll never forget when we finally crashed out the bunkhouse, the old folks drunk and wasted crawling back and crash out. And remember my friend Jimmy was crashed on a third top bunk. Well, he starts tossing lunch off the side the top rack!:eek:

All I hear is one the elders...."damn kid has been drinking our beer, smell it?!" :D After that, as us kids were damn free to roam. they went town?..Lock up the bar!:D

I gotta show some pix the old "stomping"..need fast puter speed in the house..shop puter a slug..

[Robby321]

Playing in the minnow bucket when I was 3 or 4 years old.

And no WAY, you could catch one either!:D

[Robby321]

See my first post here, were I was raised. Thing is after a long time away from the 60's, went back in 2006..(no more me, read my original start here)

The old "swing..(restored), the bar and bunkhouse, lake, etc. I lotta of 2006 pix, and like to share with ya in a few post. (Oh yeah? weres some old pix here you kids?

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[Robby321]

Some more pix.."Crooked Lake" a kid.....

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[Robby321]

And last, the bunkhouse and the bar below, and a pic the TAP, my first beer! Been wasted and having fun ever since:D

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[Forkin' Crazy]

This you? HA!

272611

Nope. Not a blonde! ;)

[Da Bull]

I grew up in a boating family and going to the lake on Sundays was our only hobby. My earliest memory in on Caney lake learning to ski in very shallow water with my Dad running with the rope pulling me along the bank. Old super 8 movies show me to be 2 to 3 years old and thats what my folks seem to remember. My feet were so small i had to wear my tennie shoes so the ski`s would stay on. After one day of my Dad making like a boat i graduated to being pulled by the real thing out in the lake. I`m now 59 and i remember it like it was just yesterday. My parents do too.

I think i`ll get out those old super 8 movies and relive it again.

DB

[warren]

I would