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Thread: Mercury Dealership Treasures
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08-04-2007, 08:16 AM #31
Duo be Darned
Those darn Duos.
When I was about 15 years old, in 1969, I was to the age that Dad would let me pick from "selected" used boats for my personal use and to keep at the dock for the summer. We were a Duo dealer at the time and had a 17 or 18' I/O with a four cylinder Mercruiser trade in on the used lot, so that was my pick for the summer. So, on a hot August day my best friend and I were just easing down the lake at about 10 mph with not a care in the world, and I stood up and said "I'm going to jump out of the boat". And Jeff said "No, I'm going to jump out of the boat" Well being 15 and with all the knowledge in the world, WE BOTH JUMPED AT THE SAME TIME!I remember surfacing and reaching for the boat as it idled away. We watched as it turned slightly left and about a quarter of mile later missed a boathouse by three feet and continued onto the rip rap at a bridge. We swam the hundred yards to shore and ran to the bridge to find the old Mercuriser still chugging away with the boat grinding against the rip rap.
Dad never found out about that one...
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08-04-2007, 12:43 PM #32
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That photo is definitely Mercury dealer meeting ,at the Pioneer in Oshkosh Wis.......... Signifigance of the T-Bird houseboat was that was the vessel which cam from Fla. to worlds Fair in Montreal,"Expo 67" During this entire trip they were pulling female water skiers the entire way,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, It was actually on its return to Fl. and stopped at the meeting,in August in Oshkosh,following the meeting with Doug Janisch,Cotton Sims a photographer and a couple other guys the boat than left to come back to Fl. via the Mississippi river while in the gulf I think I remember someone was swept overboard,,,,,,,,,,and fortunatly found, Maybe someone else can update us their,,,,,,,,,,, Thanks for the kind words Baron This thread and you have inspired me to write on,,
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08-04-2007, 01:42 PM #33
I really love the old pictures..thanks for posting them..
The boat driver is probably Bulldog Mussett Drummond..he was pretty colorful..The old T-Bird Factory is still there, and full of boat builders and riggers..it's divided up into different rental warehouses..
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08-04-2007, 04:52 PM #34
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08-04-2007, 06:51 PM #35
It's my co driver in the 6 hr Race in Kissimmee in 60 or 61..the guy with all the stitches who loves catfish and beer..he also drove with Richie Baiz..we had 2 boats and no help, but Marcel said he had a driver coming..little did I know it would be my idol..we drove 4 hours each and won both classes in a not so smooth race..set 4 world records, and Mr. K came over to us and congratulated us..A new Merc like the one you ran was first place prize..an unforgettable weekend.
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Lake X Kid liked this post
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08-04-2007, 09:20 PM #36
This is the building that became our first dealership. My Grandfather J. D. Cooley built this building right after the war in 1945 or 46. He is standing in the doorway and my uncle, Terrell Cooley is beside him. It was a country store and hangout for all the old codgers. Had the potbelly stove to gather round and talk politics as was popular in the day. I remember going there when I was five and sliding a chocolate soldier drink out of the drink box that had the drinks sitting in cold water.
The next post shows the building as Outboard Marine Sales and Service.
Last edited by warrior74z; 08-31-2007 at 05:55 PM.
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08-04-2007, 09:28 PM #37
1960... Dad on left presenting Skeets Davidson the keys to a new ski tow boat with twin Merc 70 horsepower dock busters. The Ski Bugs club bought the boat and one engine from us and we supplied the second engine for our sponsership. The building had been enlarged previously by my grandfather.
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Lake X Kid liked this post
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08-04-2007, 09:53 PM #38
List prices on the Mercs. Yeah and gas was 35 cents a gallon
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08-04-2007, 10:02 PM #39
Local newspaper ad. White 85 HP and under. Black 100 HP. Most powerful outboard. I remember hearing, "What in the world do they need a hundred horsepower for?"
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08-04-2007, 10:09 PM #40
The annual Dealer Meeting. Exciting times. Travel to exotic places, see the next years Mercury engines, lots of food and drink, visit new and old friends, and all on Mercury's tab. Notice the Lake X visit.
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08-04-2007, 10:14 PM #41
I believe the guy on the right is Bob Fairbanks
Mr Fairbanks and my father Earl Smith were Glassmaster boat dealer in Chas SC. Bob was a full time Air Force officer and pilot. He was killed in 1970 in a plane crash in Oklahoma. The Glassmaster franchise was then sold to Ben Robertson, Dorchester Marine Chas SC. Ben's son is the former Boat racer Bennie Robertson Jr. who now works for Reggie Fountain.
Bennie and I went to school together.
Small world
Great Thread!“The bitterness of poor quality & service remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
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08-04-2007, 10:17 PM #42
I always liked the looks of the 1964 Mercs. Last of the ultra slim sixes. And just something about the racing flag on the faceplate...
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08-04-2007, 10:20 PM #43
Grand Opening
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08-04-2007, 10:25 PM #44
O remember those white out drives very much!
I also remember a 4 cyc Mercruiser they had that was a Renault engine!
They put them in 14ft Glassmaster!
My Dad still has his 18ft Glassmaster Tarpon 1973 Model And is almost mint condition!
(slow as crap but a nice boat)“The bitterness of poor quality & service remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
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08-04-2007, 10:31 PM #45
Mid '60's dealer meeting, Dad on right. Who's on left?