My dads first (real) boat....

**Instigator** · 12-08-2018, 02:24 PM

Lost my dad 6 months ago and starting to pay attention to things that you wouldnt normally.

About a yr before he died he gave me a note book w/notes and pixs on all his boats in it.
And stories behind them, the decision to buy them, performance etc.
He was an engineer so go figure

My older brother just added this picture to it and reminded me that he built this boat in his garage, making me a second generastion boat builder

Pretty cool gig though.

This was back in the day when Chris Craft (all wood back then) sold kits to build your own Chris Craft which I think is way cool.

This a '1955 15' plywood boat, built 4 yrs before I was born.
He switched between a 5 1/2 hp and 25 hp depending lake/limits.
In his notes he claims 28 mph w/the 25 and states that they skied behind it.

Also, notice the hard top on it.
He and my brother went to a junk yard and cut this top off a wrecked pickup and mounted it on the boat!
Looks like it came w/the boat!
Did I mention he was an engineer?

He was a WW II stud (Navy) and got us into boating after deciding it was the best bang for the buck for family activity.
Did I mention he was engineer?

His next boat after this one, looked very similar but was 18' and had twin 25's. So a muscle boat for the era.
I am searching for a picture of it behind our '1962 Lesabre convertible, new at the time. (like to have it back?)

Anyhow, hope you enjoy.
Sometimes we dont realize how far weve come w/o looking at where we came from.

**89LASER** · 12-08-2018, 03:07 PM

Very cool pictures. I wish I had some pictures of my Dads boats..

**rock** · 12-08-2018, 03:26 PM

I wish my dad had been into boats. A couple years back I found out my grandfather (dad's dad) built wooden work boats.

Your dad sounds pretty cool. Sorry for your loss.

Rock

**Instigator** · 12-08-2018, 03:41 PM

Doing what he loved, near the end.

**LakeFever** · 12-08-2018, 04:13 PM

Sorry for your loss. Your Dad was very cool and your story is inspiring. Thanks for sharing

**LakeTrash** · 12-11-2018, 09:49 AM

Very cool Gary. My dad's first was a 16' Chris Craft kit boat, plywood with a flathead Ford. He built it in 1954 in Spokane. I was 10 and not much help. He was transferred to Shreveport in 1957. My mom told the company she was not moving without her boat so they ended up sticking it in the moving van. She was tough.

Hope to see ya'll soon.
Dennis

**H2OPERF** · 12-11-2018, 12:02 PM

Sorry to hear Gary... sounds like maybe all our dads had the same bug, my dad built a few wood boats back in the day before my time i think one was a kit.. always heard about the one with twin 16hp scotts, theres gotta be some old pics at my moms house will try and find em.. Hey Dennis, haven't seen you on here in a while , Did you ever fire up that T-58.. Dave

**Dave S** · 12-11-2018, 08:18 PM

HeeHe... I an't come far .... still stickin to the old waydaZZZZZ.....Good story bout our past....Lake Trash... I bet that boat woun't PLANE.....

**Trilogy1** · 12-11-2018, 08:34 PM

Chris Craft has came a long way since then. Was at the factory not long ago picking one up. Nice post sir.

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**Dave S** · 12-11-2018, 08:47 PM

I had a model when I was young.... The consolation....

**Dave S** · 12-11-2018, 08:53 PM

Lake Trash... too much BBC in the back.....HeeHee..... Just Teasing ya......Had the twin to your boat.... .... set up buy Dick O day...BBC All heads... # 2 SSM .....a real early one that you could twist 180# to change the prop.....Before most Of them on S+F.....Knew....Just Me Old....

**Instigator** · 12-11-2018, 09:27 PM

Chris Craft #2.

Plywood construction, single SBC.
Docked at Cedar Point amusement park and they had a speed boat that gave rides in the bay.
Dad out ran them in that cruiser, our first one.

Traded our 18’ w/the twin 25’s for it after a family weekend w/It in 3 days of rain.
I remember sleeping in the car 😬

That boat was the beginning of our 3 wk boat vacations.
Cross Lake Erie, up the Detroit River into/across Lake St Clair, up the St Clair River and into and across Lake Huron.
One yr we’d follow the Canadian side to Georgian Bay/North Channel, next yr the US side to Makinac Island.

**Instigator** · 12-11-2018, 09:31 PM

Chris Craft #3.

37’, twin 327’s, double planked mahogany hull, all varnished mahogany interior.
Gorgeous boat.

Anchored in Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Me on my favorite perch, the old man w/his pipe.
Used to put a screen on it and turn it upside down to smoke in the rain.

**Instigator** · 12-11-2018, 10:06 PM

Lake Trash is s buddy of mine and put a ton of effort into that Jones boat and would love to see your comments.
He never got his to run the way it should.

Heres a funny one for you. I bought a used bore light off e-bay yrs ago and when it showed up, it’s case had a Dick Odea (??) Racing sticker on it. Knowing who he was, I asked if it was him/his and it was.
I still use it and still has the sticker on it.

Originally Posted by Dave S

Lake Trash... too much BBC in the back.....HeeHee..... Just Teasing ya......Had the twin to your boat.... .... set up buy Dick O day...BBC All heads... # 2 SSM .....a real early one that you could twist 180# to change the prop.....Before most Of them on S+F.....Knew....Just Me Old....