Your Boating Resume

[curtiej10]

Started with my parents first boat a 1968 Kona with a 455 olds. I guess he was thinking rootbeer theme with brown metalic flake and dark brown on the deck, with all brown interior.
To my first boat a 2003 Cobra 21 viper. Tons of great memorys. It was tough to let it go but my back needed a bigger boat.

On to the newest member of the family currentley being built.

 

[RCDave]

Thanks!

Been looking for a long time for one rigged for a single O/B. Bought it without the former 300X. Kevin at KMG is going to install/rig a new 300XS on it for us. Can't wait

Finally got her wet. It was worth the effort and wait.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Finally got her wet. It was worth the effort and wait.

Hell yeah! Looks badass. Congrats!

 

[RCDave]

Love that 300XS! So responsive, quick, and refined.

Outboards are AWESOME! :thumbup:

 

[edog]

First boat as a kid 83 Eliminator Sport Cruiser 20.5- Jet
Adult.
1978 18' Manta Ray - Jet
1986 16' Caribbean - Jet
1988 18' Daytona, Wannabe Circle boat Biesemier knock off- Jet (hated it)
1978 Spectra 19
1983 Eliminator Sport Cruiser 20.5- Jet (current Boat)
There are some people have posted pictures of there first boat and talked about how much they loved it. Well, I too, said the same thing. So I hunted down the exact boat 2 years ago and restored it.

 

[ChevelleSB406]

First boat as a kid 83 Eliminator Sport Cruiser 20.5- Jet
Adult.
1978 18' Manta Ray - Jet
1986 16' Caribbean - Jet
1988 18' Daytona, Wannabe Circle boat Biesemier knock off- Jet (hated it)
1978 Spectra 19
1983 Eliminator Sport Cruiser 20.5- Jet (current Boat)
There are some people have posted pictures of there first boat and talked about how much they loved it. Well, I too, said the same thing. So I hunted down the exact boat 2 years ago and restored it.
View attachment 422131

Very nice, dig it. I am partial, I think those eliminators have very similar lines to my nordic jet.

 

[j-bone]

Been a long week at work - lots of hiring and resumes and whatnot. So... let's see your BOATING resume, or history. We'll start with the oldest first...

Me first.

When I met Mr. DB, he had a 21' Avenger with a 225 Johnson. It got nicknamed "The Easter Boat" - pretty sure I don't have to explain that one. lol It was a fantastic boat and we had a TON of fun on it. I still wonder what the heck happened to it. Hopefully it's still out on the water today. A good friend of ours just bought an Avenger last year and it makes me smile every time I see it....

We then decided that we wanted more room, so we bought the PoonToon We were stoked to be able to haul around a bunch of people and pretty much anything we wanted. The barbeque was also a big bonus. It was a super fun boat, but it got old keeping so much boat clean all the time.... and, we missed going fast

So, we bought this bitchen Ultra tunnel hull with a 225 Merc. The bottom was a Southwind tunnel and the top was an Ultra 20xt -- the only true tunnel that Ultra ever built. It was a beautiful boat and the ride was incredible. It cut through anything like a hot knife through butter. I miss this boat, bigtime.

So that brings us to our current ride. A friend of ours decided to move on from boating and was selling his 21' Daytona that he had just put a brand new Merc 300XS on. The motor had 42 hours. We couldn't say no. I love this boat. Sure, it's got pink on it, but it goes fast enough that you don't see the pink

Our next boat will be a 22' Daytona :thumbsup

We had the same experience as you with the pontoon. Little did I know that we bought the pontoon babe's boat. The BBQ was definitely a plus but I really liked the kustom steps up front.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

We had the same experience as you with the pontoon. Little did I know that we bought the pontoon babe's boat. The BBQ was definitely a plus but I really liked the kustom steps up front.

ha! Those steps were definitely Kustom, but were essential for getting into the boat while swimming in the water. The ladder on the front of the bow was a joke - all you had to do was have a big breakfast and that deck would strain under the pressure that ladder put on it.... Funny thing is, we had SO many people come over to ask where we bought the "pontoon steps". I absolutely should have developed a "new product" for pontoon owners. Coulda made a fortune....

 

[E4L]

At 39 my resume is long and after finally owning my dream boat it's time for yet another change in life. Trying to keep the kids happy without leaving the house. Pool time

Oh and they are all ELIMINATORS

 

[ColdSteel]

First boat.

Rotten floors and seats. Passenger seat blew out on the freeway. Bad screws.
Had a lovely OMC drive and a SBC in it..

Sold the closed bow and bought a 21' Seacraft CC ocean boat for spearfishing. Another nightmare.

The boat I have now has lots of cupholders.

 

[85RiverRAT]

My parents started out in a Banana Yellow jet, that a friend owned, spending their weekends on the lower river and Water Wheel.


18' Sea Ray
The first boat the family owned was an early 80's 18' Sea Ray with a 4-BANGer/Alpha drive.
We would camp at Sand Point and Black Meadow. This boat was taken up to Bear Lake Utah. Never saw this boat again.


21' Eliminator
The next boat was a 1988 20.5 Eliminator Skier, "Goin' Gray", 350 Mag/ Alpha drive. We left Havasu for the most part, and started boating Lake Mead, staying at Echo Bay Resort. We would either RV camp, or beach camp, this went on for nearly 20 years. We had the Eliminator for 10 years. We sold it to some guy in Arizona, that was going to go boating on Roosevelt and Pleasant. I still wonder about this boat, and if it is still running around. Had lots of fun with her, and never had a single problem. For a low-freeboard 21', she got us home in some of Mother Mead's Nastiest weather.


24' Hallett
The current boat is a 1995 Hallett 240 "Carpe Diem". We picked this boat up in 2000, and it has been a great boat. Originally a 502 Mag/Bravo III, we rebuilt the motor in 2013. Now its a 509/Bravo III, we are knocking on 600 Hours of fun in the sun with the Hallett. We finished out our Lake Mead era in this boat before Echo Bay went south. Now we are back after 25+ years running Havasu.


For a short spell we had a 72' Jamestowner "Renegade" on Lake Powell, it was a small group time-share. Kind of a garbage barge, being an older boat, but we loved it. It was a class above the rentals we had in the past, but not a 5-Star floating hotel either.


Almost forgot the GAMEFISHER. 12' of Fishing Fury. MinnKota Power, red graphics. Spent a lot of time honing my boat handling skills as a teenager in this boat. Didn't always catch the fish though! This boat was registered with CF-#'s, so that we could get it out on other lakes, the top of the suburban was rigged up to load the boat on the roof, pretty slick set up.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Bump. Lots of new folks that need to post up


Plus, I just needed to look at some boats this morning.....

 

[shueman]

1976 ...

 

[shueman]

Needles in the 90s ... 14' play toy

 

[Wadernation]

1st boat i bought was a 1976 Domin8er 454 when i was 19 years old.


2nd boat was a 1991 19.5' omega open bow 454. Owned for 6 years.


which leads to my current. Owned for almost a year. this thing makes me happy in the pants. 1995 Daytona 21'

 

[milkmoney]

 

[Motoxxxloak]

First boat. I want to say it was an 89 but for some reason 87 keeps popping into my head. Either way, it was a CeeBee Avenger. My grandparents bought the boat brand new after it came out in some magazine (bought the one one the cover). I have it somewhere and will post it up when I find it. We used it for years to teach all us grandchildren how to ski, etc. It spend it's whole life on Canyon Lake.

It then sat once we got the pontoon and eventually was pulled out and moved to another property we had in Menifee. It sat and sat. I finally convinced grandma and grandpa to give it to me, with the intentions of restoring it as it took a hell of a beating sitting outside for many years. Unfortunately I never made it that far. I wish I would've known CGrohe223 sooner (79 Tahiti Project thread) cause I am sure he could've motivated me to finish it.

Many years later, decided to buy something else at 22 as all my friends seemed to have boats. I ended up with this 87 Rogers VIP. It was a great boat that I was able to "fix up". Then there's the 97 210 that was shared with a buddy, who is no longer a buddy. I'll have something new (to me) hopefully sooner than later!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I did no boating growing up. About 7 years ago we started going out with a friends to Havasu a couple times a year in their 23ft Cheetah. We decided that this is what we wanted to do, so 2 years ago we bought a house in Havasu and a boat.

I bought this boat right before getting the house, 2008 Caliber 1 210 Magnum it is super clean and runs perfect, and is currently for sale!

After boating for over a year with the Caliber 1 and having a small child and possibly having another, we decided we wanted a boat with a mid cabin so we bought this 04 Cobra Razor 230. It had 49 hours on it when we got it in July of last year. We will be keeping this one for awhile.

 

[BDMar]

This is a great thread...



even if it was started by a DB

 

[mash on it]

Learned to ski behind pops 74 18' Eliminator jet, 460 At Silverwood lake, in '77. last time in this boat was July '83 @ Mead, 4' over flood stage.

My first was a tri-hull Glastron, merc 302/alpha gen-I, in about '93, sold it in '96 for a wrecker.

Next up was a '74 19' Glencoe, 454/Jacuzzi. Drove the crap outa that one...
'75 18' Saguaro Bowrider, 350/Dominator, Fun river boat
'76 21' Eliminator Daycruiser, 454/Berkeley, Like a 'Lazy-Boy' on the water
'74 19' Miller SJ, Flat deck...Project boat

Dan'l

 

[BDMar]

My parents first boat was a 16' Glasspar with a 75 HP Evinrude. We made our first trip to Havasu in '64 to Black Meadows. You couldn't go past the Palms because of the tree stumps sticking out of the lake. From there we built an 18' RaysonCraft v-drive, next we built a TT 21' Dimarco v-drive, my first boat was a 19' Southwind Jet, then I bought the Dimarco and my parents bought a Hurricane Deck with a Merc 7.4, I sold the Dimarco in 2005 (I think) to a guy that still runs it in Parker and bought the 28 Daytona.

 

[RiverDave]

I need to get my external hard drives fixed to get the pics out of them..

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Before I was alive and back when my dad was a kid, my grandparents started this whole thing with their old Glausti (really not sure how it's spelled) flat bottom that they used to take to Kinder Kamp at Parker. Then I believe when they adopted my aunt they decided to buy the old Spectra. They had that all the way up until I was probably about 12 or so. Then the family was boatless besides my Uncle's Lavey Seabring that he still has and a family friend that we went camping with and all frequently.

In '05 my cousin and I decided we were tired of asking to drive someone else's boat and wanted our own (we were 18 & 19 at the time) and bought the Lavey that we still have to this day. Best toy I have ever bought.

 

[Bradsrvrtoy.]

My boating addiction goes back generations in my family on both parents sides. Boated all over the US from Lake cumberland to the ozarks to havasu...I started out young and got the itch from the old man...damn did he like boats....I think he has owned over 30 theough the years..


My son came along three years ago and decided to show up a month early while we were at desert storm...pretty cool taking him home for the first time with the boat in tow! Was a trip having the nurses come out to the motorhome to check his car seat before they let us take him home to phx.


He has been on the water ever since! Got some good advice about taking infants boating in the summer by wetting his blanket in the lake and covering it over them...man it worked great when going it was cool under there for him! had him on the water at two months old!


He went tubing this past summer on his second birthday!


Loves to drive the boat!


This is what its all about for me and our family! To see him as excited as I am about putting the boat in the water...nothing better...I guess this is the start of my sons boating resume! :thumbup:

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Bumping this because I want to look at some boats and there have been a bunch of new members joining the asylum recently. :thumbup:

 

[rvrrun]

My parents first boat was a 16' Glasspar with a 75 HP Evinrude. We made our first trip to Havasu in '64 to Black Meadows. You couldn't go past the Palms because of the tree stumps sticking out of the lake. From there we built an 18' RaysonCraft v-drive, next we built a TT 21' Dimarco v-drive, my first boat was a 19' Southwind Jet, then I bought the Dimarco and my parents bought a Hurricane Deck with a Merc 7.4, I sold the Dimarco in 2005 (I think) to a guy that still runs it in Parker and bought the 28 Daytona.

My first boat was an 18 Glaspar with a 75 Johnson. Fun boat and a cheap way onto the water. I called it a "poor mans flat bottom" ( reverse was broken)

 

[Kenny D]

I grew up with a glass par boat and then a Saber craft boat,my own first boat was a 18' Spectra,21'Eliminator Daytona,22'Eliminator Daytona,25' Eliminator Daytona,a 234 edge Eliminator, 28' Eliminator Daytona (still own) and a 18' Norvuria ( rib).I am looking forward to a new boat ( to me) an 40' Intrepid for Florida.A great life of boating.

 

[Cat Can Do]

I've been boating since I can remember, my parents gave me my first lil John boat, 12' with a 5hp outboard and it's gone crazy ever since. I wish I had photos of all of them, I've had all types of boats, several jet boats, scarabs, etc.. I took a few years away from the lake and started back heavy, I bought a DCB 22' with a single 300 ProMax, the wife didn't like it so much on havasu.




So we stepped up to a DCB 26' with twin 300x's, I sold it this last winter and planned on getting another




So in my search I decided to step up again, I told the wife, it's a sickness and I can't help myself... So last weekend we picked up our (new to us) DCB F29





We'll be out for desert storm and every couple weeks after! Yahoo! Summer is almost here.

 

[Raffit78]

My brother bought his first boat 12 years ago, before that, I had never been on a "lake boat" fell absolutely in love. We used to go to Lake Perris weekly just to go wakeboard.

He sold his boat a few years later when his family started growing and the kids started getting older and spent full time in dance.

About 6 years ago, I just couldn't resist anymore, ended up buying my first boat. Absolutely love it. With a bun in the oven our first, I can't wait to show all the good times to he/she

The feeling getting into town..... (Havasu)

Seeing the lake on the right, picking up the boat from storage... Hearing the trailer ball hitch click on.... Heart racing, Launching the boat, touching the water for the first time, then swinging around to pick up the family/friends in front of kings view.

If we have new guests that have never been to Havasu, introducing them to London bridge, the channel, then turtle for a quick bite, cruising through the gorge... Jumping out for a quick dip... Visiting topock, going to Pirates....

This Havasu thing never gets old.

If I cut you off reversing, I swear it's not my fault.... These boats have a 1/2 A$$ reverse

Can't wait to meet some of the board members and hell, maybe even take you on a quick surf session 6 am in the morning when it's glass....

We stay at Kings view 9 times out of 10 (not sure why I haven't bought one). If you want to make fun of my rollbar boat, talk crap, have a beer... Scream, wave me down or pull up side us.

We love our boat, we love Havasu, we love the people we meet.

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

My brother bought his first boat 12 years ago, before that, I had never been on a "lake boat" fell absolutely in love. We used to go to Lake Perris weekly just to go wakeboard.

He sold his boat a few years later when his family started growing and the kids started getting older and spent full time in dance.

About 6 years ago, I just couldn't resist anymore, ended up buying my first boat. Absolutely love it. With a bun in the oven our first, I can't wait to show all the good times to he/she

The feeling getting into town..... (Havasu)

Seeing the lake on the right, picking up the boat from storage... Hearing the trailer ball hitch click on.... Heart racing, Launching the boat, touching the water for the first time, then swinging around to pick up the family/friends in front of kings view.

If we have new guests that have never been to Havasu, introducing them to London bridge, the channel, then turtle for a quick bite, cruising through the gorge... Jumping out for a quick dip... Visiting topock, going to Pirates....

This Havasu thing never gets old.

If I cut you off reversing, I swear it's not my fault.... These boats have a 1/2 A$$ reverse

Can't wait to meet some of the board members and hell, maybe even take you on a quick surf session 6 am in the morning when it's glass....

We stay at Kings view 9 times out of 10 (not sure why I haven't bought one). If you want to make fun of my rollbar boat, talk crap, have a beer... Scream, wave me down or pull up side us.

We love our boat, we love Havasu, we love the people we meet.

That's what's it's all about :champagne:

BTW, pretty cool how your fenders match the wrap :thumbup:

 

[Sbarry]

I've been boating since I can remember, my parents gave me my first lil John boat, 12' with a 5hp outboard and it's gone crazy ever since. I wish I had photos of all of them, I've had all types of boats, several jet boats, scarabs, etc.. I took a few years away from the lake and started back heavy, I bought a DCB 22' with a single 300 ProMax, the wife didn't like it so much on havasu.

View attachment 473229
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So we stepped up to a DCB 26' with twin 300x's, I sold it this last winter and planned on getting another

View attachment 473231
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So in my search I decided to step up again, I told the wife, it's a sickness and I can't help myself... So last weekend we picked up our (new to us) DCB F29

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We'll be out for desert storm and every couple weeks after! Yahoo! Summer is almost here.

I would take any of the three! All very nice sleds [emoji1360]

 

[Cray Paper]

It's great to read about legacy boating, hope the manufactures are reading this post.

My story is much different from most. My parents say that we had a 28' cruiser when I was a kid but it only hit the water a couple of times. I don't remember this. When I was 18 YO I met a girl and we hit it off and almost as importantly her dad and I connected. Years later I found out what her father really was but in the meantime I was exposed to boating, So Cal style. I had an interest in all things mechanical when I was you and my dad had taught me how to work on cars at a young age and told me lots of stories about cars he had owned. I had the muscle car itch at 13 YO.

The FIL exposed me to Eliminator, Carrera, Ultra, Hallet, Cole etc. and many other SoCal boat manufactures as well as the upper level of NHRA drag racing. I talked to Gary Ormsby 2 days before he passed from cancer, met several influential characters stretching from the Beach Boys, SoCal boat manufacture owners, drag boat racers, NHRA racers, a certain Dodgers catcher etc. During this time I learned how to operate jet botes, V drives, outboards and stern drives as well as turned wrenches on them. This was all based around boating in the alte 80's early 90's.

The shit hit the fan and I walked away from that family and moved back to my native Seattle area all the while thinking about SoCal hot boats.

I talked my wife in to allowing me to buy a boat (my first) during the deepest part of the recession. Our 99 Eliminator Eagle has been the best investment we have made for our family. The kids love boating and want to learn everything about it, it makes us get out of the house most nice weekends in the summer, the kids get to bring friends along when we boat and due to large camping spaces we take our boat and travel trailer camping a couple times a year. When we camp / boat, our two sons get to bring one friend each, these friends have been with them for years now.

I hope my sons keep this legacy alive when I'm gone and understand what a custom boat is and strive to own one themselves. I hope what they have experienced is a carrot for them later in life and they pass it down to their kids.

 

[shan]

It got into boating in about 1997. I was tired of racing where the work/reward was too high. So I switched.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Bumping for some of the new folks! Post up!!

 

[steak&lobster]

1st boat was a 1991 Fourwinns 190 with a v6
2nd boat was a 1996 Howard 20.5 with a 350 and a Alpha drive
3rd boat was a 2001 Eliminator 260 XP 496 HO
4th boat was a 1999 Howard 26 Cat Teague 740
Latest is a 2016 Howard 28 SCS Merc 600

 

[dave29]

1971, ordered a Hondo Jet boat with a 460 Ford from Irv Brendel, Hondo, in North Hollywood.
1975, bought a 1973 Hondo Pantera V-drive with a 460 Ford
Campbell 20' cruiser with a Banks 850hp and turbo 400
Campbell 22' day cruiser built by Ralph Tito
Campbell 22' day cruiser layer up at Eliminator
Cole TR2 runner
Canyon Marine runner bottom. Last runner built by Mettler at the Santa Paula facility. Shewbert blown 468. Boat rigged by Jim Lange.
Schiada 21' River Cruiser. Blown Teague 468 with turbo 400. Later re powered with Teague 1000hp.
Schiada 24' built for me by Lee. Outdrive, 500hp Merc with Whipple.
28' Eliminator Daytona with twin 500 Mercs.
DCB F29 with twin 525.
DCB M35 with twin Merc 700's
DCB M29 with twin Merc 300hp outboards.
I am now boat less!!!!!!
dave29

Update. I added 2 pictures and I'll try and find the rest of the boats. First, my old M35 with it's new owner. Next, my M29 which is now sold also.

 

[cicchetti_24]

The resume is boring compared to most on here. Started out with mid 60's 16' tri hull , little 80 merc on it. I remember not wanting to get out because I didn't want them to go for a ride without me. I fold those seats down flat grab a towel or blanket and bed down for the night as well. like I said if that boat moved I was in it.
Moved up to 18'6" Avenger in '76 and that's the boat we still have today.
Sorry end of resume
Love the green water. LOL

Mr C I think I've seen you on Pyramid a few times as I recognize your boat [emoji1303]

 

[Pivot]

are PWC boats?
I know Im gonna miss a few
88-kawa 650 stand up
89- kawa 650 stand up
94? Kawa 750 stand up
95 kawa 750 stand up
97 kawa 750 stand up
94 Yamaha blaster
94 Yamaha blaster
94 Yamaha blaster
95 seadoo HX
96 seadoo HX
96 seadoo HX
96 seadoo HX

2001 chaparral 25 sunesta
2005 Magic deck
2015 Avalon pontoon.
2019 eliminator deck :rolleyes

 

[cicchetti_24]

Wow my boating days started at the young age of 4. I don't have many pictures anymore. However my Dad, Uncle and Cousins all had boats. My cousins are all 18 years older then me. But this is what I remember. My dad started out with an old glastron from the 70's I believe it had a 65hp outboard on it. I'll never forget the throttle level snapped off and cut his hand open. After that he bought a 1987 Bayliner and we had so much fun on that boat. My cousin had a 1989 Daytona Sprint boat 18 footer I believe was from sundowner marine. My uncle had purchased a 1989 galaxy from North Hollywood where we met Amir who owned lakeside boat service years later (RIP my dear friend I miss you). My parents sold the Bayliner in 1990 and we were boat less until 1994 when we met Steve and Sy at the boat show. This is how Steve and I became friends as we were both 14 years old. My parents bought a brand new 1995 21 Commander with a big block 454 (my brother still has this boat). My parents had giving me the boat in the late 90's after my dads accident. So I babied that thing until it sunk back in 2008 in front of the Nautical. Amir had gone through the whole boat and we did modern updates and it looked awesome! Hensley redid the trailer on it. I must've sunk 10k into it at that time, but my brother ended up with it in 2012 when I had a falling out with my dad. It was still in his name and one he came when I wasn't home and took it. It was a bad deal (water under the bridge as we are good now). After that I bought a 21 team Hawaiian which was a cool little jet boat, but I wanted something bigger. I had working for Kal Kustom, so I drove many different boats, lightenings, HTM, flat bottoms, Sangers, Supremes etc... If it showed up on the lot I was taking it up to castaic. Fast forward to 2014 I split with my ex wife and decided once the divorce was over I was going to buy my big boat. I had saved money before I met her for a 26 Commander signature, but instead I invested in our future for her nursing school (worst mistake ever). So the day I signed my divorce papers me and my chick the one in the pic drove and picked up the HTM. I had made a deal on it the month prior but couldn't take delivery until the divorce. It was cool of them to hold it with a deposit.

The Commander


The team Hawaiian


My pride and joy the HTM

 

[JD D05]

I did not boat growing up as a kid, really only went boating a hand full of times. We grew up playing sports at traveling all over. I got married at 22, my wife grew up boating her family had a cabin cruiser and went to lake Powell a lot. A couple years into our marriage we decided to get into boating and my parents went in on a boat with us. We purchased a 24.5 foot Reinell with a 496.

View attachment 535112
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Prior to getting married I met a group of guys that owned a diesel performance shop ( today H&S motorsports ) I began spending a lot of time and traveling to diesel races etc. Our families and kids did a lot together. Well a couple of them owned Nordic's...My first time on my buddies Rage and I was hooked. After that I worked out a deal to exit the deal on the Reinell and purchase a Nordic Heat with a 496. This took a few years but I remember wanting a Nordic so bad.



The first summer we owned the Heat we ended up going to Lake Havasu for the first time. Me and my wife and a couple friends were down there and a boat went blowing past us. My wife asked me to go faster and well I couldn't. This is also when I got the "CAT" itch...We ended up going over to Nordic and met a man named Larry Harmon. Larry showed around the entire place, this was very special to me because I was young and did not get treated like that ever. We saw a SS on the show room which was the 2nd SS built and I didn't even think that was ever possible, we wanted a Thor. As we were leaving Larry told me I needed to meet a guy named Brett Kenley up in Utah. Anyway we ended up selling the Heat that winter and got the SS on the show room in the spring. I regret ever buying that boat because it ended up not being a family activity for some reason. However I am very lucky to have met Brett and Larry two people that are dear friends of mine today and two of the best men I will ever know.

View attachment 535120


After the SS with some help from Thane and John at Nordic I went back to a V and sold the SS and purchased Kenley's Flame that he had built and owned. It is by far the best and funnest boat I have ever owned and works very well for my family and the style of boating we do. The best part of all of this is the lifelong friends I have met from boating.

 

[Motoxxxloak]

First boat. I want to say it was an 89 but for some reason 87 keeps popping into my head. Either way, it was a CeeBee Avenger. My grandparents bought the boat brand new after it came out in some magazine (bought the one one the cover). I have it somewhere and will post it up when I find it. We used it for years to teach all us grandchildren how to ski, etc. It spend it's whole life on Canyon Lake.

It then sat once we got the pontoon and eventually was pulled out and moved to another property we had in Menifee. It sat and sat. I finally convinced grandma and grandpa to give it to me, with the intentions of restoring it as it took a hell of a beating sitting outside for many years. Unfortunately I never made it that far. I wish I would've known CGrohe223 sooner (79 Tahiti Project thread) cause I am sure he could've motivated me to finish it.

Many years later, decided to buy something else at 22 as all my friends seemed to have boats. I ended up with this 87 Rogers VIP. It was a great boat that I was able to "fix up". Then there's the 97 210 that was shared with a buddy, who is no longer a buddy. I'll have something new (to me) hopefully sooner than later!

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I guess I can now finally update this with my "something new".....

 

[LuckyDaze]

Got my first Jetboat when I was 23, it's the one pictured in my avatar. Still own it today and don't think I'll ever sell it. One day I'd like to own a vdrive, maybe once I grow mature enough. Lol.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I've been boating my whole life. My grandpa was really into boating back when my dad was young. They'd take their Glaustie (sp?) to Parker all the time. I've heard many stories of their trips. Then well before I was born they sold the flattie and bought a Spectra 20 V-drive. One of the first out of the mold. They had that boat until the mid-90's I believe. We would always go to their place at Pine Flats (sold that a few years before the boat). For a while we didn't do much boating. Would come up to Nacimiento 1 or twice a year with who I consider my aunt and uncle. They bought their place in Heritage back in about 95 or so. Those trips are what solidified my love for Nacimiento. They had just a 18' Seaswirl Spyder open bow that was the family truckster. It wasn't until my actual Aunt and Uncle bought their place next door and brought his Lavey Seabring up did I experience any sort of performance boating (the Spectra was heavy and topped out at about 50, that Seaswirl did about 45). When my Aunt and Uncle got divorced, I became a lot closer with my Uncle and would go up to the lake much more frequently. At 19 his son and I decided we were tired of needing to get permission to take his boat out and what we could do with it, so we went and bought our own Lavey. Still have it almost 12 years later. '85 Lavey Interceptor with a 200 Merc. Been a great boat to all of us really. We didn't even realize it when we bought it, but the CF numbers of our 2 boats are only 14 apart. One is 7753 JE and the other is 7767 JE. Add that into the fact that they both have extremely similar color schemes, the same engine, and we're frequently out on the lake together, we get quiet a few double takes.

I'd really like to upgrade boats in the not-too-distant future but it'll be a HARD time selling the Lavey.

Mine


My Uncle's

 

[rivergames]

Grew up with the families 21 Bahner

Family also had a 26 or 28' pontoon that I don't have a pic of

Then the sold the Bahner and got a 27' fundeck and we all partied on.

Then I picked up my first boat. a 1976 Kurtis Runner bottom flatty

Then I sold the Kurtis and bought a 1979 20' schiada that I rerigged

My family all went in on a 1966 Patterson crackerbox. Ripped the bottom off down in long beach so we went with a glass cracker. Had some issues with that glass cracker and the guy bought it back.

Made a mold off our wood cracker and then laid up out first GBR Crackerbox

This year my family put the 2002 Eliminator 27' fundeck up for sale and bought a 2008 Eliminator 27' fundeck

Also I picked up a fishing/lobster boat that I put around the ocean on

Also Got a 10 mini schiada that I am been working just about every day on

I need to add my Boating Resume...

Sold the tail chaser and got a 17' morphed fishing boat that I had for over a year. I took that sucker down to Ganzaga Bay Mexico, San Diego, Catalina, & the point of Malibu. I pushed that SOB to it's limits. It was only a matter of time till I went down in the middle of the deep blue with that vessel. So, I sold it and made double what I picked it up for.

2 days before I sold the 17' fishing boat, I bought a 2320 Parker. Hands down, Parker makes the BEST trailer-able ocean vessel! That boat is so simple and easy. I love this boat:tbi

And here is a updated pic of my mini schiada.

 

[work2ski]

My passion for boating came from my dad. Back in the late 50's he (or his friends) had a little outboard named "over-easy" with 2 eggs painted on the side. They used it to ski in Long Beach and it would flip over in a hard turn, hence the name.

In '77 or '78, we went to the Galaxie dealership on Beach Blvd in Westminster and bought a brand new 16' bow rider tri-hull for I think $8k. 4th of July every year we would go to Lake Perris for the week, sleep in tents up in the campground and spend the days on the Island. Used to launch for free at the fire station @ Warner and head over to Alamitos Bay, dad said he didn't want to pay to launch at Davies. Also spent many December nights plugging around Huntington Harbor looking at Christmas lights. As soon as I got my drivers license I started taking the boat out with buddies, we beat the crap out of that boat jumping waves at River's End. In 1991 he asked me to sell "ol' Yeller" to pay the rent. If I remember correctly, I got $2200 for it. Best money ever spent!!

This is the only picture I can find of 'Ole Yeller

I was boat-less until 2001. St. Patrick's day, the year after I met my wife, we went on a friends Eliminator out of Newport Harbor and got bit really hard by the boat bug. By Father's day we had made our first purchase as a couple, a 1990 Howard 23 Offshore. Didn't even live together and we had bought a boat together!

Here she is sitting in front of my studio apartment on Ocean Blvd is Seal Beach.


After spending way more money that I should have last year to go through everything, we have no plans to get ride of our perfect boat! We can ski to the island and back and have it washed up and put away in less than an hour, or spend a week on Parker Strip floating, skiing and playing around.

 

[LuckyDaze]

My passion for boating came from my dad. Back in the late 50's he (or his friends) had a little outboard named "over-easy" with 2 eggs painted on the side. They used it to ski in Long Beach and it would flip over in a hard turn, hence the name.

In '77 or '78, we went to the Galaxie dealership on Beach Blvd in Westminster and bought a brand new 16' bow rider tri-hull for I think $8k. 4th of July every year we would go to Lake Perris for the week, sleep in tents up in the campground and spend the days on the Island. Used to launch for free at the fire station @ Warner and head over to Alamitos Bay, dad said he didn't want to pay to launch at Davies. Also spent many December nights plugging around Huntington Harbor looking at Christmas lights. As soon as I got my drivers license I started taking the boat out with buddies, we beat the crap out of that boat jumping waves at River's End. In 1991 he asked me to sell "ol' Yeller" to pay the rent. If I remember correctly, I got $2200 for it. Best money ever spent!!
View attachment 535180
This is the only picture I can find of 'Ole Yeller

I was boat-less until 2001. St. Patrick's day, the year after I met my wife, we went on a friends Eliminator out of Newport Harbor and got bit really hard by the boat bug. By Father's day we had made our first purchase as a couple, a 1990 Howard 23 Offshore. Didn't even live together and we had bought a boat together!
View attachment 535179
Here she is sitting in front of my studio apartment on Ocean Blvd is Seal Beach.

View attachment 535181 View attachment 535182
After spending way more money that I should have last year to go through everything, we have no plans to get ride of our perfect boat! We can ski to the island and back and have it washed up and put away in less than an hour, or spend a week on Parker Strip floating, skiing and playing around.

Awesome story and beautiful boat!

 

[bocco]

First off I love how many people had Avengers. As a kid my dad worked at Marine World in Redwood City. In the beginning they used Avengers with outboards for the ski show. 16ft with 125 black maxes and 18s with twin 100hp to pull all of the girls. They used to jump the single engine boats off of the ski ramps and they survived.

I got the bug at Clear lake with some family friends that owned a 1956 Chris Craft Capri. 21 ft of solid wood. Learned to ski behind it in about 1961. Wake was huge. Got the hot boat bug from the same family when they bought an 18ft wood deck Rayson that was originaly built for Marine World. Blown Hemi V-drive. I think around 1969.

My first boat was a 16ft Tahiti with a Chrysler outboard. Had some great fun on the Delta and Lake Beryessa. Got out of boating for a while when the kids were small.

Then bought an 18ft open bow Marlin which worked good for the kids but just left me a frustrated wanna be hot boater. It did run 53mph with a 4.3 V6 and a high five prop.

Before I could make the hot boat jump we got the bug for a house boat on Lake Don Pedro. That boat kept me broke for several years but I had some great times on that boat.

Finally scored an Eliminator sport cruiser V-drive. Still miss that boat in spite of the handling problems those boats have.

Sold the houseboat and the Eliminator about 4 years ago and my bank account was loving it. But after two years I got the itch and started searching the want ads. Found my DCB 24 extreme in the want ads on this site. Love that boat. First time in my life I don't want a faster boat. I will probably keep that boat until I'm ready for pontoon.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

My brother and I grew up on the Allegheny River north of Pittsburgh, PA. Our grandparents and parents all water skied so we started skiing on my Mom's shoulders while she was on her slalom ski. She would start from the dock and we would crawl up onto her shoulders. We were very safe with our ski belts on. Moved to Phoenix right out of high school and had to bum rides on local lakes and out to Parker a few times. I finally was able to buy our 1990 Silhouette Deck 28' that worked great because none of our friends had boats so we hauled everyone around. We moved to Bay area almost 4 years ago and all of our new friends have their own boats so the deck got traded and we bought a 25 Daytona. We took the Daytona on our trip of a lifetime last June. We saw the entire 1000 miles of Ohio river from the Mississippi river to Pittsburgh, PA. The boat did great but we got back and my wife said "let's get a little bigger boat so we can go out in the SF Bay". Since we live on the water in Benicia, CA and can store the boat at our house we sold the Daytona and upgraded to a 2008 Skater 308 with 300 XS. We love our new ride and it's only 1/2 mile to launch ramp from our house.

 

[Ace]

[


I blame my dad, 1976
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I've been around boats my whole life. Dad always had an ocean boat. Started in a Gradywhite. After that was a 35' Viking. By the time i was 8 was was driving the boat and running the electronics. GPS, auto pilot, sonar, radar, radio. The looks on peoples faces were priceless when they see a 8 year old driving a boat. Worked out great. Dad and his buddies wanted to fish and i wanted to drive the boat. Then seadoos came into the picture and were a headache for years but it introduced us to the river. Brother got a 19' river boat when i was 16 and we shared driving dutys. Now we have a 21' Commander jet, he has 3 and 4.5 year old boys and cant get enough of the river.

I know this is an old thread but I found a youtube video of the boat I grew up on and learned everything about boating. Dad sold it around 2002. It is the same in this 2013 video as it was in the 90's-2000's. Same everything from the gauges, interior, electronics. They even left the name and harbor. "Andiamo" Dana Point, Ca