Boating memories with Dad

Brian, I am fortunate to still have my dad close by.   I hope to make some boating memories with him soon....   I sold my classic car today, Dad, while he didn't really like to wrench on stuff taught me most of what I know   I had to call him first... It's good to have some one reassure you that you've done the right thing.   I hope your memories of your time with your dad were sweet today, thank you for sharing.

Kris

Well, I started this thread while thinking of my Dad's birthday. Today he would have been 78. He's been gone over 10 years now, but there are still days where I have that instinctive urge to pick up the phone and give him a call, if only for a moment, before I once again feel the reality that there will be no more calls.

We didn't spend much time on the boat today. Much of the day was spent buying a new bicycle for my daughter. But, I couldn't let this day go by without some time on the water. Dropped her in, and went for a cruise to a local restaurant and marina. Watched the weekenders and yahoos pulling their boats while we ate. Arrived home at our dock just as a large moon was rising. I think we'll go sit on the dock now and eat an ice cream while the sun sets. A simple day that I think my dad would have enjoyed.

If you are new to the forum and have a story of boating with your dad, please, post it up.

BKH

Oletela: I like your "multi-generation lake rat" comment. I can relate, my grandson makes us nine generations on Keuka Lake, NY. Here's one of my favorite photos, my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather in the late 50's.
Wish we still had that boat...although I do have my fathers Century he bought new in 75, which I will be passing on to my son. Great father to son tradition this boating thing is, eh?

I got to spend yesterday on the water with my dad and grandpa. My dad's dad passed away a year before I was born and he was the guy who built our lake house. Would have loved to have met him. He was a fisherman and that was reborn in my brother and my dad is the guy who taught me to ski and gave me the love for Ski Nautiques.

My living grandpa was the one who taught me to drive and told me to go buy my boat when my dad wouldn't let me use his alone. So to all of the dads in my family I owe things that have made me who I am today which goes way deeper than boating.

Best boating memory with dad was speed runs in the red and white 74 ski. It had no mufflers and I have perfect memory of the old style yellowed air guides. I was about 6 years old when he sold the 74 and bought the 87.

Got to spend yesterday running around in my boat and dad's new to him 98 snob. Filled both with the family and jammed tunes until dark. I had to head into work today but everyone else stayed for a Monday!

What a great thread with so many great stories. My love for the water started when I was 5-6 years old. Dad was a fisherman and had never skied in his life. That didn't stop him from buying a pair of wooden kids skis and a tube though and spending hours pulling my sister and I around the lake behind his 16' Lund with a 40HP Johnson tiller. I can remember many days when the engine would spit/sputter and stall. Dad would kick the side of the 6 gallon steel gas can and there wouldn't be a drop left in it. It was no big deal as he'd swap the fuel line over to a full tank and the way we went! As I grew older, and was introduced to knee boarding and barefooting, Dad knew that he was going to have to upgrade the boat. In 1997 he ended up purchasing a new Alumacraft with a 115 HP Johnson, installed a pylon, and a barefoot boom. After fighting hole shot issues with the engine for two years (very frustrating when learning barefoot long line deep water starts), he came home one day with a 1984 M/C S&S. There wasn't anything that could've wiped the smile off my face that day (Ok, maybe a Nautique :) ). To this day I still cannot thank him enough for the sacrifice that he made just so I could pursue my passion for barefooting, knee boarding, and eventually hydrofoiling. A few weeks after purchasing the M/C, he did purchase another Lund fishing boat for himself. He is still my boat driver today and doesn't regret his decisions one bit. It's all about time on the water with family and friends. The biggest way that I can say "Thank You" to him is by spending some time fishing with him once in a while. Happy Dad's Day to all of you fathers out there!       

Happy Fathers day to all the great dads out there. I looked and looked for this great picture of my Dad and me when I was young on the lake and I could not find it. All the other great pics of me and him on the lake are about a hour away with my Mom so maybe I'll post some next year. I lost my dad a few years ago and the memories I have of him are ones that can't be forgotten. He was very gentle person that everyone was very fond of. A lot of fun to be around and always made sure you had a great summer on the lake. We would leave every Friday afternoon to go to Lake and we would spend the hole time boating, swimming and just having fun. I miss those days and hope to create a little time like that with my son Thomas here in this picture. Cheers, Tony.

That's what this thread is all about Jake! Great you spent time on the water today with your dad.

BKH

I'm a multi generation lake rat and the first one to buy an actual inboard. My dads dad was killed in a car accident just 3 days before I was born and I was the first grandson and everybody else in the family has girls. Some of the best memories are driving the old Orange Caravel tri hull with 70 Evinrude sitting in dads lap at my grandmas lake house. We kept the Caravel until I was 8 and sold it and got a pontoon which is what I learned to ski and wakeboard behind. My first inboard pull ever is a really great story. I was in middle school and it was November and I was home sick with a stomach bug just browsing the internet and stumbled across the Wakeworld forum, a guy was actually going to the lake the next Saturday and invited me to come and check it out. My dad got home from work and I told him I was going wakeboarding in a few days and the look on his face was priceless, sure you can go but I'm not taking you my boat is winterized, then I begin to tell him that I found a guy online that invited me to come ride on his Supra. His face was really great to look at after that. We ended up going and the love for inboards took off! We could never get one but he would always take me out when I found rides and the first time I went with somebody new he would come join and then after that would drop me off at the ramp with some cash in hand almost everyday to go ride. Last year I was browsing Craigslist at 1130 on a Monday night and stumbled across a 89' 2001 that I knew just had to be mine. My dad goes to bed usually at 8-9 and doesn't like being woke up. I called him to say I finally found an inboard that I want to buy but would need to borrow some cash from him to make it possible, he couldn't say yes fast enough. The next day we went to look and gave the seller a deposit and would pick up the boat on Saturday. My 2001 has been a great project for us and everything is done for now and I have the ability to take him out and ski now! My dad just left my place from our second annual Fathers day ski session and its such a nice feeling to return to him as he doesn't get to get out as much as we used to but everything we do now it is super special.

Gary,

Good to talk with you yesterday... again sorry about you father... It's tough not to have your dad around... hard to believe mine dad has been gone for over 5 years already. Miss him every day..

Make sure... if your father is still around to call / spend some time with him!

This is one of my favorite threads on the site. Brian brought it back up several years in a row. I have missed it for the last two, so I am bringing it back myself. Thanks for starting it Brian. Every one please keep adding your stories. My dad has been gone for about a decade now and I have three kids of my own, but I am still not comfortable with this being "my" day. Fathers day to me was always about being with my dad. Of course that is not a current option, so there is a sad empty spot to this day and I don't know if that will ever go away. Today will be about making "dad" memories for my kids. The sun is out, the weather is warm and the wind is calm. Happy fathers day to all.

Brian, as I am new to this site this is the first time I have seen this post. It is very cool and touching to read through everyone’s stories. I find today difficult having lost my father a little more than a year ago to cancer. My Dad was not much of a skier, but enjoyed boats and had a great river boat that he unfortunately didn’t get to enjoy nearly enough. Thanks for keeping this post going, I look forward to seeing and reading it in the future!

Got a great picture of my Dad at the helm of an Aristacraft I/O on Lake Lanier back in 1976. This picture is in my office. Look at it every day and give thanks. Especially today!
He would have loved to drive my Correct Craft.
Sure do miss him.

Thanks Brian.

Our Dad was never able to afford a boat. But later in life he was proud that my brother and I could. He loved to ride in the C/C's and always was very sorry that his skiing days were past.

My son, who has been on here a bit is far away in Tennessee but I will hear from him tomorrow and see him in a couple of weeks.

So all you Dads..enjoy the day...do something with your Dads and sons if possible.

john

I was involved in a multi generational moment today as my eight year old helped dig a path to get my dads pontoon boat out of the garage and onto the trailer. Once put in storage,stuff gets stored under, on top of, or straddle the sides. Once we had the trailer under I called dad over to the garage to help guide the boat through the narrow door opening. Having the kid on one side watching as my father watched the other side and I drove it was one of those family team days that just happens without giving it any thought. It did allow me to remember when I did things with my grandad and father and just how cool that was.

Larry,

Great to hear from you, hoping all is well!

Cool Video! one of these day's I will figure out how to convert some of the stuff I have.