Boating memories with Dad

This post has bought back many memories for me as my parents both loved boating. They always had a boat from the late 1940's until around 1980. As I remember they had a Chris Craft skiff with a small deckhouse that we went on vacation on for two weeks every summer usually up the Hudson River or somewhere out towards the end of Long Island.

We then upgraded to a Elco Cruisette that was about 36'. I remember this boat more than the first as I was 6 or 7 years old by then. We continued the two week boating vacations every year.

Several years later they sold the Elco and were boatless, but constantly talked of getting a live aboard boat.

When I was about 15 years old my parents bought their 50 foot Correct Craft. This boat needed some work due to dry rot and deck leaks. He also removed the two gas engines and replaced them with diesels. They lived on the Correct Craft for 14 years before my father started having health issues. They then got rid of the boat and moved to Florida.

I spent most of my summers as a kid playing in boat yards in NY while my parents worked on the boats getting ready for the yearly vacation.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Fathers Day and remember the good times in your life.

Roym, I got a friend that has an Elco Cruisette. Really cool boat.

That's sad to hear that a boat with that much love put into went that way. Glad to hear that they all made it back from it though.

Had the pleasure of getting both my parents out skiing with me two weeks ago. I was happy to see them both ski. Dad mentioned to me he's thinking footing is in his future for this summer.

Good stories guys. Seems more often that not, the seeds were planted when we were young, and more times than not it was a grandfather, Dad, or Uncle that planted them. BKH

Neat video Larry. We don't have a lot of family movies, and unfortunately, I don't do much better with my own child. Pictures are good, but the movies really capture it. BKH

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

BKH

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.