Banana George's Barefoot Nautique

Todd
Just let me know as I have his contact information and we exchange emails occasionally

True that John is in NC. He works for a boat dealer; not sure which one. "Somewhere" I have his phone number; could probably find it if you need it. He is also heavily involved in the ministry. I think he is on FaceBook.
Art

Tom,

Really a great video of the boat and Ron (with Hair!!) He taught me back boom deep ups in Florida 1992 without the hair!!

Lots of good close-ups (but quick!!) of the interior that I keep comparing. Wow!!! It looks just like my boat. Let me know how your progress is going, even if it is slow. No one is slower than me, you must just understand about my 68 Mustang re-stringer job!!!

Todd

Wow!! We will need a helicopter....

Its john Gillette indeed. The reporter menctions him as the driver...

While watching some ron scarpa's videos i stumble across this one featuring the bbbb...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8AmB2Oo6yo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sorry about the link but im texting from my smartphone and im not so smart to embeb it right!

Todd, What I think I need is to see your boat collection! I really mean that. David, good running original T160's are up there in price, but you'll never loose money. Plus you'll have the only one at the local bike show.

And I'll take the Trident, had a T140V Bonneville 750 some years ago and always thought about buying a T160.

This is very cool. Restoring older boats is great, and this site has tons of people that do so, but restoring a specific boat with a specific place in history is just awesome. That boat could easily have sat outside and rotted if the right person didn't buy it, so glad you did and I'm interested in the progress in any time frame that works for you!

Tom when it's time I think any competent canvas shop will be able to make you one. It's good you have a picture to show them so they will know what your exactly talking about. I think the hardest things to find will be the gauges but the fact it's an 80's boat and so many were built will sure help. The good thing is the fact that even if it takes awhile to find them it won't hold you up,you can change them out as you get them. Here is a quick google search result and they show them under the boat tops section. I think it's great that you and Todd are bringing these two icons back to life.

Art,
Thank you for posting that about George. After writing back and forth with JoAnne about 6 months ago I got the feeling things were going downhill fairly quickly, but George was one tough guy. My wife was the one who encouraged me to buy the boat, as it was a magazine article on George over 15 years ago that inspired her to get back into horse riding in her 40's. She will ride till the day she dies, and she credits George as her inspiration. From a practical standpoint, I needed another Nautique and another project like a hole in the head, as a '70 Chevelle and a '75 Triumph Trident T160 are all waiting to be finished. This boat was something I couldn't pass up though. This all transpired while I was being transferred to Georgia, and I'm still in temporary housing while I attempt to get a house completed. That is why the boat will unfortunately be on the back burner until spring. The busyness of life and work has directed my attention away from this site lately, but you need to know that I consider my fellow Correct Craft brethren a vital part in the restoration of this boat. This task will be 1000 times more difficult without you. The knowledge, experience and passion is not something you'll find anywhere else on any other site, and we, and our boats, are all better off for it. Please be patient with me and my timeline. Here is what I can tell you about it so far- I found black paint under the PO applied yellow on the .060 over 454, so I'm thinking some sort of Mercruiser replacement along the way. It would have been silver from PCM. Art C. has assured me they didn't paint it yellow at the factory. I will need a complete set of original gauges including replacement or restored Airguides. The little details like a new in-dash compass (original I believe)and getting the windshield wiper operational will probably be a bugger. Love it or hate it, that style top is original but I don't where to find one. Oh, and a new steering wheel would be nice (are you listening Santa?). This site will be my go-to source for just about everything when I get going on this, so I'm going to thank you all in advance for your help. I know I could do this by myself, but I couldn't do it correctly (or is that Correct Craftly?) without you. Tom

For all of you who met and knew him, Banana George Blair passed away October 17 at age 98 in New Jersey, where he was originally from.

There was an article about him in the Orlando Sentinel on Oct. 21 and a couple more followup articles.

50 years of barefooting, footed on all seven continents, a two broken back injuries, and he still footed until age 92. An amazing, wonderful guy and very generous to all of the skiing sports, and a great supporter and contributor to the Water Ski Museum at USAWS Headquarters in Polk City, FL.

Art

JamesRFrom wrote: I was warned earlier this summer from a friend of mine that has a particularly rare yellow barefoot nautique that created a stir a few months back when he initially bought it. He told me to steer clear of this site and some of its members for this very reason. People like YOU.

(Taken from James' “STROKE THE EGO” thread.)

I took it to mean that Tom didnt appreciate our input in his BBBBI thread. But maybe Im wrong.

Spoffie1962 wrote: Todd, all advise is welcomed and appreciated! As we were once told, it takes a village.....

Spoffie1962 wrote: Hollywood, I am on CCF, I just tend to stay somewhat low key. The boat itself is sound, although it has been on a steady decline since the PO bought it off of George in '86 as a teenager. The PO barefooted with George in the 80's, so when BBBB2 arived in '86, he was first in line to buy BBBB1. As you can see though, not much love lavished on it since then. It was used up until last September, when the BBC gave up the ghost in the middle of a barefooting run. I hope to have it on the water this summer, even if it's not 100% restored. Just to be able to dock it next to Todd's BBBB2 someday would be a thrill! Anyone out there with pictures of BBBB1 back in the day? I'd love to see what she used to look like.

Last I heard about the '86 BBBB was that a guy in TN or KY owned it. His name is something that sounds like Buttafucco. I worked on the transmission for him a few years ago. I think the Hull ID is CTC08035C686. A former co-worker of mine was doing some work on it in Cookville, TN.

Art

Also, you can go with YELLOW under water lights. Bring on the Bling and Pimp that ride.

You guys have me pointed in the right direction, can't thank you enough. Pete, I'll trade you a Bayliner for that X55 straight up any day. That Dunphy was, and is, one of my all time favorite boats. My first boat was a 20'1962 Chris Craft Holiday, but I really wanted an X55 (or a Besotes).