Boating memories with Dad

Alan: Skied with Hollywood...know exactly what you mean!

john

Don't really know how to put in to words, but I will share with you the fact that I have lived on a lake for the past 15 years for only one reason, because of the fact that it was only about a mile from my dad's house on the lake! We lost him in January and it has been some kind of adjustment. I was feeling kind of down today and trying to find something to change my attitude, like always, I came to this site. Wonder who was pointing me to this thread?? I have come to the conclusion that my definition of success is to log on a few years from now and read a post about how my two boys enjoyed their time on the lake with their dad...now that would be a success!

The Lake wrote: [QUOTE=tjlake] Wonder who was pointing me to this thread??

I don't believe in coincidiences; especially with this forum--too much good has come from it.

Chuck

For those out there that still have your parents, a word to follow.......
Take plenty of pics,ask questions about their parents and write it down,enjoy every day with them as if it were their last.ENJOY THEM WHILE THEY ARE HERE....

Chuck I agree with that statement completely;
Karen and I call them " GOD MOMENTS"
Kinda a second chance to look and see whom really is driving,and if I think it is me!!!!!
I need to move over to the observer seat......boat dr

I was just sitting at my computer again reading all these wonderful memories of parents, and the love they have given us for boating. I like the story tjlake posted about being close by his dad, and how much better you feel when you can go to this forum and read and post more stories. It is comforting and gives us a peace in knowing that there is someone in charge greater than us, and thank God we can all find comfort in sharing memories together. Boat dr was right "God Moments" are great, and keep these stories going. My family shared a great weekend last week on the water. My daughter (who is almost 20 and still loves being with us on the water) was just asking me what we had planned for the weekend. She would head to the lake with us if we were going. I hope also my daughter and son will write someday how much they enjoyed growing up on the water. That would truly be success, like someone has already quoted. Thanks again for sharing all your memories.

Chuck; You know what I think about coincidiences...don't belive in them anymore.

dr; I always thought I had to be driving the bus...when I moved over I really started to enjoy the ride.

john

Me and my niece skiing together.


My son and niece sking together.


My brother and his daughter skiing together


My husband on his toy.


My daughter and my niece skiing together.


My skiing bums around 7:30pm. We made a full day of it.


My daughter's boyfriend (whom we taught to ski and wakeboard this summer) skiing with my niece.


We thought we had jbear with us for a second.

Another old boat on the lake. The man said it was a 1955 with the Johnson motor being a 1956.

A great day was had by all.

Been away on vacation. Thanks for the pictures and stories.

Jon, particularly liked the photos of you on the water with your parents. Looks like your parents are about my age. doh.

cboland, that boat is an unbelievable legacy to a father you lost far too soon.

Larry, dad had quite the stylin' threads.

BKH

Hey Guy's. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your stories about "dad". All these wonderful stories about your"old Man" prompted me to hit my up for a trip to the lake last Monday.He is 70 and respectfully declined saying " Naw..... but thanks." My 11 year quickly chimed in and said " Ohh , please Grandpa I want you to go and come see me kneeboard." Well that is all it took. he even pulled the boat down to lake with his truck. He didn't bring his swimmies but the look on his face was said it all when he saw his granddaughters kneeboarding. He was so glad he chose to go.... We all had a wonderful day!!!! Probably wouldn't have done it without a "shove" from you guy's. THANKS!!

Foot

I try and revive this thread on Father's Day.

For those who may be new, if you have a photo or story to add about boating with your Dad, that would great.

For those of you who still have Father's be good to him - he won't be here forever.

For those of you who are Father's enjoy your day - they'll be grown and gone before you know it.

BKH

I just golfed 18 holes with my old man today at a very high end golf course (83.00 to walk). The place was booked solid but rain was predicted all day, so we went there just to see if we could sneak in as a deuce with a cancellation- sure enough, we got in. It was raining cats and dogs, but as soon as we got to the first tee, the rain stopped and we had perfect weather for the whole round! If that's not fate, I don't know what is. Followed up the round with a few drinks and apps at my favorite bar. What an OUTSTANDING first Father's day for me, and 29th Father's day for my old man.

I lost my Pops a few years back, but my wife and kids made this weekend very special.

For the last 6-8 weeks or so, I've been sequestered in the garage working on the Classic, evenings and weekends. The fact that my wife was really cool and handled EVERYTHING else was present #1.

I get the boat re-assembled on packed up on Thursday night. We had plans to go to Green Lake this weekend, only to find out the lake is closed due to high water and floating debris. Southern Wisconsin has had a lot of heavy, record rain and flooding lately.

Woke up on Saturday, it was beautiful - 80 and sunny. I had to find a lake open SOMEWHERE. Geneva Lake was open so we packed up and headed out. I just had to run her after all the hours I'd spent wrenching.

When we got there, there was 20-25 mph winds and busy launches. Whitecaps everywhere. We head out, keep the bow high, about 20 mph and proceed to check out the lake. Beautiful place and gorgeous old lake homes.

However, this was all lost on my daughters. With the wind and big chop, the poor little critters were SOAKED! But they knew how badly I wanted to be in the boat, they really did their best and hung in there.

After driving around, trying to find a place for lunch, we decided we all had enough. We pull out and find a great little bar and grill for a late lunch. I thank them all for being patient and apologize for the not-so-great time. I buy the kids all sundaes to make up for it.

It wasn't the brightest decision to go out yesterday, but everyone hung in there for me.

To cap it off, the kids asked if we can take the boat out today - and they really meant it!

It sure is great to be a dad, especially when you have a wonderful (and understanding) wife and kids.

PS - We ran into a guy with a San Juan. I'll post the pics in another thread.

Only good boating memories with my Dad is when I was a kid back in the 70's. I remember a fishing trip to Ontario to some "secret" lake only accessable from some old logging road we had to drive down for about an hour to get two. I was probably 10 or so but we were in Dad's old aluminum Grumman canoe with pontoons on the side to prevent from capsizing,( only boat I had when I was a kid) that was powered by a small 2 hp evenrude motor. You know the kind where you started it by having to wrap a rope with a wooden handle round the clutch, pull it to get it started. It never would on the first try so we had to wait for Dad to wind that rope to try it again.
My brother and I were in the canoe with my Dad and my Grandfather was in another canoe with an ol' high school buddy who lived up there. We were in the middle of the lake fishing for Walleye and Northern when "the storm of the century" came down on us. We headed for the closest shore that Dad could see while my brother and I crouched down in that little canoe. WE started scrambling for our poncho's and after downing them we started bailing out water with our camping cups as the boat was starting to fill up with rain water. The lake was white capping and Dad had that little motor tached out trying reach shore. We finally reached a small island after what seemed like forever. We quickly unloaded our gear, and turned the canoe over. My Dad tied it up to a tree and the three of us huddled under that canoe for about an hour until the storm passed. What a boating experience that was.. One that I never forget... Thanks Dad!!

Very nice stories guys. Sounds like some great Father's days with your Dads and with your kids. BKH

James,

Get your Dad on those skis as often as possible. It will keep him young. BKH

New Year's day 1971. I was seven years old. My father had broken his back in the fall of 69. He had enough pain just walking, much less water skiing in 48 degree water on a cold rainy day. Nonetheless, a promise had been made, and my dad meant to keep it. The Eskimo Runs were a ski run on New Year's Day, in the San Francisco Bay, sponsored by the Golden Gate Ski Club. No wet suits allowed. My Dad participated many years and had promised that as soon as I was old enough, he would take me. I missed my seated dock start that day, plunged into the cold water and had to sit there while the boat circled back for a deep water start. My Dad sat on the dock laughing. As I was on the water, he skied past me. He had made a standing dock start and was dry as a bone. He skied back to the dock, landed at the dock without getting wet above his knees, and was there to pull me from the water when I got back.

We participated again in 1972. I still have the certificates and the jacket patches.

If you still have a father, spend some time with him today. If you are a father enjoy some time with your kids.

Have a great day.

BKH