"Boats in the Barn"

Thought I'd post pics and short story of an old inboard I found, altho its a "brand X".. still pretty cool old boat..

A couple years ago during one of our evening cruises in the old 64'skier, I noticed a boat under a tatterd cover,in one of the boathouses along the river. I immediately noticed the prop and rudder, but couldnt tell what the make was.

   A couple days later I was in the area driving by and thought Id stop ,just to check it out. Turns out to be a 1968 Century Resorter that the owner had bought new! It was the first year they made fiberglass. Its pretty cool, in the fact it has about an 8" band of mahogany around the perimeter of the deck.

He told me it hadnt been run since 02. I asked if it was for sale..he replied no. I actually would see the owner periodically at a resturaunt...and each time would ask if he was ready to get rid of "that old boat". "No" was always his answer.

Earlier this summer, when I saw him for the first time this year...I asked the usual question.. this time he said he had been thinking of it. Well, today a good friend of mine took possession of the boat.... here are a couple pics..

First time cover was of in 5 years..btw ..482 hours on the clock!



Getting ready to get her wet!


Got a smile on our face.. towing it with flat bottom to boat launch!


It needs a little TLC, but should look as good as new by next summer. Love that mahogany band!!!

That's really a cool old boat. BKH

The Lake wrote: That is a beautiful boat, and I sure it comes complete with some great stories. Chuck

Chuck , The owner (driving the flatbottom) is 74. He has been around the river a LONG time! He was about in tears when we lowered it in the water. He showed us pics of a crackerbox he built in the late 50's Loves to talk! and we loved to listen and look at the old pics!

Cool story Steve.

One of the Best things here...cool stories!

john

Which one of these great 50 states are you in Gary?

Steve,

Wow that's looks like a great find, correct me if I am wrong but isn't the registration current, either that or it has sat since the last time we had red ones.

Great find! I had a friend that had one of those back in the 70's. I don't remember what the engine was, but it had the shifter on the column and a push/pull throttle on the dash. Those boats are built really well.

Here are a few answers to your questions..

Chuck, I think Gary also lives in IL.. btw, what ever happened to your dads boat?

Quinner, The reistration stickers are dated 2002... go back and look at the pic with it hanging outside and notice all the cobwebs on the hull..

Pete,
It has an Interceptor 352...(Reid... meet you at the Gooseblind Sat night to collect? ) engine looks like new. it was forgged down when last stored.

Bruce, This does have the shifter on the column, with a toe/heel floor mounted gas pedal... btw, havent had a chance to get the windwing templates made yet...

Pat, we might want to compare notes... just to make sure theres not another one still in the weeds!

62 wood wrote: Here are a few answers to your questions.. Pete, It has an Interceptor 352...(Reid... meet you at the Gooseblind Sat night to collect? ) engine looks like new. it was forgged down when last stored.

New Glarus Spotted Cow draft for me please.

I always gaze out into the open fields and try to get a look into an open barn door...hopefully to find a hemi cuda.. or even some old boat laying around that the owner knows nothing about and he tells you just get it out of here, my friend found a old 68 gtx convertible last year, he paid peanuts for it and sold it untouched to bail bondsman in Fla for 25k, and got a extra thousand to deliver. he could roll around in s--t and come out smelling like a rose all the time.

Eric
The fellow next door has a 60's or 70's charger I beleive ( it has a slopping back) which has been sitting in the storage lot where I keep my charter bus for years. He has not been paying the storage bill. I believe it has a small hemi. It was his first car and he was going to fix it up. He will never do it. I bet it could be bought.

Steve

I still like this one, don't know if its still there but it looked like a nice cruiser to me, well after a little engine work to get it closer to one hp to cu in that is...
1977 arabian v drive

Pete,
I dont think it will do any good...his wife likes wood boats and isnt thrilled he just sold his 49 Century...soooo, he is doing that to get the "best of both worlds".

btw, he is keeping all the vinyl in case he wants to go back original..

Chuck,I'm in Illinois in Mchenry county about 2 miles of where cook,lake,mchenry,and kane county meet,not many farms left here now.

Wood, that would be so wrong if your buddy put Mahogany on that boat. Wasn't it you who brought the boat to his attention? Put your foot down. Buy it from him. Save that boat. BKH