I Met The Oldest Boater

[GA_Boater]

The oldest boat I ever met any way. 97 years young cruising around the lake today.

You be asking why I posted this in the Starcraft forum? He was piloting a 1974 24' Chieftain hardtop! Only the fourth Starcraft I've seen down here. He moved to down to GA from Ohio about 5 years ago and this was a Lake Erie boat. After he bought it just before moving here, it was sent back to the factory for a hull re-rivet, transom replacement and hull re-paint.

Needless to say, I was surprised to see a Chieftain, let alone a hardtop. This is proof positive that TinHeads live longer!.

 

[jbcurt00]

97 and still taking out: cool. Thats great

Wonder what a factory rehab set him back for 24ftr?

And when? Still an option?

I wont be sending one back for a factory refurb, unless I win the Powerball tonight.

Carp, not in it..... cant win it....

Meh, i'd probably just end up penniless on one of those Where are they now? Lottery winner shows anyway.

 

[GA_Boater]

I almost asked, but I didn't want him to keel over by saying the number.

He said he had it done about 5 years ago. The hull paint still looked good. The topsides are faded.

 

[Watermann]

Too cool, only thing better would have been snapping a few pics of him with his big tin.

 

[dozerII]

Hope I can still get of bed by 97, let alone take out my boat. That's pretty cool GA.

 

[64osby]

The old tin man and the sea. :joyous:

Bet he has an electric trailer winch.

GA - How many years till you can break that record?

 

[classiccat]

That's awesome GaB! I wonder if they added reinforcement to the outer-chine / spray-rail?

 

[hayko1971]

Yeah thats very cool, I hope I'm still around at that age!!

 

[InMotion]

Wow!!! Cool.... He is more than DOUBLE my age and still out boating... impressive to say the least!!!

Thanks for sharing GA...

Jim

 

[GA_Boater]

I know I shoulda taken pics. My bad! :blue:

Next time I see him I'll ask some more questions about the factory re-do. Also check the chine for extra rivets and take some pics!

Even I could work the winch because all he does is back her into a covered slip. :smile: I don't know if he has a trailer. I know she needs more power, only a 120 Mercruiser for motivation.

I hope I'm not in the bed with tubes and the like if I make it that long in 3 decades.

 

[laurentide]

That's so cool. Man I hope I can still do it in 54 years!

I'd likely have the oldest tinny on the lake. Maybe I'll have repowered to one of them solar outboards by then.