Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

[kbomb]

It feels like folks are staring at me like my boat is an antique. It's a 14 foot '72 crestliner with the original 40hp merc. I'm always hoping to see some older boats at the lake, but I never see anything older than 5-10 years old. I boated all day today and I saw one boat that looked older than 1980's off in the distance.

Its not that I have anything against a newer boat, but I don't have the dough right now for a ski nautique or a mastercraft. I bought this as a starter boat for $500 and figured it was a cheap way to get out on the lake. I thought there would be more out there like me, but I was wrong.

I just wonder if any of you with older boats feel the same around where you boat?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

She looks like a nice boat! and if every one is staring at ya GREAT, I say go with it! Its good to be unique, Have fun! Your out on the water, Thats what matters! Doing what "YOU" enjoy

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

My wife and I are in a similar situation when we take my in laws' boat out. They're the original owners of a '77 Glasply 16' Runabout. It's got an older late '80's 90hp Johonson on it. Their boat is in great shape as my father in law has always kept it in dry storage and done regular maintenance on it. It'll get up and do 45mph in a heartbeat and is great for waterskiing and fishing.

Since they live 2 hours from us, we never bring our boat to their house. We often take the Glassply on the Columbia River and get watched quite a bit. I think it'd be great to have a new Mastercraft with a new Chevy pick up to pull but why waste the $70k+ on something that is already paid for?

 

[airmail]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

Hey I'm in the same boat as you. (Pun intended) 1971 Glastron. I even stare at it when my buddy was driving it and I was sitting on the pontoon boat. Why because it looks good in the water like yours. When it looks that good and works good why buy a new one.

 

[jriegle04]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

i have a 1979 procraft bass boat with a 150hp johnson and in the tournaments i feel like i am way out of my league. these guys spend 20 to 30,000 on boats and i bought mine for 1500. i like knowing that if i break it i can fix it also. i do like out fishing those big spenders though. happy boating

 

[airmail]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

Double post

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I could really give a rat's (-***-) about what someone else thinks about my stuff. I gave up trying to live up to somebody else's expectations (or what I THOUGHT was someone else's expectations) quite awhile ago.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

people laugh at me in my old tinny with my 1965 Johnson sitting on the back. That is till I drop it in solo and give the outboard one pull and she fires right up and off I go. they can keep their views to themself for all I care.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

Looks like you got one helluva lot of boat for your $500. I'd stare too but that's because I always like to see a well-kept older machine.

I get the same treatment up at the lake with my 1952 Ferguson tractor. I use it to haul the boat and get garbage to the dump and am always passed on the back roads by lots of spiffy ATVs worth five times as much travelling fives times as fast. In road gear at 2/3 throttle I probably don't break 10 mph, but it gives me time to sit back, enjoy the ride, and the machine.

BTW - we had the identical motor on a Galaxie 15 my parents bought back in the early seventies. Great engine. Ran like a top for years.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

you don't say where you are,but I feel the same way
every body with their big shiney boats,alway comment "I had one like that as my first"
she is a '74 MFG thats my boy at the helm

Iam in n.e.ohio so if you see me give me a shout

woosterken

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

KBomb: that is a great looking boat I would not worry a lick about those people, your probably making a mountain out of a molehill inside your own mind. My wife has been doing this to me about out boat BIGTIME, the burnt orange is ugly and dated but the boat works great and has been ultra reliable.
My wife is trying to get us an upgraded and newer boat, in other words she wants to spend money we don't have on a boat we don't need to impress people we don't know luckily I have about talked her out of it and she has frequented the olde chev over a half dozen times in the last month.

Most people around here feel if it floats and is safe then its a good boat, she has been told that by many folks so I guess that has rested her soul.
There are some really really nice boats around here and alot of boats in general we have a huge and diverse boat population and with a fishing tournament going on this week I spotted guys fishing in kayak type devices, a mile out on lake Michigan at night, anything to get on the water I guess.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I think old boats are cool. Well kept and will last a life time. New boats also have new toys that can be added to old boats. Its all about what works for you.

 

[fire831]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I have a 1978 ProCraft bass boat with a 85hp 1978 Evinrude. I get a few looks but also a lot of good comments. The way I see it is if your happy with it then that is all that matters.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I think smaller boats, more basic boats, will become popular again, when people don't have jobs they can hardly afford a third mortgage on their over valued homes on an adjustable to buy 250,000 dollars bots.

Your boat is beautiful.

 

[PNW Driver]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I've only had mine out a couple times but it's the same thing. Oldest boat on the lake. Lots of looks and even one thumbs up from another Reinell owner. Gotta start somewhere. It is satisfying though, to hit the ramp first try( 20 yrs as a truck driver) and bump the starter and have the old thing fire up immediately.

 

[Bard1]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

people laugh at me in my old tinny with my 1965 Johnson sitting on the back. That is till I drop it in solo and give the outboard one pull and she fires right up and off I go. they can keep their views to themself for all I care.

I'm with you brother, 1964 tinny with a '66' fastwin. One pull and off I go!

 

[redeye1962]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I do get alot of looks with this 65 Texas Maid and alot of offers as well. I am still working on it so she is a bit raggedy but the looks still come. We enjoyed our maiden voyage yesterday with little issues and look forward to many adventures with it. The kids loved the fact it actually floated. Last year when I had it apart they would always ask if it would float.

 

[sleepyweasel]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

I know what you mean.....

Last year was my first year boating......late 60"s early 70's star craft "jupiter"16" alum. with a mid 70's 50hp merc. 4 people was crowded....

My "new boat is an 83 4winns (yes "4winns" not four winns LOL) 180 marquise....still an old boat, but starts up and runs great.run it all day on 10 gallons of gas......plenty of room for us, so what do I care.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

Yeah, me and my old tinny don't turn too many heads at the lake. Still, when I'm the only one with a bent rod, they all seem to head in my direction. Who cares what other folks think? I'm at the lake to fish, not to compare boats.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Only one with a 35+ yr old boat on my lake

Thats a nice looking Fergie scoutabout.