Re: Where were y'all in 1999?
Thanks guys. They compliment each other nicely. Started out in the early 90's with a borrowed 12' tin boat, a pup tent, and a motor that never ran right. I'm a pretty serious Ches. Bay fisherman, and being somewhat poor, my buddies and I did the camping scene to keep costs down. Plus we like it! Eventually bought a square stern canoe and a British Seagull to push it. 2 occupants only, and had to watch the weather hard for wind. Carried it on top of a '82 K car. Then I got a minimalist pop-up trailer, just a tent on wheels, no stove or fridge or water. But much better camping being off the ground and more out of the rain. A few years later, bought a 16' Grumman side console with a Mariner 30, much nicer boat, room for 3, but no more pop-up trailer. Back to sleeping on the ground, though now in a tent that I could actually stand up in. Living large! That Grumman took us all over the bay and several miles into the ocean on many occasions, wind still a factor though. Got sick of sleeping on the ground in the rain, so went looking for a high-top van to tow the boat and to sleep in when it rained(it really seemed to rain on us a lot in the early years!). Stumbled on the camper in the pic about 13 years ago and it was a steal. Spent a summer making it "right" with some cosmetic work and operational customization. Really living large at this point, hot and cold running water, shower, flush toilet, oven, 3 burner cook top, and air conditioning. So of course I went looking for a bigger boat. Didn't want a project-but the Starcraft needed "going over" and the price was right, so 2 years later it hit the water for the first time, and the above pic was taken on one of the first trips with the rig. If not for a major hit from the recession in '08, I'd have a bigger camper by now(I worked in residential development civil engineering). Need another 2'-no more, for a bigger bathroom. In time, I suppose.
Pat D.
Edit- the boat has a '90 Merc. 100 OB on it and an '88 Merc 8 kicker.
