Boating……What Sparked Your Interest 😎

[fat rat]

I would have to go back to early 60’s, growing up in WNY surrounded by water. As a young lad (my elders always called me a dirty little rat) I was always hanging out at a nasty creek off our property . it was fed by chemical and petroleum plant run off, I never swam or fell in it. I was young real young my little whacked out brain was on a roll. My best buddy Andy, son of an architect, we got to thinking. We were building little hang outs already in the creek side. They were replacing telephone poles on our road, our mines are rolling, so we talked with the foreman and he said yes and then he said how long do you want them my friend Andy pops up and 8’! we already secured a piece of plywood and some nails. So we are off rolling these things down to the creek side , grab our sheet of plywood and started hammering, we used rocks, that old school kid right there! We hesitated at first and since I was smaller I was nominated.i had a ten foot tree truck already, I hop n Andy pushed me off laughing it worked, I swung around picked him up and we’re the first boat (raft) to float the well known Stink Run!

My friends family eventually bought a cabin at a local lake it been non stop since a couple years ago . My last boat.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Always had an interest because boats were cool fast and loud. But family didn't have a boat. When i was 24 i met my wife and her family who were avid boaters. Since then we have had 14 good years at Powell and 2 boats. And introduced 2 more kiddos to boating.

 

[Angler]

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

My dad raced SK as a kid and even though my mom made him stop, he always had the go-fast itch and got to scratch that itch with the family boats which looked stock but were not. I inherited that.

My family has had go fast boats since I was born. No way I’m giving that up. I’d rather sell the house and sleep in the boat.

 

[Meaney77]

Always wanted a boat when I was a kid but never had one.
Then my Junior year of High School we went to Havasu for Spring Break and I was sold!

 

[CLdrinker]

Parents took us on a camping trip to Riverland resort.
Dad took us to buy some wave runners at chaparral the next weekend. Did that for a few summers then dad bought a 78 Southwind with a Joe Moddella 460. Ran that for a few seasons then it was a 98 21 Essex Sterling
2002 HTM SS with a 540
2004 Shockwave skier with a 6.2.

Then I got married and my boat dreams have taken a back seat to RV’s, kids dirt bikes and quads, my hunting trips and traveling back east every year to visit family.

 

[Badchoices03]

My family lives in NorCal, up in Redding, my cousin who is about 10 years older then me was a "pro" waterskier...he belonged to a ski club with a private ski lake....I used to spend every summer up there and roll around with him all the time...I learned to drive a boat before I learned how to drive a car....hell I learned how to back a boat trailer in before I really even knew how to drive a car on the street...from those days on, I have always been a "boat" person...

 

[92562]

Between fishing on Lake George in Mammoth and Big Bear Lake as a kid in my grandpa's skiff with a 6hp Johnson, boating from Needles to Topock in grandpa's cruiser with a big Merc OB, and also going to the drag boat races at Marine Stadium and Mission Bay, I didn't have a chance. Been on the water my whole life.

 

[Cooter01]

Baseball, football, hockey, etc don't have these walking around

 

[BUDMAN]

For me, I grew up going to Parker & Blythe as a kid with family and friends. I remember my dad getting the big semi truck inner tubes and catch a ride to the damn just to float back to our camp. Good child hood memories. So it just seamed natural to keep going.

 

[rivermobster]

I don't remember my dad Not having a boat...

And we packed it up every summer to go on vacation to a different lake.

Packed with the tent, ice chest, cots, sleeping bags, assorted Coleman products and tons of fishing gear.

I've been to a whole lot of different lakes in CA.

Then in HS...

Started hanging around with a kid who's dad had a flat. That flat Still runs around Parker today.

What a long strange trip it has been!

 

[monkeyswrench]

In my teens, it was gasoline, beer and boobs, rolling out with friends. In my 20s, parents bought what was supposed to be their retirement place, and a Bayliner! So, wife and I bought a jet bote, jetskis and our own river place.

Put simply, seemed like a good way to piss away money

 

[dezrtracer]

Was pretty much born into boating. Dad & Mom belonged to Long Beach Boat & Ski club . 1st trip for me was waterski races at Havasu Landing in 1964 at 6 weeks old . Still boat a couple times a month when the weather is above 75 and an occasional winter day or two .

 

[Wizard29]

I just wanted to see exactly how much money it takes to fill a hole in the water.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Grew up in Hawaii, always at the beach surfing or in the water. Had a few opportunities to water ski and it was a blast. Moved to CA for 3 years in my early 20s. coworkers had a boat and hit Laughlin often. I went each time that I was invited. They loved to beat the crap out of me when water skiing. No better feeling of loosing the edge in a turn and skipping on top of the water. 8 years ago a wife’s classmate invited us to visit with them in their house in Havasu. That was the point that I said this is where we are going to spend some years having a good time. Found RDP a year later looking into boats and the area. Only regret that I have is that I did not visit Havasu or find RDP sooner.

 

[DWC]

Growing up we only had a 12’ fishing boat. Was awesome cruising around So. Cal lakes fishing for anything/everything. In high school, had a good friend that had a place on the water in Blythe. Spent a ton of days water skiing/ barefooting with @ArizonaKevin’s uncle in Blythe and Campo Mosqueda. We stopped going as a group until the kids started going again when the oldest boys were in Kindergarten. Bought a Nautique to join them and never looked back.

 

[ChrisV]

Dad ruined my life, so I’m so the same.
Went to the river since I was a kid almost every weekend in the summer. Love it.

 

[Orange Juice]

Circa 1916, my family’s flying boat. Curtiss Model F, at our family’s summer lake cabin, near the farm.

Gramma always had a fast car, this was her 1954 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, pulling my dads 1950 Century 16’ resorter. Inboard.

Dads always owned Century Boats.

 

[77charger]

I don't remember my dad Not having a boat...

And we packed it up every summer to go on vacation to a different lake.

Packed with the tent, ice chest, cots, sleeping bags, assorted Coleman products and tons of fishing gear.

I've been to a whole lot of different lakes in CA.

Then in HS...

Started hanging around with a kid who's dad had a flat. That flat Still runs around Parker today.

What a long strange trip it has been!

Pretty much similar here. Parents got a boat when I was like 5 or so. Started with a tri hill with a Johnson outboard. I remember the first day we went out in it got to get out of school went to pyramid lake.

Year later got a jet boat in 79. Had it forever then I got my current boat. It during the early 80s parents had a second home in Merced we go there on weekends or vacations we just about hit every local Central Valley lake. Pine flat Eastman millerton Turlock don pedro mc clure and many more. Some great times.

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

I started water skiing at 8 and have had the water bug ever since. Bought my first boat at 26 a 1975 rogers and have had at least one boat ever since.

 

[Dunerking]

Grew up going to Parker and Bass Lake with family,and going to Bullhead/Lake Mojave with good friends family every summer. Uncle always had a 19’ with a O/B and leaned to single ski at 10 in ‘84…and while at Lake Mojave with friends family skiing behind their tri hill Volvo/Penta boat..then when the Skurfer came out we were stoked!
Been trying to get ourselves a place in Havasu so I can share those dreams with my kids.

 

[Taboma]

As a mere child, boating was my summer reward for having spent my winters sanding and performing maintenance on those things he truly loved, f*cking planked hull mahogany Chris Crafts.

 

[69hondo]

Grandpa started it. Him and dad were Parker river rats. Cursed/blessed me with it as soon as I was born. LOL
Like others I dont think there was a day Dad dint have a boat.
Bought my Hondo at 19 and have had a boat ever since.
I have passed the passion on to my kids but the entry level boat prices of the past are gone.

 

[coolchange]

I would have to go back to early 60’s, growing up in WNY surrounded by water. As a young lad (my elders always called me a dirty little rat) I was always hanging out at a nasty creek off our property . it was fed by chemical and petroleum plant run off, I never swam or fell in it. I was young real young my little whacked out brain was on a roll. My best buddy Andy, son of an architect, we got to thinking. We were building little hang outs already in the creek side. They were replacing telephone poles on our road, our mines are rolling, so we talked with the foreman and he said yes and then he said how long do you want them my friend Andy pops up and 8’! we already secured a piece of plywood and some nails. So we are off rolling these things down to the creek side , grab our sheet of plywood and started hammering, we used rocks, that old school kid right there! We hesitated at first and since I was smaller I was nominated.i had a ten foot tree truck already, I hop n Andy pushed me off laughing it worked, I swung around picked him up and we’re the first boat (raft) to float the well known Stink Run!

My friends family eventually bought a cabin at a local lake it been non stop since a couple years ago . My last boat. View attachment 1358289

Change your screen name to Tom Sawyer.

 

[81Sprint]

I was always more into cars growing up. I met my wife who's family had a spot down at Walters camp since she was a baby, and grew up basically every weekend at the river. Her dad is a complete river rat lol. We were walking through Bass Pro shops couple months after we met, and she said you should buy a boat. So I did, right then and there, an open bow Tahoe 21'. That thing handled like shit but we had so much fun on it, every weekend at Mead for years. Then one weekend my sister in law brought a dude over she was kinda talking to, was Brad from SoCalJetBoats. He had just started doing SCJB and was trying to grow it, and we went to one of his events at the Avi, hooked every since. Met so many great people and always had a great time.

 

[Deckin Around]

titties.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

I grew up camping, fishing, etc. with my family, but we never had a boat. Those times with my family are some of my favorite memories and are, without a doubt, why I love being outdoors and doing all of those things to this day.

After college, I met a guy who, after a couple of dates, asked me if I wanted to go to "the river". I grew up in Texas and had only moved to San Diego for college, so I had no idea what "the river" was. I hoped that he didn't mean the river behind Fashion Valley Mall - if you know, you know . We left on a Friday evening and drove to Fisher's Landing. We arrived after dark, went to the bar and "slept" in the back of his F150 . The next day, my first day in his boat, was epic. I was hooked. That guy is my husband now and we've been boating together for 21 years.

 

[Blue Oval]

I grew up in the car business. My Father always said he would take anything in on trade. My Father was not a boater. My Mother grew up in a fishing business. I would take her out on the boats Dad would take in. That started the attraction. My first date with my wife was on a Glastron we had. We have been married 34 years and spend any second that allows us to on the lake. My 32 year old twins started boating the first summer they were born. They both have their own boats now.

 

[River Runnin]

Fish’s from the time I could walk!

 

[OkHallett270]

When I was a kid I spent a lot of time on the water with my dad fishing. Then as I got a little older we started going to the lake with my dads sister and her family. They had a Mariah runabout. I thought it was awesome! We did a lot of tubing and kneeboarding and camping with them over the years. My dad sold his fishing boat, but I had the bug. In highschool my buddy’s aunt had an old (mid 80s) sea ray she told us if we could get it running we could use it for the summer. We got it running and it had some terrible wood rot in the floors. We just screwed plywood down and made it work on an 18yo kid fast food budget. We used that boat every weekend we could til the end of summer. As time went on my buddy bought a bass boat and I got a jet boat. I’m now on to my Hallett 270 and my buddy actually owns a company that rigs fishing electronics to bass boats now. Being on the water in Oklahoma is just part of life really. If you don’t have a float someone you know does for sure. It’s a great way to beat the heat in the summer for sure.

 

[nameisbond]

When I was 8 we had a 55ft trawler with a 12ft Zodiac that I played with. When I was 10, we moved to a house on a beach. Grew up with boats.

 

[RaceTec]

Some of my first memories were in Parker at Red Rock, sleeping under the stars in an inflatable raft. (We started going when I was 2) My moms second husband Peter had a flat bottom, I was sold! Been titties and beer ever since! Asked my now ex-wife to marry me at Fox's with a few of you guys there! Even met my current GF at Sundance! Guess I am hooked, and like everyone has mentioned I love to waste money!

 

[Quiet Cannon]

My parents had a place in Blythe, at River Lagoon through the 80's. Grew up going at least every other weekend. Dad and his crew were avid slalom skiers and we were on the water constantly. Moved on to going Havasu through the 90's and 2000s. Still have dad's old boat, and love the river.

 

[TPC]

Neighbor built a ski boat from raw materials in his garage and some of us kids helped.
The magic number to waterski back then was 70 hp and he hung one on the back.

Man o man was it fun. I got up first pull.

He drove a delivery truck and one day a guy walked up and shot him.
Paralyzed, later died.

Don’t think a day on the water goes by I don’t think about how cool he was to us kids.

 

[LuauLounge]

First was my girlfriend worked for an attorney who took a new jet family ski boat as fees to handle the bankruptcy of a Sacramento boat building business. He asked me to sell it. Unfortunately, this was during the Arab oil embargo and it took me 2 years to sell it. With a ton of use in between. Sold it to a fellow in Tahoe. I was amazed at how well it ran at Tahoe.
A year later, my dad and 2 of his buddies bougt a Carver 20’ cabin cruiser because they needed a place to play poker during the week. In lieu of payment for purchase, slip fees, insurance, etc. I became partner 4 and maintenance/repair person. Schedule worked out well.
Used it constantly on the Sac River.
After 5 years of boating on someone else’s dime, I was hooked and have had boats ever since and broke as well. Boats got bigger and ended up in a partnership of a 47’ houseboat. Actually, least expensive way of owning. Unfortunately, at the time I had none, so ended up selling.
Wife, the one above, started yammering she wanted another boat, so we bought a place in the Delta at marina/resort/mobile home park. Then found a 22’ Donzi.
After having a slip, I could never go back to having to trailer a boat. So, then a Hydro Hoist in a covered slip is a must.
Back to broke.

 

[havasuhusker]

My parents were boating before I was born. I've been boating since I was a newborn. We had a place at one of the lakes in Nebraska and would spend just about every weekend there in the summer months. When we moved to AZ, we still had a boat but didn't really use it. My brother took it over and started boating a lot, which kind of re-energized my parents, so we started going to Bartlett, Lake Pleasant and Havasu. It was always my dream growing up to own a boat like my dad did and now I do. Being at the lake and around all the different boats makes me happy.

 

[Todd Mohr]

My dad bought a boat when I was 8, Sidewinder SS18 jet, we boated on the Delta every weekend. Then we got a place with 2 other families on Bethel Island, it was so much fun growing up waterskiing and boating. I got my 1st boat at age 20 and have had at least 1 at any time since. I was mostly into waterskiing at first, then a friend ( Glen Plake) took me for a ride in his Cole TR2. I was hooked and picked up a TR2 about 2 weeks later. Only been doing Havasu for the last 7 years since I moved to Az.

 

[rivermobster]

Pretty much similar here. Parents got a boat when I was like 5 or so. Started with a tri hill with a Johnson outboard. I remember the first day we went out in it got to get out of school went to pyramid lake.

Year later got a jet boat in 79. Had it forever then I got my current boat. It during the early 80s parents had a second home in Merced we go there on weekends or vacations we just about hit every local Central Valley lake. Pine flat Eastman millerton Turlock don pedro mc clure and many more. Some great times.

I remember going to The Puddle, when it really Was just a puddle!

No launch ramp. We'd get stuck in the mud launching just about every time.

 

[samsah33]

Grew up on Lake Erie (from WNY same as OP), then moved to CA and lived in Hueneme/Oxnard for a while, so water was just always there, whether fishing, swimming, building rafts, boating, sailing, jet-skiing, beach parties, etc... Eventually moved out to Coachella Valley and remember being bummed that, for the first time in my life, I didn't live near h2o. My boss gave my that confused-dog-tilted-head look and introduced me to Parker and Havasu...

Got to know a couple people with boats and started spending time in Parker/LHC. One friend had about 3 songs on his phone, one of them was Kid Rock All Summer Long. It wasn't a good day on the h2o until we heard that song at least 10 times every trip for a couple seasons. Any time after that when we heard that song, wife and I would start laughing and say how it reminds us of Jason.

When wife and I were going back and forth about buying our own boat, All Summer Long came on the radio, I immediately claimed Divine Intervention, ended the conversation, and within a week I was a boat owner... Still kicking myself over that one since we all know it's better to have friends with botes...

 

[jetboatperformance]

Once or twice a year My Pops would rent a row boat at Santa Margarita lake for a "fishing trip" , ( My Old man was so tight He "squeaked") , fast forward I met My wife in 73' she invited me to Naci where Her family had a cabin , Her Dad (a Chrysler Tech) Had Taken a Red and White Dolphin cathedral Hull outboard and refitted it with a 440 Mopar and a Berkely Pakajet package , We called it "The Red Lips" I could haul a half dozen kids at 50+ sounded Like a GTX and was a hoot to drive sans some "handling issues" The next year I bought a little Glastron 16' which was a great little boat with a 75 hp Evinrude and swiftly Upgraded that to My first Jet , New 19 Miller Bubble deck 460 Berkeley The rest is history bitten by the bug wasnt till around 95' that was started jet boat Performance .....

The Miller (first pic) is the first time to ever launch the boat 76' Me at age 25 Ironically years later I bought that same Miller Back and restored it , second pic is My son at about the same age driving it after the resto ....

 

[77charger]

I remember going to The Puddle, when it really Was just a puddle!

No launch ramp. We'd get stuck in the mud launching just about every time.

Which puddle lol puddindstone I almost drowned at launch ramp. True story couldn’t swim I kept stepping back got to point of no return didn’t shout just stepped
Back thinking I’ll be fine one foot hit a stone that gave me a push foward. Why I didn’t say something before then

 

[rivermobster]

Which puddle lol puddindstone I almost drowned at launch ramp. True story couldn’t swim I kept stepping back got to point of no return didn’t shout just stepped
Back thinking I’ll be fine one foot hit a stone that gave me a push foward. Why I didn’t say something before then

Yep. Frank G Bonelli today.

There was nothing resembling a launch ramp in the early 60's.

 

[CammdSS]

My parents had a house at the Isles, I blame them for the addiction... My first time on the water was at 6 weeks old. Couple years later theres a photo of me holding Moms beer while she is skiing in the background with Dad driving, probably one of the greatest photos I remember. My parents always had family and friends out, this was early 90s. We spent many years boating with lots of great memories. As I grew older I enjoyed it more and more always begging to go back and ditch school for a couple days with Dad.

After building a few race cars and 25 years later I bought my first boat, 24' DCB. Enjoyed that boat so much! My parents are older now but I was able to bring them out for a last trip before it is too hard for them to get in and out of the boat. Sold that boat and moved on to the next. This is more my style growing up looking at all the fast boats....

I will ALWAYS have a boat and be enjoying my time on the lake/river. Thanks MOM AND DAD!!

 

[rivergames]

'Covering' my eyes when I would pass by Sundance!!!

 

[HTTP404]

Just spending time on the water. My Grandpa
(<<<<<<<<<<the guy on the left) had a boat and took all us grandkids out on the ocean. My folks spent time "at the river" when they were young, and of course took my brother and I (and friends) to Havasu when we were young. I just love being around water. I have dreams with ships and boats often in the mix.

 

[CCXHAL]

I remember going to The Puddle, when it really Was just a puddle!

No launch ramp. We'd get stuck in the mud launching just about eve

I remember going to The Puddle, when it really Was just a puddle!

No launch ramp. We'd get stuck in the mud launching just about every time.

ry time.

Yup. Stuck in the mud at the Puddle....2 tow trucks to get unstuck! '68.

 

[Englewood]

Bikinis. Definitely Bikinis.

 

[kurtis500]

Hard to desribe in writing, but 2 pics tell a lot

 

[old rigger]

My grandparents retired to Bullhead in '61, thats when we started to go to the river. Dad bought this boat from a local fireman in Signal Hill who built them on the side. This was #12 and was the last one built. Still my all time favorite boat.

1961on the beach of what would later become Laughlin, I was 5.

 

[poncho]

Mom left my Stepdad and moved into my townhouse condo with me. She reconnected with a lifelong friend and would disappear most every weekend to the Eastern side of Washington state.
Funny thing, she got to pay me back for her sleepless nights when I was a teen and would stay out all night making her worry.
Comes home on Wednesday to me ripping her ass for making me worry.

Proceeds to tell me I met a guy you are going to really like, has a body shop, ranch with horses, several muscle cars and a fast boat.

Following weekend my best friend and I drove over and stayed the weekend, pulled in and see a couple of Bad Ass GTO's the boat and a mini monster truck, Todd and I look at each other and say Holy Shit this guy has the toys.

Got drunk as hell around the fire that night and woke up to one hell of a breakfast, AJ say's head to the mini market and grab what you guy's need for the day on the river.

Went to a park, 4 people for a 2 seat boat. AJ gives me a quickie V-Drive lesson and say's you and your Buddy head up river and have some fun.

I was way into street racing and the trouble that comes with it, first time I passed a cop hauling ass and they waved instead of throwing me in jail I knew I found a new fix for my speed bug, the rest is history, easily the best thing to ever come into my life, I've always said performance boaters are the best people I know.