What did your dad have??

[HOOTER SLED-]

Pops had a 74 California 18'er...Hardin Marine 455 Olds...Jacuzzi. Grew up taking that thing out on the big waters of Mead @ Temple Bar believe it or not...lol. In my 20s, I ended up scooping that thing up, going through a few motors and pretty much restoring the whole thing. Used it up and down the river from Mojave to Parker. Ended up selling that thing and picked up the bigger, more comfortable 21'er open bow for my river escapades....still have it, but no escapades.
Dad also had numerous cool rides back in his day before I was around....Harley, cool cars. 50's shit. I still shake my head at him for not hanging on to some and say why...I coulda had some cool stuff.

 

[CB2LH]

Pops had a 16’ Tahiti with a 80, 135 then a 150 we used to ferry the gang across the Columbia River in WA. I took this pic about 88ish?

 

[skifaster]

I remember talking to your Dad about Tachycardia (his boat not my health issues) one day in the office while other patients were waiting. This was probably 15 years or so ago. He had pics of his boats hanging in the office, not the typical boring floral arrangements you normally see.

Tachycardia was/is still his favorite boat. If a patient asked about the boats, he definitely would run late for the day
Sadly, he hasn't been able to work and we are emptying the office this month. At least we have some good boat pics to go through.

 

[DaveC]

No notes…. Too poor…lol

 

[TrollerDave]

Dad also had numerous cool rides back in his day before I was around....Harley, cool cars. 50's shit. I still shake my head at him for not hanging on to some and say why...I coulda had some cool stuff.

Right?!

My dad had an orange 55 Chevy gasser, had to sell to get a washer and dryer.

Then my parents had to get rid of the 70 Z28 because you couldn’t fit a car seat in the back.

Then got rid of the 70 Chevelle SS.

Domestication SUX!

 

[Taboma]

Dear Dad had a deep passion for vintage (Vintage now, not way back then) late 1940's to mid 50's wooden Chris Crafts. I grew up filled with the passion of water skiing behind them.

Dad did not however, have a passion for sanding the damned things every winter, nor as a young boy, neither did I --- however, I did find motivation contained within his profound wisdom that the act of sanding was directly proportional to the act of having a boat to ski behind.
So I sanded and he varnished, then together we played with the engines as required.

Then there was a few, like the 19' Racing Chris Craft and 17' plywood Higgins, that dad drove in ski races. Of course for dad and his partner, racing wasn't child's play, so older and far superior skiers were towed. I sat with mom on the beach and watched.

That symbiotic "Me Sand, Me Ski" relationship resulted in me serving about 12 years as an indentured child servant, but it came with a nice room, great chow and so so many wonderous summers spend water skiing and chasing bikini girls.

But focusing on the thread title of "What Did Your Dad Have ?" ---- I'm forced to say, the one thing he got that caused the most family entertainment and drama was without question ----- The Crabs.

 

[liquid addiction]

All my Dad had was a job.

For me boating didn't happen until late 80's with my former boss. My kids have spent most of their lives on one boat or another and boat drags.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

My Dad was actually a pretty cool dude! I miss him everyday!

 

[77 SLEEK]

My Dad was actually a pretty cool dude! I miss him everyday!



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I see where you got your Avatar. Very cool

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

1968…Glen L with a 390 caddy.
At Buckskin before it was Buckskin and Echo across the river before they expanded.
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1970…Retired Unblown Fuel all wood Litchfield with a 440 Chrysler out of a wrecked CHP car(my dad was a Highway Patrolman)
I started driving it in 71 as and 11 year old. Boat ran 75-80 and he let me run it out the back door!
So it’s all his fault I’ve spent all these years as a Vdrive guy!
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Last three pictures of a typical Saturday at the Lagoon in Carlsbad. It was my second home. 5 minutes from our house.

1972…Litchfield Flatbottom. Litchfield boats were built here in Carlsbad, so most of the locals had them. I used to sweep and clean their shop on Saturdays in the winter and a day or two a week in the summer.

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1974…Litchfield Runner bottom

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Me getting a little air on the old Murdoch up river in 74 and making my first pass in it in 1975 at Bakersfield with the NDBA when I was 15 registered under my Dads name


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My Dad drove boats at the Drags in Brackets, Ski Competition, Unblown Gas Flat and Unblown Fuel Flat as well as a little SK racing at the Circle Boat races.
He was killed in the line of duty in 1977 at 43, I was 17.
I miss him every day.
His influence on my life in terms of boating is immeasurable.
Thanks for the memories Dad!

I have a feeling your dad and my dad probably knew each other. He knew a lot of CHP and of course had a few Litchfield's and was from San Diego.

 

[J DUNN]

Nothing. We were a family of six kids. We had one car the entire time I was growing up. My parents came from New York to California with a couple hundred bucks in their pocket. All four of my grandparents were dead and they had no other family here. My dad worked a day job and worked in a hotel at night as a bellhop for the first 12 years of my life.

With nothing but a high school education, at age 36 he quit his second job and managed to get accepted to Mc George School of law and went to night school for four years. While still working and supporting a wife and six kids. He graduated and passed the BAR on his first try in 1972. I was 16. By the time he paid off his student loans I was 25. We went boating with friends and neighbors, camping with the scouts and spent all of our summers swimming the American River and taking an occasional trip to Folsom Lake to swim.

Most of my friends think I’m over the top OCD in the way I take care of my stuff. There is a reason for that.

I'll tell you what your dad had, GRIT! Something really worth being proud of! And the fact that you recognize it and write about it the way you do says something about you too! GRIT raised GRIT in your case, more worthwhile than any toy in this thread.

 

[warpt71]

'73 Sanger flat

Its still in his garage

 

[Clank123]

My Dad was actually a pretty cool dude! I miss him everyday!



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I’ll bet they did!