When did Schiada start making boats?

[RyanPartridge]

Ryan are you going to be in Parker this weekend?

RD

Not this weekend. I'm having AC installed and they're starting on Saturday, but as soon as it's done I'll be heading out.

 

[RiverDave]

Not this weekend. I'm having AC installed and they're starting on Saturday, but as soon as it's done I'll be heading out.

Let me know when your heading out.. I'd like to buy you a beer!

RD

 

[RyanPartridge]

Let me know when your heading out.. I'd like to buy you a beer!

RD

You're on! But if we're going to Fox's you gotta pick me up on my Pop's dock. I'm boatless.

 

[RiverDave]

No worries..

RD

 

[SKIA36]

Last summer at Marine Stadium I met Chuck Schiada(Len's brother). He ended up giving me his card and told me to give him a call sometime and he'd try to dig up an old t-shirt he had laying around. I recently came across his number and gave him a call and he graciously invited me up to his house in PV. I spent a couple hours yesterday with Chuck and he told me stories and showed me some serious history. He showed me an old photo album that was stuffed to the gills with pics, newspaper clippings, old Schiada catalogs, you name it. Bitchin' old race trophies galore!


One of the first photos in this album was of him and Len building a wood boat that he pointed out saying, "That's the first boat we ever built." Remembering this thread, I asked him what year it was and he thought for a minute and said he'd have to guess around 1951. They launched that boat in Newport and some guy saw it and begged them to sell it right then and there. So they figured they'd just sell it and build a new one, and the second boat ended up selling before they even finished it, and that's how it started.

Later, he threw in an old tape of home movies with 50's race footage from Long Beach. Marine Stadium had nothing but oil rigs in the background. The boats were bouncing all over the place and he was telling me about racing before they had cavitation plates. And how even the early ones, you couldn't control. You'd just adjust them however you thought was best, and that was it, they were fixed.

All in all is was pretty mind blowing. I saw so much cool stuff and heard so many stories that I was in awe that I was even there. Sitting here now I'm struggling to remember everything I saw yesterday. I wish I could've been able to take photos to share with all fellas here because I know you guys would've really dug this stuff, but I think it would have been out of line for me to ask.

I left yesterday with a killer history lesson and a bitchin' t-shirt(OG graphics from '66)!

What ever you do, dont let him talk you into playing tennis. He'll be into your wallet. Next time you see him, ask him why he lost the last mod vp race at Marine Stadium. He was driving his red Stoker (#974). Does he still have the 16' Gray Tahiti with a 200 merc on it?

 

[RyanPartridge]

What ever you do, dont let him talk you into playing tennis. He'll be into your wallet. Next time you see him, ask him why he lost the last mod vp race at Marine Stadium. He was driving his red Stoker (#974). Does he still have the 16' Gray Tahiti with a 200 merc on it?

He told me how he used to play tennis. I'll ask him about that race, I'll probably run into him at the ski races next weekend. He didn't have any boats at his house when I was there. I think he said the only boats they have now is his son-in-law's Schiada 21 RC.

 

[SKIA36]

He told me how he used to play tennis. I'll ask him about that race, I'll probably run into him at the ski races next weekend. He didn't have any boats at his house when I was there. I think he said the only boats they have now is his son-in-law's Schiada 21 RC.

He doesnt usually go to the Catalina race, his dauhgter Charlene and her hubby Jeff will be there. How was Rose doing? Chuck had a deal with her, new boat for him=new diamond for her.

 

[RyanPartridge]

He doesnt usually go to the Catalina race, his dauhgter Charlene and her hubby Jeff will be there. How was Rose doing? Chuck had a deal with her, new boat for him=new diamond for her.

Yeah he said he hadn't been in a few years but was planning on going this year. Rose was super sweet. Very kind people.

Just before leaving, Chuck pulled his old Maha 360 out of his RV. It was in this bitchin' terry cloth ski bag. I forgot to ask him where he got that bag, I could use one...:hmm

 

[SKIA36]

Yeah he said he hadn't been in a few years but was planning on going this year. Rose was super sweet. Very kind people.

Just before leaving, Chuck pulled his old Maha 360 out of his RV. It was in this bitchin' terry cloth ski bag. I forgot to ask him where he got that bag, I could use one...:hmm

My sister in law makes them.

 

[RyanPartridge]

My sister in law makes them.

No way! Is that where it came from? I was actually going to have my girlfriend make me one, possibly out of an old Coors beach towel.

 

[SKIA36]

No way! Is that where it came from? I was actually going to have my girlfriend make me one, possibly out of an old Coors beach towel.

That is what she makes them from. Back then big towels were really hard to find. Lots of them available now.

 

[Wheeler]

Shouldn't this be in the Schiada section? :thumbsup