[reelapeelin]

At 25, friend and I co-purchased a 14' alum. semi-V w/trailer for $350 that the state of SC had used...one of us had an Elgin 7.5 hp antique...full rotation for reverse...later bought new 10 hp Chrysler POS... then a used 15 hp Johnny...THAT was the motor...bought my friend out...sold semi-V, bought new 14' jon...15 hp too small...moved up to 25 hp elec. start Johnny....needed more room...bought new 16' Big John (sold 14')rigged w rod-holders, trollin' motor, bait tank (1st striper boat)...25 hp Johnny got ho-hum w/ that much wieght, bought new 40 hp elec start Mariner...duck hunted, striper fished, courted my wife and took my 1st born on MANY, MANY trips/adventures in that boat...nearly CRIED when that one left the driveway, replaced by new '88 17' McKee Southporter w/115 cross flow, gas-suckin' Johnny...2nd born's first introduction to boatin'...lotta fun, but RUFF ride...sold that and boatless for about a year in early '90s...another buddy and I bought a '67 Thunderbird w/'84 Evinrude 140...GREAT BOAT!!...bought him out , kept til V20 was ready to splash in '99 and you know the rest of the story... ;)...

Now 53, hope the above qualifies me as a ''player''... ;D...