[kamikaze]

At age 28 I owned an 18 ft flat bottom ski boat (Manufacturer unknown) done in an ugly green metal flake that had fade by y this time. It was pushed (slowly) by an early 70’s vintage 85 Hp Evinrude that on it’s best day only ran on three cylinders. Paid $350.00 for the boat motor and trailer. Lived in San Diego at that time and while moving East the leaf on the trailer spring busted and I ended up giving the boat and trailer to a mechanic at a little garage in upstate New York, so I could get to a new job on time (That one still hurts!)

At 31 purchased a 16 Ft 1968 Starcraft Newport (closed bow runabout) with a 1972 65 Hp Evinrude. Paid 300.00 for the boat, motor and trailer. Replaced the floor, installed new seats and interior and painted the hull. Also replaced original wrap around plastic windshield with modern aluminum trimmed, walk though windshield I salvaged from an old MFG. Eventually sold for $1600.00. Of all my boats I’ve owned the wife enjoyed this one the most. Nothing like tooling around the lake in an antique!

At 34 purchased a 23 ft 1986 SportCraft Fisherman (Cutty Cabin). It had a OMC Cobra outdrive and a 4.3L Inboard. I paid $5500.00 for a boat, trailer and a ton of fishing tackle downriggers and outriggers and such from great lakes fisherman from upstate New York. Cleaned her up and replaced exhaust manifolds and repainted the outdrive and later sold her for 8500.00

At 36 purchased a series of boats with express intent of flipping them. A 19 ft, 1986 Sabre CC I paid $400.00 for, sold her for $2600.00 after complete renovation. Also purchased a 16 ft side console bass boat with a 35 HP Johnson and trailer, paid $450.00 at a local auction and later sold it after installing a new floors complete interior upgrade for $2600.00

At 43, I currently own four boats (Can you ever have enough boats!). 1974, Wellcraft V 20 with a 1986 235 Evinrude that I paid $3300.00 for about a year ago. A 1968, 17 ft Cutlass (Mako later purchased the line the same year so–it’s a identical to Mako) with a 120 Johnson hanging from a 26” bracket with a t-top that is currently being completely refitted. I also own a 1976, 19 ft Galaxy, closed bow ski boat with a 1976 Inline 6, Mercury 115 that’s the family boat from running around the lake and such. And lastly I am half owner in 1982, 25 Ft Aqua Sport CCP (Center Console) with a 1993 Johnson 250 V8 outboard just about complete from a fully retrofit and rigging for offshore fishing.

My next boat? Well what do you got that your welling to deal on?