Alter Bootsmann
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2011
- Messages
- 34
Cool story behind this little boat. I was shopping on Craigslist 2 weeks ago and came across a local listing for a 1974 AMF Slickcraft. when I called the guy, I found out he was only 4 miles away.
Well this is where it got interesting. When I arrived at the location of the boat I was immediately blown away by the condition of it. It had the original carpet, seats and vinyl upholstery and it didn't look over 3 years old! The boat looked familiar to me when I first saw it, so I asked him if he had got the boat from a certain street on a local lake. Well he had and I immediately made a connection with this boat.
It turns out this boat was owned by the Grandfather of one of my Sister's best childhood friends. We had taken my sister down to this gentlemans house so she and her best friend could have a sleepover for the weekend. Before we left the gentlemans home he took my Dad and I for a boat ride in it. That was on 21 July 1983. I remembered the exact date because it was on my Dad's 40th birthday for which we had given him a surprise party earlier that afternoon!
So after we leave, my Sister spent the next day learning to water ski behind this very boat!
Wow, I could not believe I had found this boat and it was in such fine condition!
It has a 1989 Johnson 110 V4 replacing the old Evinrude 135 that was on it becuase someone stole it. Other than that, it looks like it stepped out of a time machine. The gel coat shines like new.
After purchasing last week I contacted my Sisters childhood friend, sent her photos and she joyously confirmed it was her late Grandfathers boat for sure! She was so happy that we now own it.
This was meant to be, at least thats what I think!
To top it off, I took my Sister skiing in it on Thursday evening.She had not been water skiing in 5 years. She reconnected with skiing behind the very same boat she originally learned with when she was 12 years old. She is now 41.
I had a new impeller installed last week. I also installed a bilge pump and changed the primer bulb and fuel line. I believe Slickcrafts are fine built boats from what I can see of this little one.
Sorry for the long story but I just think it's too cool not to tell. I hope to enjoy this boat for a while and hopefully take as good of care as it's original owner did.
Happy Boating everyone!
Well this is where it got interesting. When I arrived at the location of the boat I was immediately blown away by the condition of it. It had the original carpet, seats and vinyl upholstery and it didn't look over 3 years old! The boat looked familiar to me when I first saw it, so I asked him if he had got the boat from a certain street on a local lake. Well he had and I immediately made a connection with this boat.
It turns out this boat was owned by the Grandfather of one of my Sister's best childhood friends. We had taken my sister down to this gentlemans house so she and her best friend could have a sleepover for the weekend. Before we left the gentlemans home he took my Dad and I for a boat ride in it. That was on 21 July 1983. I remembered the exact date because it was on my Dad's 40th birthday for which we had given him a surprise party earlier that afternoon!
So after we leave, my Sister spent the next day learning to water ski behind this very boat!
Wow, I could not believe I had found this boat and it was in such fine condition!
It has a 1989 Johnson 110 V4 replacing the old Evinrude 135 that was on it becuase someone stole it. Other than that, it looks like it stepped out of a time machine. The gel coat shines like new.
After purchasing last week I contacted my Sisters childhood friend, sent her photos and she joyously confirmed it was her late Grandfathers boat for sure! She was so happy that we now own it.
This was meant to be, at least thats what I think!
To top it off, I took my Sister skiing in it on Thursday evening.She had not been water skiing in 5 years. She reconnected with skiing behind the very same boat she originally learned with when she was 12 years old. She is now 41.
I had a new impeller installed last week. I also installed a bilge pump and changed the primer bulb and fuel line. I believe Slickcrafts are fine built boats from what I can see of this little one.
Sorry for the long story but I just think it's too cool not to tell. I hope to enjoy this boat for a while and hopefully take as good of care as it's original owner did.
Happy Boating everyone!
