Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story. Update Got boat

[SigSaurP229]

As some of you may have read in my self tattling threads in the STH tricks forum I have been boating since I was a child. My Grandad always had a boat, some of them I remember some I don't. When I was an infant, he had an old Cuddy, until in 1983 he retired and moved to Tennessee he bought his first Pontoon a 20' Lowe with a 48 special Johnson. I vaguely remember even this pontoon. In 1993 my mom and dad sister and myself moved from Michigan to Tennessee to be closer to my grandparents.

My grandad was one that always took meticulous care of his belongings his boat was ALWAYS immaculate. My Grandad was also one of the biggest influences in my life. He taught me that honesty and integrity are the two biggest values that any man can possess. If you value your belongings respect others and live like a decent human being. Things will always turn out ok. He taught me how to Fish, Ski, Camp, and Cuss (when I pulled a catfish out on my bluegill rod and it cut him). He taught me guns are ok as long as you respect them.

In 1993 my Grandad traded his 20' Pontoon for a 28' foot Lowe Pontoon With a 70hp Johnson on the back. This is the one I remember growing up on I learned (eventually) good boatig habits how to operate, maintain, and clean a boat. I spent many Summers on this boat Fishing, Swimming, Camping and basically living the life that a young child should. Not like in the cities, and such this was Rural Tennessee and I loved every minute of it (coming from Detroit).

In 2001 a tragedy happened. My grandad who I loved and respected and adored who I wanted to grow up and be had a massive stroke, it almost killed him but he wasn't done yet. It did however paralyze his entire left side. He could barely stand on his own anymore. Soo we remodeled my Mom and Dad's house, and moved my Grandparents in with them. Well we had to sell the boat, it was heartbreaking as that boat (with the exception of two 1/4" tears in one seat) was still showroom condition. The day that happened it felt as if my Childhood was gone (all though I was 20 and had my own boat) it still hurt.

We lost my Grandad in May of 2009 it was a long fought battle he just couldn't hang on anymore it hurt and it was time for him to teach me another one of life's difficult lessons how to lose someone yes I have had other family members to go on to the next life but none that hurt like this. I still can't really bear it but we move on.

My Dad's Birthday is Today My Son's Birthday is tomorrow, My Mom's Birthday is in Four Days, and My Birthday is in ten days, my Grandmother's Birthday was July 03 and my Sister's Birthday was July 11. In June my Dad told my mom under no Circumstance is she to buy any birthday presents for anyone. Mom was mad but figured Dad was up to something, She was really mad when Dad told her he wasn't getting her anything. She was even Madder when he got upset because she got him something and I bought him another Satelite radio subscription.

Today I found out why Dad was mad. He bought a boat for all of us. Didn't tell anyone he was going to do it

He bought a 1993 Lowe Pontoon boat with a 70 hp Johnson it is in immaculate shape, with the exception of two little tears in the seat. Two previous owners and meticulously maintained.

The previous owners are
The current owners

My Grandad

I shed a tear today, for an old boat almost 20 years old now still in showroom condition, and even though I put those tears in the seat with an old Fish hook my Grandad still loved me, that boat will always be loved in my family my dad and I are going to enjoy it again, but now we get to add a new generation, and we will have many many more generations to come. Thank you so much I boaters for listening to my story and long post. As soon as I get to see her again I will post some pics. Not to much special of a Toon but she is ours again. We very well may just rename her but that would be it.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

I don't even know you and that almost brought a tear to my eye. Glad your Dad found the boat and you all have the opportunity to enjoy it again.
Glen

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Glad to hear the pontoon is back where it should be...I treasure all of the items(boats, knives, guns and WWII artifacts) we have kept that were possessions of my two grandfathers and hope to keep them in good hands.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

You are a very good story teller, and your story did bring a slight tear to my eye. I never knew any of my Grandparents and I have lost both my parents now. Reading stories like yours makes me think of my parents which is what really brings a tear to my eye.

You and your family enjoy that pontoon!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Very moving. I can only hope that when my time comes, I'll have made the kind of impression on someone, that your grandfather made on you.

I can't think of a better legacy. Enjoy the hell out of that boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

God bless you and your family. The only people that shed a tear for a boat are family people, who are boaters as well.

My Grampa's boat was named after my Grandma and my Mom. We lost the boat in the early 1960's due to family hardship. Grandma died a year later.

When I was old enough to own my own boat Grandpa helped me build one. I owned it for 3 years, then it was destroyed in a car accident. The insurance settlement afforded a new fiberglass boat, but it wasn't the same.

For the next 10 years, every time I bought a new boat or a new outboard, Grandpa got to go on the first ride.

In 2005, I found a 1952 Lyman that was almost the same as Grandpa had. She now sports Mom & Grandma's names and we often sail past the old homestead. Dad got the first ride after she was restord and I'm sure Grandpa was looking down as well.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Amazing! Your story brought a lump to my throat. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

That was a great story and thank you for sharing it with us. I don't know you either and I'm also a little misty-eyed.

Its the same way I feel about a .243 BSA rifle I inherited when my dad passed away. It always reminded me of him and the times spent together camping & hunting. I had to sell it at one point when we were going through some tough times and that really tore me up. Fortunately, I sold it to a good friend of mine who didn't really need it, but bought it to help us out. A few years later when our situation improved I bought it back from him.

I almost broke out in tears when he took it out of the safe and handed it back to me. As soon as I touched it, it was like I had traveled back in time and I was 12 yrs old again and walking the woods with dad at my side.

I'm glad you got your grandpa's boat back to help keep his memory alive and make lots of new ones with the next generation.

Colin

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Truly amazing story. My dad is my best friend and I was crying at the end of this story. Doesn't help that deadliest catch is on and captain Phil died,

 

[Newbie@boats]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Glad I came on Iboats today, very touching.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Great story. I can't wait to see the pics of your family on that boat again. How was your dad able to buy it back? Awesome that the next owners also really took care of it.

My grandfather was and my father-in-law is also the type that meticulously maintains their things. We give my father-in-law a hard time about it sometimes as he is a bit obsessive but it's hard to argue with his methods considering everything he has always looks great and works as it should. He traded in a 1995 4Runner on a 2004 4Runner. The '95 had over 250k miles on it and looked (with no exaggeration) showroom new.

 

[Thad]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

I'm man enough to admit it. I cried.:redface:

Very touching. I hope my daughters and hopefuly future grandchildren feel the same about me someday.

I know I feel that way about my grandma and grandpa.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Well we didn't sell the boat initially because we really needed or wanted to. When Grandpa had his stroke he lost his independence, we were all working on remodeling my Dad's house so he and Grandma could move in, and the boat was just sitting there after we all cleaned it up. After it sat for about 8 months Grandpa told us all it that he hated seeing it just sit there not being used and that he wanted to sell it and put the money towards the remodel. Grandpa really couldn't talk to the people so my dad is the one that negotiated the deal between them. Dad didn't take the money from the sale and use it towards the remodel like Grandpa thought he took the money from the sale and laid it in an interest bearing account for the family, and mainly soo that if after Grandpa passed and his pension checks went away 25 years Military and 25 year Chrysler Dad knew that the money would cut way down. So he just sat it aside, that way if my Grandma needed anything she would have it. He also asked the new owners that if they ever sold the boat to call him first. Well the account has grown enough interest that dad took the money out from the interest the account made and bought the boat back. Grandma still has an emergency back up fund (even though she doesn't know it). We all love my Grandparents but they had 10 kids and as such you always have a few bad apples in every bunch, and they were always asking for help ($) and grandpa could never tell any of them no. When he died my Grandmother had no Debt but Grandpa had $37,000 worth of nothing but unsecured Credit Card Debt. No Estate for the creditors to fall back on and the only life insurance a small burial policy. Basically my Grandmother as much as he loved her (the boat was named after her, his dog was named after her). The planning was horrible so Dad figured it was much more prudent to leave the money in an account the boat sold for $10,000 8 years ago, Dad made $4,000 in interest in 8 years he took the $4,000 and added $1,000 from his own money and bought the boat back for $5,000 total.

 

[spikeitaudi]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

That just goes to show you that you have 2 older generations of very smart and caring men in your family. Incredible story... thank you for sharing.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Spike


You are right. I aspire everyday to live up to be half the men that my Dad is and my Grandad was.

At 19 I made some huge mistakes that I am going to have to live with for the rest of my life. I was 19 and thought I knew it all I didn't want to live under my dad's rules so I left did it on my own. Didn't really speak to my parents for almost 3 years. Now I am 27 I don't know it all, and my dad is my best friend. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to be like my dad but I could never fill his shoes.

Ohh and ps this was technically speaking my step mom's step dad. There was no actual biological relationship.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Thanks for sharing a wonderful story.

It was hard for my brother & I to sell our Dad's boat after he passed. It was his baby and we all had many a great time on her. But I couldn't afford her up keep nor the annual cost to keep her in a slip (43' wooded Baybuilt), let alone bring her to New England. We sold it to one of my Dad's old friends, so at least we can get to see her ocasionally.

I still have my first boat, sitting in the back yard, slowly deteriorating. I can't see myself putting a saw to her. Yet.

Blessings to you & yours.

 

[spikeitaudi]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Biological or not they sound like incredible role models.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story.

Darn you Sig. My wife saw me reading this and now she thinks I really do have emotions.

You ought to se if you could get published somewhere.

and I bet your Dad could get that satelite radio on that boat Where everyone could enjoy it.

Thanks for sharing:redface:

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story. Update Got boat

Mom and Dad got the boat yesterday and took it for a little ride just the two of them it did great. Soo we decided that we would take it out as a family today it would be the first cruise since being reunited and we were all extremely excited.

I have to work this evening so we went early this morning. We drove 45 minutes to Mom and Dad's house this morning my little guy was sick as could be (stomache issues) but he wouldn't be stopped it appears as if he is going to be third generation water dog. We followed mom and dad to the boat I couldn't stop thinking the whole time how would it feel, I was nervous, excited, apprehensive. Well we finally made it to the lake at 10 a.m. Pulling in the driveway was odd because Grandpa always kept it at a public dock (the people we bought it back from have a private dock at their house and were nice enough to allow us to keep it there for the rest of summer). It felt a little weird walking down the hill it was covered so we couldn't really see the boat.

My first impression was my Grandpa would have never let his boat be at this dock there was a 2 foot gap from the water line to the dock. (Dock was in great shape though). So we crossed the abyss and there she was in all her glory the boat that I grew up on. I remembered every last detail of that boat and the first thing I did was take a pic. Then walk right to the back seat and there they were two little tears in the seat I almost cried. It was tough on both dad and I. My dad's father wasn't much of a father, so my Grandad on my Mom's side was pretty much my dad's dad as well. We all kind of held our breath for a second the atmosphere was perfect the lake was calm and silent the air had a sweet taste to it. Just the right amount of cool undertone in the wind. It was right and we knew it was right.


Soo we went to work my grandad, dad, and I had docked and undocked this boat many many times. Even though it had been 8 years it was as natural as putting on some shoes. It was rough because we were short man power the old procedure Grandpa at the helm, dad and I release stern lines then we do bow lines from the bow, and we hop on and go this time I released the lines and Dad took the helm was weird but worked. Of course before unhooking Dad hit the switch and that 70 hp Johnson cranked once no go. Second twist of the key starter flew, one puff of smoke as with all outboards and she fired and purred like a kitten. It sent goosebumps down my arms 15 years old and fired that easily.

We backed it out of the dock, idled at no wake until we hit the end of the cove and let her rip, and that old boat seemed to love every second of it. So after three miles and her purring like a kitten my dad did something to me that I am gonna carry with me forever. He called my little boy Tristan over to him sat him down on his lap, and let him drive, now it wasn't that I had a problem with dad letting Tristan drive. He has driven my boat on my lap many many times (NEVER UNSUPERVISED SAFETY FIRST), when dad did that I couldn't help but think of the many many times that I sat on my grandad's lap in that very same chair with that same big old silly grin that my son had today.

Then Disaster the old motor stopped working just turned itself off caput dead stopped, not going any more from full throttle to not running for no apparent reason. Tried to restart it nothing happened, Crank crank crank nothing. Choke Crank crank crank nothing. HMMM lift cover off of engine. Nothing apparent primer bulb hard. Sat for 3 minutes tell Dad I don't know whats wrong but why not just put it in fast idle and crank it. What do you know first twist of the key fires right up and we are on our way again. We decided however to turn around and head back just to be safe about 2 minutes later over heat alarm comes on so we immediately kill the motor. Once again pull the engine cover nothing appears to be wrong so we fire the old girl back up, and head back. Grandpa used to take us way out in the middle of nowhere and then he would do something like pull the deadman's lanyard and kill the motor. Or he would push the choke in and kill the motor.

We all got to be kids again we stopped on the way back dropped anchor, and did the same thing we always used to abandon ship for some hard core swimming in the lake, and back home.

My summary of the day, the boat has been to a mechanic before the purchase and a long hard test run before buying. So I am not sure wether I need to tear the carbs apart or take the boat to a psychic and see if my grandad was just messing with us again.


All in all many more years of emotional fun. Pics will follow as soon as I can get them off of my Blackberry.

 

[cgast123]

Re: Have you ever shed a tear over a boat, Happy ending story. Update Got boat

Thats and awesome story man. I hope I can have the same impression on my two daughters that your dad and granddad have had on you. Sounds like you are a great group of people. Best of luck with that old boat hope it treats you all well. Just take care of it like your grandpa did and im sure it will last.