Thread: husband's christmas present

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jyardgirl, Seems like a good deal to me. I have lost far more on several boats and my wife is now against boats, but we are probably too old to have a large boat to handle anyway. It looks like a good deal because where you are "everybody has to have a boat" and there are plenty of local places to use a boat. Even if you only get two summers use it is still worth $300! I had a Hampton One-Design for three seasons and it was built in 1948 (wood) but by the time I had it some eight years ago it was an amazing mess of fiberglass patches. I really enjoyed using it on a local lake and on the Potomac but I had to paint it each year and that became a real chore so I sold it.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I think he is a lucky man, to have you and a boat !!
Ken

If you think a runabout is expensive try owning a "big" boat. We owned a 38ft Hans Christian sailboat, 54ft overall length. We sailed the boat to Mexico from CA, soent a year and a half sailing there then sailed it back to WA.
Money pit doesn't due it justice...although we would never trade our experience for any amount of money... when it isn't used regularly it becomes a money sucker just to keep it up.

Very cool of you Barb, great gift and I bet he loves it. What is that, a Starcraft? Those Chrysler motors were the predecessors of the later Force engines, and were actually pretty good motors. Very simple designs and easy to keep alive.

Have fun with it.
Don

What a great lady you are. Can't go wrong with boats, cars, tools and lingerie!

Thank you guys. I love the sailboat. That is so sweet of you GR. Yes it is a starcraft. Ted maybe this will be your year to get your list items.

looks like the newer version of the boat we used to have.. we had a 21' starcraft Mark 4, which had a mercruiser I/O with a 181 CI Chevy.. it had actully had a tree fall on the cabin and the mice and squirlls found shelter thru the broken windows, and ate the interior... it took a couple months, but we jacked up the roof till it was straight again, refinished the interior/ replaced glass and replaced the seats.. with an oil change and a new set of points we put it back in the water.. ran it for years till we got a bigger boat, and after that setting. the carb never worked right after that. But the new boat is giving the us trouble, and it's the 3.7L 488 engine, so it's not always easy to work on..

We have been boaters for our whole lives thanks to pops.....AND yes boating is expensive. I have had 18 foot runabouts up to 30 foot cruisers and they were all a blast and yes they require constant maintenance (like our hot rods) love the feeling of being on the water though and NOT having to be back a certain time like renting a boat. Living in Florida boating is year round. I am lucky with my latest boat. 22 Foot Baja go fast with a 5.7 Chevy. It will run 60 all day long with the "thru transom" exhaust pouring our wonderful V8 sounds! Love it. Love your new purchase! He is a lucky man!

Check the stringers (skeleton of the boat) and the transom (where the motor mounts to the boat) for softness and rot before you hit the water!

Pics of the baja...


Don Jr.

Wow...what a great project and Christmas present!...way to go lady!! Being from Fla myself (Ft. Lauderdale area) Ive always had boats. Since moving to Tenn I decided to get a small project boat myself for the river and lakes around here.....A buddy at work just wanted this outta his yard...All I did was clean it up, ad some graphics and a bimini and shes good to go!! Not bad for a 1996 Sunbird 18' for only $1200 with the trailer and accessories!!!

Daniel...

Good deal daniel! $1200 is cheap and that boat is in great shape. Don Jr.

The name is perfect!

Way to go Barb! Your husband is a lucky man! Looks like a nice, little fun runabout. Plenty of fun, limited trouble and problems. I have always thought about getting a boat (live near the Chesapeake Bay) but have never made the leap. My Dad had a 50' bay boat which he used for transportation to work and for crabbing and fishing. Also for a while he had a 55' custom Chris Craft, it was fast for it's size with three engines and three screws. It had three staterooms and crew quarters, but due to lack of use it was sold.

He and his father used to build guillen skiffs and row boats for extra money, but I was too interested in cars and girls to take lessons on building. Now of course, I wish I had listened up more.

Tell your husband to enjoy the hell out of it.