Why I love old boats!

This picture was taken in 1964. I am the one standing up, wearing blue shorts. My dad is at the helm.

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As a child, I spent a lot of time on the lake with my father, brother and sister. Our family had a 1958 Wolverine, and we'd take it out fishing, skiing, and just riding around. It was a beautiful boat, wooden, lots of room under the hull to stash orange life jackets and fishing tackle.

While the Wolverine was nice, the classiest boats on the lake were without a doubt the Chris Crafts. Even as a boy, I admired them and longed to own one.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a 1950 Chris Craft, and I jumped at the chance! It needed some work, but I didn't mind. In fact, I have always enjoyed woodworking, and the thought of restoring that boat was exciting. I knew the quality of the wood and the construction, and knew that the finished product would be absolutely beautiful.

Since the Chris Craft, I've bought and restored a couple of other boats as well, including a 1958 Wolverine, just like the one we had when I was a kid. I've found that working on boats is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things that I do. While many would find the work very tedious, I enjoy the break from a hectic day to spend time sanding, varnishing, and restoring the finish to look like new.

Working on old boats also reminds me of simpler times - - times before computers and 99-channel televisions and microwave ovens. The boats I work on belonged to the WWII generation, one of heroes and of simple, solid values. I like to think about what great folks of the past may have owned or enjoyed these boats.

As I cruise down Lake Wylie in one of my old boats on a cool fall afternoon, I know that life couldn't get much better!

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