New here, but not to boats. I was born in WA state, but my dad was in the Air Force and we traveled a lot. I grew up with an outboard mechanic dad. He had retired from the Air Force in 1958 in MA, and was factory trained for Mercury, and also spent some time test driving their test Power Cats at Lake X in Florida. I remember him at the marina he worked at on Buttermilk Bay, their open house in 1959, numerous boats with 8 to 10 skiiers behind them, with 3 or four Merc's on the back. Also he was asked to be in on the gag of this new fangled unsinkable boat called a Boston Whaler, where him and other person would go out a few hundred yards off the pier, pretend to get into an arguement of where they were going, then he stood up with a chain saw, cut the boat in half, and he rowed away in the front half, and the other guy motored off in his..
1970 I graduated, went in the Army, found myself in Vietnam, manning a couple Boston Whalers, outfitted with armament, patroling the harbor; course when the commander wasn't looking we went outside and went water skiing. Afterwards, I lived in Auburn, WA and worked for Clark Boat Company which was in Kent when I started there, and they moved to NE 37Th, either in the now Arima building or the one next door.. We built San Juan sailboats. Left there in 1979, worked for Almar Marine in Tacoma, where I did the layout for the aluminum boats, clear up to the tack welding together, then the finish welder completed the boat, sent it over to the other side of the shop, and it was outfitted. Only worked there 3 months, then I got a government job, which I recently retired from, working on some of the Army Reserve Training Vessels in tyhe Port of Tacoma. In between all that I was married, had 5 children, and divorced 3 days after the youngest graduated from High School.. Was a shocker to all, but I lived thru it anyway.
So after a few more years of working, retired, moved a state south to the Oregon coast. Shortly after that I met a wonderful woman and we got married. Now that the remodel is finished, I started looking for a boat.. Phew! sticker shock..
Anyway I have a word of mouth not advertized line on a 94 16 foot Sea Explorer from second owner. When she's not in the water she's in the heated garage; buffed regularly. 1998 4 stroke Honda and a Honda kicker, all safety stuff and electronics, Turn key. Guess I'll know this weekend.
Boat will be doing some fishing, however, will also be doing some just exploring and leasure stuff, according to wife; who has agreed to let this happen if I get some sort of hard top, I'm thinking more of a "T" top, so at least I can stand while driving, and put up a clear canvas windshield between the real windshield and top, or I'm open to other options but has to be pretty solid..
WW
