The boat is a 1962 28 ½ foot Chris Craft—a wood boat with an interesting history that continues on in the Iowa Great Lakes. Given to us by friend and business associate Rick Scrimgeour in the early 1990s, we have spent hundreds, probably more like thousands, hours restoring repairing and replacing virtually everything on the boat. Our goal is to have whatever the yearly project is wrapped up and the boat ready to put in our Okoboji slip by Memorial Day. Realistically it’s closer to Father’s Day and one year we didn’t get in until the Fourth of July.
A few years ago Sam was finishing up a huge project in which he replaced a large section of ribs and planking. He started the job thinking just a small area needed replacing but as he started tearing it apart, it became evident that the rotted area was much larger. After many weekends and long nights of tedious frustrating work he was putting in the last board. I came to check on his progress and was admiring his work, when I noticed a hole in the boat.
“Are you going to fix this?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, it’s above the water line dear,” he replied.
And thus was spoken the standard by which we determine restoration and repair priorities for the boat.
And many other things.
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