Papa's gotta brand new ride

[Rattle Can Lou]

As most of you know my Dad built many a flatbottom is his life. His favorite hull was the 18ft. Aqua-Craft. I saw this boat on Dragboats.com and e-mailed it to him. He brought it home yesterday from near Lake Tahoe. He is 75 years old and has been watching my 2 brothers and I working on our flattys and he couldn't take it anymore. This boat is beautiful. Original brown metalflake and the boat is all original gel. Needs a good bullett and a new interior. He's pretty proud and anxious to get her to the lake...RCL
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2194.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2193.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2190.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2189.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2188.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2180.jpg

[Sangerboy]

Now you guys are making me mad :mad:. Way too many cool boats ending up in Idaho :crossx:

[InKahntrol]

Very cool. I dig the rootbeer brown color, it looks period-perfect. What is he going to do for a motor? He should run something from that era, like a tri-power pontiac... or if he goes BBC, maybe with a cross-ram intake or something. Sweet.

[BILLY.B]

Now you guys are making me mad :mad:. Way too much "MONEY" up in Idaho :crossx: You can say that again!!!!. Nice boat Papa LOU. :rollside:

[VD CRUISER]

That is so cool.

[V-DRIVE VIDEO]

nice ride!!! :cool:

[GofastRacer]

That is one sweet ride!.. :cool:

[ColeTR2]

Nice finded #??????? one more for the family

[Dave Sammons]

Glad to hear it all came together boys!! Congrats BDL...Big Daddy Lou!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2189.jpg
PS...When you do the new interior(back to back Bench would be NICE!!!),...KEEP THOSE SEATS!
PPS...Nice patch job on the fence where RCL backed into it leaving the house after one tooo many Vodkas last weekend!! :crossx:

[vdriver4ever]

What brother Lou didn't tell you is I have only seen one other Aqua Craft with that paint scheme and it was my folk's boat in the late 60's. I have a picture of it and will have to post the old boat.
What money we Minegar's "used" to have is all gone now... :)

[BILLY.B]

What money we Minegar's "used" to have is all gone now... :)I'll $um that up in one word "GENERATOR"........... :rollside:

[Rattle Can Lou]

Ya Know Billy, Ol' Lou's wallett never seems to run dry. He cry's poor mouth all the time. Frankly, between you and I, and I'd have to come to Upland and kill ya if you said anything, I'm tired of listening to him whine. That fricken generator debacle would have made my house payment for a year, and I could have bought 6 Cole TR 2's at the going price. If I was you Billy, I would see if I could find a litttle more hook, or rocker in that old Nordskag and see if could'nt beat him out of another couple thou....RCL feelin froggy.

[vdriver4ever]

You guys are both a couple of $marta$$es....
Your pockets are plenty deep Mr. I own four boats.... Its just that your arms are much shorter then mine...
The generator was a just a "bump in the road" It didn't hurt too much :(

[lucky]

Lou ,
I helped my freind with his 65 aqua craft all original lime green with 427 mooney motta in it -- Really neet ol boat - His uncle use to race it - where and when , I do not know -- I will try to shoot some pics of it as it is nostogic !

[FlatStupid]

Keepin' up with the LOU'S is gettin' to be a real BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:

[BILLY.B]

Keepin' up with the LOU'S is gettin' to be a real BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:Give up on that home building business you have and get into making some real coin doing "HEATING & AIR". Seems to be where the big bucks stop!!!. :rollside:

[Rattle Can Lou]

I'm sitting at work and my Mom emailed these photos of our Aqua-Craft of 1969. Look at the boat my Dad just bought and you can see why he wanted it so bad. I have been sitting here looking at these and how young we were and what a great life my Mom and Dad gave to me and my three brothers. I'm crying like a 10 year old. My Dad was broke and we had sold our boat for the money. Skip Volk of Aqua-Craft gave this boat to my Dad and told him to build it and use it for the summer and we would sell it in the fall. I was 16 in 1969 and my Dad said "If you boys want a boat to go to Clear Lake with on vacation, then you better get busy and get it built". My brother Pat was 14 and we went to work. We made it for vacation and had a wonderful week. I'll let the pictures tell the story.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2193.jpg
This is the boat he just bought.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft40.jpg
Clear Lake 1969
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft3.jpg
Clear Lake
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft1.jpg
From the roof at home
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/Aquacraft2.jpg
Redinger Lake, CA. 1969

[vdriver4ever]

Now you made me cry.... everytime I see how thin I used to be I cry like a baby. :)
You will notice that we didn't get all the seats done in time for vacation. Back then when the boat left the dock all was on board. Pretty good task for a family of six with only two buckets. I really don't think we cared back then.
IF I WAS A HOME BUILDER I WOULD THROW AWAY WHAT I MADE IN THE HVAC....:)

[CircleJerk]

Well isnt this a touching story?..........where's the tissue?...........Opps a used one,,,,,,that will do! Who held on to the exhaust manifold? I'm so broken up I
'm coming down for rides! Your turn to call me! Boo Hoo
PS: there is a family up here named Storch that had a similar boat with a blown Buick. One son still doesnt ride in a flat from his experience of holding on to the floor while Dad raced and beat everyone! So the story is told. He is one of the best air brush artists-custom painters around.......?..........?Which one of you air brush too?

[Jetboatguru]

I'm sitting at work and my Mom emailed these photos of our Aqua-Craft of 1969. Look at the boat my Dad just bought and you can see why he wanted it so bad. I have been sitting here looking at these and how young we were and what a great life my Mom and Dad gave to me and my three brothers. I'm crying like a 10 year old. My Dad was broke and we had sold our boat for the money. Skip Volk of Aqua-Craft gave this boat to my Dad and told him to build it and use it for the summer and we would sell it in the fall. I was 16 in 1969 and my Dad said "If you boys want a boat to go to Clear Lake with on vacation, then you better get busy and get it built". My brother Pat was 14 and we went to work. We made it for vacation and had a wonderful week. I'll let the pictures tell the story.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2193.jpg
This is the boat he just bought.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft40.jpg
Clear Lake 1969
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft3.jpg
Clear Lake
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft1.jpg
From the roof at home
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/Aquacraft2.jpg
Redinger Lake, CA. 1969
Damn, they had boats back then?? Where are the oars.?

[mslou83642]

First, I want to thank V-Drive 4 ever for digging up all the old pictures of this Aqua Craft and also for Mike's story. Now, for what I intend to do:
I am having an engine builder here in town build a 454 Chevy that will be blueprinted, balanced and put on the dyno. Nothing fancy. I am going to use the over the transom exhausts. The old boat came with a Aero Mariine V-Drive and it makes lots of NOISE, so I am putting a Casale split case with 18 gears to accomodate the 454 Chevy. Going with the original seating that I had back in 1969, including the back seat this time !! Just want a great all-round boat. Hope to have it in the water this summer. However, we are taking our MH to Alaska for six weeks. Our family has dedicated one night a week to the lake so we can use our toys. We have a pontoon boat that will be called the Mother Ship to tie up to as a floating dock so we can carry all the coolers and food to have a great long evening at the lake just 15 miles from home. My wife and I are both 75 this year and looking forward to many more years on the water. Thanks for all the kind thoughts and words.
:)

[vdriver4ever]

Since I found this site some four years ago... I have met and taken my boat to Dave Sammon's for restoration. My brother Ron has bought Mike's Rayson Craft and decided to do a complete restoration. My brother Mike (RCL) has bought and sold some fifty (JK) boats and actually found one of my Dad's old boats. My Dad has been bitten again with the bug and at 75 years old decided to find one himself. All this has happened because of this site... We have met some wonderful people and have already shared some great times. Thank you Hot Boat!
Most of you have followed our stories about our Dad, However, what most of you don't know is the good woman behind the man... My Mom was extremely instrumental in raising us four boys.. You did hear that right four (4) boys... Five (5) if you count my Dad. Our Mom starting water ski racing at the age of 32. She skied in the woman's vetrans class for several years. She was pulled by Roy Gollott from a wood deck Stevens. Roy would pull my Mom, RCL and then run the eliminator class. Roy went on to hold the Blown Gas Hydro record for many years in "Swamp Rat Again".
My Mom water skied late into her 60's and still has strong legs to show for her many years on the water. She is the glue that connects all family gatherings still today. Mom isn't the most comfortable at watching us boys "on the gas" in either a boat or my race car. However with modern technology she is much more comfortable being able to listening to me spot for my nephew (driver) now while he is on the track.
Mike talks about how lucky we were to have the upbringing that we did. I say we are lucky to have them still support and involved at 75....
Thanks for allowing me to indulge...

[DaveA]

All you Minegars have undoubtedly the coolest family story I've ever heard surrounding v-drive boats, and, well, families in general!
Hope I get to meet you guys some day....
.

[vdriver4ever]

Thanks Dave,
We have been very lucky. We all live within four miles of each other and in fact my folks are only three doors down. I guess you could say we subscribed to the theroy that families that play together stay together.
Pat

[Rattle Can Lou]

Well Folks, Today is the day that Dad and Mom's boat goes to the water. This thread started on March 28th and with allot of work by many people it is time to enjoy it. Last night we fired it up in the neighborhood and drew quite a crowd of freinds and family. To me there is nothing like firing a motor after everything is done. It ran great with some carb tuning. This is the motor from the Cole TR 2 that I sold to Charitycase.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft080.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft082.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft084.jpg

[Rattle Can Lou]

More photos from last night...
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft093.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft094.jpg
Mom and Dad and four good looking kids
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft103.jpg
Dad and four studs
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft102.jpg

[GofastRacer]

Where are the four good looking kids and the four studs???? :confused:
BTW, very nice boat!.. :D

[vdriver4ever]

They must be having some fun at the lake tonight, its way past dark and haven't heard a word from the gang....

[ss396]

seeing how your family did things togeather makes me remeber how our family grew up. we grew up rafting and jet boating the white water of the great state of idaho. one of the things that we did was water ski the rapids in hells canyon on the snake river and lower salmon river. grew up just outside of moscow id. in the town of troy. also it would be great if your family would take time to come up to the moses lake sept 15-16-17th for a great weekend of racing and show and shine for those who are not racing. also i just bought my first flatty v-drive i have wanted one for many many years. boyd ( circlejerk) is helping me get it all set up right. it is a 1970 sanger flat bottom and it is still the original gel coat colors. from what we can see. :) :cool:

[charitycase]

Well Folks, Today is the day that Dad and Mom's boat goes to the water. This thread started on March 28th and with allot of work by many people it is time to enjoy it. Last night we fired it up in the neighborhood and drew quite a crowd of freinds and family. To me there is nothing like firing a motor after everything is done. It ran great with some carb tuning. This is the motor from the Cole TR 2 that I sold to Charitycase.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft080.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft082.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft084.jpg
Nice goin Lou,glad Da d is happy.Now find somebody to buy MY Aquacraft will ya?Thanx again for holdin the Cole for me.It gets faster everytime I drive it.I'm tryin to talk Jetboatguru to come show me proper but not yet.Thanx again Casey

[Dave Sammons]

They must be having some fun at the lake tonight, its way past dark and haven't heard a word from the gang....
Boat looks great! Hope all went well tonight. Sorry I didn't get the shift handle to you in time! My Bad! Shipped yesterday...should be there by the weekend.

[BILLY.B]

[QUOTE=Rattle Can Lou]More photos from last night...
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/dadsaquacraft093.jpg
QUOTE]Looks like a city job to me :D . Boat looks great RCL. Hope your folks are happy with it. And I must say the degree of difficulty is rising in the paint layout department. :rollside: . Cool color combo.

[CircleJerk]

NIce job Lou sss. Great meeting Mr. Lou at Rupert this summer reminiscing with my best friend Harlan, heck I didnt even notice the boats surrounding us,,,,,,much. Now, I just have one question, why did you paint it my colors? My Aqua-flat is yellow and orange! Now, bring that baby to Moses Lake and I will bring mine to Burley next June! Deal? Your family friend: Boydster
PS:
I have saved an RV spot for you next to my ambulance! So how many of you Lous are coming? It could be our last Moses Lake event as the club swings towards jet ski racing. Should be 10 flats and 7 vintage hydros! Sept 16-17.

[Rattle Can Lou]

Your Jerkness, That is the last race for my series. We run 150 laps in Twin Falls for the NAPA 150. The boat is 06 Volkswagen yellow and the orange is PPG candy.
Billy Beeness, I appreciate the comments on the difficulty. Took me 3 days to lay the graphics down....
Casey, Nice to see ya pop in on the thread. Glad ya like the TR-2. I will try to help ya sell the other boat...
Sammons, We couldnt run the boat last night cause we cound'nt get it in gear...no fricken shifter. I told my Dad it should be hear any year now....Love Ya all RCL

[Rattle Can Lou]

Hers's some pictures of my 75 year old parents enjoying their new flatty. It was a fun night with smiles everywhere. My Mom even took it for a spin....
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2793.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2796.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2804.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2807.jpg

[lucky]

hats off lou - great pic

[Rattle Can Lou]

Thanks Lucky, Need to find old school scoop and get rid of velocity stack with government issue flame arrestor.

[Roaddogg 4040]

What a great story Lou. Hope they can enjoy it for years to come...
Steve

[Sherpa]

I recognize the pic location............ leaky peak........ do I get a cookie-?
had many a late-night barefoot runs into the 11 o'clock hour up there during
my stint at Micron............ oh good times...........
Nice boat guys............ it's really cool to see your mom and dad so excited
about the "new" boat............
--Sherpa
Our 1966 Tahiti recently came back up for sale in my home town, my sister
called to tell me she stopped by and looked at it.... no interior, scratches
all over, and a highly red-neck modified transome....... still had the original
merc 95 on it that my dad spent sooo much time tuning and maintaining....
I still love hearing a 6 cylinder 2-stroke running in the driveway...............
--Sherpa

[BILLY.B]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2807.jpgI can see the difficulty factor in the lay out now RCL. Looks good. Your right...It does need a different scoop. I know that SSMIKE got one off the boards. PM to find out where. Hey Steve(roaddogg4040), how's you back?. I heard your hurting alittle bit. Whatever you do don't give up on the Biesemeyer. They ride like a Rolls.

[Dave Sammons]

Boat looks even better on the water! Great job!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2807.jpg
Too Bad the 75yearold's, 53yearold son never learned to back a trailer straight, I could see you didn't have alot of room to work with!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/IMG_2793.jpg
As for the flame arrestor...Get rid of that thing that looks like it belongs on one of those 23T-bucket Jukebox lookin' roadsters!, forget about a Fiberglass Scoop! Your POP had it right along time ago!!! It's all about the CLASSIC look! Find a Glenwood/Nicson old school arrestor!(Just my humble opinion)
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft40.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/autobody9/aquacraft3.jpg

[GofastRacer]

Whatever you do don't give up on the Biesemeyer. They ride like a Rolls.
The decision has been made, legal "K" motor will be inserted!.. :cool: :)

[Roaddogg 4040]

Thanks for asking Billie... Go to the Pain Clinic for the third time next week for the shots. We will see... Making a little progress on the engine deal but still to slow for me. Just need more $$$
Steve

[Rattle Can Lou]

Hey Bonehead Sammons...The old man backed the trailer down and that is his new truck...spending our inheritance. LOLLOL. The flame arrestor is horrible. Got the Nicson one coming form ebay..lighten up good buddy. You and Billy Blingmeister need to work on a Nordskag. There has been three restos done here in Idaho while you two are playing like Tankin and Dumblotta.

[Roaddogg 4040]

Hey Dave.... Nice you could get the Shifter Handle to MR. and Mrs. Lou Seniors before their 90th birthday... I'm sure they don't mind waiting... :hammer2: :) :)
Steve

[BILLY.B]

Hey Bonehead Sammons...The old man backed the trailer down and that is his new truck...spending our inheritance. LOLLOL. The flame arrestor is horrible. Got the Nicson one coming form ebay..lighten up good buddy. You and Billy Blingmeister need to work on a Nordskag. There has been three restos done here in Idaho while you two are playing like Tankin and Dumblotta.You know what "RATTLE LIPS" it has taken this long to straighten out what was done up there in the land of "Steers & Queers". Not to mention that two out of your three were brought in on a tow rope. Nice "RESTO CHIEF!!!". Great attention to detail.

[Kim Hanson]

Boat looks tit's RCL............( . )( . )................ :cool:

[mslou83642]

I wouldnt be a member of the Lou family if I didnt put my two cents in and tell you that without me and my digital camera, this would have been a project undocumented. Thanks to all of you for the compliments about the pics. Reading over this thread brought tears to my eyes.... (or maybe it was the Absolute and Tonic I was drinking at the time) Seriously, sometimes you have to invade the Lou's world to find out how they really feel about their upbringing. (Sorry about the Juvenille Hall thing RCL.. it was the only way I could contain you)
We are so happy to be such a big part of the Lou's family. Our new boat is named "Lotta Lots", which is kind of a tribute to our old friend, Don Sequira, who named his race boat "Lotta Cots". Don made his $$$$ in apricots in Modesto and he raced his Stevens throughout California in the 60's.
Lou's Dad (Don) also built quite a few Stevens boats for Sequira to sell in his dealership in Crows Landing (Modesto) Don Sequira died several years ago. (Here's to you Don )
I had full intentions of skiing behind our new boat in August for my 75th, but the weather didnt cooperate. Now that the ski tow is on the boat, I may get to do it yet. Lots of fun and warms my heart to read this thread. We must have done something right to have such great sons.

[CircleJerk]

It was an extreme pleasure meeting you all in Rupert last June! thanks for sharing! jErK

[vdriver4ever]

Boydwiser it was great visiting with you as well.... You need to spend some time with all the bro's after we get good and tunned up. :)
Hey how about a call to the BSU Bronco's...
1st quarter 2nd 3rd 4th final
BSU 7 21 7 7 42
Oregon State 14 0 0 0 14
BSU came back after being down 14 points in the first five minutes of the game!