X2 . I have a very similar story. My dad bought our Tahiti new and after he passed we sold it to my uncle. After a few years I got it back, not necessarily thrashed, but needing some work. I've read a lot of threads about guys trying to find the boat they grew up on.
Great starting point with the Rogers, Ford and JG. And with Peterson and Kornowski doing your work 

Good luck with the build.

Hey guys, awesome feedback. People that don't know the river or boats don't understand how deep it runs in our blood. Really cool to hear everyone's stories.

And it really helps justify the investment 😳. Lol


Steve-O

OMG.

I think of this all the time.


"Simply messing...about in boats -- or with boats... In or out of 'em it doesn't matter. Nothing seems to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."
"Look here! If you've really nothing else on hand this morning, supposing we drop down the river together and have a long day of it.?"

This was written on a painting I had in my shop office.

My favorite ride at Disneyland when I was a kid was Mr.Toads Wild Ride.

Thanks for the smile my friend.

I needed that today.

98% of the population will never understand,  and for that, I am truly sad.

GT

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

What was the painting of?  Or was it just text?  Still have it?

You're kind of taking a literal approach pertaining to boats in particular.

Read The Wind in The Willows. That is if you haven't already.  Basically to paraphrase,  to have a passion that makes you feel excited,  calm and important,  doesn't matter what that passion is (in the story it covers "motorcars, boats,  spending time with friends, being by yourself at the river) it is a necessary part of life that makes you complete.

I believe the story was first published in the very early 1900's.

I have always,  even as a little kid loved boats and I think that's why the story means so much to me.

A little cheesy,  but read the story. It was intended for children,  but I think the message is quite mature.

And I do agree,  the less people have the "illness" the better. Lol.

GT

I got Motor Fever around age 11.  Started with street bikes stripped down for the dirt because nobody really made dirt bikes back then.  That carried over into muscle cars and jet boats.  After having owned over 20 big block Mopars of all kinds, I have kind of gotten over fast cars.  Fast boats have transitioned into slower boats with more room for the ladies to work on eliminating those pesky tan lines. 

However, my love of all things Dirt Bike remains as strong as ever.  I'm racing a 37 year old Husqvarna at Glen Helen Sat. and in 29 Palms in the beginning of April.  At the end of April me and a buddy are going to Marysville for the CZ World Championships.  Over 2 dozen National and International champs will be joining us to celebrate all things CZ.  I am giddy like a school girl just thinking about it every time I go out into the garage.  Dirt bikes and boats just seem to have a way of becoming a lifestyle.   Braaaaap!