Michigan Boat & Engine

We used the boat for a couple years before restoration and had great fun with it as is. This shot was on the Carp or Leland river some years ago.

Grandpa Ralph probably gave me my first introduction to boats and boating. Seemed like he always had boats, he was a pilot as well. He kept a nice 20 or so footer down at John Cross's dock off Belvedere, on Round Lake in Charlevoix. My dad remembers it being powered by an old L-head, he thinks a Gray, and the boat kinda looked like a lobster/ workboat. She was called "Fish and Fun." Nearly for certain, it was on board  "Fish and Fun" that I had my first ride in a boat. It was probably the first boat I steered. When this picture was taken in 2010, maybe 30-35 years later, Uncle Don and I gave him his last boat ride on our new boat, RenaBelle, which we named after his wife. Grandpa Ralph died the following March. What's funny is he remembered Rutland Tool of Detroit owning a similar boat which they took clients out on for fishing and such. Ralph recalls similar length, it was a Chris Craft for sure, with the same round windows. He also spoke of a live well off the back deck for bait fish. I showed him where there was such a device was, the holes are in the deck floor and the original switch was still on the dash. He thought that was pretty interesting, and asked where the boat was from. I mentioned Mr Held (I bought it from John Held) bought it from a man in Marine City, Michigan. "Well, thats pretty close to Detroit, isn't it?" Woundn't that be something!

This was its last night on the lift. On next morning it was hauled out and hasn't seen water for a few years due to the interior and cabin top refit, which is nearly complete.

Fresh paint and varnish.

Ultimate neighbor, which has been so fantastic in so many ways. Carl is helping remount the engine by way of his Clark. Let's hear it for Carl!

Best seat in the house!

We celebrated Reagans birthday with the boat on our first day of ownership. It got all dressed up for the occasion with tinsel and balloons, and we all enjoyed it for the whole day. There was a brief moment (very breif) when we considered a pontoon, but the kids proclaimed us as a wooden boat family, and here we are! 

Marys reading the paper, and the kids discovering their new fort on the water. Photo taken at Fudgy Beach off M-22, Leland, Michigan.