Mearl, pass the sun screan please. Thelma is frying back thar!
It’s that time of year where you have to search far and wide for some classic boat love. Unless you are into ice breakers or Ice boats.. Which actually are very cool.. But another day.By late January though, one has a tendency to go a little stir crazy. OK, completly nuts. Looking at pictures on the internet can only take you so far. So.. Mecum Auction in Kissimmee near Orlando is the thing to do.. Ya ya, it’s a mess of very cool cars.. But.. It’s entertaining as heck to be there and watch cars sell.. It really is.. Even the boatress loves it.. Plus, I get to use the Kiss A Mee joke… Works about 3 times by the way.. Then it’s just annoying.. Anyhoo.. back to the auction.. This year there is no million dollar Riva .. But.. That was just always just one boat, this years crowd is actually cooler.. Oh, there was Terry’s Cobra, but this year there’s a cobra.. And a couple cool launches, The usual Cool varnish jobs, But… a really odd mix.. And worth the trip.. And if you are fearful of warm weather in January… There is always TV and your cell phone.. Here is the link to the Mecum boat page.. Look at the cars while you are there.. DANG! Barn find Vettes..
1953 Greavette 24' Streamliner in front of a lake on a traler.. Lake does not convay
1906 Taylor & Bates 20' Thames - Not to be confused with the 1907 which was .. well.. I have no idea
1955 Chris-Craft 18' Cobra Hull Numero One-o Be the first on your block to own one.
A Wart Hog! Yes, thats what it is.
Custom 38' Rumrunner Liberty V12 - OK this boat is tome... the coolest boat there.. Its simple and complex, its greay and new.. It's new and old.. Put on a WWII navy uniform and get used in every WWII movie made.. LOVE IT
There are a mess of other cool boats so check out the site..
Ya gotta feel sorry for those poor people in Florida. The high in Taveres is in the 70′s today. When do they have time for maintenance or varnish?
Oh no! It’s Miss Mur, the only Century I have ever drooled on/over, whatever. Sorry Alex, her green & cream interior has pulled me to the dark side!
Ooops! White, not cream.
Hi Woodygal, each to his/her own it seems. Like you I love that Coronado but the interior colour is just a little disappointing I think. White and a pale baby blue would sing in that boat. The green is too dull. I just couldnt live with it.
Maybe the Greavette if I can find a buyer for my soul in time. Wife said if I bid on it she hopes it comes with a divorce lawyer. Any thoughts on what it should go for?
we went to the auction last year to see the Riva and the other boats, it was our first auction and the cars were amazing. learned i have very good taste! i wanted the silver nomad stationwagon with the silver interior…sold for $75,000…
just a little disappointed in what the hacker sale price was…but for me it’s personal…
I’m so relieved there are no 25′ Sportsman’s offered! ‘Cause I’m running out of dock space, storage space, money, and wife.
That launch canoe is beautiful. Perfect for Poupon. In fact, they oughta rename it that.
Oh, and ‘Gal, no offense taken. I have no problem with Century’s, tho it’s fun to banter re them. My feud is with Mayer. Like they say in the movies, “this time, it’s personal.”
Thanks Alex, that’s no help! The good thing is, she won’t fit on the lift in my “classic” boathouse with the hard top. Too much hassle for mini me to remove.
Ok, so I’m sitting in a McDonalds just now, and a guy sees me on WB. He strikes up a conversation. Said he’s a retired builder. Thinks there might be a market opportunity to build coffins that look like Chris-Crafts, for folks who want to be buried in said manner.
Wanted to tell him some of us have already been buried BY our boats. But why spoil the fun.
It’s a neat idea. But there’s a fly in the ointment. See, every couple of years, the family would have to disinter the box, for sanding and varnishing.
Now I could make a joke here, and say we could get around that issue if we buried people in 1970 Arabians. But I wouldn’t want to offend Mayer. So I won’t.
alex,
too funny!
But if it were used in a Viking funeral, flaming away out on the lake, there would be no sand/varnish issue.
I have documented Viking blood and have a Viking funeral in my life plan . . . well, after life plan . . .
Aw c’mon offend away !!
We love the jib jabs and banter.
We all know your “feud” is like “Pro” wrestling – fake but darn fun to watch!
Pro wrestling is fake? Next you’ll tell me the B engine won’t push my Sportsman to 30mph with 4 people on board like the original brochure says.
Well… you could maybe reach 30 mph going “downhill” or if that Sportsman weighed the same as a 1962 Mini Cooper then 28 mph is possible.
great banner headling today, REEDVILLE VA>>>>!!
whooooo hoooo…..or so says a well known resident.
John in Va.
Love the lapstrake, The Wahine could use a brother
Brian, just as long as Mike never wants to kiss and make up… You saw the look on Paul’s face in that famous (infamous) photo Karen took.
I feel your pain Alex. Keep up the good fight as detente is not possible in this Cold War.
“Mr. MikeM – tear down this wall.”
EXCUSE ME!
An entire post yammering on about greavettes, rumrunners, and !!centuries!!…and not a word about the little gar wood with THE ONLY 2 MILLER V16 RACING ENGINES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD headlining the auction???
I must still be suffering from the after effects of that wave….
Totally off topic and jumping the gun but…..If I were to trailer my boat out to Algonac for that show next summer where should I stay? I will have my wife with me so it needs to be clean and nice.
I shared a finger dock at the Buffalo Vintage race event this past Sept. I waited all day to hear that thing fire up and at the end of the day, when they finnally got ready to leave, he fired it up and everyone was so dissapointed! It has under water exhaust, and at the dock, all you hear is the same sound as any old stern drive boat. What a let down…
Sorry, I forgot to tell you, I was talking about that 33 footer, with the V 12, 750 hp engine.The black hulled with white v bottom.
I just finished going through 1000 photos from Orlin Johnson’s files. The current owner of Miss America VIII purchased everything in 2002. Absolutely incredible! I also shot a few pictures of the boat and the Millers, you can see them on Mecum.com. It was getting a little late but you can get the idea. I can’t describe how incredible those engines are in person. You’re welcome to come by our Eustis warehouse and check them out. Just call me first, 407-257-5854. Most of the boats are here in Florida already.