Comments on: One Of The Great Ones Passes Away-He Will Be Missed.

By: Frank Miklos

Frank Miklos — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:47:40 +0000

David that boat was owned by Ken Jilbert a Manistee area school shop teacher. That teacher built two dingies that looked like Century Boats…One a Seamaid and one a Thunderbolt… The photo was taken at he second annual Century Boat Club Show in 1985, Manistee, MI.

We were using the PA system from the Richardson…

By: David Ashley

David Ashley — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:08:58 +0000

My condolences go out to the family, friends, and the Century Boat Club.

As a long time member of the Richardson Boat Owners Association, I couldn’t help but notice the 31′ Richardson Express in the background of the picture with Rich Sima.

By: Frank Miklos

Frank Miklos — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:07:38 +0000

Scott you are exactly right.. One person making a difference… Rich was one of those people who just wanting to unite with people of like interests, as we all do here on Woody Boater. Rich just found a way 32 years ago without the internet… The A.C.B.S. was around that time;but many ACBS people looked down at Century Boats, some still do…
That is one of the main reasons Rich started the Century Boat Club in 1979 … The CBC now maintains on average 2,500 members… Which is 3rd as far as antique clubs go only to A.C.B.S. and The Chris Craft Club… Not bad for a club that started by an want ad placed in a newspaper…

Again Thanks Rich for all you did, you will be missed..

By: RiverRat

RiverRat — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:38:07 +0000

Bummer. I am losing friends I have had for 44 years and some I have never even met. My condolences to his family and friends.

By: Scott Ales

Scott Ales — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:25:52 +0000

A classic case of one person making a difference! In 1984 when I was 22 Debra and I bought our second boat. A 1967 Century Resorter with a fiberglass hull. I joined the Century club later that year. Never knowing that it was only a few years old. My father now owns the Resorter and I have a 1994 Resorter behind the house on a lift. Sure sorry to read this news as I would liked to have thanked Richard for his efforts. Without him knowing, his efforts ultimately played a part in keeping me in the classic boating community throughout the last 27 years.

I am hopeful that family members are reading to receive my thanks to him.