Thread: That first Boat

We lived in West Monroe about 300 yards from Chenniere lake. While fishing Bream beds from the bank, we could see a sunken wooden boat out in the Cypress trees just barely visible above the water. Westerly winds finally pushed the prize close enough to chance a swim. We had made paddles when we saw it getting close enough. My Little Brother and I were about 15 at the time and barely 100 lbs each were in salvage mode got the water out of our prize. It had been been built by a craftsman with great care, about 12 ft, John Deer green wooden boat. It had damage to the side close to the bow similar to a tree falling on it. We drug it home through the woods,cut out the damaged section and added to the rib for a new piece of marine plywood. With the new section in place we melted roofing tar and poured it in the joints and painted it. Our Step dad borrowed a truck to take it back to the lake for us. We were like Megellan and Christer Columbus setting out in uncharted waters. setting out Trot lines, camping out at night, under the stars watching falling stars ,we did everything togeather. we found that sitting in the bow it lifted half of the boat out of the water. If we both got on the same side she handled like a Kyack. My brother tells the story to everyone that will listen about the time we visited the far side of the lake. after paddling all day, fishing and the return trip through the Cypress following the painted markers through the trees we came to a opening of stumps about 3 ft across. I was exausted and wanted to rest. Instead of saying that, I said lets fish here and see if we can catch something ----- NO --- was his reply!!!! Then let me out here on this stump ---- I want to fish --- OK --- I got my pole, Bucket of nightcrawlers and got on the stump. Mad as a wet hornet off he goes headed home. I figured he would come back in a few minutes. soon I heard the sound of an outboard motor coming through the trees. the man stopped when he got to me. What in the hell are you doing out here? I told him I was in the boat with my brother Paddling and wanted to stop so my brother put me out on the stump. ----- Get in here, I cant leave you out here ---- When we passed him on the way in , I waved at him and smiled as we passed him ---- he didnt know it was me as he was still mad and working his butt off without my help. ---- I got home before him --- He went back finally and I was missing from the stump and he thought I had tried to swim back and had drounded and it was his fault. It wasnt long after, the boat was missing and we found it Chained to a Tree, Whoever had built it installed a chain and reclaimed it ----- but it was our first boat.

Really enjoyed that FoL. Aw, to be young again. Thanks for triggering some fun memories for me. And Boo to the person with the chain.