Don’t Laugh! Is This The Woody Boater Party Boat? I Said Don’t Laugh!
OK, now wipe the coffee you spit all over the screen. Yesterday, fellow Woody Boater Alex Watson sent us this little gem. With the quote,” Some babies are just born ugly.”OUCH Alex. I suppose like all ugly babies there is a proud mom and dad out there. This 1973 Viper Viking Deck Boat was the pride and joy of it’s designers as well as its first owners. And it’s restored! So that guy loved it. Ugly baby? Or one rock’n party boat that has some vintage flair-ish. Yes its toilet tan. And yes its some sort of pontoon set up.
But.. think. It’s a party boat. Yes that dam out drive would cost you the value of the boat in a nano nano second! This could be our boat for Lake Dora. See, here is my strategy, and its genius. There are so many beautiful boats at the shows, and being an award pig, I would be shoe in to win ugliest boat. Especially if the judge is Alex Watson! And YES, it qualifies for the ACBS plastic category!
Whats not to love?
HERE IS THE LISTING! Now where in the heck is Interlochen? Oh, and if you miss the ad, the owners comments are perfect. The less said the better when you got a super model to sell! “Fully Restored, Runs Great. There ya have it.
Here is the ad in case it goes dead. That’s it, nothing more. A man of few words and one turd! But I love it!
I’m speechless. Reminds me of the pig parties in college. On a different scale of course.
Knock off the cold medicine before you do something Suzy will never forgive you for.
Interlochen is near Traverse City, MI (Northwest Michigan). Bring snowshoes……
Life’s too short to own an ugly boat
Interlochen, as Mike said, is near Traverse City, MI. It is home to a wonderful, world renowned Arts Academy. The Boat does look like something I wouldn’t be caught dead in but you’re absolutely right; it would make a great Party Boat. You’ll just need to go to Home Depot and get one of those free standing back yard canopies to keep the sun from baking you to death. Of course you’ll want to anchor it with some lag bolts – don’t worry you can hurt something this ugly.
http://www.interlochen.org/
Ug! As hard as I try I’m not getting it!
If you want a party barge that is that ugly, i would suggest building your own by strapping together barrels and other hunks of landfill garbage. At least it will have some character.
It’s the perfect combination of Boston Whaler, pontoon boat, baby crib, BMV waiting room, and helm of the USS Enterprise
Go home Matt…….your drunk.
I think you’re right – Matt is snockered on the schlitz.
Put a couple Faribault blankets and one of your classic throwable cushions on it and it won’t look so bad, LOL!
Yesterday was a very busy day on the lakes here around Dora. I saw worse than this, believe it or not, both moored and in use.
No different than old cars, many of which were born and remain now butt ugly and still loved by somebody, perhaps this boat can find a charitable owner with a sense of humor – like Matt Smith?
Just because something is old does not mean we have to love it’s styling or design. We may be attracted by quirky and inexpensive – and character. Anyone buying this would certainly have be thusly attracted. Plenty of buyers out there for Edsels and many other reviled relics, so why not oddball boats? They ain’t for everyone, but we are in this hobby because at some level, we don’t want the same stuff everyone else has, after all.
Awesome. I’ll go cut the legs off my jeans and grab my Styrofoam cooler.
Just think of it as a boat that qualifies at ACBS events. It has a hull, not pontoons. You can park this Ugly Duckling right up there next to the Glasspars, XK-19’s, Donzies, etc. and have her (it) judged.
Thats right Al. I like the idea of dressing it out in early 70’s stuff. Cut offs and the wife beater! Cans, lots of cans of Schlitz on board. Maybe a little orange shag action
and take out your front teeth!
Stable photo barge
Other than that I’m speechless (for once)
Matt we raised you better
Matt, Not to change the subject (which needs changing) but your Valentines Day card assortment last year was a lifesaver. The one I used was on the buffet till summer. DO it again !!
of course
Every dog has its day. Next you’ll be promoting classic pontoon boat racing at Tavares at the CRA meet.
Remember the Conversation Pit concept in homes and bars in the 70s and 80s? Missing the central fireplace (still a possibility, though), this is simply the floating version. Pit would be the operative word in this case, as in “This boat is the pits.” But it HAS started a conversation, so I guess the concept has transformed completely.
I’d name it “Boat Goggles.”
Great place for Texx to sleep!
Ha – That thought crossed my mind WoodyGal. Wouldn’t have to worry about anyone trying to steal it in the middle of the night…
I guess I’m the only one old enough to remember when we thought boats like that were pretty spiffy. A friend had a 17′ Thunderbird tri hull that we thought then was a great boat…Although not great enough for me to buy one…My 1966 17′ Cobia with the deep V took the rough water much better and was still a good ski boat.
This boat is no doubt a veteran of the Interlochen concert scene and might even be here in this photo as we listen and party to the Beach Boys.
Hi Allen. Just the man I wanted to connect with! I’ve been contemplating trailering a boat from Hessel to Interlochen this summer to do exactly this: anchor, and listen. What more can you tell about such an experience? Where can one launch? Any advice? (Other than bring beer/wine.) Interlochen is magical.
Let’s see now…. If you are going to go that route, Chris Craft produced the “Viking” series of deck boats. Maybe a little better looking, but same basic concept. Just sayin’, Matt could get one and still keep things “in the family”. 🙂
I have actually been on he hunt for one of the Chris Craft models since having the first child… With two kids, the first being very “spirited”, I think a vintage deck boat would be great for them to run around on and have a lot more space than any utility. Of course even the Chris Craft model is ugly…
Brian, a couple of years ago there was one up in Roche Harbor… Tan on Tan, if I recall, but can’t remember if it was an outboard or I/O – probably outboard in the salt. An I/O would have been thrown away long ago.
… and let’s NOT leave Century out of this. I believe it was in 1968 when they first introduced their 20′ Trident, a kind-of-like landing craft with a bow platform that would hinge down to assist divers, or fishing I suppose. It was powered either by I/O or outboard.
There is merit in having an ugly boat you can leave in Florida, drive anywhere & not worry about. Plus it is a viking! How cool would it be parked at Palm Garden? Or as a photo boat?
Yes WoodyGal hits it smack on the nose.
Matt you are always looking for a photo boat. You, Texx, Alex and Don standing on decks trying not to fall off. This thing would be perfect for that.
Buy it Quick before someone else realizes what a bargain it is.
WoodyGal. Close, but not quite. It’s perfect for the inaugural show at “The Boathouse.”
In May, 1982 Chris Craft actually bought the Viking Boat Company, obviously because they wanted a turn-key line expansion to include deck boats – says something about both management at the time and the popularity of these boats. They weren’t pretty but the must have served a purpose and been functional for many folks.
Palm Gardens NAILED IT, Woody Gal!
So, here you have the anticedent to the line actually bought by CC. Does this entitle it to be considered in the same way we consider a pre-CC Roamer, Lake & Sea or Thompson? Yes, CC built deck boats, with a lineage straight back to this historic example, and beyond. There’s an interestinglight – does it legitimize the boat any further?
It’s the missing photo boat from On Golden Pond
Well, our deck boat is not that butt ugly, but has some cool Sea Ray lines. In fact this 1998 Sea Ray 24ft “Sundeck” has given us 14 years of great family fun. Holds 12 legally, 350 Chevy small block, trim tabs Enclosed Head, sink, with a front swim platform and easy boarding ladder to get onto the beach.
And in 8 more years will qualify as an ACBS classic boat!
opps
Unlike a pontoon, yours actually is a boat Dennis. I kinda like it.
Looks like Mt. Dora to me…..
….that is to say; a 1962 Century Sea Sled at mt. dora…..
This deck boat gets even better if you think of the beige color as a flesh tone. The seats look like golden god/goddess? The hull is the pale & much sought after Nordic winter flesh tone and the outdrive has a greenish cast, maybe it’s Vulcan flesh? So, you already have a party on board and possible leads for the perfect boat name!
This is why I hate winter in Woodyboaterville!
Here is a boat I’d like to see and hear more about…
From the Frontier Classics website.
At first looks all I see is that boat all covered with sticks and twigs with some netting on it with about 5 duck hunters in it. perfect use for it.
I have an ugly deck boat also. this is a 1974 Sooner deck boat made in Elderado Oklahoma. It has been fully restored and turns lots of heads being pulled down the highway or pulling tubers on the lake. The 200hp motor make this old boat out run most brand new ones. Lol
Here are a couple more photos to laugh at the ugly design. ?
Restored motor. Purrs like a kitten.
Ok last 1. Lol