Vintage Pictures

Ericinmich

Active Member
Dec 12, 2021
211
SE Michigan, boat docked in LSC
Boat Info
48 Sundancer, 2007... formally PapaG's
Engines
Cummins
1668615487581-fae5a856-209c-47d7-9654-5f55a5e14d04_.jpg
I tried to find a thread showing pictures of old Sea Rays in their prime, decided to start a new one. I came across this picture while showing my 95yr old dad some they had taken when I was a kid. I think it's a 1976 SRV 180 (17.5 ft boat, 188 I/O, 302 ford V8, 18gal tank). It was basically our boat to use as teenagers and boy did we have fun. That thing flew, over 50 mpg if the gauge was right, and if you timed it right you could get it to launch out of the water (get it purposing with engine tilted up and hammer it). It was a beast, but never let us down! Ran it empty on Mullet Lk (northern MI) many times while water skiing, etc.

Pissed when my parents sold it and didn't tell me, they wanted an open bow. I'd buy it back in a minute if I could find it!

And yes, that is me at the helm!
 
View attachment 137033 I tried to find a thread showing pictures of old Sea Rays in their prime, decided to start a new one. I came across this picture while showing my 95yr old dad some they had taken when I was a kid. I think it's a 1976 SRV 180 (17.5 ft boat, 188 I/O, 302 ford V8, 18gal tank). It was basically our boat to use as teenagers and boy did we have fun. That thing flew, over 50 mpg if the gauge was right, and if you timed it right you could get it to launch out of the water (get it purposing with engine tilted up and hammer it). It was a beast, but never let us down! Ran it empty on Mullet Lk (northern MI) many times while water skiing, etc.

Pissed when my parents sold it and didn't tell me, they wanted an open bow. I'd buy it back in a minute if I could find it!

And yes, that is me at the helm!
That is an awesome picture and story. Quite parallel to my younger days and I live in No. Mi.
Thanks for sharing.
 
My father's 1976 (I think) SRV240 Hardtop. He spent lots of hours trout/salmon fishing out of Oscoda, MI. Although I was always attracted to Sea Rays this was my first direct experience with the brand. Going to the Detroit Boat Shows as a teenager in the 1960's , I was always dreaming of either a Slickcraft or a Sea Ray. It took me a lot of years to get there, but I'm now on my 4th Sea Ray.

Dad's Sea Ray.jpg
 
When we were all young ... at least here in Utah it was rare to own a boat. I remember my first time on a boat it was around when I was 6 or 7. My family and three others went to a lake in Idaho
" Redfish lake" those of you that have been to this small lake know how special it is.
Anyways one of my dads co workers had a boat... don't know what it was. I do know when I strapped on that big puffy orange life jacket the smell of it , the fiberglass smell of the boat, the smell of that outboard firing up and then a ride on all glass water on the lake I was hooked!

Then other visits to local lakes over the years and the chance to go out on a friends grand fathers boat... just the smells of the marina and the feel of being on the water was magical.

I think about it today every time I arrive at our marina and I get a familiar smell it always brings me back and then reminds me how fortunate I have been over the years. It wasn't until I was 15 that I bought my first boat and have enjoyed every boat I have owned.

I always smile big when I see a good old boat on the water I will always take the time to stop and talk about there boat , where it came from, the history behind it.

On this day I am thankful for all my boating years!
 
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While not a picture of our boat, we had one of these; a '76 Carina 18 foot with the Chevy 250CI inline six with the Merc Alpha outdrive behind. It was a hand-me-down from the wife's grandparents. I used to tend to its needs when we'd go visiting them at their cabin. They bought a new boat as the Carina was getting pretty long in the tooth. I tried earnestly to buy it from her grandfather, but he wouldn't accept a dime. "Hell, you're the only one who gives a damn about that boat; you keep her!" We ran that old girl for many years, teaching both friends and family how to waterski, and endlessly towing the kids on their innertubes. What a great boat!
 
View attachment 137123 My first Searay… a 1979 SRV 220 with a 228 hp Mercruiser.

New to me around 1988 …. Grenadier Island beach. A great river boat!
My dad was given that same boat back in 1998. He rebuilt the OMC 350 and had the interior redone. We used it out of Huntington Harbor in CA to fish and cruise when we’d go out to visit. Loved that boat, when it ran. We nicknamed it the Yellow Bomber.
 
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My 1984 19’ Seville, bought new from B & E in Michigan City, IN.
4 banger gas miser, trimmed out with two people she’d do 43mph. Had a blast on that boat for 22 years. Even though it was a Seville (economy edition), I never had any issues with her. IMO she still had the Sea Ray quality built in. Man, sure would be nice to have her now with the fuel prices like they are.
 

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