My 14 hr.. Craigslist..Chicago..dinghy deal.

Quint4

Quint4

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 6, 2006
6,750
NC
Boat Info
CY 3375
Engines
7.4 MPI twin
Winter in Ohio....bored as hell, spending way too much time on Craigslist and Ebay. Saturday night I found a West Marine (Zodiac) dinghy with a 3.5merc (2008) for $1000 in Chicago area. Not really in the market for one but it's fun to look. I shoot an email offering $800 and the guy calls and says come get it.
Never been to Chicago so what the hell....lets go! My son and I left Sunday morning at 8am (5 1/2 hr drive).....and were back home before 10pm...quite a day. Got up this morning and starboard tube had lost some air..Damn! Can't find a hole, but I'll keep looking. Here are a few pics of the dinghy and the trip:
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SEARS TOWER (Willis) tallest building in the United States
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A few pics from the 103 floor - Lake Michigan in backround
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there are several, glass cantilevered "rooms" to walk out on...crazy!
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had to put in a quick shot of the homeless guy in heavy traffic (BEARS game had just let out...I gave him a few bucks)
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Here is a shot of the dinghy sitting in my basement
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We drove to Millennium Park but parking was $25 bucks and it was getting dark so I did just did a "drive by" and we headed home. Very cool city....maybe I'll drag the 290 and my leaking dinghy up there this summer.
 
The motor looks pretty new. I am sure once you find the leak it will be good as new. My dinghy really doesn't lose much air. It doesn't change over weeks. Does it have a wood floor?
 
Sounds like a good road trip! That's cool that you did it with your son, too - probably the best part.
 
Wood slat floor on the dinghy. My boy is 15 so he will probably soon tire of hanging out with Dad. We had a blast!
 
Pics aren't showing for me but that city is GREAT!
 
Great pics! I've gotta get up in that tower sometime. Those cantilevered windows are freaky! I had a hard time sitting on the seats that were in the top of the world trade towers back in the '80's!
 
sfergson727 said:
I have to slightly disagree. Chicago is a great place to sightsee. It, however, is corrupt, overly expensive, and in many ways displays what is wrong with this country. (Just read a Chicago newspaper for a week, and you will have all the confirmation you need.)

Even just a day trip to a museum can cost you $200 for a family of four. Parking is outrageous, traffic is horrendous, and if you stray into the wrong neighborhood, it can be deadly.

Chicago does have some very panoramic views, and lots to do, but even though I live within 1 hour of downtown, you'll not find me going there more than once per year, if that. Too damn expensive.

I will say this, Chicago is best seen by boat, coming from across the lake.
Click to expand...

Then I don't think you would like NYC much either.
 
sfergson727 said:
I have to slightly disagree. Chicago is a great place to sightsee. It, however, is corrupt, overly expensive, and in many ways displays what is wrong with this country. (Just read a Chicago newspaper for a week, and you will have all the confirmation you need.)

Even just a day trip to a museum can cost you $200 for a family of four. Parking is outrageous, traffic is horrendous, and if you stray into the wrong neighborhood, it can be deadly.

Chicago does have some very panoramic views, and lots to do, but even though I live within 1 hour of downtown, you'll not find me going there more than once per year, if that. Too damn expensive.

I will say this, Chicago is best seen by boat, coming from across the lake.
Click to expand...


I agree 100%. I spent a year there back in 1992-1993. I agree with the next post about NY as well.
 
Quint... Thanks for posting the pics. They are pretty good shots. I've been to Chicago a couple times but never went up in the tower. Just for the record I aint gettin' in that glass box/room. My stomach rolled a little just looking @ the pics!
 
When your son gets tired of the 3.5hp I can sell you my huge wake creating 4hp. LOL.
 
I drive through that damn toll every day! Nice find, I saw that on craigslist as well! I am looking for another center console dinghy though. Looks like you had a nice trip all around.
 
re: "Just a day trip to a museum can cost you $200 for a family of four"
Here in the "Big Apple" Most NYC Museums are " Pay what you can" (small print) & Students free! They suggest $20pp. but hey, a dollar is fine with us.
Well, getting here & staying here is a different $tory. :) And since Bloomberg hates Cars there are more open spaces than ever for pedestrians.
 
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