JEM Watercraft

I had a trip planed with my grandaughters and there dad this weekend. An hour before we were suppose to leave ,I had a knock on the front door.
When I opened the door a gentleman was standing there ,he looked familiar he just stood there and didnt say a word ,I finally ask who he was.
When he answered I realized he was my best friend form a couple tours in Nam. I hadn't seen him since 1970. If it hadnt been for each of us taking care of the other both of us probably wouldnt have been here. I am not into hugging guys ,but this one got hugged. After visting a while he left and I gathered my stuff up for the trip.
Here is the crew and the four wooden boats we took


We loaded and headed down the river, the boats were my T-V ,Derrick was in the Hot air Perow and alley in the Bumble Bee and Cortney had the Laker which she had never paddled.


Cortney took to the new boat like she had paddled it all her life.



We paddled down a couple miles and pulled in to set up cam Cortney was hot she wanted to paddle.
As we were setting up camp Cort ran up to me and said I like the Bumble Bee you built for me but I love this boat. I grinned told her I figured you might ,its yours. She gave the Bee to her little sister
The little one was going everywhere in the Bee.



Derrick in the Hot Air perow

We talked played swam till it was time to cook the steaks, sorry guys but a good steak with fries and corn just beats the heck out of MRE,s.
The girls must have paddled 10 miles just around camp and Alley demonstrated a new way to paddle









The next morning I woke up to some pleasant surprises ,with no pics ,I didnt want to ruin it I just layed back and enjoyed it.
With the screen on the front of the tent I watched a huge beaver carring a branch up river,then as the sun came up, I looked up on the high bank and a Texas Longhorn was skylighted watching our camp.
A few minutes later I heard a bunch of racket and a small herd of jackasses came down to drink,a small colt in the bunch was feeling fiesty, kicking and bitting every thing that got close. They left and I did get these two pics





After breakfast a couple more swims we loaded up and headed down river

On the way to the Falls take out we had a pretty good storm come though ,rained like crazy ,but felt good it cooled us off.
As we paddled down river Corney practiced heeling her turns backing up
and then asked me if I thought she could do a race in that boat, I told her sure, think I may have created a monster. She is a long distance runner and the star of her soccer team so she has the endurance. She told me she would call me and wanted to do a 15 mile trip but with just me and her ,she said dad and Alley paddle to slow.
As we paddled along the little one gave out so they tandem the Perow and pulled the Bee on in.
We loaded and came to the house, as Cortney walked out the door she looked at me and asked what you doing Friday I think I better get in shape.

I dont think you can have a better weekend than to see someone after 40 years that had saved your bacon , take your grandaughters on there first overnighter , and see the look on Cortneys face when she realized the boat was for her.
Life is good for an old geezer



Ron

Matt the Laker 13 fits her perfect ,she paddled the heck out of it. Thanks for such a great design.

Awesome!

tx river rat wrote: I dont think you can have a better weekend than to see someone after 40 years that had saved your bacon , take your grandaughters on there first overnighter , and see the look on Cortneys face when she realized the boat was for her.
Life is good for an old geezer

Sounds like what life should be all about to me.

I hope you get to go it again


& again





& again

You are blessed and you are being a blessing to others.

Way to go Amigo, keep up the good works.

And . . . awesome boats and pics.

Great post and pics, Ron. Keep those gurlz outdoors like you're doing, it'll make for some happy husbands later in life.

Phishtech

I looked at the pics again and couldn't help but notice the ones of Ron's G-daughter paddling while sitting on the top front of the Laker. Up until that time I had thought that because of it's narrow profile, it would be best to paddle from a low position. The Laker paddled not only with the girl on the front of it, but on top of the front deck!! Wow, can't wait to build the L14 I've got plans for. As usual, Matt's designs prove far superior to all others.

Phish
That wasnt a laker thats a perow 12 ft I built max beam is close to 30 inches.
Ron