Thread:

1961 Rayson Craft..... 4 generations later.

It was a pleasure getting to hang out beside you at Needles a few years ago and getting to see that boat as well as meet you and your dad. I have to say, as awesome as that boat is, your family is just a tad better. I look forward to seeing more pics as it looks like a great project you guys were part of.

Paul

Originally Posted by white tortilla

This is one of those stories that should have never happened. Finding a boat under a tree that my grandparents bought new in 1961, and resurrecting it. My grandparents bought the boat with another couple new from Rayson in 1961, and took it all over from mead, parker, mojave, etc with both families in it. My great grandparents learned to ski behind it. as well as my grandparents and my dad and aunt. They used it as there only boat for over 35 years and eventually sold it in 1988 as i was being born and needed more room for the new family so they sold it.
They had lost track of it until my father got a call in 2001 from a friend that had seen it sitting under an oak tree in Tujunga, Ca. After going and looking at it from outside the property fence sitting there we were able to contact the homeowner at that time, who was more than willing to sell. When we were finally able to see it up close it was evident that the last decade under a tree without a cover had taken its toll on it, with the drain plugs still in and water and leaves filling the boat up to the valve covers. We took it home and tore it apart down to the bare hull, and had it re gel coated, all of the original hardware was refinished and reused, new upholstery and the trailer was completely redone.
We kept it a secret from my grandparents and presented it to them at the river several months later when it was completely refinished. I'm surprised no one had a heart attack but my grandfather did end up sleeping in the drivers seat of the boat on the trailer that night.
To this day we take it out on the water all summer long skiing and running around, i was the 4th generation to ski behind the boat. I have a ton of build pics as well as current pictures, and black and whites of it in parker and lake mojave in the 60's with no buildings in sight. Ill uploadthem as i can.


my grandmother at castle rock shores circa 1962ish



here it is a week after we bought it back and cleaned it up






and here it is as its getting the gelcoat reshot and capped.




i am missing a bunch of pictures and ill post them later.... here it is a couple weeks ago on Big River with the old man

very cool story and boat

Way cool...

What a great story. I love to see these boats get brought back to life from being neglected for years.

Steve

Great story. Thanks for sharing, I really enjoy these kind of threads!

one of the best threads ever.

...Outstanding...

Hell yeah!

This is my favorite stuff about these forums. Very inspiring. Great story and photos!

I have made comments on other stories similar to this on this forum and gotta tell ya that I really dig reading them. This story really does have quite a legend behind it and I am sure your proud as punch to have been able to have found the boat and restored it and above all giving it back to your grandparents. That bit about him sleeping in the boat that night is priceless . I don't know your grand dad and of course have never met any of your family, But I would have given who knows what to have seen his face that day! Way to cool!!!