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1963 "River Rats" articles by Bruce Blakesley
 Here
we go again —1963 — another summer of “Fun In The Sun”. Four months
of boats, water skiing, picnics, overnite trips, everything a water
lover could want to do is fast approaching. It has been a long
winter and the River Rats are really getting restless. Of course the
same menacing problem is plaguing us as usual, high, muddy water,
but before long the drone of high-powered engines will he heard on
the “Mighty Yellowstone.”
This year will again show a few improvements at
“Pier Nine”. Roy Welter, local Tastee-Freez owner, donated all the
playground equipment from the old Hammond School. This I equipment
was accepted with open arms and is now being installed. We
surely appreciate your generosity, Roy.
A typical Sunday at "Pier Nine." Not sure who the guy in the
water is,
but everyone else: L-R: Kelly Cartwright, Malcolm Cartwright,
Marilyn Cartwright, Mike Blakesley, Diane Blakesley,
Brenda Blakesley, and Sheila Blakesley
A few boat docks are being installed and should reduce the
confusion around the club's main dock.
The ramp will be widened also, but due to the high water this
project will be postponed until a later date. Talk of dredging out
the slough behind the present boating area has been dropped for the
time being, however, plans are still being considered.
New boats will dot the river this summer as Roger Clauson,
Francis Schmidt, Bill Storm and Art Sample have invested either late
last summer or this spring. Wish I had a new boat!
Reading in The Independent last week about Donley’s Reservoir I
see where there have been complaints about those who engage in the
so-called sport of “Water Hotrodding.” To my knowledge none of the
local boat club members have been doing this, hut if they have it
should be stopped as
of now. Mr. Donley requested that we stop any fast boating on the
lake a couple of years ago and to my knowledge it had stopped. What
other people do tends to make it look bad for those of us ho try to
respect the land owners’ wishes.
Did you know that there are 7,468,000 recreation boats loose on
United States waters compared with 7,175,000 the year before - a
solid gain of 293,000 boats? Ah! to be in the gas business.
This past Sunday dawned bright and clear so local boat club
members ventured to the Lake. The Yellowstone, as everyone can see,
is by no means safe to put a boat on.
This great boating spot at Tongue River Reservoir doesn't exist
anymore;
beavers cut down all the trees, and higher lake levels have covered
this sandy
beach-like area.
Local aquamaniacs making the trip were the Schiffers, Pettigrews,
Clarks, Cartwrights, Herndons and yours truly. A number of
non-boaters were also present enjoying the water, boat rides, and
the water skiing. The only disturbing part of the whole day was the
mosquitoes. I still can’t figure out why the good Lord put those
winged beasts on earth to plague everyone who enjoys the outdoors.
A few words this week about keeping your fiberglass boat looking
like new. For many years fiberglass boats have been described as
maintenance free, in other words the boat is suppose to look like it
just
came out of the showroom year after year. This, of course is
definitely not true as many owners have
found out. True, fiberglass boats require much less work than wooden
hulls but they still require some.
The most satisfactory protection for your glass boat is a coat of
good old wax, Simonize for instance. Boat resins are very porous and
the wax will fill these pores and prevent water, dirt, gas or oil
from reaching the surface. An unwaxed white hull will turn a dirty
grey in a hurry unless it is scrubbed often and a good coat of wax
put on it.
Small scratches and scuff marks can be removed with a careful use
of very fine (600 grit) wet or dry sandpaper. You should be very
careful not to sand too much because you are sanding off part of the
resin on your boat. Get the area clean but don’t go overboard and
sand when not necessary.
Right here I want to pass on a word to female members of the
club. Save your gallon plastic bleach bottles. One from each of you
should be plenty.
That’s all for this week but we have another coming up so let’s
see more of you boat owners out and about. The water is fine at the
Lake, so they tell me, but be sure and visit your local drug store
and stock up on gallon spray cans of mosquito repellent, you’ll need
it.
The
FBC met this part Wednesday night for their monthly meeting at the
Elk Cafe. Most of the discussion centered on our annual trip to
Tongue River Reservoir. For some the trip will start on the 3rd of
July but for the harder working people it won't start til Saturday.
Some people just live right I guess. Those planning on making the
trip should contact the Commodore for more information.
Last Sunday a few hearty souls ventured to the lake. Nice day but
it was just a little on the chilly side after getting out of the
water. The mosquitoes weren’t too bad though, and that helped.
With the second annual trip to Tongue River almost upon us let’s
take a look at those trailers before we make the journey. A person’s
trailer is probably the most neglected piece of marine equipment
known to a boater. The reason it holds up as well as it does is a
pat on the back for the manufacturer for this is normally the last
item considered by the boat skipper. Wheel bearings are subjected to
the
heat of 60 mph highway travel, then dunked in cold water, with a
little mud thrown in for good measure, and we expect them to keep
rolling. If you have the slightest doubt of your wheel bearings, get
them repacked as soon as possible. Don’t forget to consider your
boats electrical systern—tail, stop, and directional lights. They
are more than likely dunked into the water and should be protected
by brush ing waterproof grease on the contacts. I apply lubricant to
the rollers and tilt mechanism, and check for loose bolts. By doing
these few simple tasks could make the trip much more pleasant
and safe.
Do you know how long a nautical mile is? A nautical mile is
approximately 6,080 feet while a statute mile is 5280 feet.
June 30 to July 6—National Safe Boating Week.
The
annual trip to Tongue River Reservoir is over for another year with
everyone making it back in good shape. Those making the trip were
the Tom Pettigrews, Malcolm Cartwrights, Pete and Paul Sohiffer, Don
Herndons, Art Kamhoot, Roger Clauson, Bruce Blakesleys and a bunch
of kids and other people too numerous to mention.
There were a few mishaps, as there will be when one takes an
extended trip, but there was nothing very serious. Leading the
list would be two or three flat tires and one bent axle. This, we
are sure, happened on a stretch of road between Lame Deer and Busby.
How the highway department can let holes 6 to 8 inches deep and 3
feet across go unattended we’ll never know. You might see an
occasional danger sign or a red flag, but the weeds are so high
around them you cannot stop in time. The gravel road from Kirby to
the lake was better than the pavement. The advance guard, Clausons,
Herndons and Cartwrights, moved into the area the night of the
third. It must have been fun setting up tents in the middle of the
night, but they got the job done, and when the rest of us got there
at various times Saturday and Sunday they looked like anybody who
had camped out for four days — beat. Late in the evening Saturday,
just when everyone was settling down, the clouds opened up and how
the rain poured. Now I know why they call this the “Big Sky
Country.” Of course everybody got wet and so did a lot of food,
especially Cartwright’s and Herndon’s. That will teach those people
to wait until the last minute to eat. Pettigrew’s boat took off
like one in the Gold Cup races, across the lake without a skipper,
but we managed to save it before any damage was done. All in all it
was a wet evening but everyone survived except a couple of steaks
floating in a half inch of greasy water.
 The
next day was spent drying off, and for some, burning up. If you want
to win friends the quick way just give ole Art Kamhoot (pictured
at left) a slap on the back. He’ll probably have something to
say.
The day was spent skiing, of course, with a little swimming
thrown in for good measure, and everyone appearing to have a good
time. The day had to come to an end just when one is getting
settled. We all took off for home and I’m sure that everyone’s
thoughts as they drove home, were of returning next year.
“Pier Nine” was a very quiet place this past Sunday with most of
the club members scattered about the state on various waters. The
Jim Clarks were trying out Hebgen Lake again this year, Tom
Pettigrew and his tribe were at Canyon Ferry, and the Don Herndons
and the Cartwrights traveled down the Yellowstone with our good
neighbors from down the river, the Miles City Boat Club. Nice
people, those boaters from Miles. From what I saw and heard I guess
that is about all that were in the water this weekend. Next Sunday
I’m sure you’ll see some action on the home waters.
Everything is in readiness now at the local marina, ramp is
clean, swings are up, merry-go-round is working, dock is in the
water. I guess the only thing that hasn’t been taken care of is the
mosquitoes, but I'm sure if we all approach Mayor Beres and the
members of the city council that they will he more than glad to have
the spray truck take a swing or two through our boating and picnic
area. The tourists that frequent the place would offer their thanks
too I bet.
Did you know that to prevent a skin from forming in a paint can
you should turn the can upside down for storage. Needless to say,
the top should be on tight.
Glancing through Look magazine the other day they gave a
definition of a boat which I thought was good, and we’ll pass it on
to you. “A boat is a moving hole in the water down which you pour
your money.”
Last year, Americans poured an estimated $2.5 billion down that
moving hole in the water.
This article also went on to say why people like boating and they
came up with this, “On a boat, a man is his own boss. He rules his
own small world and fulfills the ancestral American dream of
personal independence and privacy.”
The day was clear and warm, the water clean and quiet—a perfect
day for us River Rats.
 Almost
everyone skied Sunday, even old Rock Cartwright (pictured at
left), who hardly ever darkens the waterways, gave a fine
demonstration in style, form and performance. The oldest and
youngest of the Kamhoot family looked good. Can’t understand how Art
stands the strain. He’s supposed to be getting old.
Pete Pettigrew, young son of our Commodore, did a nice job on the
skis. I think he has better form than Tom. Linda Cartwright is doing
real well also.
Bill Storm had his 16’ Silver Line in the water—nice addition to
the River Rat Flotilla. Al Cole from Hysham had his Crestliner in.
Looked from where I was setting that he might have been working on a
potential buyer.
A big thank you from all boat club members to the city crew for
spraying the mosquitoes in the boating area. We surely appreciate
it.
The garbage cans are up now, so let’s use them.
Let’s not forget that another long holiday is coming up and now
is the time to start making plans.
“Aw Dad,” said Mike, “we’ve been water skiing and cruising and
fishing and I’m tired of running around in circles.” His voice rose
to a high pitch, as only his can. “What else can we do with our
boat, anyway?”
I gave the kid a dirty look but sat down to ponder the matter.
What, I asked myself, are some of the other things one can do with
an outboard boat?
L-R: Kelly Cartwright and Diane, Mike and Brenda Blakesley, 1962
For one thing, why not hold an outboard slalom contest? Anchor a
line of floats in the water, and time each contestant as he weaves
his boat n and out of the line, something. like a skier going
through the “gates” on the slalom course.
We’ve got a number of young, good skiers amongst us now; why not
encourage them to start a water ski troupe. If they prove good
enough they night even be called on to perform in public. This would
be a fine waterfront community project.
How about teaching the younger ones how to drive and dock the
boats. Use plastic bottles to simulate a pier, then practice landing
in various current situations. This also could be worked into a
contest. There are a few of us older “Masters of the Waterways” that
could practice on this also.
Maybe when the mosquitoes aren’t so bad we can gather a bunch
together and boat to some quiet spot on the river for a floating
potluck supper.
Let’s look into some boat races. By using the new and old bridges
as turning points we could have a good course. We will have to break
the boats down in regards to horsepower and length in order to come
up with a fair race.
Boating season is getting close to an end for this year but maybe
next year the club could build a ski jump. This would put a little
more kick into skiing and would also be good watching for those who
like to sit on the bank.
Fun in an outboard is pretty much what you make it. The big thing
is that there can be a lot more to boating than just circling the
river, and I think we ought to look into it.
HOW TO KEEP COOL WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH
(By the staff of the Forsyth Independent)
One of the most popular places in the Forsyth vicinity these hot
summer days is the docking area of the Forsyth Boat Club. The scene
here shows only a few of the boats that on Saturdays and Sundays ply
a five mile section of the Yellowstone River.
There is approximately 15 larger boats with motors
powered from 40 h.p. upward to 100, and any number of lesser craft
in the row boat category which are also powered. Water skiing is a
common
sight, and the parking area shaded by spreading
cottonwood trees, is also provided with camping and picnic and
sanitary facilities, as well as swings, slide and other playgound
equipment for the children.
A concrete boat ramp was enlarged last spring and boaters from Miles
City and Billings avail themselves of these facilities when they
join in the water sports fun with local club members.
The picture shown was taken from the river bridge. The area
development, improvement and maintenance is the result of the boat
club’s desire to provide their own entertainment, and it has been
done without the aid of federal money and continues to expand
without the guidance of federal supervision. Strange what a few
people can do for themselves when they don’t depend on the federal
government for its blessing and its financial aid and support. The
whole project—probably one of the best on the entire Yellowstone
River — is a pleasure to the club and their friends and a credit to
the community as well as being an example of what can be
accomplished when people decide they want to do something for
themselves, by themselves. |
