JFK, JR Special

[kmoose]

I remember hearing somewhere the late President Bush had a 23 before he ended up with a 28 Cigarette, then a 31 Fountain and then a 38 Fountain. Big time striper guy and also fished with a local charter out of Steinhatchee once or twice a year. I remember a day I was up there and a big CG cutter with a fleet of ribs was keeping folks at least 3 nautical away.

[classictwenty]

Late President Bush fished here locally out of Virginia Beach, too. The news reported that he caught some tunas that day!

[Water Rat]

I saw JFK, Jr.'s 20' SF many times in Lewis Bay (Hyannis). Met him several times (and his uncle, usually at Baxter's). The 1978 23' Sceptre I have was originally ordered by JFK Jr.'s mother, Jacqueline, but was delivered to the dealer, Millway Marine (where we had our SeaCraft serviced), with the wrong color upholstery; bright yellow vs. white, it was ugly as hell and Mrs. Onassis refused delivery. my father was looking to upgrade our 1973 20' SF to a 23' Sceptre, asked John Cannady at Millway to swap the upholestery, and he ended up buying the boat (believe he still has the original bill of sale changing her name to his). I still have the boat and it is very much a member or my family; wrapping-up some work done by Metan Marine and a repower before it (hopefully) makes it back into the water this coming season.

[DonV]

Quick story on President GW Bush. I was in the Keys on an April "Earth Day" back when George was a regular visitor to Islamorada. He stayed at the "Tarpon Flat" condos and fished at least every day. One evening while working on a few Happy Hour brews at the Lorelei Bar the Secret Service showed up and told us the President was coming and if we wanted to leave now was the time because we had to stay "no matter what" when he got there and stay until he left. Well hell!!! I'm staying, good God it's the President!! Anyway he was very nice and came by and said hello to almost everyone even had a brew or two. Good experience!!

Next morning me and my buddy are out on the west end of Peterson Banks just north of the intercoastal looking for bonefish and here comes the "flotilla"!! The first three boats were flats skiffs, which the President was going to fish from, then about 10 - 15 minutes later Bush and Curt Gowdy come by in a 32' Scaarab type boat waving at us and then about ten Coast Guard and Marine Patrol boats of all shapes and sizes following with Secret Service guys everywhere. I was thinking that's the way to go fishing, send out the guides to look for fish and go with the one who's on them!!

It was a pretty cool weekend!!!

[Old'sCool]

Didn't the Kennedy's have a bad azz 25' or 27'?

[Water Rat]

Originally Posted by Old'sCool

Didn't the Kennedy's have a bad azz 25' or 27'?

The only SC I remember seeing them with was the 20' SF. Mrs. Onassis supposedly was purchasing the 23' Sceptre for the same reasons my father was; don't know if they bought another after that.

[Ed]

Chris - what type of motor are you repowering with? The old 454 wore out?

[Water Rat]

Ed, I am sticking with the exact same drive train; a Mark IV 454, carburetor (getting difficult to find these) coupled to a Bravo 1 drive. After looking inside the old block, found it was not too bad but had 2000+ hours so did a preemptive replacement. Still some way to go before ready for the water.

[pair of jacks]

Didn't anyone notice the registration numbers? 109 now is that pure chance or a nod to dads PT 109????

[Capt Terry]

Originally Posted by pair of jacks

Didn't anyone notice the registration numbers? 109 now is that pure chance or a nod to dads PT 109????

Don’t know about Massachusetts, but in Fla and SC mine was two letters followed by four numbers then two more letters. So MS 109 PT was probably custom or they did as they pleased and nobody objected to the Kennedys.