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12 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 30, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" vv A yacht It IS NOt But it floats, and this boater loves it By Chris Hall Port Perry Star After months of enduring teasing from his friends and neighbours, George Richardson is the one who's laughing now. ~The Utica man endured plenty of good-natured ribbing over his idea of building what he describes as his own "cabin cruiser" out of other folks' junk. But the retired Volkswagen' employee is the one who got the last laugh this summer after his vessel -- complete with all the ameni- ties a man would need on a cruise -- passed the most important test of all: It floats. Starting with a 1970s-era Chrysler boat he bought from his son for $500, Mr. Richardson began scouring the area for items with which to outfit it. "The boat was nothing but a piece of junk when I first got it; my son just bought it for the motor and then sold it to me," he said. However, over the course of a few months, that all changed. "People looked at it and laughed, but I made it work; I pretty much made the whole thing with a vice and a saw," said Mr. Richardson. Beginning with a lead of aluminum he picked up at a cap he found Blackstock -..and beyond GIVE US A LOOK! ' i WRIGHT'S 1s" | Ir FEEDS 'N NEEDS 3490 Hwy. #7A Blackstock, Ont., LOB 1B0O (905) 986-4201 Fax: (905) 986-4050 George Richardson has built a rather - um - unusual craft t to enjoy Lake Scugog in. 3976 HWY. 7A, NESTLETON ONTARIO, LOB ILO Lo KATHY MALCOLM 986-5620 Los attention to the inside. "Hey, it sleeps two," he said, With the exterior completed demonstrating how tables and off it when I come in to dock." benches fold down and around to accommodate a six-foot bed on one side of the cabin and another, slightly shorter one on the other side. Me and My Shadow -- Mr. Richardson has named the boat after his faithful canine companion Shadow -- also uses a cooler as a fridge, a Coleman camping stove for cooking, and even has a port-a-potty under the captain's chair. "I got dishes and salt and pepper; I can cook my meals on board, have a drink, and even do my dishes," he said, pointing to the bathroom sink, located at the bow, which fea- tures a lid that doubles as a beverage holder. "Everything's hidden away. It may not be beautiful, but it's the closest thing I'll ever come to owning a yacht." With his boat pretty much complete -- he estimated he spent close to $2,000 putting it together -- Mr. Richardson 'took his craft out onto the waters of Lake Scugog late last summer and returned a happy man. "When I was putting it all together people used to come by and laugh and call me junk yard (" I spent days just it makes a good top for the to his liking, he turned his 'Captain Highliner'," he said. cleaning it!") and an old truck boat.), Mr. Richardson's vessel in a field soon began to take shape. ("Everyone laughed at me, but "But now they're the same ones who can't take their eyes SILVER EDGES "THE SKATERS CORNER" "A 14620 Old Scugog Rd. : Blackstock (905) 986-0177 Maureen Dowson, Owner 4 miles east of Port Perry on 7A Hwy. PINE RIDGE PAGKERS ING. BEEF - PORK - VEAL - LAMB Custom Killing, Cussing Wrapping BLACKSTOCK CO-OP NURSERY SCHOOL Providing enriching programs for children 2-5 years. Please come join us for our \ annual Pancake Breakfast with | Santa on Sunday, Degember 5th, 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm. at the Blackstock Rec Hall. Silent Auction to be held. Child, Adult and Family rates.