How it all began ...

My childhood friend Doug Dow is restoring a Skagit 20 Tyee near his home on Bainbridge Island. On a visit with Doug and his wife Linda last year we caught their enthusiasm for Skagits; soon after that we attended the La Conner Classic Car & Boat show and got a closer look at several other Skagit boats. We also met a number of people active in the Skagit Boat Club, including Bill Roberts and fellow LaConnerite, Clint Stroebel. Fran came away convinced that she had found her "picnic boat." Two months later we were proud owners of a Skagit 20 Express that was in pretty good condition.

















The Proud Owner. (I'm holding her down so she doesn't levitate with excitement.)

It was September, and even though the boat was badly in need of cleanup and repair, we took it out that next weekend just to get an idea of how she handled and how well the engine worked. What a blast!

















Skagit Plastics was in business for only six years, but they built a very attractive and very durable boat. Many of them are still in use today. The main fabrication plant was just down the channel from the Rainbow Bridge, so Fran's 20, here on the old Swinomish Channel boat ramp, feels like a real hometown boat come home.


















And now, about that restoration ....