1964 Thompson Sea Mate, wood lapstrake boat ride 9-21-23

[@richardredling3291]

Your Thompson is absolutely beautiful . My father's first boat was a Thompson. Your video brings back many fond memories of my childhood.

[@dannyanderson3359]

Very well done video sir. Very peaceful and relaxing 10 plus

[@ragnarviking6267]

Great to see you beautiful Thompson Sea Mate still floating and being used!

[@karaDee2363]

I love the old classics

[@authormikemontie250]

Two Thompson brothers started the company in 1904. In 1953 their sons started Cruisers. Very similar designs and construction. Cruisers is now Cruisers Yachts, still in Oconto. They make high end fiberglass boats but now I think the smallest they make is 29 feet. In my life I have seen two boats like yours, one was for sale in Oshkosh 30 years ago and the second was at one of the Thompson-Cruiser boat shows in Marinette. The second one had two sterndrives, I think they were Volvo-Penta. Beautiful sea worthy boats.

[@kencarnley7101]

Love It!

[@thomaslarussa6814]

I have the same boat and same year. It was my first boat as a kid. I sold it 22 years ago and bought it back last year. She still has the original 40 Evinrude Lark. Your boat looks beautiful!

[@authormikemontie250]

Mine originally had a 40 Evinrude too. I bought the boat without the motor. I had a 90's Merc 50 on it for about 15 years, then got the Suzuki 4 stroke 30HP. At a Thompson Boat Rally in Marinette, Wi. a few years back I met Pete Thompson, the guy who designed the Sea Mate.

[@thomaslarussa6814]

@@authormikemontie250 Your boat is beautiful! How did the 50 Merc do? My Lark has the original electric shift lower unit in it which works well, but I do know that they are prone to failing, and are extremely difficult to get parts for. I have a spare Fast Twin in my garage that runs well, but I'm always exploring options for the future. Do you like the 30 hp 4 stroke? Does it move her well? That is awesome that you were able to meet Pete Thompson. They are very well designed boats for sure!

[@authormikemontie250]

I had a 1993-ish three cylinder Merc 50 two stroke that weighted 210 lbs or so. It had been on a pontoon boat, so the prop was a lower pitch. If I'd put on a higher pitch prop I'm sure it would have been faster but for my purposes it worked fine. The 50 was getting a little old so I replaced it with the 30 Suzuki because I take the boat out on Green Bay and Lake Superior and wanted the reliability of a new motor. If it's just me in the boat, it goes just as fast top end, (mid 30s) as the fifty with the low pitch prop but has a slower hole shot. If you plan to take people along I would go with the lightest 4 stroke 40 HP, (Merc is 204 lbs, I think that's the lightest), or a two stroke 40. I love my little 30 Suzuki, it weighs 158 Lbs, and it is the quietest and most fuel efficient motor I've ever had. Since the boat is 60 years old I prefer the lower weight and horsepower because it's gentler on the old girl. @@thomaslarussa6814

[@authormikemontie250]

Thanks! It doesn’t leak a drop.

[@forkthepork]

Boy, that warship is VULNERABLE 🤣

[@On_Your_Left]

Is this with your new GoPro? Whatever camera you used it looks great.

[@authormikemontie250]

Gopro Black 11 and Sony z1