Owens Yacht Marque Club - Members' Stories

Members' Stories

Letter from the President

Dear Members of the OYMC:

I was going to write the usual introduction letter but decided instead to share with you a letter from a very dedicated couple who love their Owens boat.

Dear Lin,

We became the proud owners of a 1967 Owens Aruba in October 2004. Being avid boaters and antique lovers, we have always been drawn to wooden boats. Starting our search at local lakes, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, and Grand Lake in Oklahoma, we toured all different makes of boats and decided that Owens was the boat we liked best. The floor plan of the Owens Aruba was spacious with lots of windows!

One of the first boats we looked at was a 42’ 1969 Owens Aruba. It was beautiful but, this being a big investment, we felt we should look at several boats before buying. By the time we decided on the 1969 Aruba it was gone.

We continued looking at wooden boats for about five years after that. Most were in very bad shape! Then one rainy day we typed “Owens Aruba” in Google search. The first boat that came up had just been listed two days earlier. We were shocked when we read the listing. It was ported on Lake Perry (in Kansas). Perry is our hometown and the boat was at the marina Jerry worked at through school! Already planning on going home for a visit that weekend, we called and made arrangements to see the boat. We were very excited, but kept our hopes low as we had seen so many boats that needed complete restoration. As we walked down the dock toward the 42’ 1967 Owens Aruba, we were happy to see it looked in good condition. A family from Shawnee, Kansas, had owned her for five years and had made many repairs. She had a new double plank mahogany bottom, was in running condition, and the outward appearance was good.

After a test run, on a very cold, windy Kansa day, we made them an offer and they accepted. It took about a month to line up a transporter and got the boat moved to Table Rock Lake, in southern Missouri, where we live now.

We felt it was destiny that we found our boat in our hometown! After getting her home, we found many things that still needed fixing. It did not surprise us and we were ready for the challenge.

Many repairs later and still more to come, we are very proud and happy to have found our Owens Aruba!

We have belonged to the Owens Yacht Marque Club for two years, and are excited and looking forward to hearing other members’ stories.

Jerry & Becky Caddell
Shell Knob, Missouri

This is what it is all about.

Thanks,

Lin Carneal
President, OYMC

the cadells' aruba
Jerry & Becky Caddell's Aruba
see letter above

Dear Owens Yacht Marque Club:

I am looking for anyone who has knowledge of a 1947 42' Owens Flaghsip that was named "Victory" at least through 1959 when she was sold from Baudium Yacht Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (I believe she was sent to the West Coast? Oregon, I think.

Can anyone help me? The Victory was my grandfather's boat and I spent many summers on her.

Thank you,
Robert A. Darling
9804 N. Valley Hill Drive
Mequon, WI 53092
rdarling@wi.rr.com

1957 Owens 21' Express Cruiser ~~for Sale~~
SOLD!

To all parties interested:

I have been the proud owner of a 1957 21' Owens express cruiser for the last 20 years. I have spent many days cruising the waters of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands here in the Pacific Northwest. Sadly she suffered a cracked engine block 10 years ago and has been stored inside my garage, waiting for restoration, ever since.

She is in sound condition but needs new power and someTLC. I am not going to be able to devote the time this project will take and so I have to let her go to someone who can. She comes with a tandem trailer that also needs some work. I am willing to let her go at a very reasonable price. She has most all her original fittings, etc.

Anyone interested can contact me for more details at ckemmish@centurytel.net

Save a boat!
1969 Owens Empress Sedan in danger!

An email from an Owens Yacht Fan --

Hello,

I am in charge of disposing of a 1969 Owens empress sedan. Also known as a flagship I think. It is a 30-foot boat, has twin general motors V8s, 350 or 327, not sure. The boat has been out of the water for over four years due to the owner's health. It could be fixed up and made nice
again, or someone could surely use the parts out of it.

He has asked me to tear it apart, sell what I can and burn the hull. It would be a crying shame to do that to this boat.

There are pictures of the boat at: http://home.earthlink.net/~jengle37/owensflagshipsite/

If there is anyone who would be interested in this boat, please make me an offer. I really really don't want to burn it.

I can be contacted at:jengle37@earthlink.net

There are other Owens boats for sale on the BOAT/US web, see this page and then search under "Owens."