Owner – Rodger and Colleen Wright
Make and Model – 1966 Century Resorter
Power – newer GM engine
History –
Unfortunately, I can remember more than a couple of times when I had to run one of my boats up on a beach to keep it from sinking to the bottom. (a few stories for another time) So, I have more than a little sympathy for the owners of a 1966 Century 17 ft Restorer after colliding with another boat on Hayden Lake, Idaho watching it slowly sunk to the bottom in 160 feet of water. This was in 1973. Fast forward 11 years when a diver, Tom Michalski, happened to see a ski rope floating up from the bottom of the lake where it was still attached to the Century. Marking its location. He returned two weeks later with his work boat and a crane to lift the boat up into the daylight.
Tom had a cousin, Dennis Purdy, who bought the boat for 500 dollars and proceeded making many repairs to make it seaworthy. This included but was not limited to a newer GM engine as the original engine was severely rusted and could not be rebuilt. After the repairs Dennis took the boat over to the original owner and he donated the original paperwork. They stepped into the garage and hanging from the trusses was the original sliding soft top which was reinstalled with the original hardware.
Dennis must have done an excellent job on the boat repairs as the Century was used on CDA quite vigorously, according to one of the Purdy family, for another 20 years. The boat was retired afterward as the bilge pump (also known as a side thruster) and battery were reaching their maximum duty cycle. The boat sat unused for another 4 years until Dennis’s brother, Don Purdy, persuaded him to take the boat to Portland for a total restoration. This project took 2 and a half years and lots of helpful advice from friends and a local restoration shop. Most of the wood was replaced including a plywood 5200 bottom, new frames, new side planks and coving boards. The added finishing touches came from a new interior. A new customized Ryan trailer made the package ready for the launch ramp.
Dennis wanted to pay Don for the work and materials until he heard how much the materials cost were, so he just sent him the title to the boat which was now named the “Purdy Special” winning several trophies around the northwest.
Don got an itch to build a gentleman’s racer, so he talked to Sid Young, who had some frames, planks and a keel ready to go for a new 26 ft boat. This was too long for the Purdy garage, so it was shortened to 22 ft. There were no finished plans so many telephone conversations, a few more trips to the mahogany store and 3 1/2 years later. I only mention the new boat to set the stage for the sale of the Century. (pun intended). Fast forward to 2017; Now there was no need for two boats so the Century was offered to friends and family until Roger Wright decided it would look good in his garage. So given its history Roger, appropriately named the boat Sunken Treasure. He and his wife Colleen have taken the boat happily to many shows and club cruises, but they are never going to Beacon Rock on the Columbia River ever again, says Colleen.
Your reporter at large,
Captain Tom