Bob Reeves (Papa Smurf) is an experienced boater with a witty sense of humor. You can read his full interview at www.pdbmagazine.com/forum.
1. What kind of boat do you currently own? My newest boat is a 2005 23' Bennington RFS triple ‘toon with performance package, Yamaha F-150 4 stk. I also own a 17' 1973 Grumman aluminum canoe powered by an 80-yr-old buzzard with a kid's brain.
2. Share a fun/exciting boating memory:
We were towing our two grandsons from Utah, 4- and 7-year-olds on a tube and the 7 year old was bouncing all over the place trying to scare the junior member. When crossing the wake, the four-year-old was catapulted into the air in a perfect backward flip. We quickly approached him to ensure his safety, and he, in his normal, unenthusiastic style stated, "I think I should wait until I'm older before trying that again." Everyone in the boat almost fell overboard dying of laughter.
3. What is the must have boating accessory? This is the easiest question of all, and the answer is obvious for a Virginia Gentleman. The "must have" accessory in boating is a beautiful first mate like my wife, Ramona!
4. How long have you been boating? Seventy years ago when I was 10-years-old, our pastor, Ralph Bellwood, built a 12' wooden boat for me. He built it from a huge pine tree from our tobacco farm and presented it to me as a gift. Shortly after, I bought a 5 hp Royal outboard motor with my share of the tobacco crop and savings from my job at an ESSO station. That love affair with boating has never dwindled or ended to this day.
5. What part of the country has the best boating? I served in the USAF for 30 years and operated aircraft, including helicopters, in too many countries to list. Magnificent lakes, rivers, shores, etc wowed me but none have impressed me like Lake Martin in Alabama. It is the cleanest, most accessible, most pleasant, and most friendly lake I have ever experienced, and Mother Nature kisses her gorgeous sunsets and sunrises like no other. We are hooked!
