A Purdy Special Sunken Treasure

by Rodger Wright, Owner of “Sunken Treasure”

This 1966 Century Resorter 17 was built May 1966 in Manistee, MI. Hull number RS66 175 is the 126 Century Resorter 17 built in model year 1966 out of a total 129 sold to Tobler Marine in Hayden, Idaho on June 1, 1966 with a Crusader 327 / 250 H.P. $4,990.

Optional equipment included: stern boarding ladder $70; ski tow assembly $40; foot throttle control $26; permanent sliding soft top $380; Idaho boat license ID 6022E.

The boat lived a happy life on Hayden Lake, Idaho until one summer evening in 1973 when it was in an accident with another boat and sank in 160 feet of water. It sat on the bottom of the lake for 11 years until September 1984.

It was discovered by deep-water skin diver Tom Michalski. He found a ski rope floating up from the bottom of the lake. He followed it down to the boat. Tom noted the location and came back 2 weeks later with his work boat and a crane to salvage the boat.

Tom’s cousin, Dennis Purdy bought the boat, flags still in place, for $500. Dennis restored it as best he could. During this time, Sid Young (owner of Stan Craft Boats in Coeur d’Alene) introduced Dennis to the original owner. Dennis took the Century Resorter over to his house to show him the completed restoration. The original owner gave Dennis some of the paper work and information that he still had kept. Then he took Dennis out to the garage and hanging by ropes was the sliding soft top. Dennis had used the original covering board that had the brackets for the top. So they took the soft top from its resting spot of 13+ years and installed it on the boat. The Century Resorter was used by the Purdy family at their cabin on Lake Coeur d’ Alene for the next 20 years. During that time I visited the Purdy’s cabin and admired Dennis’ work, rode in the boat and water skied behind it. But it finally got to the point where the bilge pump ran almost all the time. The boat was retired and sat for 4 years.

In August 2010 Dennis’ brother, Don Purdy talked him into letting him restore the Century Resorter by putting a new bottom on the boat. September 2010, Don and I drove to Coeur d’Alene and got the Century Resorter and brought it to Portland, OR to start the restoration project. Two and half years later, the boat was done. Don started the project with the advice from Jim West of West Coast Classic Boats Restorations, Vancouver, WA. Don replaced the keel, some frames, and the transom, installed a 5200 plywood bottom, new side planks and covering boards and used the correct stain with 15 coats of varnish. Don installed the correct interior from A & A Marine. A new trailer was ordered from Ryan Trailer with swing away tongue, spare tire & wheel mounted, cage rollers and Logo step plate (1966 front, Century rear).

Dennis Purdy wanted to pay Don for the restoration but when he found out what Don had spent, Dennis sent Don the title. Don named the Century “Purdy Special.” Don used the boat in the Portland area and took it to Coeur d’Alene every summer. The “Purdy Special” won several trophies at boat shows in Portland and Coeur d’Alene.

Don’s next boat project was “Hell Bent” G-66, a gentleman racer boat. “Hell Bent” took 3 1/2 years to complete. It is a tribute to the 1966 Century Resorter. Don decided he did not want 2 boats. After 33 years with one family, I bought it in August 2017 and changed the name to “Sunken Treasure.”