I found this boat on the way to work, out in someone's yard, full of pine straw, negotiated its purchase and went to work reconditioning it for use. Messing around with boats is my thing and doing as much as I can get away with in them.
At first, I was leery of putting my big old Evinrude 88 on it, and in speculating with a friend how fast it might go he said, "Fast as a spotted-ass ape." (The rest of the joke is supposed to go: "I've never seen a spotted-ass ape." "That's because they're too fast.") Except, I misheard him and thought he said "Scalded Ape." Since this also seemed logical, I stayed with this name.
With its sleek lines, I thought the boat looked like a rocket ship. It's amazing that it's actually put together with two-dimensional sheets of aluminum cut, curved and fitted together in such a way to yield compound curves, all held together with rivets. I've assumed it was made with Post War aircraft manufacturing technology.
The Scalded Ape grew to be legendary, conveying me and my friends on my many adventures throughout Louisiana's coastal landscape - from the darkest jungle swamp to the bright blue sea. It's a shame something that has brought me so much pleasure as my Main Boat would be sold for such a pittance, but time waits for no man, and it is time.