History of the m/v Shangri-La
The m/v Shangri-La is a 1960 35' Chris-Craft Roamer Riviera
Deluxe 6S built by the Roamer Steel Boats Division of the Chris-Craft Corporation in Holland, Michigan. She was delivered
to Hoernka Yacht in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 27th, 1960. The base price on this model with the 185hp Chris Craft 283
engines was $21,790.
She was completely rebuilt and reconditioned in 1978 and was know
than as the Guten Tag.
In June 1983 she was purchased by Miles and Joeann Vesecky of Forrest
Park, Illinois. She was renamed the Pooty-Tat II. After Miles died Mrs. Vesecky moved to Tallahassee, Florida and
on April 8th, 1987 she was sold to Paul Foster of Kewaunee, Wisconsin for the sum of $22,500.
In October 1989 Frank and Jill Welti of Oostburg, Wisconsin purchased
for $18,500 and renamed her the Shangri-La after the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La that Frank served on when he was in the Navy.
Frank repowered the Shangri-La in 1990 from her original
Chris Craft 283 185hp engines with MerCruiser 454 340hp Blue Water Thunderbolt 4 engines.
On August 1st, 2005, Kenny Sallee and Barbara Pesicka of Livingston,
Texas bought a 50% share of the Shangri-La from Frank and Jill. On August 1st, 2007 they bought the remaining 50%
share.
