David O’Keeffe attracts attention when he pulls his number two bass boat down the highways near his Abilene, Texas, home.

O’Keeffe’s 20-foot Ranger stays in the garage when he heads for some of his favorite micro-fishing lakes.

Rather than the gleaming Ranger, arguably the Rolls Royce of bass boats, O’Keeffe chooses his 1963 Skeeter, the fishing boat equivalent to a ’57 Chevy two-door hardtop.

Skeeter Boats of Kilgore, Texas, is credited with inventing the bass boat.

The first wooden-model Skeeters were not much different than O’Keeffe’s fiberglass version.

His boat measures 13 feet, 6 inches and tapes 44 inches at its widest point. It’s the most expensive free boat O’Keeffe ever has owned.

O’Keeffe’s buddy, Don Moore, gave the boat to O’Keeffe’s two sons about 15 years ago.

O’Keeffe doesn’t know how much the 1963 Skeeter cost when it was new, but the pricetag was probably a lot less than he spent to restore the boat.

He hired a fiberglass repair shop to replace the transom and floor and fix flaws in the hull. He installed carpet to dampen the noise and heat.

He mounted an electric-start 15-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboard on the stern and a Motorguide 12-volt foot-controlled electric motor on the bow.

He mounted two Eagle sonar units, one for each end of the boat. He installed comfortable swivel fishing chairs and built rod racks to store three rods under each gunnel.

O’Keeffe bought a drive-on trailer for the renovated Skeeter and had a canvas cover made to protect the boat from the elements. The final bill for his free boat came to $9,635.

Like any other boat, the classic Skeeter has pros and cons. With a top speed of about 20 mph and a wet ride, it’s not good for open or choppy water. Space inside the boat is limited.

On the plus side, the boat sits low in the water. Because of the low profile and that it’s not a good idea to even stand up, much less walk around; the boat makes little noise.

“The fish never know you’re there,” O’Keeffe said.