Wednesday, June 21, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
17
Getting ship-shape for the road
By Jim Cornelius
News Editor
Sometimes, if you want
something first-class and
custom-built, you’re best off
doing the job yourself. That’s
a viable option — if you’re
Mark Yinger and you have
the skill set, the temperament,
and a brother willing to lend
a hand.
Mark converted a
Mercedes van into a qual-
ity camping vehicle in 2017,
and he and his brother Mike
finished one for Mike during
Sisters’ long winter.
“We wanted a van that was
pretty simple and built to a
different standard than the
typical RV,” Mark explained.
When he says “different
standard,” he’s talking about
nautical-grade quality. He
comes by that kind of standard
honestly. After retiring from a
career in mineral exploration,
he worked in a boatyard for
five years, and built a 38-foot
sailboat. The rigid demands of
seaworthy construction come
naturally.
“When you’re in a boat,
your life depends on it,” he
said.
The Yingers lined the
van with alderwood ply-
wood and used maple for
finish veneer, and they used
quarter-sawn white oak pan-
eling — “the highest grade
white oak you can buy.” They
installed marine-grade stoves,
PHOTO PROVIDED
Everything in the Mercedes van was crafted of the finest materials.
adjustable for level, and a
German-designed heating
system and a bathroom. And
everything is fit and finished
with the skill of dedicated
craftsmen.
They reckon that they put
about $15,000 in materials
into the latest project.
They worked through the
long, hard winter in a space
at Sisters Car Connection, and
took full advantage of Sisters’
amenities.
“Lutton’s Hardware …
was an amazing supplier of
goods,” Mark said. They put
up with a million trips over
there. They’re a really good
hardware store and we’re
happy to have them.”
Coffee and breakfast at
Angeline’s Bakery & Café
was something of a ritual, as
was lunch at Sno-Cap or at
Sisters Meat & Smokehouse.
And Mike said that Life.Love.
Yoga. was an essential con-
tributor to his well-being.
The brothers took both
vans down to Ruby Lake
Wildlife Refuge in northeast
Nevada to fish for big trout
and hit the road through the
mountain west. Mark said
they get lots of comments
wherever they go from people
who are intrigued by the qual-
ity and ingenuity on display in
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Mark Yinger in his 2007 van, crafted with skill and attention to detail.
their custom vans.
The brothers aren’t looking
to start a business. And yet…
“Mike and I have thought
of building these for oth-
ers,” Mark said. “Each would
be tailored to the customer.
We had two young guys just
happen to come by while we
where working on Mike’s and
they made it clear they would
love to do this kind of work.
I am sure there are talented
young guys in Sisters that I
could train up and then let
them take it over.”
There’s surely a market
there — for those who want
a van that is absolutely ship-
shape for the road.
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