A Break From The B’s – Some Saturday SAUSAGE!
It’s Saturday, I have PTS”B” and I am sure many of you have become lactose intolerant, but it is what it is. Winter, nothing going on, and a big deadline. In …..70 ish days til Dora. YIKES!
Entries by Matt
Sorry to Do This To You. A Swarm Of B’s
So, where were we? Oh, ya brass B’s, and simple to the point to match the vibe of the boat. But to me honsest, the perfect B has yet to apear, and becasue its one simple letter, it gets lost. So of course that opened up more options. It is NEVER ending, and so there
Tanks And Stuff. And A Breakthrough!
We are pausing the Varnish part to get B going, then right before Dora the final coats. In the moment now, we have installed the rudder, all the tru hull stuff, drain plug etc. And the gas tank, which actually stripped clean with some simple scraping. I am not sure if its a new tank
Ugh, I F*&ed Up
Well, I suppose it’s all part of the fun when you are trying new things. But when you are dealing with Varnish, it’s all kinda scary, cause once you start, Going back is not really a good idea. But as build coats you have another chance. So how did I F up? Well. I started
Philippine Mahogany For Sale, Like A Bunch Of It.
Thanks to Knot Jeff, we now know about a pile of nice Mahogany for sale in NJ. 2500 ft. The seller feller has 3 bucks a foot on it and will only sell it as 1 item, no parting out. Here is the listing. “2500 bd ft Philippine Mahogany, the red specie. 4/4 thick. 8″
I Thought I Was So Smart, Then The Chinese Bots Came To Woodyboaterville
Here I was thinking that I had done something special. Or was it Mary-Ann and Ginger, Or Marsha Marsha Marsha. Nope, Chinese Bots. Little AI driven bots that scrape and crawl all over the site. They just click and leave. Like mosquitos, but could give me west nile. This is happening all over the world,
B’s, Color, Obsessiveness, And WTH?
Yesterdays readership went through the roof, Like 5 times normal. WHAT IS GOING ON? I can only think that its the Babe thing, Mary-Ann or Ginger? Jeanne or Sam? It certainly can not be which B do I choose. Maybe there is a human connection about font hell here going on. And today I am
Mary-Ann And Ginger Bring The Heat – And Looking For A Good Nice B…
Yesterdays story was one of the most viewed stories in about a year. Was it Mary Ann or Ginger? Or did we hit a nerve? Russian Bots? It’s certainly not all the Which B talk. Well, yesterday I went into the parts room at HQ and dug through about 300 old letters, Plastic, metal, and
I Don’t Know What’s Real Anymore – Two B’s And A Good Old Rant
I am in a state of tortured hell. And yes, I know, it’s mostly on me. But I’m obsessed with bringing back the original feeling. Not just how it appeared, but how it felt. That’s the torture. The difference between is measured in emotion, which is subjective. Yesterday Rabbit went on a bit of a
What Is The Correct Pre-War Chris-Craft Side Logo?
As part of the OCD thing, I have also dove into the logo deal on the side. First off, yes a long time ago Bill Basler made a perfect vector file of the side logo. And yes I also know these are available as decals in silver and gold. I think I might even have
Two B, Or Not To B? Or Maybe A Different B.
Today you get to take a peek into my obsessiveness regarding typography, lettering, whats right, what fits. Okay, now I dive deep into this. From some of the orig first images there is a very cool font look. And if you want some rabbit hole reference as to the Name of B here is the
Let’s Take A Sausage Moment
We interrupt the slog of varnishing for some good old sausage. This “work” thing is starting to get in my way. Then again, after 10 days off and just starting to be able to sleep and think like a human, makes that first day back a cool slap in the face. So sausage it is.
Sand, Tape, Caulk, Tape Caulk, Clean.
Yesterday was a very full day. The day started at 8Am and ended around 5PM. My last free day before work, and got her all sanded real good, the seams all taped up and caulked with Sikaflex Mahogany caulk. Its so strange, but the next step is to letter the CC logo on the side
Watching Varnish Dry
We are now on coat 5 and gonna stop-ish. Yes we will add one more coat, but there is something happening that is cool as hell with the satin finish. Actually several things that are changing the way I think of all this. Less is more real. From various areas of information, from 3-6 coats
Fine Wood Boats Temporarily Closed
Those of us that all love, and depend on Jim Staib, all know that it must take an act of god to close down for a bit. But thats kinda exactly what has happened. Ya see Fine Wood Boats is up there in Wisconsin. Like way up, and then that just gets you to an
Another Day, Another Coat.
Wayne’s big ass garage is beyond perfect. The light, and warmth are amazing. I wish I could make the railway that way, but its in no way set up for that. I am halway thinking of an additional work room though for varnishing and working in the colder months. But Gotta say, this is also
Welcome 2026, Just 80 Days TIl Dora. What? The Next Step.
Eighty Days, Or 7 More Weekends. And with work having hammered me since October. Weekend and little bites are all I got. It’s gonna be close, and yes close on the old budget part. Just dropped another $200 on varnish and sikaflex. We also hit a milestone of sorts. The next phase. Waynes Crib, it’s
The Best And Wurst Of 2025
Well, that went by fast. The images start today one year ago and will end today, we had 4,863 images in 2025. 365 Stories including today. 531,600 Views and 110,600 visitors. The difference here is we had 110K people come to the site and of those people it was viewed by 531K times. With 4,300
Paint, Light, and Smoke, Just Another Day At The Railway
It was 60 yesterday, so I jumped into it early, which gave me a wonderful sunrise and some moody light. Art won over any functional work, and then again, it was bilge cleaning and painting time.
Man Overboard – Adding Grain To Scratches And Dents On A New Varnish Job
Okay, today I am going to expose a little of my obsessiveness, I have never tried this, but often wanted to. Doing it with Filler stain is impossible, but the Jeld stain makes it possible, Filler comes right off once you apply a varnish to it, where as the Gel does not, and that is
My First 4 Coats of Sealer/Varnish And Another Mess Up.
As we last visited, I was at the sealer stage of the process. You have a ton of options and therefore opinions on the matter. So, good luck navigating that train wreck of advice. 1. You can use a thinned out varnish 2. You can coat with some epoxy, west system with the special CLEAR
Stain Day, I Tried Something New, To Me. Jel’d Stain.
I have now done more digging in on this than anyone should. Jel’d Stain vs Filler Stain. I know many feel very passionate about one way or another. And regardless of money and whatever, this is a big choice, because if its wrong, its a long slog to get out of it. It’s not a
Bleach Baby Bingo
Where were we before we got interrupted by Christmas? Oh, ya, bleach. Sorry for the late morning, I slept in and man oh man, its like a jet back recharge. I keep thinking I have to work, but NOPE! Just NUTH’N. So Bleach it is. OH COME ON! Tell me you didnt make that
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2025, Okay What Ya Get?
Remember, here in Woodyboaterville we are all still 12 year olds. And getting boat stuff is like the best feeling in the world. BUT, at our “Physical” age, time is the ultimate gift. Lots of time that is un interrupted. Yesterday and this week are such a time. We shut down the office for a
39 Years, I Am One Lucky Idiot.
Today 39 years ago, she said I do. okay it was at the courthouse in Baltimore, and we could have also gotten a fishing liscence and paid a parking ticket, but this was our special day. And still is. How time flies. I have learned over the years, that when you truly happy, you don’t
The Harrisons Convert Grace Kelly’s Riva Into A Tow Boat
There’s a click bait headline for ya! Okay, let’s back up a bit here. The Harrisons are loooooooooong OG time Woody Boaters, and we did have some fun with the ever giving breakdowns they have supplied for years. Usually on the wrong end I might add. They are very generous folks to the community, and
Welcome To The 2025 18th Annual Holiday Party
Another year down the drain, and here we are. The big annual holiday party. Anyone who is anyone and was anyone will be here. Thats the joy of Woodyboaterville, it’s always 70, and no one dies. All our boats are perfect and our farts don’t smell… that bad. And there is plenty of food….. you
Getting Ready For A Little Bleach, And Tomorrow’s Party
No worries, bleach will not be in the punch bowl…. Bungs in, check, all wood stripped, sanded with 100 grit, and I think. Ready. There will be some hardware removed, and then Bleach. A two part bleach so this will be interesting. WHY? To blend the wood better. Lots or different shades of red and
Wait? What? It’s Saturday? What Happened To Friday.
What happened to Friday? And for that matter, What happened to 2025? It’s like it just kinda happened and then before I know it, it’s gone. My days are spent these days, in a chair, doing stuff on the computer and in meetings. LOT’S of meetings, so many meetings I call them Chain Meetings. Like
There Is Some Mail For You DEAR!
There it is, sitting on the floor thru the mail slot in the door. The dog has not chewed it up, and there mixed in the pile letters is this magical gift. Now of course, your sweet bride has already seen it, and so you are busted. You sit down with your pipe and just
One Simple Magazine Ad, So Many Goodies
I saw this on ebay this morning, and of course started getting lost in it. Funny how a simple ad can inform so much. As I have said a bazillion times. Marshall McCluhan quote “ads were the cave art of the 20th Century.” I suppose I love the quote because it justifies my craft to
Rabbit Has A Rabbit Problem.
Here we are, this is a perfect example of the situation we are all in, in this community. What to do? The good news is we have options today we didn’t have before, but the same dilemmas. Rabbit is asking for advice. TO THE INTERNET. But I suppose thats part of the fun. Grab a
A Little Sausage To Warm You Up
Sorry for the lateness, was on the road yesterday and a little slow waking up. The good news is that some nice sausage is always a great way to wake up.
Stripping In 30 Degree Weather
It was 30 outside and maybe a tad warmer around the self made heat zone of the boat. So I was able to do some stripping. Or Heat gunning. The good news is she is about ready for some bleach, and its gonna be in the 60’s on Thursday, so Maybe? And off to an
Hooray Flip Day
Yesterday I had a full uninterrupted day and took full advantage of it. Cranked up the heat and got to work around 7 AM. I was able to fix some mistake son the bottom chine /rail near the transom and fair the sides more. Now with 100 grit and by hand. WITH THE GRAIN. Got
Osjcnalaereuc;crjq e;&*#&!)@$(Y###########, ###########ND.
xmwuloiurenohcfiluebvce;n;j;j nwdejin;lqw. lej fnlerwinfe;qilwfniwej cfijwejljcdfjfewjjjjjjjjjjjjjj ewd;ljuihdeio3uibfdhouy3rfboyrofbvycoqrb1prifchnddel3qhiu ceq3qcwx——————ddeldeq———————-
If Doing This Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Do It Right
Like the song,”If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right” which was performed in R&B, Country and other genres of music, working on your boat is a sort of art form with the same basic words and emotion. I personally like all sorts of music, AND forms of restoration and classic boat
A Reminder Of How To Do It Correctly From Bo & Kathy Muller
Mike Green, it’s safe to climb out from under the table in the fetal position today. I won’t be sharing any of the Floater Challenge images. And you will be pleased to see Bo and Kathy Muller doing it all correctly and wonderfully on a Model 199. A true barn find, and yes, flipped and
A Good Old Sausage Day
Today we have us some good old fashion Sausage. The yummy kind, with lots of fat and some spices mixed in. Mid way thru the story we will give you a break to go to the bathroom and enjoy the benefits of a good cup of coffee and sausage. SPEAKING OF SQUATTING AND LOOKING AT
Syd’s Finished Making His Floater
Ahead of schedule and with a total expenditure of $0.00 Syd of Syd’s Maritime Text Message Museum, is the first one done. Syd even went as far as pulling out the blue velvet. Which I might add, brings a very classy element to it all. That married with the Maytag washing machine makes a statement.
Bring’n On B’s Bungs, Some Bottom Bling, And BTU’s.
Yesterday I was able to start getting the bottom stuff on B’s bottom, Rudder, Strut, drain plug etc. I was also able to get the bungs all in her side, AND brought in some heaters. Woohooo. An actual productive day.
Some Copper Just Because
Yesterday it was a miserable day outside, and to be honest, not all that nice inside the Railway. No heat, so it was about 40 ish inside. I know to many of you thats warm, but here, thats cold. And right on the edge of paint and epoxy drying temp. But, after all this time,
Thank You Frank Gehry
Yesterday I saw that Frank Gehry had passed away at age 96. I didn’t know Mr Gehry, but I was changed because of him, and Jay Chiat. Who I also didn’t know that well. So you ask, then why are you talking about these guys on a classic boat website? Who are these guys. Frank
OH SNOW!
Well, they said it could happen, and it did. And it appears we here are not alone. All I was able to pull off this morning as a reference was the one image, so today, it’s all up to you all. Share your sNOw shots. Yesterday late in the day I was able to get
Cold Paint & Cold Parts
I sure love me an old can of paint. Especially one from Michigan. I think this was part of Art Armstrongs stuff. And I don’t want to waste it, but there sure is some temptation. Maybe just the visible parts.
Meanwhile Back At Rocco’s Woody Shed
We just got an update from fellow Woody Boater Rocco on Long Island. He is out in the wood shed, (ain’t we all?) which I am very jealous of, installing the new bottom on his 17 Barrel Back. The coolest part of this is that he is doing it in a very traditional way. Here I
Primer Day At HQ
Yesterday afternoon after the calls from work, I was able to get over to the railway and get a little work done. I know this seems crazy, working this way, but I did say 3 months for under 3K and thats my focus. Right now, the money part is kinda secure. All the big money
The Difference Of Resurrection, Vs Restoration
I know I’ve become obsessed with this topic, restoration, preservation, pre-restoric, all the semantics. And yes, in the end, we all just want to go boating. BUT. And it’s a Bertha-But-Boogie BUTT: the nuance matters. It might even be the key to keeping the future of classic boats bright. A shift big enough to capture