I swear, oh no I mean F bomb swearing at all the Ass Wipes on ebay that are trying to sell old porcelain signs as real, old, vintage stuff. If you are shopping around for a gift for your loved one. As in LovED, before the boat came into your life. I digress. But please,
Dear God! That was a beast of a complex yet should have been a very simple job getting the printer going. As you may recall last week, my issues. I didnt give up, and each day made at least one moment of progress. I will list them. Why, because I feel like I just graduated
In order to provide a special service here to many of you over the winter, we are going to a series, randomly on HOW TO Do Things you should be able to do. No micro detail stuff. Just basic stuff. Head gaskets, Carb Rebuilding, etc. Today we are going to do the a Manifold Gasket
Here we go on Part two of the Woody Summer Boater of 2023. There are so many wonderful memories and little images of hope for humanity. This is a very special community, and a never ending remonder at the start of the day that we are all blessed to be in this universe. Okay I
While the world seems to be ripping it’s self apart in the news. Here in Woodyboaterville, it’s all good. With one exception, it’s now late fall, and soon winter will be here, and we will all be looking forward to Lake Dora and summer again. And yes, some sort of show in Michigan for Sir
It’s officially that time of year when your loved ones are hunting for some sort of gift to give you for the holidays. And of course, they always blow it. Cause they really don’t know your deepest dreams. Like you really want a new 3 inch copper exhaust pipe under that tree. Or maybe it’s
Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for the fun yesterday, it did help, at least keep me laughing and not feeling alone in my hell. I had cracked the interface of Illustrator and Cut Master Jam, Okay thats what I am calling it, now the plotter wont connect to the computer, which is also a pain, and
Okay, for sure, 99% of WoodyBoaters will wonder why I am doing this to myself. And to John Rothert who is still trying to figure out his flip phone. You are okay on this one, no need to even try. But I am trying to teach myself how to use a vinyl plotter to help
Okay, I was gonna just try and slither by and not make anyone aware of this special gauge. And yes I need one, but I’m dam set of trying to find one thats affordable and kinda patinaed to match the rest of Stinky’s Gauges. But “someone” on facebook was looking for one and then “another
Not to be outdone by Bob Murdock, who found one of the nicest most original Chris Craft Aquaplanes, I think? This is an all original Pre war one. The line is not original, but the finish sure is, and the lettering? Thats a question I have, but I think its original based on the simple
4AM and I am back on the road again. This time for a 5 hr each way drive to Smith Island lake. Oh, the Smith Island Lake gang is gonna be pissed they missed this one. I may even just drive around the lake and honk my horn. Okay, maybe thats not really nice. Okay
Well, maybe you have noticed the stories this week were kinda on the light,? lite? side. I was on the road to DC, then New Jersey for a two day meeting, then back to DC and got home yesterday. BUT normally I would be all set, and looking forward to a nice morning with my
We have a special request from a feelow Woody Boater trying to get some better images or any image of Decoray flooring for his 1957 Capri or Continental? And if you have some decoray flooring as a reference it would be a huge help. And if you happen to have a large roll of it,
There are so many things to complain about with Facebook, it’s a simple snap shot of all that is right with humanity, and wrong. But one thing is for sure, if you are going to create a Facebook Group, and many do. PLEASE do your job and monitor it. The crap that is posted is
Okay, this may be a stretch, but as I was stripping her of her fiberglassed bonds, I was thinking? What the hell, this is all original wood, and metal, and so on. So when it came time to do her chrome, it hit me? This may be one of the most original 16 Racers on
Well, it had to be done. We had a group meeting with the meteorologists, Al Gore, and psychiatrist, and all decided it was the right time and so yesterday we said good bye to another summer for WECATCHEM. I know. But she is in a better place now. And after going over her “after” it
Yesterday was in the high 50’s and had a day to start the process of putting stuff back on Stinky, and of course just chill. Moments like this are what life is all about and a true reminder of the freedoms we all are blessed with thanks to our service members.
Today we got this great note from one of the first WoodyBoaters and long time pal Mike Mayer. It’s a sobering reminder of what today really means. It never seems enough to say “thank you for your service” and to just have one day thats Veteran’s Day. Every Day should be Veteran’s Day. Here is
Around here on the Chesapeake bay we are in the throws of Rock Fish Season. The water cools down and the fish get feisty. Although this year the water is not so cool, and the fish are more North, so that means some very early morning boat rides. The good news is The Boatress’s partner
I absolutely love this time of year, and with global warming and all its even better. Sorry, it’s all about perspective I guess. Anywho, while we are all still alive and not been mowed over by a floating meting ice burg, and this time of year low light. So sunset rides are around 4 in
With all this amazing weather, we had a chance to pull Stinky’s engine, to clean up the bilge and fix some manifold issues. And as it turns out, it wasn’t the manifold but the gasket which was gone on the edges. The manifold looks brand new inside. WOW. We also got the CLUM key from
Okay, today we are back with our new fave fam, the Negative’s. And actually, as fun as it is to improvise the captions based on the looks on their faces, I have actually started to really like this family. I know, it’s strange, but I have been looking at tons of images of vacations, boat
A huge thanks to Syd of Syd’s Text Message Museum fame for sending in some images from his last gasp this weekend up in upstate New York. BLACK WITCH is Syds amazing Hacker Craft and this year is now featured as one of the more fun Last Gasp’s. Have fun today! Wow, Perfect shot
Well, the Negative family was not much for daylight savings time, and or, seem to have become rather timeless in the process. Here is WAVELENTH the Dodge from the photo negatives of the Negative Family. HA I know, but some times the truth is stranger than fiction.
While doing my hourly ebay stalking I came across some large negatives of a Chris-Craft, which normally would not be all that big of a deal, but this is. These are large format negatives, which means they can be blown up huge and not loose detail. ANNND, if you happen to own this boat now,
In some early boats, airplanes and a ton of cars, this switch was the thing. There are a bunch of versions of it, but this one is for boats, actually Stinky’s original switch. As indicated on the Hull Card a #98 Key that is used that of course of the decades is far far gone.
Here we go, the fun part. Putting it all back together and sorting out the small stuff. Like buffing stainless parts, and stripping the dash, wheel color etc.
Over the past couple days I have been adding some more color and so on to Stinky, the big problem is of course where to stop. Its getting a tad over done and could dangerously appear that I care. Which of course could ruin the entire Stinky experience. But, egh, give it a week and
We got in this wonderful heartwarming yet scary story fgrom long time fellow Woody Boaters Jeremy and Misty regarding a special event they do up in Michigan. I am so moving up there. These folks are nuts and I love it. Here is the Rolf’s note and nutso images. At the end of September and
Bob Kays was able to squeeze out another chance for one more Last Gasp in New Jersey. Green Pond is about 30 min from Lake Hopatcong and unlike Lake Hopatcong this fall, has enough water to go boating! Plus the temperature was in the upper 70’s! Dang! You go Bob. And now a WARNING. As
So I spent all day working at the Railway, and decided to take a short ride. It was insane beautiful outside. And well, I did my routene, and everything was a wonderful last boat ride of the season for sure.
The weather has been jaw dropping and everyone is using this moment to get their boats ready for the winter. And just pure luck we had three of the Butler Built Boats here at the railway at one time. The Glenna Faye, a wonderful 1940’s round stern deadrise, Janet -O still working out there from
Wayne bomb and I started to put the first coat of Red on and we had to shut the doors cause it was literally blinding us. The intensity of this red is insane. And it feels like varnish going on. And man oh man does it ever lay flat. WOW. But it sure is RED!
A Huge thanks to Bob Kays for saving the week with some variety. A last gasp with his Boatress Denise and a visit with Bjorn, and on a fancy boat. BTW it’s going to be 85 here this weekend in Virginia, so you know what that means! Take it away Sir Bob A-Lot Since Lake
You may think this is going to be some insight on wet sanding. Nope, It’s photographing wet sanding. I love this stage of the process. Stuff comes to light. Small little flaws, and you begin to see the hard work done in the prep stage. I KNOW, this is getting so milked its like frozen
Yesterday between Zoom calls and trying to make a living, I was able to get the first coat of White on Stinky and some more build coats of Varnish. HEY, think of these stories on Stinky being refinished like you are doing it in real time. This is how long it takes. It’s for sure
I know to many of you, this is all getting a tad over photographed and talked about. Where are all the diverse boats? And yes, it’s gonna be a long winter, but for now, it’s all perfect weather, fantastic light, and the railway is cranking with pre winter busyness. Not business. That would involve commerce.
Two wars, Taylor Swift, and The Speaker Of The House drama step aside. We have some real news. George has flipped his Riviera over to start its next step to completion. Yes, and he has a set up so he can do it himself. This bottom job is amazing, simply amazing and well, anyone thats
You are thinking where in the hell is Matt going with todays story? One, you’re thinking? Okay okay.. Yesterday I asked about that hole in Stinky’s hatch. And for the life of me I can not figure it out. Makes no sense for a handle, but there is an area in the hatch for a
Sometimes it can feel like I am working/playing/relaxing in an old painting. Which of course was the plan and it’s starting to really feel like it. I have said to many it’s not a man cave, but more of a painting I am in while painting it. A living work of art, and the boats
Mr B is now legal in all 50 states to do whatever he wants to do. Yup, Yip, he turned 21 …. in dog years, in my world 3, and will always be my little boy. The good news, is he likes to hang out at the railway and yap it up with the folks
One of the more interesting aspects of our classic boats, is the lack of modern safety equipment. And yes, I know the ACBS judging allows for modern safety stuff. This is more about the entire experience of owning, and more importantly using a classic boat. Lift and sniffing, and general common sense are still the
Last weekend things got busy at the Global HQ. Knot That Jeff Gordon brought his new Lyman for some hull work, and Stinky got some more TLC. Okay, some RE TLC, thats RE for REPEAT. I think I have dome everything two or three times. I suppose its all learning. But UGH. I know it
Today we devote to Syd Marsden and Jim Staib’s Text Message Museum. The Museum Of stuff, no Museum really wants, but we all think is cool as hell, and well, should be in a museum. maybe we create an online museum of Text messaged stuff. AND I GET TO MAKE UP ALL THE CAPTIONS!
On ebay the other day there was a collection of tools and stuff from Racer Fred Jacoby, and therefore the natural question is, who was Fred? Well, as it turns out, Fred lived on Lake Hopatcong, and we gots people, okay a guy who sells calendars. Okay, it’s Bob Kays. and Bob is involved in
What do you do when you’re a boat builder and restorer of renown? You take it to the next level and learn the art and science of navel architecture to design and build your own masterpiece. Regular readers of Woody Boater already know of Kevin Fitzke, a 40-something Minnesota- based Riva restorer and builder. Kevin
Some mornings just start with a bang, and some with a thud. I have tried to write several stories this morning, and they all just fall flat. Oh there is stuff. We have some images from Syd’s Text Museum, an oar and blackout lamp, and Bob Kays has some very cool race images connected to
