Taking The River Less Traveled.

Finding the barn find of the decade

I have been blessed throughout my life to be able to enjoy the odd ball fun of owning old cars and old boats. Seems like I am always a little early in my passions to cash out of it all. I was into Porsche’s before they exploded on the market,

Ya! That’s me. 1980 Paid 2,500 for it.

as well as Vintage BMW’s and nerd alert,  Corvairs were also a huge passion and it dawned on me that Classic Boats fill in the same fun. BTW, a Corvair Spyder is one hell of a car.

Yup thats me again, and buddy Scott Sawyer who is still a great pal and helped build WoodyBoater

Well, the things in life that are more off the mainstream are more fun for me. Maybe instead of timing, it’s that I enjoy being the odd ball. And when stuff gets a little too popular, it gets boring and to be even more transparent, annoying. Cause the douche’s get involved. The folks that want in for the money, or posers.

DOUCHE!

There is a special fun about being n a town that is authentic, in an area that isn’t Instagram trendy full of millennial’s looking for charcuterie boards and hand beer made from lotus blossoms. There are countless wonderful areas around our country that are timeless. Forgotten Waterways…thankgod!

Thank god for the fish factories. I have learned to love that smell. Its the smell of freedom

It’s always fun to just have the freedom to say, let’s go this way. Or that way? Or not.

You’re still trying to figure out what a charcuterie board is aren’t you? Welcome back to planet earth my fellow Woody Boaters, the restaurants here serve Grilled burgers, and Pie. Not really sure why we need any other foods.

Oh Ya!

The great thing is that I now know I am not alone here in our little universe – Bill Anderson and his whacked boats make me smile ear to ear!

Stephanie Ryan steers Sunburn, a 1960 Dorsett Catalina,one of all our favorites!

Plaidtastic is more than just another boat. Its a symbol that cool is in the unique – Katzs Marina

Phil Andrews Wonderful original Palomino!

Phil and Jara from Katzs Marina in Phils wonderful Blue Arabian.

Orange Suburban, LOVEd that sucker towing another gas sucker. Pumpkin before restoration

The Driverless boat. I see myself in that seat often. Perfect colors. Katzs Marina

Bold colors at Sierra Boat Co on Lake Tahoe

LOVE this ugly interior

Dave’s Pants!

Katelyn Marsden and her Dad Syd are damp and in he pink – But happy to be on the River Less traveled

correct craft Torino at Katzs – Yes Seth has the same problem as I. Its no fun being everyone else.

John Baas in his first inboard – 1955 Correct Craft Atom Skier – Correct Craft is a wonderful brand with fun out of the ordanary but cool boats

he blue boat is owned by ACBS founder Joe Flemming. the boat was ordered blue by the original owner Marjorie Merriweather Post of General Foods and Post cereal family.Blue was the Post cereal color. – Bob Kays Photo

The Ramsey Bros Dart Prerestoric masterpiece

WECATCHEMS fishing tackle box. Its the heart and soul of the boat!

Why do all life jackets need to be orange?

THis can go on and on, but need to publish this story now. Show us your odd stuff. We are all family here.

 

 

 

 

34 replies
  1. Antique and Classic Pontoon Society
    Antique and Classic Pontoon Society says:

    That is what is so great about classic pontoons! You can have unusual colors on top yet still have a an identical pontoon bottom that fits in with the crowd from yesteryear or today.

    Come to the dark side, it’s more fun!
    ACPS

  2. Matt
    Matt says:

    OH GOD! Todays story took a quick left turn! I litterly spit my coffee varnish out on the kkkkkkkkey board!

  3. Martin Field
    Martin Field says:

    Prerestoric! That’s your best copywriting invention yet, Matt. Next time somebody calls a car “that bloody rust bucket”, I shall say with authority, “no, that’s Prerestoric.”

  4. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    To be odd of the odd you have to be into cruisers/trawlers. You have done that is a spectacular way with Sweet Pea. She is even outside of the usual collectible brands.

    I am still a huge fan of the “Bull Nose” Chris-Crafts. Many want the Barrel Backs or any other pre-war model, but it’s those 50’s lines that make my heart skip a beat.

  5. Pat Chaps
    Pat Chaps says:

    Anyone can own a Cobra or a Riva.
    I love the Chris Craft Lancer Custom that I designed and built.
    It’s the only one in existence.

  6. First53Resorter
    First53Resorter says:

    Shout out to John Baas and his Correct Craft Atom Skier! The ice is gone in the land of Glacier Lakes, now boating season isn’t far off and the fun begins!

  7. David Burry
    David Burry says:

    Here’s my odd combination! A ‘61 Chrysler Saratoga with homemade camper top towing a ‘57 Reinell Jetabout! Fins!

  8. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    I had a corvair….the American Porsche ….ha!
    loved it…no matter what Ralph said.
    Troy is right on to point out that all you have to do to be an odd ball is have a cruiser fetish.

    John in Va.

  9. Jeff Neppl
    Jeff Neppl says:

    Just being into classic wooden boats is being an odd ball to most of the people I know. I catch some heat for it from them but they say it’s all just in fun. 🙄 Most people I know are car people but some are into boats but they are all about the flat bottoms with the big exposed engine right next to where people sit. Not my style at all, I can appreciate some of them but they aren’t for me. I will continue being called a “Kennedy or Thurston Howel” cause of my love for wood boats. So just being into these is kind of being a oddball where I come from or they say I’m too young for these boats. I disagree and that’s just fine.

  10. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    I constantly read that the future of transportation is electric cars and that their performance is outstanding. And to be a proponent of them I would consider being an oddball yet the online justification for them continues and voices like myself want to squelch this inevitability. Especially with the current political drumbeat about the impending death of the earth in 12 years. I’m not sure what this Green New Deal effect will have on the “motorhead” community and that includes all our carbon based hobbies.

    The response that the few hobbyist that acknowledge the electric cars future from online press reports claim electric vehicles just don’t have the sound and smells that a gas or even a diesel provides. Those early 911’s and even the Corvairs sound and smell delicious (among others I could add: my Alfa Romeo Spider, my Dodge 24 valve diesel truck, my 94 BMW touring with 4.4 liter V8 and 6 speed conversion). Of course the electric car proponents say they can provide a faux sound track. I just can’t accept that will ever work.

  11. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    I’ve said many times – “It’s all the same sickness…” and I wouldn’t have it any other way! This particular obsession has been in my possession since 1978. It’s in pieces now, but will be on the road again in a few years – as soon as I finish a few other things! 😉

  12. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    In my 73 years, 64 of them owning my own boat, I have always tried to have something “Different”, not a cookie cutter boat like everyone else had. Going on my 34th boat, my latest purchase was a 1984 Boston Whaler. But did I get the everyday center console Montauk version, NO. I got a limited year run of the 17ft Super Sport, cause it was something you do not see every day.
    Matt, it is cool to be different, to stand apart from the madding crowd. Cheers my man, now let’s see if this oddball thing will start…

  13. Royce Humphreys
    Royce Humphreys says:

    A great testament to those who brave the confines of conformity and reach out with out of the ordinary purchases! My brother would and still teases me about my penchant for Jaguars and Land Rovers. Every chance he gets, he chants ‘Tick Tick Tick” when around me. The sound of a ticking time bomb perhaps has always been my source of intrigue!
    Coming from one who has owned several German automobiles, I would caution him about living in his “Glass House”!
    Gay Visser, you know who you are!

  14. Kelly Wittenauer
    Kelly Wittenauer says:

    Love the oddballs, on land & water! Much rather see a cruiser or some fins, than the dozenth barrel back. Mom forced us wear those damned “keyhole vests” as a kids. Wouldn’t have been as bad if they had been that awesome ’70s mod print, instead of the orange we had. Car shows here in Cinci-tucky are mostly ’50s-’90s ‘Merican vehicles. They don’t know what to make of it when we bring our classic Minis. Look forward to completing the restoration & showing the Unipower GT 🙂

  15. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    I don’t limit my oddities to vehicles or boats. Unfortunately, my wife doesn’t agree, but can’t let that stop me from hoarding more treasures (at least in my view). While others like Airstreams I prefer Spartans made by the Spartan Aircraft factory after WWII. This is the 1951 Spartan Royal Mansion with birch plywood interior with a nice golden honey hue.

  16. John Baas
    John Baas says:

    Might as well add the TR-3 to my oddities madness! And no, we don’t tow the Atom Skier with it.

    • Dick Dow
      Dick Dow says:

      New chassis leaned up against the wall, body parts/panels all in the rafters and on the shelf, rebuilt engine, etc. 75% of the wood in the body was bad. I’ve “rough cut” all of the replacement ash pieces, but the next step is to finalize/fit them and assemble the body framing on to the chassis. I’m still working and distracted by several other projects, so the Morgan waits…

  17. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P ) says:

    Speaking of oddities. I am in to old cars as well as old boats. I liked that 69 Maverick in the background of your Porsche. Had a couple of friends who had Spyder’s. They were a notch above the rest of the Corvairs. The last boat I bought, the guy I bought it from had a Spyder tucked away in his garage.

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