Rainy Day Classic Boat Fun!

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Sometimes a rainy day is fantastic. The gods have said, no Splash Mob today so go work in the barn. No way to go Woody Boating. Or is there? After all owning a classic boat is half in the barn fun as well. Learning, and feeling her history,…
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A Day Cleaning The 1958 17′ Cavalier.

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Now, I sure love a nice boat ride, but I sure love sitting in the barn, music on and cleaning and going through things and really digging in to see what we got here. And it's all good, including finding a relative of The House Of Stinky. Hey,…
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Is The Term Holy Grail Of Barnfinds Worn Out?

Words that describe stuff over the years change. Like all natural, or actual size, organic, and in our culture and the car world, Patina, and now Holy Grail of barnfinds. There is one Holy Grail, how can there be so many? The Thayer IV and…
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A Difficult Story To Write About Clayton.

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We arrived as you know to Clayton, and enjoyed the show regardless of weather. The museum has done an amazing job keeping the history of boating alive and fresh. The volunteers did an amazing job and were very friendly. The boats that made…
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One More Barn Find Time Capsule Jaw Dropper Today – Chris Craft XK 18

Thats right, two barn find stories today! It's gonna be that sort of week! Fellow Woody Boater Rob Willander just pulled this amazing XK 18 Jet boat with a factory 454 out of a Barn in Texas. 140 original hours. Dang! been there done that…
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“Pickles” – One Sweet, Barn Find-ish Donzi Sweet 16.

The Woody Boater crew has found another very sweet boat for this years fun! A 1964 Donzi Sweet 16. The best part is that she has been a two owner fresh boat. The second owner has owned her sine 1980.  And she is tight and screams. The owner…
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What Izit? Metal Bottom, Yes. We Said That!

Thanks to long time fellow Woody Boater Jeff Funk of The Antique Boat Shop sent us all in this little fun find, and thought we might have fun trying to figure out what it iz? Anyone? Get out your Speltz Books. Is it even in there? Anyway,…
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Under $5K Higgins! Sorry, You Need To Make Room In The Barn Now!

OK, OK, sorry to keep this under $5K drum beating. But holy cow look at this cool Higgins. OH, and you can thanks fellow Woody Boater Mike Unruh for sending us this in. I hope the world out there is getting the point. $5k ish boats can be…
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Accessible Show Winner, Winner, Rubber Chicken Dinner!

Thanks to Fellow Woody boater Dave Bortner from Freedom Boat Services, for sharing this fine example as proof that Classic Boating can be affordable and fun! Take it away Dave! 1955 Larson, Johnson 25, note upholstery (perfect),…
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“The Revenuer” 1938 24′ Chris Craft Utility Cruiser With Twin Engines!

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We got an email from fellow Woody Boater Harry Alexander the other day. Now we get these sort of "will you help me sell" emails all the time. As I looked at the photos of the boat. I thought, OK, that's a cool boat, and it has a cool history.…
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Should Points Be Added For Original Stuff. Steve Bunda..OK..We all Want To Know!

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Fellow Woody Boater Steve Bunda sent us in this amazing barn find treasure that he is going to try and preserve to the nines. Or 100 points! Steve is looking for the facts on Preservation, AND, should there be points added for certain things.…
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Mighty Mouse Update

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This weekend Jimmy and I got the new rebuilt carb from VanNess on Mighty Mouse along with a rebuilt water pump..again, and went Woody Boating in the little sucker. She did fantastic and still only takes on a little water, and the factory…
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She Is Ready For Smith Mountain Lake – September 9th. Bring An Air Freshener!

It's been touch and go to see if we could make it to the big Smith Mountain Lake Show this Friday and Saturday. It's still touchy regarding Friday, but Saturday for sure. We are going to need to rebuild her water pump this week late once…
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She’s Alive! She’s Alive!

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Yesterday we spend another full day, under, in and over the Barrel Back Barn Find.  Patching small areas on the bottom, making a battery box, new plugs, wires, Carb rebuild, fuel tank installed, windsheild installed with one wrong bracket. Seats…
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Meanwhile Back In The Barrel Back Barn

While we wait on the report in from Hessel Michigan, we thought we would update you on the barn find progress. The goal here is to start her up once the new RAYCO fuel tank gets here. And possibly take her to the big 50th anniversary Smith…
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My Baby Was Born With An Aluminum Head!

As we wrap up the Barn find stories, I reflected on why barn finds are so special to us all. One of the true joys of a barn find, is the euphoric feeling of a surprise. And yes I had to google euphoric! Anyway.. each boat, has a special…
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Barrel Back Racer – It Just Gets Better!

What a weekend of cleaning and discovery, and another 5 gallon bucket of rodent turds. And I bet not one of you would have changed a thing about it. Our disease is universal. The good news is she is cleaned up and lots of goodies…
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Barrel Back Barn Find Big Reveal!

Thanks for waiting and playing along with all the fun teasers. Today is the day we introduce the planet to this amazing Barrel Back Barn Find. Last Wednesday Jimmy called me to tell me about this little speed boat he knew of in Georgia in…
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Mmmm That’s Some Good BBQ – Jackson’s BBQ In Union Georgia. What?

What? Do you really think I am going to waste an amazing reveal of the barn find of the year, on a Saturday? While everyone is at boat shows, and having fun. As promised though, we did find an amazing BBQ place in Union GA. Right off rt 20 about…
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ROAD TRIP! Southern Style.

It was a year ago almost to the day that we made a 12 hr hail Mary drive to New Hampshire to pick up WECATCHEM, and oddly enough, we are on the road again to pick up another barn find boat. This time, we are not quite sure what she is, but…
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The Barn Next Door. Who Knew? Not Me? It’s Time To Take Off My Blinders.

I am sure this story is somewhat universal, but this weekend we putted over to our across the creek neighbor "George". Clearly he is private! We had been talking to him the previous week about maybe getting a pattern boat with parts to complete…
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BARN FIND! – We All Know What Mark Edmonson Is Doing This Memorial Day Weekend!

Looong time Fellow Woody Boater Mark Edmonson from Michigan got the call we all dream about. Here is his Amazing Michigan Prerestoric Barn Find! Ahhhh, I am excited for Mark. I know all I would be doing all weekend is making sweet love to…
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Off The Grid, Off The Chart, Tomorrow We Travel Off Road To Find Heaven!

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Far up North hours away from big city life, down a long dirt road sits a treasure spot that some of the old folks in the hobby know about, but is off the digital grid. Until tomorrow, MONDAY. Tomorrow we visit a special place where rebuilt…
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A Bright New Holm For Mr Setterholm

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Fellow Woody Boater Mark Setterholm shared with us all his new clean white space to store and work on his woody boats. Now this is the white Christmas I am dreaming about! I took this old 40' x 60' Quonset barn building - spray foam…
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Very Cool 1956 Estate Chris – Craft Sedan On Ebay!

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Martin Belcher for sending us this special Chris Craft sedan cruiser on ebay. Thie was on a while back, and here she is again, with no reserve. As of right now the price is $1,525 with a nice aluminum trailer.…
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What’s Behind That Ratty Curtain?

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In my wonderful little town of Reedville Virgina there is a small home for sale on the main drive. Now, I pass this home weekly.... daily and never thought of anything special being in the garage. But like most cool little treasures, the…
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Was The Best Barn Find I Have Been On Yet! By Mark DiVincenzo

Ahhhhhhhh! We all live for moments like this. Fellow Woody Boater Mark DiVincenzo had a great day for sure. It gives us all hope that these sort of barns are still out there!  And a huge thanks to  Mark for sharing with all of us! Thanks Mark. Thought…
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It’s Time To Play Whatiz It?

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Thanks to fellow Woody boater Paul Harrison for sending in this What Iz it boat that was on Bring A Trailer yesterday, which is really on Craigslist, which is also on The hulltruth, and now of course its on Woody Boater soon to be on Facebook…
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Can You Solve This Mystery Boat! Please Tell Me I Am Not Right!

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   Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Terry Lewis for sending us this puzzle. If you can figure this one out, you are the either smart or have no life, cause all there is, is some grey frames and a rare cool light.  WAIT! Oh,…
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Take A Preservation Time Capsule 1968 Glasspar Flying V On Ebay, Smith Mountain Lake Show Weekend Vacation.!

Well, as the debate from yesterday will no doubt go on and on, today's story on this tasty time capsule 1968 Glasspar at least solves that argument at any ACBS show. This for sure qualifies for the preserved category. The boat is located…
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Are You The Boat Spotter Of The Year?

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Late yesterday we got a fun email from fellow Woody Boater Samual Hiser, He sent these two obscure photos with a queation. Does anyone know what this is? I told him it looked like a boat house jokingly cause how in the hell is anyone going…
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Please Save This Rare Barn Find Twin Engine Red & White From The Chain Saw! NOW!

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Thanks to long time fellow West coast Woody Boater Richard Dow for sharing this extremely rare chance to save an amazing boat! If you are interested in saving the boat please email Richard at the email at the bottom of the story! This boat…
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Rare 1958 Woodard Runabout Emerges From A Barn In Vermont After 30 Years

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Stories about true barn find boats are always great, regardless of make, model or size - They are what many of us love to hear about and hope to one day experience for ourselves. Last week we learned about a rare 1958 Woodard runabout that…
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Woody Boating -The Passion Less Traveled!

Fellow Woody Boaters John Baas and Wil Vidal were driving home from a ACBS meeting the other day and noticed a little something peeking through an open door in an abandoned home. This is what  love about this passion. They are still out…
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The Toughest Move Ever! A Classic Boat Barn Find Extraction.

Fellow Woody Boater Gary Michael  Inland Boat Works sent us this cool series of photos from the "toughest move ever", 1928 22' Cadet [Pontiac Chief] on a rusted railway under the house in Melvin Village NH on Winnipesaukee, 14 degrees with…
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Saved And Secure For The Next Generation.

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Thanks to fellow next generation Woody Boater Joey Sauers from Katz's Marina for sending in some fun shots of the Marinas latest find. Tucked away in a storage facility in upper New York, after a 4 year effort. Candlelight is saved for the…
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Barn Find 1961 Chris Craft Continental Hard Top. Could This Be Next Years Tahoe Winner?

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Meet the latest barn fresh barn find from longtime fellow Woody Boater Don Hardy of McCall Boat Works. You may recall Dons other barn finds, like the pink Hemi U22, and the mountain barn find Barrel Back that just won at Tahoe, or Twinn…
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1924 22′ Toppan High Speed Launch Barn Find!

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Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Gary Michael of Woodboats.org we can all enjoy a fun barn find of a very rare launch. Gary moved the launch out of a barn in CT early fall after 40 years in storage by the original owners. "With her original…
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What’s Under The Blue Tarp! Part Two!

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So where were we? Oh that's right, we were all standing in front of the blue tarp in Pops yard. The comments by the way yesterday were priceless, and kept me going through a tough day at the office. Folks in one of the many meetings would…
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The Gods Did Not Want Me To Go Boating This Weekend! Thank God!

This weekend, while Texx was at Lake Tahoe, and others around the country were enjoying a wonderful weekend of classic boating. I was at our Reedville home catching up on things that had been left to rot, grow, and weather because of my…
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Project Kinda Barn Fresh Chris-Craft Silver Arrow on eBay!

Ever dream of having a Silver Arrow in your barn. Just get this one on eBay and let it sit. It will go up in value...Ok as soon as things start going up in value. A good user can be in the 20K range, so do the math. They are fiberglass.…
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Riviera Barn Find Including A 5200 Bottom!

Fellow Woody Boater Helen and Dave, had fallen in love with a cool Riviera in the feild of dreams in Lake Dora, only the $35,ooo price tag made the dream not possible.... But, Dave kept searching.. Ya see Dave also likes E type jags, so…
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Chris – Craft Pram Kit Boat – Barn Find, Maybe Shed Find Is a Better Description.

And now for something really rare. And we aint talk'n that steak you are having tonight. I will let the good folks at Antique Boat America tell you all about it in their own words.. Take it away ABA. Thanks Woody, This 8 foot Chris Craft…
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Barn Find 1939 19′ Barrel Back. It Was Just Sitting There In The Barn!

For many in the hobby, pasion, sport, lifestyle of classic boating, a Barrel Back is the icon of  all classic boats. And a 19 footer is the mother load. Of course since that has been the case, all of them have been restored once or in some…
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1961 Century Barn Find To Be Debut At Lake Mohawk!

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Who doesn't love a barn find? Count me in, I love the search, the find and the reveal. The idea that a boat has been tucked away for years, just sitting there waiting for you to find her. The truth sometimes is that the boats have not been…
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Ladies And Gentlemen, Pull Out Your Bob Speltz Books, It’s Time To Play “Whatizit”

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We got this great email in from Russ Whitford who is clearly jazzed about his new Woody Boat. It's cool as all get out , dang I love stuff like this..Here is Russ's email.. Hi Matt, I was given your name by the people at Aristocraft…
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Thayer IV And Mariah Bring The World Of Classic Boating Together Again! Exclusive Pictures That Almost Never Happend!

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After two years this was the moment that I dreamed of.. All the players together in one place. The Owners of Thayer IV and Mariah all out on the water. A once in a lifetime event for sure, never to be repeated again. And it almost never…
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Mariah Make Over Almost Over!

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With only 6 days left until Lake Dora, Mariah the U.S. Mail Boat is almost ready for her close up. The folks at Katz's Marina are burning the midnight oil and calling marriage counselors hot lines. But for of us in the peanut gallery, its…
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