Detroit Barn Find Three Years In The Making

Thanks to long time fellow Woody boater Mark Edminson who sent us in this cool story of a wonderful Classic Boat Barn find up in Detroit that was worth the wait. Woohooo, We are headed to Port Huron soon. Maybe we will find one! Take it away…
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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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CSI: On Golden Pond

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Starring Frank Miklos - He's out to prove U-22-1460 is the real deal! Well... I don't know what's harder, allowing comments attacking Pat, Frank and I or writing this and starting up all the crap again. The week of the U-22-1460 Golden…
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What In The Heck Was I Thinking?

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Mariah and Thayer IV together out in the work yard where we found them last monthImagine for a second that you are riding down the road one day.. you see the transom of a Wood Boat hanging out of a barn... as you zip by, you see it.. Thayer…
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Mariah, The Barn Find Of The Century

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Frank Miklos and his brother Bob inspecting U.S. Mail Boat "Mariah", the Golden Pond U.S. Mail BoatWhen I was on the trail for the 3rd Thayer IV to be honest the U.S. Mail Boat Mariah was the last thing on my mind..  "Don't forget the Mail…
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U-22-1802 The Most Well Known Thayer IV

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It's tough to report something on this boat that's not been covered before. But we will try of course.. I am sure the peanut gallery will chime in today and let me know what's right or wrong with the story.. But we did find some stuff out along…
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The Rumored 3rd Thayer IV.. The Barn Find Of The Decade!

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Woody Boater and U22-1460 Thayer IV - October 2010In what is to be the barn find of all barn finds. Woody Boater has been on the trail of finding all the Golden Pond boats used in the film On Golden Pond. This adventure started for us when fellow…
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Barn Wood. A Rare 1948 Chris Craft Barn Find.

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Fellow Woody Boater Paul Harrison and roving Reporter Texx share this cool story. In what now looks like the beginning of Barn Find week here at WoodyBoater.....I first saw the boat on Woodyboater in the summer of 2009, in a submission of photographs…
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