AI, Classic Boats, And The End Of The World. Again.

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First things first. I am a HUGE fan of AI. Yup. I love it. I use it. And like it or not, it's here and part of our lives now. You can't put that genie back in the bottle. Chances are you're already using AI somewhere and don't even know it.…
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This Month Marks 19 Years Of WoodyBoater. WTH?

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I honestly never thought I'd be doing this for 19 days, let alone 19 years. I had no master plan, no business strategy, and certainly no idea that I'd be sitting here nearly 7,000 mornings later, still trying to find something to say about…
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Heart Breaking News – Art Armstrong Passes Away

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As you may recall, about a month ago, Art made sure to tel all of us farewell. And I am eternally grateful for that opportunity to have thanked him for what he has meant to all of us. Art's humor was always a highlight for me and I know,…
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Our last Day In Astoria, Let’s Go To The Maritime Museum – GOBS OF PICS

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Yesterday morning before heading back to Portland, we decided to stop at the maritime Museum in Astoria. But first I made a stop at the Rolls Royce and Georgia Ann at the Cannery Hotel and Spa, then the Museum. Now, you may want to get a…
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An Actual Wood Boat In Bend Oregon. Yup. Right Here.

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I know you all have been very VERY patient with me this week. WEAK.. My vacation pictures of the bathrooms of Oregon, and yesterday it happened. I found a cool wood Kayak. built from scrap materials by Steve Shank, okay its not a Chris Craft…
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Photo Phun – Sometimes The Best Images Happen In the Darkroom, Laptop.

Ansel Adams once said "The negative is comparable to the composer's score and the print to its performance. Each performance adds its own internal values." And to pile on and try and be in the same darkroom as him. The magic happens in the…
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Curating Maximalism – Manifolds To Behold

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And so it begins, a huge thanks to John Rothert who dropped off some very sweet Flathead V8 manifolds he got back in the day from a guy in California. Not sure if these have ever been used. And here they are. Now all we need is to get the…
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Top Secret Aresto-Mod, Get Out Your Comments, It’s Gonna Get Interesting.

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My favorite folks on the planet, the Turners have created a conversation piece for sure. The Aresto-Mod Chris Craft. With that Aristo-Craft outrageous flair. As Scott says, this one will cause some talk. And thats the point of it all. Aristo-Crafts…
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Leftovers From The Leftovers, Part Two – Kevin Fitzke

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As someone said yesterday to me personally, the pictures look like something that was found in an old drawer stuck together. Meant as a disparaging remark BTW. Received as a compliment to me, and I didn't take them. But I sure love them,…
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Sometimes The Leftovers Are Better. Lake Minnetonka 50th Show By Kevin Fitzke – Part One

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We got these images from Kevin last week, and put them in the fridge because of the big Lake Huron show. And man oh man, These images sure aged well. All the colors and textures just got all tasty. By now you all know I sure love me some…
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One Last Report From Huron And Bonus Deal!

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A huge thanks to Holly, Steve Lapkin and the LaDonnes for sending us in photos and reports from the big Huron show. The clock is out of California from years ago, and an absolute time capsule. AHHHHHHHHH, beyond my budget.. Wait, what budget.…
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A Late Entry Into The Great Huron Shoot Out – LaHurone

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Well, we have the LaDonne images to bask in and never fails to bring a smile to my old saggy face. It's been one heck of a shoot out, lots of megabyte shrapnel for sure. But I think we get a great idea of what it felt like to be there. And…
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Ho Ho Holly Huron

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It feels a little like Christmas opening up these files from Holly up in Huron. Holly has the gift of a great artist. She can make almost any situation feel emotional. Wonderful. Beautiful. Cloudy sky? No problem. Dock shot? Sure.…
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Huron Ala Lapkin.

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The images are flooding in from Steve and Holly, both are breathtaking and fun. Yesterday we had a solo from Holly and today Lapkin, and then the "plan" is to do some duets and a final shoot out so stay tuned. So here we are with Lapkin…
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Holly Brings Us Huge Huron Energy, And An Insight.

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Well, the old inbox is bursting with pixels these days. Noting like a couple big boat shows and activities to wind up the content machine. All the platforms are chocked full of splashy fun images and it's no different here. And we have some…
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The Big Window Is Part Of A Plan

While we wait for reports from up north, sorry, we get my window install. Above is a renering of the look. The pope sign that we got a year ago will have a place as well. Yesterday I spent half the day doing small door handle additions and…
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OH! I So Want This! Navigation Beacon From Clayton.

Okay, okay, okay. I need this, want this and gotta have it. We all know this would look insane cool at HQ. With of course the key word being INSANE. Mfine, we can brand your bacon, Beacon Bacon and use this as a logo. I smell another bankrupt…
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A Carfree Labor Day Weekend

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No thats not a typo, car free, as in no cars, no meetings, just me and Mr B and his boat. I am falling deep in love with this little gas sucker. The Model B engine brings me great joy, and leaves a slick of carbon black crap in the water.…
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Big Window Energy

Yesterday I tackled a project I have been putting off for some time. But thanks to the Dumpster across the street had a little push. Gotta say, putting the windows together was a bit of a challenge and required some carful thinking. But…
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Labor Day Weekend

Well, here we are. Summer is over and I am finally getting into a rhythm of boating to the railway and looking forward to some small projects. We have the B/8 in Arkansas that needs a chain link east? And some other goofy stuff I am fishing…
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Week Old Sausage.

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One of the great things about sausage is it takes a while to go bad. Last week with all the news, some of the smaller tid bits go left out of it all. But I never throw a good scrap away. And today they all get smashed together and made into…
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Sometimes The Light Tells The Story

Well, I sure got kinda barked at yesterday for the Grumpy word. Behind the scenes, not on the comment section. But hey? Called it as I was shown it. Maybe some smiles will show up to milk that . In the meantime I took a break and went for…
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Gull Lake Shoot Out- Lapkin Style

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Today we have more shots fired from Steve Lapkin of the Gull Lake Experience up on....wait, I will remember... Hold on.. Oh ya, Gull Lake. Now of course I get to make up the comments, so apologies ahead of time. …
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We’ve Got Us A Gull Lake Shoot Out – Today Kevin Fitzke

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I am not all that sure how to follow yesterdays story, and the comment section it's self is moving for sure. So maybe a good shoot out will keep the vibes going. We will update on Art's condition as we find out. The first round comes from…
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Fare Thee Well Art Armstrong

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Last week I got a call from our old pal Art Armstrong. You know, not that Art. Art. Many of you—and us—have known Art since the very beginning of WoodyBoater, and you know his hijinks, his sense of fun, and his ability to make just about…
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Sometimes One Image Says More Than A Thousand

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Yesterdays classic boat show here in Reedville was a hit as usual. Every year it gets just a little better. With it being a workboat featured show, the variety of boats was amazing. And of course I could show you all the images. But I decided…
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A Lil Dusty In The Workshop

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A while back one of George and I's pals, Blaine asked to have his family Picnic Race Boat” built by Capt. John Lowry and Capt. Vincent Haynie in the 1950s. The boat will be hung up in the family man cave. George went right to work…
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Overdue Sausage

We have us here a well over due sausage day. We do have some stuff to gear up for Gull Lake in a week as well. And of course if any more Bob Speltz images show up, or early boat show snaps. I sure love me some old boat show snaps. Gives…
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Bob Speltz And The First Boat Show On Fountain Lake

A huge thanks to Dave Bortner of Freedom Boat Service for sending us these amazing time capsule images of Bob Speltz and the first boat show up there in Minnesota. Funny thing how we complain about low turn out and needing more young people.…
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Stain Stick Pics, For Immature Audiences Only

A huge thanks to Micheal Flood for sending us in pics of his stain stick. Okay, wait, it really is a stick, with real stain on it. Micheal I apologize for all our readers and their 12 year old brains. Mine included. Ugh,  I can say this though,…
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Notice Anything, That’s The Point.

A while back I did a story on vintagizing new fire extinguishers. Well, they are out date so I had to do new ones. The great news is the stickers are still out there on ebay, and for around 15 bucks, Bam you got a old/new usable fire extinguisher.…
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Something You Don’t See Everyday, One Bad Ass Cool Wiltse Bros Trailer.

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Got a trailer queen? Need a trailer to rise to the standards of your boat. Not some new thing that is like putting Silver Sketchers on a with a evening gown? Not that I would wear an evening gown. I can barely wear clean cloths. Anyway,…
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Tahoe, Finding The Photo’s In The Photo’s

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It's one thing to get to a location, then another to be in a position to take the photo, and then you have to try and capture that mila second to make an image. But there is another part to that. What used to be the processing part, the…
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Stay Tuned, There Is More From tahoe. But In The Meantime… You Get.

Me in a tie. I deeply apologize to have to interrupt our little universe with the reality of my situation. Today a board meeting and planning for 2027 with a client. And then. POOF, I get to return to my normal life. It's like some sort of bizaro…
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Meanwhile Back At The Office

You may recall I am at work up in Maryland this week on a filming. So yes the stories are a tad late and may be all over the place. But thats kinda normal here for WoodyBoater, as one of you said, you really cant predict what your gonna…
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A Different Sort Of Tahoe Sausage

I am on the road for a week of filming and had to leave at 4AM, the Tahoe shots come in at around 3AM? And well, it takes a couple hrs to sift through them, so I did get this one image yesterday with a fun note, and it just kinda summed…
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Tahoe Is In The Details

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Again, thanks to Steve Natale for sharing Tahoe with us all. Today we have details.  Details are the absolute most rewarding part of our little universe, and no place does it better than out at Lake Tahoe, add to that spectacular light,…
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TAHOE 2026 DAY ONE, Steve Natale Reports In,

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A huge HUGE, shout out to loooongtime fellow Woody Boater Steve Natele for reporting in from Lake Tahoe.  No works, just a gillion images I get to pick from and comment on. PERFECT.  So let's get this party started. …
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Made In The Shade Boating

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I have always had a "thing" for these unique Centuries. They are Mid Century magic, sleek, and just, well, cool as heck. And this one for sale A 1961 19 ft Resorter, for $15K on FB marketplace. No soak bottom, ( I would get clarity on this)…
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Boat Restoration – Work Or Play

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One would think owning a classic boat is a lot of work. At least that's what you're told all the time. But is it really work if you enjoy it? I've always believed there's a simple difference: if you get paid to do it, it's work. If you do it…
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Afternoon Delight – WoodyBoater Style

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Yesterday after a bunch on calls, some good, some frustrating, the Boatress suggested I go to the railway and refocus on life. I know this may sound strange, but working on the boats is as much therapy as going out on them.  So..I did both.…
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Dan’s Can, Now On Exhibit At The Global HQ

On Saturday when I arrived at the railway, I found a box to ME! Woohooo, what did I order that I forgot about. Hey it happens. But this sweet package was from Dan Overbeek, and oh what treasures were inside. Some great brochures, flags and…
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Well That Escalated Quickly

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Yesterday I was going to finish up Sweet Pea and go boating with the Boatress, thats her #1 Fave boat, and the families as well I will add. But it's been a cray cray summer with heat and work, so I am kinda back to weekends to make stuff…
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“MONTANA: ‘BIG’ ISN’T BIG ENOUGH; MORE LIKE GYNORMOUS)”

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Words and imagery by Steve Lapkin, Captions...Not Steve, Many of you know, I make an annual trek to Montana each June at the request of members of the Big Sky Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, for the celebration of…
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What A Difference Trees Make

About 6 years ago, when  we got the Railway, part of the clean up and whatever I am doing here was to plant trees, and plants. After all, the Railway is on Main Street, which is lined with historic homes. And in fact, the town is included…
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Saving woodies from the Boundary Water’s forest fires with, well, water.

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A huge thanks to Rabbit AGAIN, for making my life easier - Take it away. Here in the Land-o-Lakes, and across much of the country, we’re dealing with the choking smoke from the tragic wildfires in the northern Minnesota’s Boundary…
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Lil Jobs Between Big Jobs

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Having spent 45 years in the ad biz has taught me how to keep plates spinning. It is BTW the perfect job for folks with A.D.D. You have to be able to move from one job to another without hesitation. This can be brutal mentally if you are on…
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It’s So Ugly It’s Cool. Seriously.

Oh how far we have shifted stories today, Last week Riva perfection, and today....Only 300 made according to the listing,  And gotta say, in a Space Odyssey meets the Orb kinda way, it is, Ya know, I can't find the word. Iconic of the time…
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