More Than A Museum, An Experience.

, ,
I made it, after years of wanting to go, I went to the WW2 Museum in New Orleans. First off, this could be a two days, not two hours. But, it's how I process things. When I go to boat shows I do a once over and then go deep. Like really…
Read more

Sausage Jazz

,
New Orleans has inspired me to try a little something new. Sausage Day, but with no real plan. Not that anything is planned here. But I have this collection of images over the past week, and thought they would make some sausage out of them.…
Read more

I’d Rather Be Remotely Workin’ Than Workin’ Remotely.

,
Help, I have eat'n too much and I can't get up. Dang, I had some gooooood Thai food yesterday and Double Dog DANG! I have forgotten what flavor can be and how much fun it is to go out and eat. But today I am tied.. get it, tied, Thai...…
Read more

Meanwhile Up At Howe Marine, The Universe Is Staying In Ballence.

,
While the Mecum auction is a purge of sorts and flooding the market with rare, now not so rare stuff, Bob Murdock up at Howe Marine is making sure the classic boat world is staying in balance so it doesn't wobble off into the black hole…
Read more

The Big Auction Good For You, But?

If you are following the big auction taking place up in New Jersey through Mecum real time auctions, you no doubt are seeing something you like. And yes, like any auction, the prices right now are insane low. Like WTF low, as in no bids…
Read more

A Walk Around The Block

Each day, twice a day, we walk the dogs, or more accurately, they walk us. Murphy, who is 11 knows the route and where she is down to where the cats are, mean dogs, good sniffing area. Our job is to be there and clean up any poop. Yes, my…
Read more

No I Am Not Dead, Slow Morning In Woodyboaterville

Well that could be one of the most relaxing nights sleep in years. Not sure what I did right, but dang! And sorry about the late start for some, we are one hour later than normal. New Orleans time. It's been 90 here and actually not all…
Read more

Engine Decals For The Whaler

I am gonna get kinda deep here so you may want to get your boots out. I am having an internal debate, as one does. But I have a blank engine cover, and have several options. Leave it blank, factory correct decals, or a design of my choosing.…
Read more

What Every Boat Shop Needs – A Stripper Pole

,
Well, its cold and rainy and I had time off, but no boating, and the railway is clean, what can I do with my hands? A STRIPPER POLE will help. What? You pervs, I literally mean a stripper pole. Or a pole with strippers on it, which actually…
Read more

What’s More Valuable? The Cleat? Or The Paper?

I found these on ebay, and yes they are still there. I have not bought them, and right before I was about to, I thought to myself. mmmmmm, I have about 30 cleats sitting in a bin. Do I really need a set of NOS cleats? Or is it the paper…
Read more

Rib Sided Whaler Vs Smooth Side. Or Dick Fisher Vs Bob Dougherty.

,
So what is it about the rib-sided 21 Outrage that makes some people think it’s ugly as sin, while others see it as absolute perfection?  Me included. The rib-sided 21 Outrage story feels exactly like the kind of thing that could only…
Read more

Think A Pre War Chris Craft Aquaplane Is A Simple Endeavor To Make? Think Again.

,
Yesterday I had a great back and forth with Terry Fiest about pre war Aqua-Planes. Terry has been figuring out the details on rebuilding them for folks. He has built three and now looking into possibly making more. He was on the internet…
Read more

Last Survivor HollyCraft Race Boat? Museum? Or Meseum?

A huge thanks to fellow WoodyBoater Steven Boyko for sharing this find on the Hagerty Classified site. One quick look, and you instantly get the joy of this amazing little raceboat, and can feel the timeless of it all. The boat poses an…
Read more

Dolling Up The Old Pro – A Day At The Spa

,
I had the Sea pro sold, and well. The buyer is in in mid 80's and just wanted a simple boat to go fishing in. PERFECT! But he had some medical issues and his wife freaked out. SOOOO? I took the Sea Pro to the spa to make he feel better about…
Read more

“Cento Miglia: A Mahogany Hyper-Boat, Powered by a V12 Heart.”

,
Long time fellow Woody Boater Davide Glisenti of Glisenti Fine Wooden Boats who we all got to know years ago on Lake Como has designed and produced a new work of art with a heart of a beast. Oh! Read on, this is pure Italian Master craftsmanship…
Read more

The Economics of Cheap Passion

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Most old boats, cars, hot rods, and historic homes survive because at some point they were considered worthless. They were too old, too worn out, too outdated, or simply too expensive to maintain for what…
Read more

It’s Cheap Week, A Week Of Cheap Ways To Go Classic Boating

,
It's that time of year where you see all sorts of boat deals popping up, and with gas prices high, and new boats at insane prices, we here at Woody Boater thought it may be fun/informative/helpful to feature some great starter or alternative…
Read more

Too Many Boats, Not Enough Room… Or?

,
My name is Matt and I have a problem. I have Boat issues, and can't say no to a cool boat that needs help. In fact, I don't know how to say no at all. The good news is at work I have people. Some know people, I have No people. But at HQ,…
Read more

It’s A Sausage Babe Day.

,
First things first. Babes and Sausage could be misunderstood, or maybe not, ugh....ya know, todays story is just a land mine field of possible HR issues. So maybe it's best to just show the images, and let you get in trouble. …
Read more

How About Starting Your Boat Passion With A Feather Craft?

,
One may think I gotta thing for Feather Crafts. I don't. BUT, they are very cool, and a fantastic way to get into classic boating. No varnish or wood working. That comes next. Maybe a Whirlwind, or Yellow jacket. All these boats are very…
Read more

Whats Cooler? The Boat, Or The Trailer?

About 3 months ago I found this little boat on Facebook marketplace up in Lake Hopatcong. And quickly reached out to the seller feller, made an offer and bought it. Now, of course.. How do I get it? So, called Mr Kays, and he was able to…
Read more

1956 Feather Craft Rocket Pure Gold, Okay Anodized Gold Aluminum.

,
There is something very special about these little Feather Crafts. They are one of those designs that belong on a wall in a gallery. And of all of them, except of course the 1948 Feathercraft / Paragon Meteor which is INSANE, anyway I got…
Read more

Party At HQ Goes Off Without A Trailer Hitch

,
Yesterday the Boatress and her two partners Ryan Rogers and Mark Joyner of GoNNK Homes, had their annual client appreciation party. I was the clean it up crew, Which I like, working behind the scenes is my thing. I know seems strange, but…
Read more

Howard Hughs Dingy Get’s A New Life

Well, I thought the little tender could get restored. After a good cleaning, yikes, good god, its a bit swiss cheesy, and I could spend a year on it and have another boat I never use. Or want to to be bluntly honest. SO? …
Read more

SLIM Gets Some Snazz

,
It started as a simple clean up and refresh some paint on SLIM. The 1999 Tiffany Rowing skiff.  Which I havve found I used 2 times last year. So not really sure what its future is. But it will be decorative if someone  does drool all over…
Read more

I Feel So Connected To History Now

A huge thanks to Uncle Joe for sharing this little treasure with me yesterday. It's like a warm hug, telling me, it's okay to be like me.  And proof that maybe just maybe, WoodyBoater is a more accurate depiction of our little boating community…
Read more

The Next Project. A Trumpy….

,
A Trumpy Tender. Okay, okay, the click bait header is for shock, it was Howard Hughs 1939 Trumpy "Elinor", and this is the tender for her. NOT the Trumpy it'self. I am a fool, but well, thats an all you can eat buffet of foolishness. Left…
Read more

Have A Seat At The Chris Craft Table

Thanks to Bob Kays we have a fun little snack of history. A Chris Craft plant table. No, not a table for plants, But the factory. Okay, wait, if I said factory table you would have thought it was a factory table, not a table at the factory.…
Read more

Remember That Huge Oyster? Ya, It’s Gonna Be One Of Those Days

Now that HQ is cleaned up, I can also clean up some of the back log of things I promised folks. I am kinda still a little coo coo from the entire WoodyFloater project. I didn't really notice all the stuff I had ignored to make that happen.…
Read more

Whatz It Do?

One of our local Woody Boaters, Dennis C. who comes by from time to time was helping me install the fuel tank on B. Dennis is a great guy and a big time hydro racer from New Jersey. Sadly his Marina which was also a time capsule was wiped…
Read more

Adding Tiny Touches To B

,
Yesterday I decided to just  kinda give the pollen a chance to get it over with. Yes I have succumb to it's power. The good news is once...the dust has settled... it will be an easier job. I took the time to start adding and replacing parts…
Read more

Still Cleaning Up At HQ, It’s About Time After 4 Years

,
The Boatress is having a party at HQ in a couple weeks, and I have been trying to get the place cleaned up for it. And yes, I have cleaned up before, usually on Sundays in the summer, this one required a very deep clean. Not just a leaf…
Read more

The Other Shots From That Day At EJ Mertaugh Boat Works

,
We have all seen this image of EJ Mertaugh Boat Works, the first Chris Craft dealer in the country in 1925.  Mertaugh is still in business up in Hessel Michigan and a fixture up in that area of Michigan, if not in the entire Northern part…
Read more

Mike Greens Chris Craft Family Films Feature A Houseboat

This morning I found this comment from yesterdays story caught up in the filter that screens anything with a link. And was about to approve it, but thought. WAIT. This is gold, pure gold milk. Mike Green has a wonderful Youtube channel that…
Read more

Chris Craft Made Pre War Houseboat – Any Still Out There?

,
During the flurry of B resto chaos, I did come across a little moment. I was so focused on any 99 details, that I missed the housebout. Until one day on Ebay, I saw THIS. A 1936 Houseboat ad from Chris Craft. Now the image above is 1930?…
Read more

Everyone Should Drive A Four Banger Boat.

,
I learned something huge over last week, that driving the B engine is a sweet, nice, simple endeavor. Words like innocent, kind, romantic, joy, everyone that got behind the wheel felt it and had a smile on their face. But that wasn't the lesson…
Read more

Bo And Kathy Show Us Another Way To Go Woody Boating

, ,
Today we feature Atlas, and the Mullers. Bo and Kathy Muller as you may know are also working on a restoration of a model 99.  It's a stark contrast to the last three ish months of Woody Floater fodder. This is another way, and far nicer…
Read more

Ralph And His Lyman

We got this wonderful note from John Mears from Port Clinton, Ohio while we were in the throws of the Floater challenge so it got put in the freezer for when I got back. We also have some other cool stuff from the freezer, so stay tuned.…
Read more

Live-ish From Dora, One Word. Pastrami.

, , ,
Well we made it here around 2PM and are in the Dora HQ and LOVING IT. Shannon and Scott have made up an amazing place to stay on the Lake, and it's like a large family compound here. The park where the show is, kinda setting up, and there…
Read more

Retaining The Soul Of A Factory Part, I’m Speechless.

Okay, I may be speechless, but not wordless... today we are going to get rather zen, or deep into the real joy I find in this process. And I mean its gonna be deep. So get out your boots, I am more than fine, I love this SHIP. Are you ready. The…
Read more

Working Towards The Charm Time

,
Well… here we are. The Final stretch. And right on cue, things are starting to get a little “interesting.” Not full-blown disasters this isn’t one of those stories (yet) but the kind of stuff that makes you stop, stare at it for…
Read more

Happy St Patricks Day And A Tangential Moment

,
Yesterday was a cray cray weather/work day and when I was able to get over to HQ, Wayne and Dave were working away getting all the electrical going. Which turned out to be rather complex. Mostly ground wire issues. The cool part…
Read more

A Sign We Are Getting Close

,
Yesterday we had a sliver of a chance to get some stuff done before the wind and cold took over. Wayne Bomb was able to test some parts we repaired and some of them just failed, so a scurry to fix that. And the search for what we thought…
Read more

The Classic Boat Kairos

,
Yesterday I had a full day at the office, no breaks, so I headed over to HQ before light to get some stuff done. It was around 72 degrees, and man oh man am I happy I did that. Cause around noon, it was in the 30's here with snow. BTW, it…
Read more

It’s Getting Real Now

,
Okay, here we are. All the planning and getting stuff done is starting to all come together for Lake Dora. And yes, we are going to officially start the engine this morning at around 9:30 AM. Very dramatic I know, and if I could, we would…
Read more

Small Unnoticeable Details.

, ,
Yesterday we got back in business and was able to tackle some simple yet complex details. For example, the Stern flag pole. NO JOKES. And the fuel vent. And a new project.
Read more

Is My Pole Is Too Small? You All Are Pigs. Okay…We Are All Pigs.

,
Here at HQ, between work again, I have been tackling small projects that oddly turn into bigger ones. B didnt have her stern pole, so I am trying to configure out whats right or wrong. The good news is I have some options to play with. …
Read more