D-17-004 Chris Craft Rocket Needs Your Plastic Plaid Help!

, ,
We are using the vast WoodyBoater network to create the perfect plaid interior for what could be the of the oldest surviving 1953 Rockets on the planet. Of the 243 hulls made and 136 Rockets made, of this special boat, only 48 had plaid…
Read more

Home Again, To Hall’s Boat On Lake George For Mom’s Mink’s 70th Birthday!

,
A huge thanks to fellow WoodyBoater David Shepler for sharing his wonderful journey to Lake George and Hall's Boats. The original home of Mom's Mink, his amazing Gar Wood. Looks like David sure had a fantastic time! At the bottom of this…
Read more

Chrome, Perfect Chrome Meets Varnish, Perfect Varnish!

,
Well, here it is in all its glory. Our Graves Plating Chrome is home! And mother of god its perfect. Its so crisp and clean you can't tell where the boat starts and the chrome ends. Its not just the shine, but the amount of specail work…
Read more

Lemonhead Is Gearing Up The Whitefish Chain Boat Show This Weekend! Will She Make It?

,
Remember the Super Rat Turd story? Well, be prepared to drop your jaw! Longtime fellow Woody Boater Mark Setterholm has had a busy winter and part of the fun is bringing a little smile to the classic boat community at the Whitefish Chain…
Read more

Rocket Prop Talk!

,
Thanks to fellow WoodyBoater Mark Bigda AKA "Rocket man" for sending in this story on his Rocket prop experience. Isn't that name of a country song? Good Ole Rocket Prop? Maybe not. Anyway, his experience with size and ordering a new prop.…
Read more

UPDATE – WECATCHEM Is Getting Close! Stinky, Well, Still Stinks!

Well, yesterday didn't seem to flush out "Dim" So here is another WECATCHEM and Stinky update. Dim, here is a Katzs Marina link just for you! Yes KATZ'S MARINA. Who by the way has been killing it! The work is amazing. Where you ask? KATZ'S…
Read more

WECATCHEM’s Gauges Are Getting Ready To Perform From Kocian Instruments

,
The folks at Kocian and us here thought it might be fun, OK, not hey let's go boating fun, but fun as in interesting fun to look at a set of gauges getting taken apart and put together. These are from our 1948 Chris Craft as you may know,…
Read more

Sending Chrome To Get Done? It’s Always More Parts Than You Think.

Over the past weeks, we have been talking about the cost of things. It's almost impossible to answer that question in a blanket way. One huge reason is because each part, and boat is different. When you are about to send chrome out to the…
Read more

How Much Sould You Be Charged To Work On Your Boat? $1.49 An Hour!

You want to read more don't you? Well, thanks to fellow Woody Boater Jim Dunn for sending us in these two receipts for having work done on a Dodge boat and a Correct craft. He pointed out that on the bottom of the second one there is a notation…
Read more

The Final Coat Of Varnish! Oh, Man Oh Manischewitz!

,
Get out the Manischewitz! It's getting close to party time at Katzs Marina. The final coat is on WECATCHEM and as Bob Kays said,"she is spectacular". Imagine a 25 Sportsman with the perfect Katz's Marina finish. I must say that its one thing…
Read more

Thermal Imaging, OK, That’s Officially A Topic I Thought We Would Never Talk About Here On WoodyBoater.

,
Thanks to Mike Mayor of Lake Oswego Boat Co, for sharing this out of the stuffing box topic. Now, of course once you read the story you will start thinking of other crazy stuff like this. Like the time I wanted to create an MRI for your…
Read more

Stinky And WECATCHEM Are Together At The Spa!

,
This week while on a production for work in the NYC area we had an opportunity to visit our pals at Katzs Marina. We also brought Stinky to have her Van Ness repaired engine installed and any small issues on Stinky fixed.  We also got a…
Read more

Stinky’s Engine Gets A Beauty Makeover From Dave VanNess!

Over the winter we drove Stinky's Engine up to Dave VanNess for him to look it over and figure out why she wouldn't go over 2,000 rpm. Well, as it turns out it wasn't just one thing of course. It was several, including needing a valve job,…
Read more

Update on WECATCHEM – I Am Feeling Unnatural Thoughts About My New Varnish Finish!

,
Ya! I went there. Is it wrong?  She is 10 years older than me? And man oh man, does she look mighty fine. The best looking 68 year old I have laid eyes on. Just imaging running your hands on that warm varnish! mmmmm. OK, I need to think…
Read more

Putting Sides On A Riva Super Aquarama At Sierra Boat Company

,
Thanks to the Sierra Boat Co gang for sending in this cool report on Side Replacement For A Riva, not your average in the barn type of repair. Sierra Boat Co. is one of the leading places in the U.S for you to have your Riva worked on. Sierra…
Read more

Spring Forward Your Classic Boat Clocks Today!

,
While WECATHEM is being given a complete spa treatment at Katzs marina, we had the Gauges out to Kocian Instruments for a fix up and we sent the clock to be cleaned and fixed by fellow Woody Boater and Clock Doc, Bob Larson. Now we…
Read more

Are You All Set For The Big Flip Tomorrow! SUNDAY! LIVE 3PM CENTRAL TIME!

Mark C, sent us in some fancy drawings he did to make sure it all went well. See Marks brother is an engineer and his cousin is a truss engineer, they did the math and it's all good thankfully! Mmmmm We are talking about a wood boat though.…
Read more

I Want To Roll Around Naked On My Freshly Sanded And Stained Boat!

Ya, I am insane. And this sort of mahogany promiscuity might explain the visits to the ER.  Am I a Mahoganist? A term for those that have a deep desire to feel the freshly sanded grain of a mahogany Hull? Mmmm, the photos of WECATCHEM coming…
Read more

Adding Some Vintage Goodness To A New Outboard

,
Thanks to Scott Turner from Aristocraft boats for sending us in this fun report on how they vintagize a new outboard. You may have seen these at various shows they attend, and now here is how its done. Take it away Scott. Years ago when…
Read more

The “Sexiest Man Alive” Visits Mike Green At Maritime Classics And All They Talk About Is Boats?

,
Fellow Woody Boater and "Sexiest Man Alive" Tommy Holmes has another fun report. Thank the Gods of Mahogany and Varnish for Tommy and his travels! This time Tommy vists fellow Woody Boater Mike Green for some fun flipping a boat and drooling…
Read more

Gang Of Katzs Attacks My Boat!

After dropping WECATCHEM off on Monday night, on Tuesday morning the gang of Katz's started in on stripping her down and exposing her  naked mahogany. The good news. She is tight, and in very good shape. The original family took very good…
Read more

Hail Mary Late Night Drive To Katz’s Marina, And Back!

Around 2Pm on Monday looking forward to a week of bad weather and the crush of humanity on the DC area, knowing I had to get WECATHCHEM to Katz's Marina to start her refresh ASAP, and pick up Scarlet Jimmys 1960 Sportsman. Jimmy and I decided…
Read more

Remembering Old Friends – This Is What Woody Boating Is All About.

A huge thanks to fellow Woody Boater Kent Volmerding for sending us in this touching heart felt message about his passion of rebuilding, and now building a boat. It's a reminder to take a moment and thank those around us that make it possible…
Read more

Tumble Home Curves By Tommy “Sexiest Woody Boater Alive” Holm

Thanks to Tommy Holm for sending in this fun report! Take it away Tommy! I didn’t have anything else to do - while I was challenged by some quarter round half inch thick covering boards on my Woody Boat - so I traveled on over to Stronach,…
Read more

Tommy Holmes – Woody Boaters Sexiest Man Alive Reports in From CD’s Engine World

Cub Reporter Tommy Holmes reporting in from Michigan with his first Winter 2016-2017 shop tour. Russ Arrand of Cadillac Boat Shop had a engine pickup scheduled so I tagged along due to having nothing to do. We traveled to Hudsonville, Michigan…
Read more

Eric Zelman And His U22 Restoration In Photos! Lots Of Photos.

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater and neighbor Eric Zelman for sharring with us his expeience with Gary Lowell down in North Carolina. We met Gary at Smith Mountain Lake last year and he is a peach of a guy. Although, he is not in Georgia,…
Read more

Super Turds And Green Bilges! Today On Woody Boater!

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Mark Setterholm for sending us in some Super Mouse Turds and what is a special Sea Foam bilge color! I will add that we are always impressed with Marks amazing set up and now the skills of his mice! "We…
Read more

Have You Been To The New Antique Boat Center Website?

,
OK, this is kinda old news. In fact I know it is, since we reported on the new site over a year ago. But its gotten better and filled out nicely. As is hands down the best website in the Classic Boat community. Sure there is the new ACBS…
Read more

Mark Settterholm Shows Us His Underthings!

,
Fellow Woody Boater Mark Setterholm is enjoying the process of restoring a wonderful U22 and we thought... mmmm ya know it might be cool to see some original canvas that's sandwiched between the inner and outer planks on an original bottom.…
Read more

A Hurricane Workshop At Smith Mountain Lake

, ,
Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Eric Zelman for reporting in from Smith Mountain Lake at this weekends Workshop. Almost 4” of rain in 24 hours didn’t keep the SML crew out of the workshop. The doors opened at 8:30 at Bill Garrecht’s…
Read more

We Guarantee No One Will Have One Of These At Tahoe!

,
There sure are alotta fancy classic boats out on Lake Tahoe this weekend at the big International Show. But no one, and I mean no one will have a Baseball crammed in their E-X-H-A-U-S-T pipe like this one from fellow Woody Boater Mark Setterholm.…
Read more

Mark Bigda – Rocket Man!

,
Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Mark Bigda fro sending in an inspirational story about getting his Rocket back to life! After several failed trips to New Hampshire in search of a project boat (all were barely skeletons with a small amount…
Read more

Guess What I Am Doing This Weekend? Rated R!

After being away from my Baby, Barrel Back Barn Find for two weeks I am ready to make sweet love to her, and get her set up for her big appearance at the Smith Mountain Lake Show in a week. The "plan" is to get her started this weekend with…
Read more

Sir, I Say Sir, Do You Have A Chris Craft Portable Fog Horn?

,
Along with the tools, of course you need a factory fog horn. And yes I tried it. Guess what it sounds like a horn. Thanks again to Jim Staib of Fine Wood Boats for supplying one of these with the random tools. I suppose these are needed when…
Read more

Looking For My Chris Craft Tool Bag.

,
In my quest for woody boater perfection, I am looking for any information on the 1948 tool kit for WECATCHEM. Yes, I am sorry to hijack Woody Boater for such a thing, On the hull card a tool kit is part of the inventory needed. I have seen…
Read more

Algonac Marine Cast – Every Part Of You Wants To Read This!

, , ,
The absolute high lite of the Algonac trip was a short...to short visit to Algonac Marine Cast, formerly known as Algonac Cast Products. What ever their new name is, this is the mother load of original parts for your classic boat. Really!…
Read more

An Old Trick To Keeping Your Brite Work Clean!

, ,
One of the wonderful things about having a nice Woody Boat is how beautiful the brite work looks in the glimmering sun. The depth and luster of glowing wood grain makes even the most boring ride, exciting. BUT, in our area in brackish water…
Read more

The New Zipper Is Here, The New Zipper Is Here!

I feel like Steve Martin in the Jerk when he gets his phone book with his name in it. It feels like such a small dumb thing, but seeing the mail man show up with my new LENZIP #10 Aluminum zipper for my convertible top cover made my day!…
Read more

Could Someone Please Lend A Hand With Suzy’s Zipper?

For those of you following the story on Suzy's need to put a top on her. Here is the latest thing she needs. When we got the top we only could find the metal bars. A gold mine for sure. But no soft top as a reference or pattern. There is…
Read more

Mariah, On Golden Pond U.S. Mail Boat Is Down To Just Skin And Bones.

Here are the latest snaps of Mariah undergoing massive surgery at Katz's House of Beauty. WOW! Work is progressing quickly. The pictures speak for themselves.OK it's not like they talk.. Its just that what you see is whats going on.. If…
Read more

Classic Boat Screw Trivia – By Herb Pocklington

,
A while back a Woody-watcher took another to task for saying Chris-Craft were held together by "Reed & Prince" screws...... not "Phillips-head" screws as alleged. Actually they were "Frearson-head" made by Reed and Prince (then in Worcester…
Read more

Barn Wood. A Rare 1948 Chris Craft Barn Find.

,
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…
Read more

Fear, The Classic Boat Comunities Worst Fear!

, ,
I have been on the phone with many of the big brokers, and watched on eBay as well as done some good inner soul searching. And here is what I have found. Rust, Rot, Sun, Neglect, Salt Water, all combined do less damage than just plain old fear…
Read more

Classic Wooden Sunfish Sail Boat.

,
What a great week. No internet. No Cell Phone. No TV, Cable, Ipods, spam, twittering, Wifi, NOTHING, but family and friends. Funny thing, I actually spoke to my children and wife for the first time in a while. mmm, I actually like them, should…
Read more

Chris Smith Signs Sylvia!

, , ,
What a day. Chris Smith, Grandson of Chris Smith the father of Chris Craft, came by and we had a great conversation, he officially christened Sylvia with his touch and signature on the dash. What a great way to re introduce Sylvia to the world.…
Read more

Woody Boater Of The Month. Joe Martell.

, ,
No one has done more to move the Antique & Classic boat community to action more than Joe Martell this month. He has brought a behind the scenes ugly argument in the Antique & Classic boat community to the for front. Joe is the DB Cooper…
Read more