Live From New Zealand ” The Air Smells Of Oil And Varnish. “

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The day dawned crystal clear in the Capital, a good omen for the 40 minute flight across the Cook Strait to the sunshine city of Nelson. A strong black coffee in the Air New Zealand lounge was all we needed before climbing aboard the twin…
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Starting Out In Auckland – Liveish Reports Are Coming In From New Zealand

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A huge thanks to Steve Lapkin and Phil Andrews, AKA "Duster" for starting out the pre game festivities from New Zealand.  Here is Steves report that arrived late last night, which was really 4 AM tomorrow, which is really today here. So…
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Is Today The Last Day I Could Make It To The 25th Annual New Zealand Boat Show?

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So, I had a wild hair, okay at my age, I have lots of wild hairs. I mean eye brows, ears? It's crazy. Anyway I digress during your breakfast. Sorry. Anyway, I thought. mmmmmm? I wonder if I hopped on a plane today and flew to new Zealand?…
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25 ish Days Til Dora, Are You Ready?

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This is that time of year when stuff starts happening FAST. We are all happy tucked away in our winter blues, and BAM before you know it, you are scrambling between snow storms to get SHIP done.  Like in 4 Weeks. Things you may want to double…
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Ron in Seattle Reports In From The BIG Seattle Boat Show!

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It is the largest boat show on the Left Coast, Lumen field is 325,000 sq/ft, and about 300 exhibitors. Our space assigned to us by the Northwest Marine Trade Association was about 2500 sq ft. Again this year, we had our “Boat Show” within…
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Syd Reports In From The Finger Lakes Boat Show.

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If you have ever thought, mmmmm, I wonder if just a few of us showed up at one of the winters pre spring boat shows with our boats. You may just think it away as idle thought. I mean what sort of impact could just a couple of us have on…
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The Lake Hopatcong Films, It Just Gets Better.

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Today we pick apart each scene looking for gold, and it does not disappoint.  Especially if you can connect the shots in a way that tell more of the story. It's a funny thing, not a funny HA HA thing, but observation. Today we have video…
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39, Wait, 38, Okay 30 Days til Lake Dora, The Relaxing Way to Visit

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It's officially 39 Days until the big opening day of Classic Boat Season Ya ya ya, I know. But Lake Dora kinda is an emotional trigger to get ready for the 99% of us that don't live in Florida. Now, here is the real trick, show up early.…
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It’s Gonna Be 70 Today Here In Virginia, Do I Dare Dora Dream?

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Here we go, the wackiness of February around here. 70 one day, 25 the next.  I know john Rothert is gonna go for sure. And maybe I will take Sweet Pea over to the global HQ. I need to help pull a boat up on the rails for a quick fix, so…
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The First Day of Summer: AKA The Minneapolis Boat Show

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A Huge thanks to Rabbit for this fun report from the 2025 The Minneapolis Boat Show. And a day off from Bold Claims that I make up to generate a response. Which has worked BTW. So, with that said. Is the The Minneapolis Boat Show the best…
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More Bold Claim Week Bold Claims. Is The Cobra The King Of Production Woody Boat Extreme Styling? Or?

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Todays bold claim is about extreme styling in production models of classic boats. I feel the need to qualify that claim in the Production category, I suppose there is always some sort of crazy one of design out there.  And within this narrow…
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Is The 12 Ft Lyman The Best Small Outboard Boat Ever Made?

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For the record, I love smaller classic boats. Not sure why, cause the water I live on is NOT  small boat friendly on most days. But I do love the compactness of these little ones, and they display nicely. Yes that may sound a bit over the…
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Keeping The Positive Vibes Going For 2025 – Thanks Holly Webber

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Today we have some more Webber joy, Holly's images bring a smile to my face, and heart. I love how one can find the soul of each photographer in these shots. The shoot outs we feature here are some of my favorite moments of show reporting.…
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Woods & Water II The Emergence Of The The Super Boat Event

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I have been reporting on so called shows now for close to 20 years here at WoodyBoater. And I have noticed a pattern of sorts.  The biggest one is that that many of the shows are in fact not shows. I know I know, Hold on. For example, There…
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Forty Pines Gar Wood Flagship Update – Manny Thanks

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Remember Manny's Gar Wood Flagship we featured being redone at Sierra Boats last year? Well. Here she is. And she is real and spectacular! The 1941 Flagship was shown first time recently, in public, at the 2024 Tahoe Yacht Club concourse Here…
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Late Live-ish From The Finger Lakes, Okay, Really Late, Late Live-ish

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Another shout out to Syd's Text Message Museum. Fellow Woody Boater Syd Marsdin sent us in this report from the late 1980's from the Finger Lakes ACBS Chapter show at the island at Emerson Park on Owasco Lake NY. Hey better late than never?…
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Now That The Weather Sucks, You May Want Some Woods & Water Swag & Brag

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Want to look like you went to the Woods and Water event of the Century? Impress all your ordinary friends with your classic boat prowess. You can strut around and blabber... "Oh ya, I had dinner with John Allen and cocktails with Lee…
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Blackhawks Get Ready For The Big Show On Geneva Lake

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If you are in the Chicago area, the Blackhawk Chapter of the ACBS is having their show this weekend. And they had a river cruise through Chicago as a fun lead up. Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Peter Medins for sending us in some nice pics of…
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Okay, Just One More Woods And Water Story

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It's official, Woods And Water will now be called, Woods And Milk. I gotta say, not only was this clearly the best event EVER, but the milking has been epic. Like our Royal Wedding milking. Oh sure the restoration of Zip sure was up there.…
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Monday Clean Up After The Big Woods And Water Week

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Well, there we go. You go, it goes. I am sure there is some sort of serious anxiety hangover going on up in Minnesota, and folks around the planet are actually looking forward to my latest screwdriver pick. YA, sorry about that. I know,…
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Cleaning Up Leftovers From Wood And Water II

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What can one say about the epic Woods And Water event that hasn't now been said a bazillion times on ever social media platform known to mankind. I know many of you don't use all the platforms, sadly I have to for a multitude of reasons,…
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Exclusive From Woods And Water Images By Steve Lapkin – HORNET II And MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Friday dawn, as in last evening before the big jaw dropper at John Allens little get together in his car port. We have some very exclusive images of HORNET II for all of us regular folk to drool over. Oh trust me, they are all having…
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Woods And Water Hump Day

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If you are following all this action then you gotta know that we are about to get real with the boat SHOW part of the party. And last night was the big welcome party at Fort Mahogany. John Allens version of the Woody Boater HQ. Okay, the…
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Another Shootout At The Meeting At Brainerd Lakes.

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A huge thanks Again, to Steve Lapkin, Dane Anderson and Holly Weber for sending in some epic photos. And also giving me and all of us, the different ways artists see the same event. It's not the camera, it's the soul of the photographer. “HANDS…
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Live From Woods And Water Dane, Steve and Holly Report In.

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It's 5Am and I am confused. Overwhelmed and WOW! I have three reports. And not quite sure how to mash them together. Steves came in needing permission, so those images will be used later. UPDATE - Images are here, so you may need to hit…
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Live From Gull Lake. Steve Lapkin Reports In

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Here we go! The Big Woods And Water reports are starting to trickle in on Facebook and other areas. But here on Woody Boater we are lucky enough to have reporters and eyeball embedded on the lake and in may areas. A HUGE thanks to Steve…
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The Boat Show Hangover

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If you have ever participated in the behind the scenes of putting on a boat show/event thing. No doubt you know the feeling the day after. Kinda in a haze. Everything is quiet and calm. How the Woods and Water gang is gonna feel is going…
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Reedville, Buffalo, Smith Mountain Lake And? Oh Ya, Woods & Water, Almost Forgot.

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As we are getting closer to the big day. Tomorrow, folks around the country are scrambling to get ready for guests and some fun. Here in Reedville finishing touches are being done like an all nighter in school/work.. I am sure the same is…
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Getting Ready For The Reedville Show This Saturday – Full Throttle Ahead.

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Believe it or not, there are other shows happening around the country still. Buffalo this weekend, and the Reedville Show. Now, the Buffalo show is a great show, and the Reedville Show is a small intimate casual event for sure. The Reedville…
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Woods & Water II Preview Part 6: The Show!

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Well, here we are. The end of the preview. Gotta say. WOW! Rabbit has knocked it out of the park and more importantly, the entire Land O Lakes Chapter has as well. Actually, it looks like the entire sate of Minnesota has. As John Allen once…
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Woods & Water II Preview Part 4: Even MORE Pre-Events

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And just when you thought Rabbit would run out of steam. There is even more moreness. One could say the event is ENmorness. Sorry Rabbit, I know, I know, that one stunk up the fist couple paragraphs. I am so sorry...;NOT! Woods &…
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Woods & Water II Preview Part 3 (Sidebar): Supper Clubs of the Northern Lakes

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Director of Tourism Rabbit has given us yet another part to the event of the decade/century, SUPPER CLUBS. Not to be confused with super clubs, which of course they are. And if you show up in your Woodyboat. Well it surly becomes a super…
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Woods & Water II Preview Part 2: North to the Brainerd Lakes

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Here we go with part 2  from Rabbit of what will be the event of the decade, if not the Century... Years, not boats, although I am sure there will some Centurys there. Boats, not years. OH sorry Rabbit. I will just step back from the keyboard…
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A Break From The Bitch’n – Gull Lake Late Live-ish Report

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As the Boatress will say when I am "discussing" things, are you done? So, here we go. Back to Gull Lake and the final story from Dane Anderson of the show. Not the upcoming show BTW, this is the one from last week. Pre ACBS meltdown, so…
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Gull Lake This Weekend, Not To Be Confused With Gull Lake The International.

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A HUGE shoutout to Looooooooooongtime fellow Woody Boater Dane Anderson for sending in this report from Gull Lake. Not of course to be confused with the big ACBS International there in September. Although, let's be honest with our decomposing…
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It’s Confirmed, There Was A Show In Hessel. We Have Proof!

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Well, here we are doing our journalistic due diligence. Three different sources have confirmed that in fact there was a Hessel Show. Ya, I know, we all know there was, and has been and will always be. But I have three reports so it is official…
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What’s Boating Like In Northern Michigan In Early August? It’s like Christmas Week!

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A huge thanks to longtime Woody Boater David Irvine for sending in this wonderful report from Northern Michigan. The Water Wonderland Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society was in the water a LOT the past week! Bob Shapton…
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The Lake Tahoe Roar Selfie Off 2024

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Well, here we are again. The end of another amazing Lake Tahoe show, and nothing exemplifies that more than the Roar Off. Another huge thanks to Steve Natale for sharing some clicks of the moment. And of course I get to make up the captions.…
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Thunderbird Start Up – OH HELL YA!

A huge thanks to fellow Woody Boater Robert Lyman who had the chance to be this close to Thunderbird when she started up. WOW. Here is Roberts note. Found myself at a great location to video record Thunderbird’s “Roar-off” around…
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Live-ish From Lake Tahoe – Steve Natale Reports In.

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Here we go. Lots of dock shots. But mamma mia, that is some sort of amazing dock stuff. WOW. WOW WOW. The light there is amazing, and the boats are CAAARAZY! GAAAAAAAARWoods and all. Thank you so much Steve for sharing. Now everyone else,…
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More Clayton Clicks From Holly Webber

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As promised we have some more clicks from Holly from Clayton and the big Boat show up there last weekend at the Antique Boat Museum in the Thousand Islands. Getting these images is a true effort and we deeply appreciate the talent and time…
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Chapter 3 Of 3 On Tahoe: The People Make The Place

Thanks AGAIN to Steve Lapkin and the good folks on Lake Tahoe for...for... well, being amazing people. THIS WEEKEND!!!!! Tahoe. How large is this lake? The water in Lake Tahoe is enough to cover the entire size of California to a depth…
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Live-ish From Clayton – Holly Webber Reports In

Fellow Woody Boater Holly Webber reports in from the slow boat in the parade from Clayton. The good news for all of us, Holly has a great camera, and even better eye. Just one of them, no idea what the other eye see's. But the one eye is…
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Chapter 2 On The Wooden Boat Legacy Of Lake Tahoe

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One of these days, let’s presume, we may just run out of adjectives as opposed to good friends or our dear antique and classic wooden boats. Lord help us in holding on to colleagues, family, and boats! Veteran boats. These possessions…
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Late Live-ish Butchered 1st Annual Larson Boat Show Report.

A huge thanks and apology to fellow Woody Boater Tom McGowan for sending in a report from the Larson Boat Show  In Nisswa Minnesota with the help of Susan Young, Roger Moberg and Lee Wangstad. BE WARNED. This report came in, in several…
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Let The Tahoe Teasers Begin – “WHAT TAHOE HAS MEANT: WERE IT NOT FOR TAHOE”

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This is a very special time across the US of A. Elections? NA, Olympics? NOPE! Yup. It's Classic Boat show season. And the Big Tahoe Show and Clayton show are the biggies of the current time. With Gull Lake capping off the year in September.…
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The Coolest Poster Ever Done For A Boat Show

The big Clayton show this year has a very very cool poster, and it warms my heart to have the arts like this be a wonderful part of our small community.  I am unclear if the art is some art from back in the day, or new. And if its new. WELL…
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Blue Sky, Blue Water, Blue Happiness – The Algonac Boat Parade 2024

A Huge thanks to longtime fellow WoodyBoaters Greg and Marianne Lewandowski for sending in a report from the Algonac Classic Boat Parade. Woohooo and I get to make up the captions. As I mentioned on WB a couple…
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