Baby Gal Left At HQ Doorstep, Now What?

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Yesterday a fellow Woody Boater Danny Holden and local wood boat nut like us, showed up with a Baby Gal and left her at our door step. Yes, the poor dear had been out in the cold, heat, and cold again for decades. Clearly she had a full…
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Chop Chop, Or She Goes Chop Chop!

Today you get to play god! Yes, or maybe just Caesar. You have one day, and thats right now. Will you save this old lady from being fed to the chainsaw? Yes. CHAINSAW! RIP SAW, DRILL, and Possibly Fire pit. UGH! A slow and sad death to a…
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BOO!

How many times have you heard someone say, "I love wood boats, but they scare me"? This past two weeks of Sweet Pea painting I think I heard that once a day. Really? Whats there to be afraid of? paint? repair? ending up owning a railway?…
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That’s Really All I Desire. Not A Riva, Not A Railway, Just The Beautiful Work Of Art On My Bow.

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Rabbit has a small desire. Okay, lets make Rabbits dream come true. Certainly someone out there in the Woodyboaterville community has one they would part with. After all you would be fulfilling a life long dream. But I ask you this…
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What Was Your Kairos Summer Ride?

Every year around this time and seem to only remember one amazing ride. And it's never the one you think it will be when you go out. The ride becomes magical for a myriad of reasons. Sunset, engine performance, the company, location etc.…
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Gasping At The Railway

Since I have not gotten any more gasps, I thought you may want to see Sweet Pea getting some work. We are putting stainless straps, u bolts around her keel to support it since some of the keel bolts have lost some of there magic over the…
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Sweet Pea Needs A Makeover? Trawler Color Studies.

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We got Sweet Pea up on the rails the other day to repair a leak. I will add that this was one of the first up on the rail jobs I tried without George, who makes it look so so easy. 2 hrs later and 4 tries, I had to call in the expert, and…
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Good Year Or Good Beer?

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On my morning ebay paroooooooooz I found this little GoodYear outboard? Maybe I should know by now, I am the Woody Boater after all and should know everything.. Little secret.... I KNOW NOTHING! The more I think I know, the more I end up…
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Heart Breaking News – Chris~Craft Legend Christopher John Smith Passes Away

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BREAKING NEWS- This just in from Fellow Woody Boater Bob Braaf with the sad news. It is with great sadness that I inform you all that Chris~Craft Legend Christopher John Smith died this morning at his home near Holland, Michigan. He passed…
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The Ultimate Classic Boat For Your Nervous Family

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Have a nervous spouse about going out boating? And love classic boating. Well today is your lucky...or unlucky day. Because for a mear $4,500 before low balls you can own your very own LIFE BOAT! A real one! Not some rotten wood yard filler.…
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Mr Beach Blanket Bilge Party. Oh, It’s A Thing.

For the record I am not quite sure where the commas go on that headline. But? Oh well, it's 6AM and I am getting back to normal. Bad spelling and all. Grammar. Okay, Bilge watch. We got Janet-O in the drink yesterday, and she sure loves…
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Janet-O And Slow Starts

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For many of you early morning risers, Woody Boater has always been there for you. Me too. I always try and meet an 8AM deadline. But recently things have been a tad slow, and to top it off, the email widget is dead. And needs to be replaced,…
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Is There A Tollycraft Rumpus Dr In The House?

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Fellow Woody Boater Mark Kantor is in the process of restoring a 1957 Tollycraft 14' Rumpus and needs some help. Okay we all need a little help, his fortunately seems to be limited to just color related questions. Okay maybe some history…
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September Sunsets, Not So Fast Mr Gasp Man!

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September is the month around here in Virginia. Flat water, no humidity, and crisp sunsets around 6:30 ish, right before a nice dinner. And to top it all off, the Dolphins also feel the same way. We just rumble out to the Bay, and turn off…
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The Real Runabouts Show At Lake Minnetonka No One Looked At.

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Another huge thanks to Rabbit for sending in this report from Lake Minnetonka. I love these smaller shows that are the true heartbeat of our passion. EXCEPT, No one seems to actually be looking at the boats? mmmm? Take it way Mr Rabbit The…
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The Yip Yap Smack , It’s All The Rage At HQ.

Like I always say, if you have a disaster, don't cry, take pictures. I am not sure if I am all there, since when this happened, all I did was laugh. Then cursed, and then, click, click, click. Thats what doing Woody Boater is like now. All…
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A Master Recreates A Masterpiece

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A huge thanks to Rabbit for sending us in this very cool story. A MASTER RECREATES A MASTERPIECE. Imagine building a boat so beautiful that it inspires a man across the Atlantic, in the South of France, to spend an entire year meticulously…
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The Global In Reedville Virginia, Smashes Expectations.

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I am still kinda in a twirl. It's kinda like not going to your own party, at your own house? A very strange head space, and yet, worked out in such wonderful ways. The Reedville Show at Global HQ and the Museum, and for that matter the entire…
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Kent O. Smith Jr Has A Little Bitty Fun Torturing Us Smiths, With Some Burlington Fun!

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While here at the Global HQ we are getting ready, me at odd hours in a mask alone, and others jumping in to help. Kent O. Smith Jr is out having fun on the wonderful water of Lake Champlain in Burlington Vermont at the big ACBS International.…
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They’re Last Gasping On Lake Hopatcong. Happy ^%$*# Labor Day

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We got a report in from Bob Kays regarding water levels a couple weeks ago, and now the the water is so far down, they are having to pull some of the boats. I suppose labor Day marks the season end for a reason. But this is rather light…
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Self Indulgent Day. Hey, The Light Was Great.

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Yesterday morning , okay all weekend so far has been one of those perfect weather days. Light breeze, flat water in the AM, and Troy showed up late in the afternoon. Boat rides to work, dinner and home in the dark. A complete boating weekend.…
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Sweet Pea Is Floating. But Big Bubba Is Having Electrical Issues. AND Troy May Show Up! WTH?

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Yesterday one of the best guys in the area Charlie Biddlecomb from Marine Installations came by and installed two new bilge pumps, new fuse panel and wires. Dang! Problem one solved. as it keeping up with the flow. Next, this morning, she…
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Should We Have A Zoom Call For Zoomer?

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A couple days ago we did a classic Whatizit story for Zoomer, and you all came up with some amazing insights. Bo Muller chimed in "My best guess is a Welchcraft. The Welch brothers sold lots of kit boats in the 20’s and 30’s Lots were…
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It’s 3AM, Do You Know If Your Bilge Is On?

About a month ago we hit some heavy seas in Sweet Pea. Oh, it was fun.. I love that stuff. Anyway, since then, well... she started to leak a little more. I know what the issue is and was hoping to make it til fall to pull her and tighten…
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We Have A Real Whatizit Situation Out West Going On. Zoomer Needs Some Closer.

  Longtime fellow Woody Boater Brian Toye adopted Zoomer years ago. And to many of the citizens of Woodyboaterville is very familiar. But are we really? Brian has been searching for answers and just got a bit of a breakthrough. But…
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Bar Harbor Supper Club Serves Up A 5-Star Show – 2022 Gull Lake Classic

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By now most regular viewers here at Woody Boater know that the Gull Lake Classic at Bar Harbor in Minnesota has a reputation of serving up a 5-Star classic boat show at one of the best venues in the country. And once again, John Allen…
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The Reedville Show Prep Is Underway

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We got notes from Texx, and Kent that both events Gull Lake and Lake George have been captured, but for different reasons, we are not getting a story from them today. So.. Guess what you get. A Reedville Show Teaser. Cleaning up the…
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The 13th Gull Lake Classic at the Bar Harbor Supper Club is Today!

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Today, the 13th Gull Lake Classic at the Bar Harbor Supper Club in Minnesota is back, and back strong as ever with over 100 classic boats registered for this years big show. Ahead of this years show, on Friday, with perfect weather and…
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You Need To Feel The Gull Lake, Bar Harbor Super Club Experience This Weekend.

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If you live in Minnesota, okay the USA, okay, okay,  maybe Canada, okay three times,  maybe Europe, you should pop on by the Gull Lake Show this weekend. No really. This show is the future of classic boating. Why you ask? Because up in…
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Clayton Part Deux – On the River With Kent O. Smith Jr

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As promised, Kent O. Smith Jr has edited a bazillion images he captured while up in Clayton. Kent is in great demand now, and especially through boat show season. Wow, I am so thrilled to be able to bring you all his amazing talent. I cannot…
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Global HQ Updates, Reedville Show, And Wayne Bomb Sausage Day

Okay to be clear, we are not talking about Mr Wayne Bombs Sausage. Lets get that out of the way right away. And yes we have a part duex from Clayton from Kent O Smith Jr, but he is trying to curate the finger in the shot shots now, since…
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Drive By Shooting In Hessel.

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A huge thanks, and belly wacker laugh from fellow Woody Boater Mark Schallip. Gotta say, this type of report makes my heart sing. When I do one of these, I call them "a drive by shooting".Not to offend the folks that do actual drive by shootings.…
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Steve Natales Report From Tahoe Just Got Here From Appalachia. Don’t Ask, It’s Complicated.

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Looooooong time fellow Woody Boater Steve Natale reports in from Lake Tahoe. Steve BTW has gone on to become a Youtube star in the classic car universe. Links below. Anyway, Steve Natale's images got here late yesterday, while the other…
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Welcome To The Thousand SmIslands

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Here is part one of the Clayton report from Kent O. Smith and there is more to come next week. I smell a East West Shoot out with Tahoe. Maybe we can make a Claytoe show. The largest show in North America.  Anyway, enough of my ramblings…
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While We Wait We Have A Dynamite II? III? Story?

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A huge thanks to longtime fellow Woody Boater Walt Stashkiw for this write up of an amazing restoration of Dynamite III. How you restore Dynamite is well, another story. And as you read, if you read it at all. I know you read Woody Boater…
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Sons Of Varnish Move Into Indiana

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Watch out Indiana, lock up your Woman's, Men, Partners, Significant Others, POSSLQ's, Sheep, whatever floats your boat. The Sons of Varnish are now in your area. And they got some varnishing to do. Not a metaphor, they really like Varnish..…
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Kevlarbike Reports In From Toronto It’s Like A Crossover Report.

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A huge thanks to longtime fellow Woody Boater Kevlarbike who is also a monster on Instagram and Facebook. We have been sharing stuff since the very start of WoodyBoater and its fantastic when it all comes together in one place. Kinda like…
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Late-ish Happy B – Day Molly – O And An Update On Her Trip Through Reed-ville

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It's time to drink a little sip more of milk on our Algonac adventure a month ago. Yikes, time flies. And the highlight of that event was the trip Art made to Reedville. Not HQ Reedville but Algonac's Reedville, and Our Art, not art like…
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Using Some Windshield Factor For Good – Boat Rides

Sitting inside scared to venture out into the inferno? Back in the day the solution was to get in the shade, or go for a ride in anything that creates a breeze. So thats exactly what we did. Around 6 ish we decided a boat ride is what the…
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Being Cool, Staying Cool. Woody Boater Style.

Have you opened the door yet? Its like opening an oven. Not kidding. YEEEIKES. Here its in the mid 90's but the air is so thick its miserable. The funny part is its all what you are used to. The kids are here from New Orleans to cool off.…
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A HQ Hodgepodge

One of the greatest joys of being at HQ is seeing folks up on the rails keeping their boats going. After about a year and a half, the railway is running smoothly..ish and that makes my clogged heart warm as well. Hell everything is warm…
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Early Morning Rides, Bimini Tops, It’s The Dog Days Of Summer.

It's hot here at HQ, and humid as hell. If Hell is humid. Not sure anymore, hell could be an air conditioned cubical in a generic office park. So.. I suppose we each have a version of hell to run from. Thats mine. Anyway,…
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Legacy of the Lakes Diamond Classic Boat Show

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A huge thanks to fellow Woody Boater Lee Wangstad for sending in this great report from Legacy Of The Lakes Dianond Show.  Take it away Lee, it's all yours, nice spelling and all. SHOW OFF! Jon Steinbring with his 1948 Chris-Craft…
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The Warners Go On Holiday.

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Meet George and Biffy Warner, they are from out east, and went on there summer holiday to the family place in McCall  Idaho. Turns out Biffy's father was well off since he was the first to sell vast amounts of potatoes to a big potato chip…
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OH GAD ZOOKS – THIS AGAIN!

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It's almost like each engine is taunting me. This is one of the most amazing big Sportsman out there, and yet, no one has got it yet so I can sleep at night. Please. someone buy this twin K pre war masterbeast. PLEASE. Thankfully I do not…
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Summer Sausage Saturday

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I am clearing out some of the tid bits of potential stories today. The lips and snouts of stuff that on its own would not make a great story, and yet, all mashed up together make a yummy treat of comment fodder. And of course your comments…
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Moonlight Bay Always Shines, Even When I Don’t.

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First an apology, I had some mental issues yesterday morning. New software, Dog poop that pissed off the Boatress, PDF's that would not cooperate, and well. SHIP HAPPENS as Lee said. HA, BUT  A huge thanks to fellow Woody Boaters Lee Wangstad…
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Meet Ziggy, The Newest Member Of The Woody Boater Family.

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Today we officially introduce Ziggy! The Berlin Beuro and Suzy2's new love child. Ziggy is a Portugese Water Dog, like the kids dog was when the they were young. And of course the secret password to almost everything. Not anymore BTW. We…
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