“If I Had More Money I Would Just Buy More Boats” – Bob Shapton
Bob Shapton at work!
Long time fellow Woody Boater and great guy Bob Shapton sent us in this very well produced video for Tekton Tools that he and our passion were captured. Bob nailed it big time and totally get why we are all doing this. Its great to see a film do that.
Bob restores outboards and many other things, boats, inboards, everything
One visit to his company website and you get a small flavor of How Bobs passion runs deep. Michigan Boat And Engine HERE
Bob again.
Tekton tools is a family-owned company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Bobs company is, Tekton has over 50 years of experience in the industry. Their mission? To provide the best hand tools you’ll ever own.
Amazing footage by produced by Baas Creative in Grand Rapids – Wonderful work by the way!
So without further adoo, here is the wonderful short film. Thanks again Bob, and Tekton for featuring our culture and a wonderful ambassador of it all!
Love it. And he’s right, more time + more money = more boats for me.
The logic is solid… great video, well shot and narrated.
What a lovely bloke! I could enjoy a beer with a gent like him and a whole weekend looking over his outboards and boats.
Very cool , I like that.
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Wow, I am surprised I had not heard of Bob and his shop. A new spot to visit next time I go over to the west side of the state. He even has a Dodge Power Wagon! Thanks for the great story
Anytime!
As for the Powerwagon, I’ve got this fun video which YouTube bumped off because of the music used. I’ll find that file and post it on my site this afternoon. Many thanks!
Bob
Whats with the Evinrue outboard, Bob?! Merc, man, Merc!
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Trying to please everyone!!!
Hi Mr Reynolds!!!!!
That is a very sweet looking Mercury – love the ‘cloud white’ used back then.
Welcome anytime!
As for the power wagon, there was a video that YouTube bumped because of the music used. I’ll find that and post it on my site…
Many thanks!
More money or more space. Always something holding us back. I only knew Bob to restore Gar Woods. Obviously so much more. Keep it going Bob.
Wait till you see Bob’s book on Gar Wood, he has been putting it together for years and its spectacular. It’s not done yet but its way cool. Bob is a true gift and his work is top shelf. He is into more hobby’s and has more passion. When I grow up I want to be just like Bob
Dude your the best, and yes the book is coming along nicely! Got so good time on it over the holidays. I found another stash and the book continues to grow!
Thanks so much pal!
Bob
Wow! Outboards! This could be the year of the outboards. I know it is in our local North Coast Ohio Chapter of ACBS.
To find someone who mechanically restores old outboard motors, particularly Mercury’s, with all the special tools needed, AND inboard wood boats, seems pretty special to me. Not many people around who will do both like that.
In the final analysis I am living Bob’s life…..he took several concepts right out of my playbook for life…..you don’t need more money just more quality time doing what you want and love. I managed to make a living out of my passion…and not old boats but old buildings….rent allows me to GO BOATING!
What lucky guys Bob and I are.
John in Va.
Certainly feels good, besides having smaller budgets provides creative solutions that usually are more successful. Buildings are just bigger boats.
Let’s go down with the ship!
Bob,
If you shop is open for viewing, where is it located? My wife and I will be down next week for the WWC Board Meeting in GR.
Sure is, as long as I’m there.
Address is 900 Wealthy St, Grand Rapids, 49506 located on the south side of the street between Eastern and Fuller. Just need a little notice. Nice race boat in here now.
Look forward to it.
Bob
Very Nice video,,good Job,Ive seen his High quality motors very nice,,Bill
Bob, you are a truly generous person. We so enjoyed the visit and cruise aboard your CC semi-enclosed cruiser on Lake Leelanau a couple of years ago. We also appreciate your Thank you also for the support you have shown for our son, Brian, and his Wagemaker Wolverine Boats website. Hope to see you next summer. Mike, Bonnie, and Brian Fogarty
Nicest Wagemaker on the water! What a great awards night for Brian at the Boat the Blue International Show in Port Huron. If you weren’t there you really missed something special. Best show I’ve attended. Looking forward to 2020 Bayharbor. Maybe I’ll have a Gar there!
Thx guys!
Glad to call Bob my friend and the only guy I found that restores old Mercury outboards. Bob did a fantastic job on restoring my 1959 Merc 35 hp that hung on the back of my Lake N’ Sea.
His shop is a great place to visit and see all kind of neat classic stuff.
The Coolest part is, that his shop is in a restored mid-century gas station, attached to an old Creamery from back in the same period.
He also has a great place up north on the shores of Lake Leelanau where we have had several memorable Water Wonderland Chapter picnics.
Thx Dennis! Summers are so nuts with the kids. Let’s try to pull that off again this coming summer, it’s great fun!
This is terrific Bob! Well done sir. We met at the Hessel and Port Huron show. I work at the Great Lakes Boat Building School. Would it ok to post your video? Chris Ritchie
Absolutely! Let me know if you need a certain file or just use the YouTube link.
Glad you liked it. Have your card right here on the bench!
Talk soon
Bob
Finally had a few minutes in the day to watch this GREAT video!
Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks to Bob for getting me in the sport and always lending help when needed. He’s passionately dedicated to his work just as much as he is helping others. His work is top notch, where details matter. Congratulations my friend on the video, it came out great!
Brandon,
We’ll have you up to 10 boats and 25 engines by March!
Great having you hooked!
Brandon has been scoring some amazing finds online. he knows I can’t say no! Someone say “20H with toilet bowl tower!”
Yea, it’s in there!
For those who don’t know him, Bob is the real deal. His genuine passion for all things vintage boats (well, vintage EVERYTHING to be more accurate) is unsurpassed. And he’s not only one who collects and restores, but also one who uses and enjoys. Our two-year old son still talks about “Mister Chap-Tin” taking him aboard his boat this past summer.
At the end of the day, it’s the memories made while using these boats – along time spent with friends old and new – that make the difference. So hats off, Capt. Shapton and Tekton – well done. I have no doubt that this video will go far in drawing many new fans aboard our hobby.
The next generation aboard Rena Belle…
And the trick William keeps talking about…
Oh boy, those two little guys are the best. Being on the water, tied up to the dock at glamorous Cove Island, Cuban Salsa music blasting, eating chips and seeing how high we can pour water into a cup. Those kids were going nuts! This is the stuff!!
The Rogers clan occasionally stops by to check on the trains and makes sure I’m distracted by another shiny object, of which there are many.
Heres our future looking right at us!!!
Oh, theres more!
Fantastic video.
Keep doing what you do, Bob!
There is a backstory to the film I’d like to share.
Of the 2.5 days of shooting and interviews most of the film was recorded in April 20, 2018 and the final shots June 28th running the boat on Lake Leelanau. As the early shots reveal RenaBelle’s hull is bare. Mark Baas (producer) thought it would be nice to shoot it finished and on the water. I was very reluctant to provide a completion date knowing the task at hand. There’s not to many days between the to dates and I had a huge client load.
Enter Griffin.
Griffin Sheline has been an apprentice in the shop for a few years now. He helped finish the 22′ Chris-Craft Sea-Skiff on my site and he’s very much responsible for pulling this off. While I was assembling and testing engines for shipping, he was sanding, filling, priming, painting, varnishing, putting hardware on, cleaning. With a little example or lesson, I would cut him loose. There is no way I would’ve finished this boat to film in time.
So bring youth into the formula, show young people how its done and why. Nothing is too precious or rare to allow fresh hands to touch, cut and wrench on. Further, its not about meeting a tight deadline. The real enjoyment is sharing, finding and talking about these works of art. Never thought I’d let anyone in this shop, he’s got full access and is running the place. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Today he’s working on one of the Gar Wood’s for 2020.
A 1941 19′-6″, one of 27 built, in-fact this one is registered as THE last one built, hull #6751 (yes, I know…finally, right!) which will lead to getting #6707 finished later. Then this book project Rob Schantz mentioned also slated for that show. Anyway, cheers to Griffin!!!
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Dear Bob,
Visceral, hands on passion.
No electronic gizmo will ever come close for our kind.
Never falter, teach the young, stay the course.
See you this summer.
The Cincinnati Kid
Congrats on the marina!! She’s a beauty. Great drone shots. I’ll try to bring the cruiser over, we’ve been talking about an inland trip. Prints are done, I’ll get them framed and to you. Thx.
Talk soon