Lowell Boatworks In Greensbouro NC
I had never heard anything about Dixie Boats?
I am asked all the time for folks in the southern part of the country if there is anyplace to get your boat restored or worked on, one such place is Lowell Boats in Greensboro NC, sooooo, a couple weeks ago Jimmy, Wayne Bomb and I made a road trip go see for ourselves. Okay, we also went to pick up some BBQ. Gary Lowell was there and greeted us and gave us the nickel tour. WOW. What a cool set up, what a huge set up… and the second you enter you see stuff that you want to know more about. And thats exactly the way Gary has set the place up. All about learning and teaching. Giving folks an experience thats positive and informative.
Dixie restored and just wow! There is a Dixie Facebook page, and if you google around alot of plastic. But very little wood Dixies. So this is a rare find in perfect shape.
You learn real quick why Gary teaches up in Maine and the place here in NC, is an extension of all that. It’s in his soul. as he was showing us around, the place has all sorts of stuff, I didn’t know anything about. I LOVE IT! This community never stops surprising me, and learning something new all the time. Hopefully today you will see something new as well.
Always ask Y
Like Y is this old Johnson in the corner?
One of two large rooms. WOW, times two
From another angle
Another room
Wayne doing his bomb thing
ove me some gantry and lapstrake stuff for photos
Pure art
A Correct Craft TRAILER! Dang
Engines!
Miss Silver City! She is around 80 years old by now. So, there is that to ponder
Wonderful Transom lettering
A very simple clean room.
The Lowell Boats team. Jack Left, Shane, and an Intern, Gary is far right, they were testing a new boat build
To be honest, I glanced at this boat and thought. Mmmm whats new stuff doing in here, and there were about 5 of these there. WELL!!!!! Its from the 1930’s… AND ELECTRIC. These are cool as hell. A Budson Electric Boat! Perfect for small Mountain Lakes that dont allow gas motors! Want to know more? Link below
The power source.
My power source!
OH HELL YA!
Thanks Gary for the fun tour
Here are some links.
Thank place is massive! What a lot of fun! That had to be incredible to visit and take all in! The food looks pretty good as well! What a great way to spend some time with fellow WoodyBoaer buddies! Nice story!
Sorry for the spelling errors…it’s early yet!
Really nice set up. You guys know how to rake a road trip!
I was hoping you were going to tell us something about the Continental next to the labstrake.
1956 23 Chris Craft Continental “Happy Days”
Home port Smith Mountain Lake. Not mine,one of our club members.She was getting a little work done.
Thank you John!
Beautiful boat. I love my 20 ft. Continental, but I wish I had that second front seat.
I almost named my ’56 Continental 18 Happy Days, but ended up with Happy Hours for some reason.
Sounds like a great trip was had by all. Thanks for sharing!
The girl in the picture is Miss Siler City, not Silver City. Siler City was referenced in the Andy Griffith show even though it was in fictitious Mayberry NC.
Looks like you guys were drinking sweet tea.
Been waiting forever for the Lowell Story! Bilge Rat is right! I live 10 minutes from “Siler” City – it used to be a little bit more upscale than it is now. Speaking of Mayberry, another fact about Siler City, after retiring, Francis Bavier (Aunt Bea), moved to Siler City. She felt it was the closest thing she could find to living in a real-life Mayberry. It didn’t work out.
Looks like a very cool place. Loved the v4 Evinrude and Johnson.Great boats, Nice boat works, good BBQ and southern sweet tea. Had to make for a good road trip.
I wonder if that is the same Dixie that made fiberglass boats in the ’70s.
Dad bought one of the first Evinrude “Fat Fifties” for our Bryant 21′ Voyager, the original “Thisuldu”, replacing the twin 20/25 horse set-up that was original with the boat. On our first cruise North, we ran out of gas a mile or so from our usual first stop in Coronet Bay on Whidbey Island just before Deception Pass. That unit burned more than the two combined! Gary’s shop looks great! I did a double take on the photo of his crew by the lake, wondering what he had on his hat… 😉
Being the owner of a 1959 Fat Fifty, I can attest that the use a LOT of gas.