Give Your Woody Boat The Best! And She Will Thank You Forever!
Suzy at Katz’s Marina getting her final touch up. New bottom paint, varnish, and motor repairs
Yesterday we made a fast run to Katz’s marina on Lake Hopatcong to pick up Suzy, the official Woody Boater go to boat. Last summer starting on Lake Dora, we had a big year putting over 60 hrs on her. She required a ton of varnish touch up on her sides, turned out to need 3 new coats.. as well as a new oil line, fuel line, and various scratches patched. Well, last week we got the call. She’s done! Wow. She looks better than the day we first got her. Amazing, stunning, and jaw dropping. Some folks laugh at me for driving the boat 7 hrs from her river perch to have such simple things done. They stop laughing when they see the work. I know I keep saying this. But it’s worth the money and the drive to have stuff done right. Make the drive from San Fransisco to Tahoe, Make the drive to Ohio, Clayton, where ever it is that you feel right, and if you don’t know where to go, the banners on this page are all worth the drive. DO NOT COMPROMISE, it will come back to haunt you later. How many of us have had to tear stuff down to the core to fix problems created by well intentioned idiots. Imagine all you need is a simple repair, and it’s done all fine like in appearance. Your local marina has done a patch job that is easy. You notice later at a show that that repair was not right. Or worse, it’s still leaking….And to add to the hell, you had stained and varnished over that repair, and now the sheet rock screws that were used under all that wood work are starting to cause issues. Or the bad skim coat of west system or 5200 was NOT the correct way to do the job. That’s right, you have to tear it all apart. AND there is no easy blend repair. The same goes with motor repair and even something as simple as a simple electrical issue. The possibilities for screw ups are endless. It’s worth the drive for sure. Not to mention, you get to see all the other stuff thats being done right. Ahhhhhhh, freeeeeeeeessshhhhhh varnish!
This stunning Chris Craft had just gotten one of its build coats. I walked in a regular guy and walked out on a varnish high. Ahhhhhhhhhh man oh man I needed that.
If you need a hit of varnish, you’re invited to come take a hit with us at Antique Boat Center on January 19th for the symposium were, where, wear, Woody Boater…(me), will be speaking.
More photos of Katzs fine work but not one of Seth ever doing anything! Must be why it turned out so nice.
So I am driving south on 287 when I spy the transome of a wood boat on a tralier. So I speed up to get a closer look of course. It is December so it is not a common sight. As I close in something starts to dawn on me. Big ChrisCraft, Virginia plates, Chevy Truck, and then I see the lettering on the side of the truck. Holy Crap it is the WoodyBoatermobile driven our fearless leader. Pulled alongside and waved. What fun, a short brush with Greatness. Unfortunatly the cover was on the boat so I could not get the full impact of the varnish.
You didn’t radio ahead for the spike strips?
Ahhhhhhhhh I thought that guy must be nuts… Now I know my hunch was right!!!! What a funny quincidance..
That is a great way to spell coincidence! I’ll have to save that one. 🙂
Todays header is taken from an interesting angle. My 1st thought was Duck Billed Platypus Boatworks? Also I think we need some WoodyBoater bumper stickers so when we wave to you on the road you know we’re not just some random nutcase. We’re dedicated WoodyBoater nutcases! Maybe one that says my WoodyBoater name is ____________(Magic Marker in appropriate name such as Flounder.)
I like the bumper sticker idea… (Just for that – Your on Double Secret Probation!)
“Suzy” is looking pretty sweet. A little touch up here and a dab there and a little money spent each year and the restoration will stand the test of time alot longer and prevent you from spending larger dollars down the road. Too bad other owners don’t realize this when their restorer recommends a refresh, $$ well spent and of course with a reputable restorer.
Matt, great minds work together. todays story, is exactly the theme I submitted LAST WEEK for print in the Winter issue of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine’s Classic Corner. ” Visit your local Restoration shop and smell the varnish”. This is of course in lu of any in-water classic boat shows this time of the year.
There are several ACBS chapters that will have very nice Antique and Classic displays at some of the winter boat shows, so, this is another way to get our woody fix.
At the Grand Rapids Boat Show, the Water Wonderland Chapter will have a big display, AND we will once again have “KIDS BUILDING BOATS, LIVE, ” during the show all week. Come by and check it out…
I swear varnish is addictive! I walked into that room and a smile came on my face. It smelled like summer. And yes i was in New Jersey.. The nice part though. Man oh man.. good stuff..