Hail Mary Late Night Drive To Katz’s Marina, And Back!

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Headed North NOW!

Around 2Pm on Monday looking forward to a week of bad weather and the crush of humanity on the DC area, knowing I had to get WECATHCHEM to Katz’s Marina to start her refresh ASAP, and pick up Scarlet Jimmys 1960 Sportsman. Jimmy and I decided to drop everything and make the trip NOW! It was our window of freedom from the weather and traffic since Monday was MLK day. So around 3PM, Jimmy showed up and we bolted north to New Jersey.

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On the road

In bad traffic can take 6 hours, and today 4! 4 hours and 11 minutes to be specific. It was one of those calls you make and brace yourself. Seth and Allen agreed to meet us at 7:3oPm at the Marina, and we unload and load and Peel outta there. We showed up at 7:28 on the dot. Half hour for fuel and well.. unloading fuel.

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Number 1 Numero Uno, 17 barrel back with 5 coats… more soon

Now, here is the hard part. How in the hell do you arrive in a Woody Boat paradise and just say Hi, and leave. I hadn’t seen Seth in a while and for sure needed a varnish fix. The place was insane amazing, Allen and the team has made sure the place looks like a hospital. You could literally eat of the freshly painted floors. Throw some Chicken on a stick and  some fries on that floor and I am gonna lick that floor clean!

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Raw wood! mmm Sushi grade mahogany!

And the boats. Let me tell you.. If for any reason you are wondering why we do this, just visit that place. And you will sell your house and steal your kids collage money to keep going. It’s like a Casino for Gambling addicted people. Like having an AA meeting at a bar, like going over to your high school girl friends house to “do homework”. AHHHHHHHHHHH!

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Century Coronado stripping right in front of me!

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She has a hemi!

It’s all so good and wonderful, the smells, the shapes, the wood, THE WOOD, the finishes, the raw Mahogany, the one of a kinds, the , the, the, AHHHHHH All of it. And to think in just 60 Days, we are going to be all together sniffing each others afts!

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Scarlet is ready!

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Wow

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Scarlet and Allen! Yes, she spelles her name with ONE “t”

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Amazing Allen Johnson lettering – And no Jim Staib, Seths hands are NOT in his pockets.

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Chrome + Varnish = Life

So, after a quicky with the first 17 barrel back, we were off to brag with you all and on the road home. The good news is Scarlet was all finished and Lookn good! 5 coats of varnish, all her scratch’s and flaws fixed, bottom repainted and ready for some summer love’n. Wow, what a shame to drive her in the dark! But NO TRAFFIC. That’s right, 4 hrs to DC.. In the busiest traffic corridor in the US and doin 75 with no issues. We got home around 1:30 AM and I am still wired form the infusion of Mahogany and Varnish cocktail. I need a smoke now! Dang!

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So long old friend, until next month! Stay tuned for Updates on WECATCHEM’s  stripping.

 

/18 Comments/by
18 replies
  1. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    The folks at Katz’s obviously know their varnish. Just out of curiosity, what brand of varnish do the pro’s use?

  6. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Looks like a successful trip!

    I really have to visit Katz’s on one of my trips through NJ, usually just passing through to get somewhere else.

  9. Carla
    Carla says:

    Good read this morning, Matt. I have had the pleasure of visiting both of Seth’s marinas on a couple of occasions and I concur with Matt and Jimmy…SPECTACULAR!!! Wondering what Seth will be bringing to Tavares this year…

  12. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    Call for help from the community.

    I would like to register for Sunnyland because it sure aint sunny here! Should I book the captains party (and when is it?) and the Saturday night festival (I thought the whole thing was the festival…so confused)?

  13. Chris Chase
    Chris Chase says:

    Am I the only one to catch the poor paint job on the lettering on “SCARLET.” look at the “S”. Pitiful. I’ve been lettering for quite sometime now and I would not let that out of my shop. Don’t shoot so close next time I guess.

    • Matt
      Matt says:

      That job is amazing in person done by one of the top guys on the planet. I get that photos can sometimes be off. Which is the case here. But I assure you its amazing.

  14. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.) says:

    Good way to start the day. I wish Katz’s marina was only 4 hours from me. You have me excited. Maybe I will put everything on hold today, and go to The Antique Boat Center. I can get a good varnish fix there.

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