Pumpkin Goes Woody Boating!
Woody Gal takes her first ride on Pumpkin after the restoration. Woody gal is Larry’s Cousin and donated Pumpkin to Woody Boater.
This past week at Lake Dora was one of the best shows in years. Yes, it rained, it poured, but thats not what the show is all about for us at Woody Boater, its about being with friends, and living the Woody Boater lifestyle, even if its just for a week. One of the highlights for us here was the official launch of Pumpkin, and seeing how much fun we could squeeze into a 5 day period. She delivered in spades. There were many times that Woody Gal and I thought, how happy Larry was at that moment. Thanks to Alex Watson and Don Ayers for capturing the fun time out on the water. Tommy from Katzs Marina who did the restoration took the helm.
Pumpkins Interior. Gotta love that Shag!
We grabbed Mfine and said, ya want to be in a photo shoot. Wear this shirt. And off they went. Enjoy.
Matt Fine and Tommy took her out for a romp
A nice gentle turn
Then BAM! A simple hit of the throttle! The Van Ness Performance Marine engine screamed!
Fly little Pumpkin, Fly,
Watson realizing that his little Smurf has a big job ahead of her!
m-fine was clearly having a m-fun time
A nice set. Two very cool Chris Craft plastic boats together out on lake Dora. Ken Ladonns 1969 Commander Super Sport was ready to play.
Don Ayers captured this factory style shoot moment.
Then off to some more fun
What a great day on the water. These shots were taken right after the storm passed by. One of the nice things about Florida rain storms. They never last more than two hours.
What a GREAT time we had in Dora!
This series makes me wonder if m-fine is going to be looking for a big block for Lil Squirt? He may need to change the name to Big Squirt.
No! Squirt already has more power than the jet and the hull can handle. Pumpkin is longer, wider and has a v hull to soften the landings. Squirt is a small flat bottomed boat and would not be a lot of fun at over 50 mph. Plus, when you are towing little kids, the moms get antsy when you go 35 let alone 55.
They totally tricked me. Matt gave me the shirt and told me to hop in. Of course I go for the front starboard seat only to find the steering wheel is on the wrong side! Pumpkin is a blast. With no prop, engine rpm and therefore hp are not limited by hull speed. You get all the ponies right away so she accelerates more like a muscle car than a boat. She can also turn on a dime but Tommy was driving fairly conservatively in that regard. No Hamilton turns yet. 😀
Alex’s boat is screwed in a race. Pumpkin is already faster and she is not using close to full power yet. After break-in and a little more tweaking they can probably squeeze another 10-15 mph out of her.
Don’t be so sure. Pumpkins are easily squashed.
Great job on Pumpkin By Seth, Tommy, Dave and the Katz crew. Alex got some killer images and best of all it looks like everyone had fun!
Don Ayers did some great photography too. I just got lucky with the header.
And here I thought there was only one way to make a pumpkin fly.
BEAUTIFUL! The look on M-Fines face says it all! Bwaaaaahaaaahaaa!
So nice !! I have been looking forward to seeing how Pumpkin went at Lake Dora and she looks amazing! Now if you have some video with lots of 454 music to share with us Matt … that would be extra good.
Outstanding photos, gentlemen! Pumpkin would have made a much better choice for the jump boat in Live and Let Die. Cooler times two over the Glastron GT-150!
Whoa! I missed my chance for a ride ??? and mfine got it???
Ha…..he is holding on for dear life I notice! I would be too!
GREAT TO PUT FACES TO NAMES AT THIS GREAT EVENT.
ENJOYED MEETING ALL!!!
John in Va.
Hmmm, Hamilton turn, so that’s what it’s called!
It’s a Kiwi thing named after the inventor of the water jet…
One early summer day, Larry and I headed to our favorite and frequent gas ’em up place in Pumpkin. There was a new young woman who had been hired for the summer. They weren’t very busy and we took her for a boat ride. As we headed back to the gas dock, Larry executed a perfect Hamilton turn! He’d been on the internet too!
Do you need a pilots license to fly that thing?
Maybe?
I can’t tell you how much fun that I had in Florida this past week. Well, I could but it would take entirely too long. Wilson and I started our week in Jacksonville on the St. John’s River Southbound Cruise and finished it at the Sunnyland Festival in Tavares on Sunday.
Folks, sorry that the Saturday rain spoiled our Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club Meet & Greet under the Big White Tent. The tent became the primary refuge from the rain and thunder as we watched lightning strike the water in Lake Dora.
Other than the 2-hour storm on Saturday the rest of the show was great!
From full throttle forward, to full throttle reverse is great for those in the back seat too. Only in a jet boat!
I am disappointed I missed it. Looks like a great time. Some good news though, as my little plastic boat project comes along, my awesome brother in law dropped by with a little surprise for it…Yep, Edelbrock M1’s.
Let’s try this again.
Yikes I love the reborn Pumpkin!
I’m confused. I sold a plastic jet boat to get into this hobby.
lucky or not that header is super duper. the shot of alex priceless. alex, smurf is going to need a tune up to make a contest out of it. I wish I stayed around to see her fly.
Alex…you’ve gotten a lot of negative feedback….don’t worry. I’m here for you.
I will drag Papa Smurf (Super Fly, whatever) behind the MIGHTY ARABIAN and pull you to victory, as long as I get Smurfette up front with me.
Do not go to the internets for an image, please.
nice of you Mike, but you got your work cut out. Alex took the CC out for a ride yesterday. I took a photo.
woody?boater…it’s plastic. i’ll just about give this one away.