Live-ish From The 2012 Keels And Wheels Show In Texas. You May Want To have A Drink Or Two First!
Antique Boat Centers Tent was very busy today.
If you had told me three years ago that the President of the ACBS would be reporting live for Woody Boater, I would have laughed until I had to sit down. Well.. My fellow Woody Boater.It gives me incredible pride to introduce you to our Reporter in Texas. His Holiness, the Admiral, General, His highest being, the President of the ACBS , Jim Mersman. This guy is amazing . And a huge hats off to the ACBS for having fun with all this. NOW… Jim has made the classic tragic flaw.. And I am sorry, it doesnt matter how lofty your position.. We get to make up the captions…
So.. There are over 8 billion dollars of cool cars and boats.. And Jim sends us a water ski.. A frieken water ski.. OK, its in a cool yellow boat, Maybe its an art statement. Its the juxtaposition of wood and yellow. Like a bee with a stinger.. OH god.. I am trying Jim..
A car.. A cool car.. OK, but not in Texas. Its hot as H. E. Double Hockey sticks today from the reports. It is a neat little car though. And different.
This is a Cord, I guessed that. Now it has some very cool Leather Pebble guards.. And the previous owner is none other than Tom Mix.. No jokes here. It's very cool.. Worth the trip alone to see.
Finally .. A Boat.. And varnish! Now its getting even more interesting. How cool is this. Cool cars, cools stuff, cool boats and warm weather. All ya need is some good BBQ.. To bad they are in Texas.. No good BBQ there? Right? Do they cook BBQ in Texas?
Another cool boat. These are fun small boats. Of course in Texas, the land of largeness. ?????? maybe put some steer horns on the bow? And leather stuff.. OK.. Palimino seats..
A hot black Bug Eye. I love these little suckers. And how cool is this. Cars and boats.. They should name the show after that? Wait.. NOwwww I get it..
Now both, a keel and wheels. nice combo..
It's official, i would have a seizure at this show. My ADD would be on over load. Poor Alex's head would explode! A piano.. Its not a Keel or Wheel. Maybe the show should be called Keyboards, Keels and Wheels. It makes my head hurt just trying to write this. Might explain why Jim's last email was.. Off to NASA, just 5 miles down the road. Run Jim run.. Whats next? New York Taxi cabs?
OH GOD! Is your left eye twitching like mine right now? Sure a Taxi, why not?
A Water taxi. I sense a theme here. Is this madness have a theme? Could these just me a cool show, with just cool stuff that we all like? Just take a bunch of Ridlen and what the hell.. Eat some brisket and have a great time. One thing is for sure. These folks are one fun group.
Paul and Karen Harrisons Gar Wood Sedan. This boat is stunning and been all aver the show circuit. Paul drove this down from Calgary Canada.. That's a gillion miles.. And he made it in one piece.. We always have the return trip.. What commitment..
All kidding aside, this is one of the nations top shows and is a very well attended event. They were expecting over 9,000 folks today. Its a fund raiser and the hosts are extremely hospitable. Texas style, so you know you feel welcome. Our hats are also off to Jim and the gang for sending us this stuff, and letting us all have some fun with it. Thanks Jim.
WHAT? Another friek'n water ski? What is it with these water skis?
tom mix drove that cord off the road into a gully it rolled over on him and he was killed
K&W was a great success for the Chris Craft Club, Paul and Karen Harrison worked their butt off for the club! I just presented Best Chris Craft to a Capri and that 27′ Triple above won Best of Show “small Boat”.
The folks at K&W, especially Paul Merryman, are some of the most friendly on the planet.
Hey Mayer, I even took a test ride in a Century Sabre. lots of fun!
Thanks for thinking of me, Don. You’re enjoying the natural woodyboater progression……barrelbacks, Riva’s and then, eventually, everyone settles on a Century!
Don, if you want equal time (in a superior boat), there will be several XK-19s at the Grand Lake Show in June! See ya there!
Looks like a great show. Matt I think you’re missing the whole point of the photo with the water ski. It’s not the water ski, it’s the fact that wherever the young lady is she does not have that bikini on! And it’s not like there’s a place to change on that boat.
I like the pictures of classic wood water skis. Those things are WAY cooler than a modern production aluminum zipper.
Check out my decorative wood water skis at DBski.net
Everyone is riding Century Thoroughbreds at this show. Giddy up!
This year’s marque was the water ski.
Hey – that last ski is a Connelly Hook. I have one in the garage. You have to know how to ski pretty good to be able to have fun on that baby. She’ll bite you though if you’re a novice.
Beauty and bite all wrapped up into one.
(Insert ex-wife joke here.)
Hey Mikey, since m-fine didn’t run with the ball after your comment, I guess it falls to me.
“Everyone settles on a Century?”
In reality though, isn’t it “every Century settles?”
Sorry Alex, I was so busy enjoying nice boats in Clayton, like the ones made by Chris Craft, Gar Wood, Hacker, Shepherd etc. that I forgot about Mr. “The Plank jr.” and his inexplicable fascination with ugly boats.
I do thank you for picking up the slack and covering for me, but you left out the last part of the saying. It should read, “eventually, every Century settles on the bottom of the lake.”
FWIW, there were several Century owners at the ACBS symposium this weekend, but they must not be Woodyboater readers since no one tried to kill me in a back alley. At least Mike still has enough sense to read Woodyboater, those other guys are beyond hope.
Over 4,000 miles round trip, for Paul, omg. That’s got to be longest haul award. I’m sure you picked up some hardware with that beautiful Gar. And more kudos for your efforts with CCABC.
Hey, that’s not just any old waterski in my Donzi… that is the 1970 Maherajah 3.5 that I saved every nickel I found to buy! It might as well been a million bucks when I was ten years old, mowing lawns all over Texas City to save the money! LOL! I actually slept with it in my bed!
Jim