Today Is The 4,000th Story On WoodyBoater!

This is the first time I ever felt the love of a WoodyBoat. About 11 years ago. Wow

As I was preparing a Memorial Day story, I noticed this mile stone, and thought, dang! To think when this all started in October of 2007 that a story a week would be impossible! Folks at the ACBS were asking me what my agenda was. I still don’t know, but I know I love helping the cause and community in away we can.

Ya! That was a fun road trip. SONS OF VARNISH RULE!

I thought it might be fun to share some other stats today. Now, this may be off since we have rebuilt the site 3 times. And stats have changed. But here goes.

We have had around 5 Million views, around 200,000 unique visitors a year. 55,000 comments, 675,000 spam comments, yes, spam! Why you do a math exam to comment.  And Today, 4,000 stories, and I have no idea how many images. We have not missed ONE day including Christmas and even time in a hospital. We have shared births, deaths, marriages and divorces together. Boats being sunk, and reborn. Been on CBS Sunday Morning,( 20,000 views on one day alone!) and inducted into the Hagerty Hall of Fame. All together in this little strange place we all live in called Woodyboaterville.

This coming October will mark our 10th anniversary. 10 years! WOW! Trust us, we will have a great time during October with some splash back stories. Remember Joe Martel? The On Golden Pond fights,

Thayer they are! HA! One more time!!

Alex Watson and Mike Mayor and there “big guns showdown”? This is and has been one of the highlights of my pathetic life and love spreading the gospel every day. I also LOVE the comments and how it can change a story and surprise us all. So here is to another 10 years together, and keep clicking.

Time has flown by, I love every second of doing this! THANKYOU!

For those of you, all none of you that were there on the first day, Below is the ever first story we ever did. It took a year to reach just 1000 people. A YEAR! Man. The spelling is perfect and original! We were not WoodyBoater yet, I think when I signed this on Woodyboat I had the idea.


 Ahoy Classic And Vintage Boat Lovers.

Welcome to Woody Blog. Participate in classic wood boat conversation, share your opinion on all things relating to classic and antique boats. We are working on the web site as we blog. Much of the site will contain information gathered here. Such as . Great Woody boats we have owned. Great locations to enjoy woody boats … Repair tips. Places to get parts and repairs when its all to much. We are also working with Wineo sign company. A unique company that uses old school lettering in a high tech way. In other words the best of both worlds. Kaptian Krunch.. Yes… has over 40 years experience in the hand letting world and has developed a way to take that letting and send it to you in gold leaf.. You apply it and Varnish it. Its great. As to me. I own 6 woody’s and am always looking and selling to keep the fun alive. Its more learning and understanding than using. This is quickly becomeing a lost way of life. All the orig workers and builders are retired and have moved on. There is a handful of folks still around and eager to share there wisdom. That is why we are here. To give a voice to such folks. Thanks for participating, your words and thoughts are omportent… Thanks.. Woody Boater

46 replies
  1. ScottK
    ScottK says:

    Thanks Matt!!!!! Your dedication to this little slice of the universe has made it much more informed, and more fun.
    Here’s to the next 10 years.

  2. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Matt, As one that has been with you for most of those 10 years, congrats on number 4000. I also want to thank Texx for being your sidekick and hope he will re-emerge again some day. Keep the faith and keep going what you do. Thanks!

  3. Jack
    Jack says:

    As I told you once in Florida I start my day with you. This is the first website each morning to get the important news of the world. Congratulations and thank you.

  4. Old Salt
    Old Salt says:

    Not only am I appreciative of your dedication to this life style. But more importantly an I appreciative of those who fought and died in order for us to have the freedom of speech to have a voice and share our options!
    Happy Memorial Day everyone!

  5. Cameron
    Cameron says:

    Well done, Matt. You’re my lunchtime fix here in SA. By the way, your first story mentions gold lettering sent in the mail. Is this still the case?

    • Matt
      Matt says:

      It was a vinyl gold leaf. The process is simple. Hand letter what you want, then have it plotted out. There are different textures. Not real gold leaf. But a close look. Many people us fonts, we were just hand doing it. And no he isnt in business anymore.

  6. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    The Ultimate WoodyBoaters! My dad and the crew of Elco PT563. They fought bravely and honorably defending our freedoms. Rest In Peace guys. We won’t forget.

  7. Dave Clyne
    Dave Clyne says:

    What a service your passion has provided. You have made varnish my drug of choice. The characters you have assembled here in stories and in comments are amazing. Thanks, Matt !

  8. Bob B
    Bob B says:

    Been with you since Woody blogspot or whatever it was originally. At that time I wondered why Texx had 2 X’s.

    And like the others here it’s been my Go-To website daily ever since. And wintering in NJ allows me to visit Katz’s and drool on Suzy/Scarlett, Wecatchem (dat’s a biiiig boat!) and all the boats.

    I’ve learned so much from all the contributors thanks to you.

    THANKS MATT!

  9. Mike K
    Mike K says:

    keep up the great work matt!

    somebody check on jim staib i think hes in distress! or protesting!

    mike

  10. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Hard to believe it has been 10 years…probably because I didn’t pick up on it until year two or three…Then I thought this guy can’t possibly come up with something new every day…I was hard pressed to come up with something new every quarter forThe Brass Bell… Well you surprised us all and delightfully so…I’m now an every day reader and enjoy each one….Like he veterans who went to war for us, we are also indebted to you.

    • Dennis J Mykols
      Dennis J Mykols says:

      I agree with Wilson, EVERY DAY, something new. I have a hard time coming up with something fresh for my Classic Corner articles, and that is only six times a year… 4000 stories, WOW.
      But in the Summer of 2010, is when I jumped in and have read every story since. Contributed several along the way, also.
      But I recall that first couple of years reading about all the great locations with Classic Boat Shows, via the “Liveish Reports” and it helped me create a bucket list of places we got to visit. And we still are checking them off…
      Thanks Matt and Staff, for all you do, to make this old fart want to get up each morning, and read todays WoodyBoater story.

  11. Darthtrader
    Darthtrader says:

    Matt-Your saga, starting with a blog and continuing to become the go-to source for daily information about the hobby should serve as an inspiration to all of us. Your tenacity, coupled with your ability (speling not withstanding) to produce interesting and pertinent information on a daily basis has been gratifying to your faithful readers.

    I like others start my mornings with WB. Where I notice signs of addiction however, is when I return from the “road” and my first stop on the computer is WB, to catch up with what’s happening in the “real” world. Also, let’s not forget Suzy. Without her enduring support and tolerance, I suspect WB would have died an early death.

    I would issue a challenge to all of the true addicts out there. If we don’t support WB, it will go away. Support can come in many ways; CA$H, stories, photos, word of mouth. likes on FB, comments, and a host of other methods. Let’s all support WB.

    Thanks Matt & Suzy

  12. Bob in Mazeppa
    Bob in Mazeppa says:

    As a recent reader in the last year, I like longtime readers start every morning with Woody Boater. A special thank you to Matt and his kind advice on how to make a story more interesting. More pictures less talk!

  13. David
    David says:

    Thanks for 4000 WB stories, and thank you to all of the veterans who have made our woody boating possible. Today would have been JFK’s 100th birthday if he would have lived this long.

    God Bless America.

  14. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Well what a day to celebrate! So I wrote up this nice piece about Matt and Texx and all the work and sweat and tears that goes into this our community of boaters….only to enter the CORRECT captcha….have the math wizard reject it…and have to start all over again!
    Short version. I don’t know how he does it every day…Matt is the Jon Wilson of the digital age as I remind all woodyboaters…
    I am ditching the captcha and Going Boating…without mention of Joe Martel!
    Remember out service men and women on this their day of special tribute!
    John in Va.

  15. Miles Kapper
    Miles Kapper says:

    I know you wake up some days thinking WTF am I going to write today! I understand deadlines. I understand the anxiety and the questioning if something is good enough to publish but I also get the indescribable satisfaction of positive feedback by the audience. Congrats on ten years, look forward to tomorrow morning.

  16. Rick
    Rick says:

    Thanks Matt. I wasn’t in it at the very beginning but definitely early on. Hauled the trailer NY to MI to see you talk, even after having to explain to my wife that we had never actually met and that you weren’t related to the Smiths of Chris-Craft. I raise a glass and some bacon you for your daily effort. Besides where else can I drink from sunrise to bedtime and never get drunk but at your yearly virtual party. Cheers.

  17. MikeM
    MikeM says:

    I’m with the masses on this one, Matt. Thanks for creating this alter-universe for us. Where else would you make such good friends, some of which you’ve never met in person? I communicate with NR Watson on a weekly basis and have for a few years and I’ve never seen him in person. Here’s to another 4000 years and 10 stories!

    And thank you to our vets!

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

    Congratulations Matt and Staff !
    What a great blog. The best I’ve found anywhere. Like a lot of others ,I start my day with you. Keep up the good work. I hope to see you or Alex in Hessel this August.

  19. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Kan we bring back “Sausage Girl”? That was a highlight for me!

    Does Teriyaki Spam count?

  20. kevin F
    kevin F says:

    Matt, I don’t know when I found Woody Boater; many years ago though. It is my start to the day as well. The stories are great, the comments from the peanut gallery are always smile inducing.

    My friends call these boat sites my “boat porn”; it may be expensive, but harmless.

    Keep it up!

  21. Berlin
    Berlin says:

    Damn! I remember all the roadtrips up to NY (why always New York?) when you first got into the hobby and I needed an excuse to not sit through school. Yet, 10 years later you’re still going! Not the same boat, but still the same passion. Although I’ll never forget how lame some of those boatshows were… oh god.

    Anyways, funny how this boat hobby took the place of your car hobby the year I got my license. the more I think about it, I might be the unlikely hero to this afterall…

  22. Pete
    Pete says:

    Matt,
    Great Job!! We all have enjoyed the past 10 years just as much as you have. You have made Woodyboater what it takes to bring each of us back every morning to enjoy with our first cup of coffee
    looking forward to the next 10
    Pete

  23. Russ
    Russ says:

    Just wanted to say thanks Matt. The people of Woody Boater and really doing a service for the woody boat world. There are more and more woody boats being listed every day and I’d like to see people entering and re-entering the world of wooden boats rather than selling. It saddens me when I hear folks saying “Naw, that crap is too expensive for me.” ….$130k wake board boat in the slip. But it’s sites like yours that are opening people’s eyes and helping them to realize that it’s really not as hard as they thought or were led to believe. Anyway I could go on and on and generally do, but thank you. Really.
    P.S. You guys took this photo

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