What In The Heck Am I Going To talk About Tomorrow? Got Any Ideas Or Questions?
mmmmmmm???? I have no idea what to talk about. It’s not like I don’t talk about whats on my mind every day? Now What? What if no one comes? OH god, what have I done?
As we venture off to the Antique Boat Center today, we thought it might be fun to ask our fellow Woody Boaters for any questions that they might like answered LIVE tomorrow at 10:45AM when Woody Boater LIVE goes on the air for the first time right here on Woody boater… So if you are not there in person, we will be happy to include you in the fun. Live streaming of the talk. Along with the one of a kind Sons Of Varnish Shirts, there will be some very exciting news to announce for Antique boat Center.
The more important question is where is Lou buying dinner and drinks at tonight??
Cincinnati, home of Pete rose and chili. The only question is how you want your chili? I take it 5-way, got to have the noodles. Go all the way with 5-way.
Oh ya, should Pete be in the hall of fame or shame?
Buy a boat, Lou will buy you a shirt!
Hope Les and the boys from WKRP pick up the feed.
What is your out look on youth and people in their 20’s and 30’s in the hobby? Thoughts on correct restoration Vs. User boats? Any suggestions on recourse material for guiding a do it yourself-er through a restoration? Re-power Vs. original power? Any thoughts on private or broker sales Vs. Auction? Just some thoughts.
Read them the wine and dinner menu, they wont care.
I like Martin’s first question: How are we going to get younger guys into the hobby (although I’d be happy with 30’s and 40’s, realistically.) It’s critical. And with the huge movement toward the appreciation of traditional American craftsmanship, we should be there.
Good question that we debate in Michigan all the time. I think of the younger crowd as the 30-50 age group. They did not really grow up with wooden boats, but they did grow up with early glass and that’s how you have to snag’em, that and becoming more up to date on modern communication technology. E pictures on their smart phones of pretty girls on classic glass boats doesn’t hurt either.
You might go after a discussion on wood to use in a restoration. Currently Meranti is difficult to get for the individual restorer. What about Sapele and honduras for CCs.
For one of the future shows set up a Jeopardy type board with an assortment of categories and get some local smart-asses, I mean experts as contestants, keep it fun, funny and educational.
I think you should project the LIVE streaming for your audience in Cincinnati. LIVE polling, LIVE Q&A, perhaps a SKYPE or FACETIME video feed?
Showboating your techno-skills around a bunch of old, crusty boat dudes will not only make you look smart, it will earn you some “street cred” with the younger crowd.
Let me know if you need any help, my monkey is answering the phones today.
I agree with Martin’s second question on use versus restoration.
My brain is having an ongoing argument over this (shutup / no I am talking now).
This is my boat (no it isn’t – it history).
The argument of use v restoration is always an ongoing thing but here are my thoughts, (and what I did). Some boats have historical significance and should be restored back to original. They are a piece of modern power boating history. Some boats had a large production run and unless they are the first or last in the series are really just nice old wood boats. When I bought my CC Riveria it was ready for the burn pile and the only reason I bought that particular one was it was cheap and it had all the hard to find hardware. Even though it was an early number (89) over a thousand were produced. I decided that I would build a user boat with modern V8 power and some nice custom touches on the dash and in the cockpit, leaving the outside stock. What I will end up with is a nice old looking wooden boat that will start when it should and turn the appropriate mount of heads on the lake.
There is the technology to make those old dogs run pretty reliably now, but either way is ok with me. I just like to see guys run their boats more. Static shows are ok for short times, but having a run scheduled is more fun!!
Maybe there should be a discussion on putting together runs or gatherings of wooden and classic boats, and how to turn those fun runs into something that would attract others that are not-so-familiar with older watercraft. I think communication is a major part of that. Maybe encourage ACBS chapters to schedule informal gatherings in between their major events, and how to use their websites to promote all of their events.
We are instituting informal cruise nights once a month. No money, no registration, just show up. Different locales. Might have 2 boats, might have 20. We will see.
I had to run to the directory to see if you were in our area, you’re not, crap! What fun, would enjoy running with you guys!
I think if you’re looking to get the younger crowd involved you have to look to the old performance boats…a dissapearing propeller boat just ain’t gunna do it.
Miss Supertest and Miss Detroit are nice as racers, but I mean the precursor to the Donzi “go fast” type boats. (of course Donzi’s are classic and all in their own league now) Was there a wooden offshore boat before this?
It also has to be affordable…Gentlemans racers are nice but usually way too expensive. 20’s , 30’s and yes even 40’s don’t usually have alot of disposable income.
Lastly it has to have easy maintainance. I personally know of several “would be” wooden boat owners that have been scared off by tales of $10,000 varnish jobs and $35,000 bottoms.
Too bad they got such bad info. Lot of good user boats out there for reasonable prices, cheaper than new glass. Good for skiing, tubing, whatever.
That is why “Lapstrakes Rule” I bought my 63 carver for $3k with a $3800 trailer under it. Thats what people should by to get into this club!
I did not mean to crank up the crowd too much. I am 33 and have spent the last 5 years restoring a 1937 CC custom runabout. I know that this is not the norm for someone my age, but I needed and project and I had others do the work that I was not capable of. I think that the youth movement in the hobby is great, but wander if others in the 30’s-40’s range are very active? I know of a few, but not many. I think that what Matt does with his webpage only helps and I look forward to the future and enjoying things from the past. ———-Martin
Talk about the chapters.
Talk about how they should value their members; especially if they are lucky enough to have some truly wonderful ones.
Talk about how this is a SOCIAL club! As it was explained to me by a wonderful man, “The boats are what bring us together but it is the people that make it what it is, special”.
I am so disillusioned with our local chapter for the ill treatment of one of their own, that i haven’t been able to bring myself to renew our dues.
If chapters lose sight of the value of its members then our hobby will be lost.
This is supposed to be about fun!
“name withheld”, I assume you are referring to the ACBS…
With all due respect, Woodyboater has nothing to do with the ACBS or their chapters. Woodyboater is independent and hopefully always will be. Yes, Matt flys the ACBS calendar, but thats it! Long live an independent Woodyboater!
Can you post session on youtube or vimeo for playing later on? I’ll be in the middle of a 35-50 miles of cycling Saturday while the sun shines after 4 days of rain.
As far as questions: What influence will fuel costs have on the hobby for newbies and long time hobbyist for operating and even trailering to water; what other regulations are going to impact our hobby – gov’t regulations: VOC emissions, any OSHA requirements, health issues, ethanol in fuels, hazmat material disposal and/or shipping factors, others issues. Then there’s restoration cost factors to discuss: escalating fastener, lumber/plywood, and adhesive/finishing materials costs and availability.
As far as bringing new blood into the hobby, its been centered around chapters and the natural boating centers i.e. Great Lakes, New England lakes, Canadian lakes, west coast lakes, etc. in the past. Now, Woodyboater has helped bring this community closer and be a place to find ongoing events and answers thru the blog and CCABC and Danenbery forums having experts in the hobby provide answers and guidance. Mark clubs and ACBS need to recognize what CCABC already does, that the future will include technology if they want to get more exposure and coverage.
Thanks for your insight Floyd (or should I call you Mr. Turbo)…
The subject of how to attract younger / new people to the hobby has been on my mind for the last few days… Triggered by an ongoing debate / discussion that I am following closely within the classic car hobby.
Also by the fact that more and more paper publications (including car club magazines) are now going digital.
I think this subject deserves further discussion with it’s own story on Woody Boater next week. (As I conveniently comment and edit from my iPhone)
No problem with ACBS.
I know Matt is independent of them but he is our best hope of getting our thoughts & voices out there. I should have been clearer in that.
Just needed to vent a growing frustration!
And hopefully a reminder of what is as important to our hobby as our boats, our people.
We hear you and are here for you… We will touch on this in our story next week. Texx
The last time I can remember this much excitement over a live video feed, it was when Geraldo Rivera discovered “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” on April 21, 1986.
The suspense is killing me…