As 2023 Comes To An End, What Is The Future Of Woody Boater?
Sons!
With our new unaproved winter hours in place, I have been spending mornings thinking. It seems to be my time of the day of clarity. By lunch time I am looking for napping places, and since its cold outside, there is little that can be done in the un heated workshop. So I focus inward and think about how to evolve Woody Boater, or what does the passion we all share need. It’s not about age anymore, or being on the web. None of that. In fact there is too much information out there these days. One may ask how is there too much information. Well, when 90% of it wrong, then you have a problem. Look around! It’s everywhere, we are in information over load. It’s like walking in to a library of everyones thoughts and they are all yelling at you and trying to grab your attention with tricks. Thats the real issue now is that, not what it was when Woody Boater started.
YA.. That happened
So now what? Well, Woody Boater has spent 2023 being more entertainment, with some boat focus, but it’s not what and why Woody Boater was started. Woody Boater’s core idea was to be a portal to the community, and support all thats good and trustworthy to help the community grow. Smoking Chimps and all. But there is a need for curated information. Real information that is usable. The Boat Buzz and Danneberg Forum were critical to that part of the community. And both are dead. YA, Danneberg has taken it all and put it on a server waiting for something? And the Boat Buzz has become a barn find time capsule not really being used. SO? Now what?
The Woody Boater Labs are in the process now of trying to put together a solution for all this. And any insights you all may have are much needed. YOU are WOODYBOATER, the comments, the laughter and and great citizens of Woodyboaterville. We need to hear your ideas!
Wow, pretty heavy stuff, but probably needed right now. As one that really loves to use my boats, with many friends that do the same, I really enjoy the stories about being on and running our boats. I know I am not very good at taking photos when enjoying the boats so you could use them for a story, but I will try to do better. If all the WoodyBoaters would do the same, it could give you more material for stories.
However, I am not criticizing how you are doing things as it is what I very much enjoy starting my days with. Your 90% estimate of things on the internet being crap is probably conservative, so keep WoodyBoater something that we all enjoy and feel part of.
There, I have probably said too much, and you really need to get some heat in that workshop!
I have no ideas. In fact, yesterday I was threatening to cut my boats I up with a chainsaw. I am so screwed up right now. I am probably not the person to be giving advice today. I do like coming here each morning, regardless!
Hello All,
This is my first post, although I check out Woody Boater every day. I run a history boat charter on Chautauqua Lake with a 1966 twin engine Lyman Islander, day cruiser for my retirement fun. Besides the area being full of Chautauqua Institution, Packard Brothers, Thomas Edison, and Bainbridge Colby history among others, we also have a huge steamboat history. Many of he steamboats are on the bottom of the lake which we look at with side scan sonar.
I maintain a perfect NY state inspection year after year on a 58 year old wooden boat and this winter I am replacing several planks. I’m hoping Woody Boater will be a source of information into the future. I will do better to be involved with the conversation. Thank you!
Hi Paul,
This sounds like an interesting tour & an awesome “tour bus” choice for it.
Hey Matt,
Sounds like Paul has great story material here.
Hi Paul:
An interesting retirement plan you have created. As a fellow 1966 Lyman Cruisette owner, I applaud your keeping the wood boat history alive. Welcome to Woodyboater!
When a group of us took over management of the chris-craft antique boat club from Bill Basler, we tried to strengthen the link between the boat buzz and woody boater. Several board members were assigned to monitor the various categories of the buzz to make sure it contained accurate information. Having it appear daily as part of woody boater in my opinion was a real plus for everyone. Unfortunately at some point down the road apparently small minded thinking resulted in the severance of the connection. I am not a facebook person but i gather there is a site there that may be marginal? In any event, if the connection could be reestablished, that could be a good thing.
Hi Don: First thank you and so many others for your efforts years ago in saving and rebuilding the Chris Craft Antique Boat Club.
Since WB and CCABC were still partners during my reign I don’t take your comment personally, but I think the current management of the club has done a fantastic job of keeping things going, increasing membership, and bringing in new sponsors (like Bentley). IMHO: calling the disagreements between WB and CCABC “small minded” is a little harsh. I too miss the feed to Boat Buzz, but it had gotten quiet long before it was taken off of WB. Like most of us, I feel that social media (FaceBook and the like) have killed off many of these forums.
It takes two to Tango!
Troy (sir) and Don (sir) et al,
From the movie “Things Change:” CCABC is changing with ‘the times.’ With eyes-wide-open, trends, personalities, locales are featured via The Brass Bell and all other platforms as part of membership.
BTW, today, I received a most generous email from HAGERTY that they are returning as a most valued and longstanding sponsor/advertiser. Matt Smith and I have a most respected friendship. I expect to continue to prescribe to his various postures! Hope everyone here will stay the course and look forward……..SL. I applaud Matt Smith & WB!
Mr. L is right! Get some damn heat in that shop! Your projects are a thread that stitches us together.
Matt you could visit shops and have pictures sent in once in a while to see what projects are in the works. We have a group here in N.H. that get together every Saturday and meet in different shops , may be boats or autos but it’s always interesting to see what’s happening. Do it yourself or professional would be interesting. This was started over 25 years ago and growing.
The King is dead, boat clubs live on. Go figure.
Decide what you want guys. I’m hanging on the beach today. Let me know what the outcome is.
First time poster as well. Thanks Paul for getting it started. THANK you Matt for sharing all your projects! since 2021 woody boater has been a daily source of inspiration for me and have enjoyed the community and the daily updates beyond words! While I do fall into the plastic category ,1985 correct craft, I am planning and looking for a great loop boat to restore. As my grandfather and father always said, you have to have a project. Love the Zip project and pretty much anything you do at the railway. Glad to contribute more if that is what is needed, however what you do for all of us is amazing and I can’t thank you enough!!!! Best wishes for a wonderful 24’
Bruce
Thanks for all the kind words and thank you Matt! I’m looking for a dust free random orbital sanding system. Does anyone have information? Something that works on even gloss varnish surfaces? Mirka? I’m also wanting to install larger fresh water intakes and strainers this winter. Any information appreciated!
Paul, its funny that you ask, just yesterday I received a Harbor Freight notice of a new sanding tool from the Hercules co. I read the details and it sounded like something, if I were in market which I’m not, that sounded good. It was only 59.99……103 off.
And…….WELCOME TO WBer
BTW I just noticed that today through Monday, take another 25% off…..such a deal!!!
The sander was on what they called NEW TOOL TUESDAY
Art, Thanks for your response. To me both for health and a clean shop the dust free is essential. The system I have been looking at is Mirka and about $1,600. I hate to spend that much money without knowing that it will give me the finish I need and not fill my head and shop with dust. The cost difference is considerable so is it worth it? In the past I’ve paid some hefty shop rates to avoid sanding myself.
Since we are all being honest I’ll offer my opinion. I love all things wood boats and have owned a few and been to many wood boat shows all over the country. I was mostly a daily reader of Woodyboater for a long time until Mr B became a favorite photo subject. Then someone complained and it got worse. After reading Paul Harrison’s lengthy letter I realized I felt the same way. So when I would click on the site in the mornings and she the said subject I would move on. Before long I was not looking at all unfortunately. Have a great new year.
Matt: Lately I have felt like WoodyBoater should be rebranded “The Life and Times of Matt Smith”.
I keep logging in because it is fun and on occasion there is an amazing story about some obscure or historical boat. I could not do what you do, but it is enjoyable to be a part of this experiment.
I too, am very grateful for WoodyBoater and look forward to reading it every day. I am new to the wooden boat community so I don’t feel knowledgeable enough or worthy to comment very often in this group of heavy hitters. Personally, I enjoy this site more than any other. To me it personifies what I like to think this community is; A love of old boats, being on the water, love of family, country, our spouses, pets, friends. Honesty (unless a tall tale needs to be told). A good old sense of humor that’s lighthearted, authentic and not always politically correct. Just like it should be. I enjoy all the topics Matt comes up with. I don’t know how he continues to find new material every day mostly himself but I’m very appreciative of it. Just those old photos yesterday were outstanding. I would enjoy seeing the number of “views” listed next to the number of “replies” so we all see how big this “extended family” truly is. I think if Matt asks us what he needs, this group will respond.
Matt just try to imagine what you would have written about for the past 3-4 years if you had not purchase the railway. I’m not sure if there were more than a dozen days that I have not enjoyed reading your posts and the comments. My bad days always begin with a notice that the daily post is not working. That is when I begin to worry that something had happened to you or you decided you finally had enough and quit coming up with something everyday. I am quite satisfied with WB as it is but if you make change I’ll continue to follow unless it gets political. I think it is our (i.e. old farts) responsibility to continue to write stupid jokes and tell crazy stories for the next generations that are coming along. I’ll be here tomorrow no matter what story you write. keep up the good work.
All hands on deck!
We seem all to be of like minds here in WoodyBoater Ville. Write up a short story, two or three paragraphs, lots of pictures! Send it in. Let Matt slice and dice, if you don’t like to put captions on the pictures he will!
Something new for us all to look forward to!
Matt, have you ever taken a look at a pellet stove to heat the shop? I know anything with fire in a wood boat shop or marina is a scary thought at first , but the install is cake, they heat up fast, pellets come by the pallet so easy to store. Like a wood stove they’re air tite but I would consider safer. Just fill it with a bag of pellets and turn it on, you got heat. No tending, no smoke smell, less maintenance. Vented thru the wall or roof. Just a thought.
Matt, Social Media is strange thing; getting numbers and recognition is one aspect but your audience isn’t main stream people; its woody boat fans; its the essence of the name; wood, tools, wood shed, wood working, boat yard, boat buying/repairing, driving them, admiring the work of others and going I wish I could do it as well as so and so, maybe someone can give me a tip on varnishing or the timing on a 351 ford marine engine, boat shows, in the end its your domain, and sometimes you need to let a few people post to allow you to look from the outside in to see another perspective; I check your page 1st thing every morning and admire what you do ! when you start posting about bikes or kevlar jackets then I know its time to pass
Matt,
You are the thread that holds us all together. Never forget that.
Our hobby, our passion for water based machines, is inherently singular. By and large, it’s not just the wood that floats, it’s the machinery that propels it and while electric is cute, there is no substitute for large cubic inches.
The materials and techniques to bring to life what’s left of a dream need your forum. No one of us has the perfect and only way of doing something. We all try our best to share that knowledge through your forums and others that are connected.
It is not a perfect solution but life wends and winds its way, whether we choose to be involved in it or not. The naysayers here can choose to attend the daily soirées or not. Last I checked, they haven’t yet taken that away from us.
Me? I’m my own train wreck when it comes to toys, with no rhyme or reason and full blown, barely controlled ADD. Just ask those who were in attendance for the fall ACBS “cruise” on the Inland Waterway at Howe Marine.
With our daughter’s wedding the Saturday before, I had little time to empty out and display all of my madness. We only showed a very thin slice.
The point of that tangent is, do what the hell you want. You’ve graciously asked for our two cents worth but in the end, WB is your creation to do with as you wish.
We just get to play in your sandbox each day and are better for it.
I promise to send in a few goodies in the next month or so for you to chew on and keep you up at night too.
Just because………..!
Murdock, I agree and I consider my 2 cents worth to be in your comments, I hope you don’t mind a hangeroner. (MS approved word).
Well said Murdock! I missed the tour of Howe Marine in September, but I want to stop by for a visit in the future. I will try to avoid farting!
Hi Matt, As everyone has said, you have done a great job carrying out your vision of Woody Boater. Coming up with daily material can be tough, I have no doubt. So, here is where I’m at. I’m in the process of restoring my first wooden runabout, a 56 Chris Craft Capri. So many parts of the restoration are new to me, such a repairing mahogany plank cracks, refastening planks, bleaching, staining, varnishing, the list goes on. In my quest for information on best practices, there does seem to be a plethora of information out there already from old forums to Michael At Snake Mountain Boat Works video library and how to articles, etc. But what attracts me every morning to Woody Boater is four things. 1. Variety of content. “It’s like a box of chocolates…”. 2. The cast of characters and the banter that goes with that. 3. The old wooden boat pictures and the stories that evolve from them. And 4. The incredible resource. If I had a question about my restoration project, I know I could ask here and get a relatively quick and accurate response. That is huge for me. Thanks for doing what you do.