Well, today it’s time to hit the road for the 1,200 mile (one way) road trip to Willmar, Minnesota to attend the big Mikkelson Collection Auction this weekend.

Then, because we have all those miles to go cover, we thought it would be a good idea to write a song about our journey across the country to Willmar. We have decided to name the song “1,200 Miles To Willmar” and get Velvet Elves (our resident singer / song writer) to help us with the music and lyrics.

Only problem is – we can’t decide if the song is going to be a dance party song, a country & western type song or a blues song? – And because it’s a “No Reserve Auction” we don’t know what to expect and how the market will react to the auction… We sure hope for Paul Mikkelson that all his hard work and dedication over the years putting this impressive collection together, that the auction is going to be an overwhelming success… But as we know, these “No Reserve Auctions” can go either way in today’s market.

We had a wonderful ferry ride en route today, kind of like getting all three seats to yourself on a commercial airline flight… The sign on the ferry was interesting too. Can anyone guess where this is?

As the anticipation for the Mikkelson Collection Auction builds, a few days ago we heard from fellow Woody Boater Ben Wilson in Chicago, who sent us this update.

Well Matt and Texx, the catalog showed up!
Rich Penn Presents an Auction Event “The Mikkelson Collection”

The anticipation this week was only a minor distraction- finally some noteworthy literature for the weekend. My $35 phone call payed off.. BIG

Enclosed:
- Full color Catalog of Goodies
- 8 page insert of just boats
- Antique Back Roads Winter 2012 Newsletter
- Absentee & Telephone Bidding Form
- Shipping Information
- 1 sleepless night upon arrival

I booked my plane ticket last week to head to Minnesota. Hopefully everyone else forgets to so I am bidding against myself in the Willmar Civic Center, next weekend.

My house is already littered with wood boat memorabilia, model boats and picture of boats. A three day event is certainly essential to any woodyboater enthusiast around, including yours truly. I heard the question yesterday from the Mrs. “soooo is this an all day thing?” I responded positively “probably” knowing very well 3 days of my life I will be existing in Wilmar, MN without distraction. A few things that caught my eye right away- EVERYTHING.

Don’t forget my favorite and the Crown Jewel of the collection- Lot 280 “Boondoggle” Described in the catalog as:

“Speed boat, Larson Falls Flyer Inboard, known as “Boondoggle”, c1939. The Rarest of the Rare, believed to be the only single cockpit Falls Flyer Inboard ever built. Also the smallest at 16ft. Built of steam bent oak frames & cedar strip planking covered w/ fabric. This boat is both sleep & Fast, powered by a 90HP Gray Fireball 4 cyl engine. Used very little in the 1980′s , in Exc restored cond & comes w/a shoreland’r trailer & a high quality custom cover. A one-of-a-kind beauty! See catalog Inset

Keep your eye on Lot 940 the 1939 17ft Split cockpit inboard- tagged as “the only split cockpit inboard Flyer ever built.” … what a sweetheart.

- Boats
- Toy Boats
- Model Engines
- Literature
- Signs
- Outboards
- Ducks
- other Woody Boaters!
…sign me up! See you may 18th

Ben Wilson – Chicago, IL

Thanks Ben, and we look forward to meeting you in Willmar!

Stay tuned for live-ish reports from Texx and the Texx-Tones throughout the weekend. And also stay tuned for our final version of the song…

We love it when fellow Woody Boaters find fun stuff on the road less traveled and share with all of us. Thanks to Paul Poledink and the Cobourg-Kid who did just that. Here are their two reports..

First one is the image above from Paul Pledink

The Big Brown Boat on the Wall
The big brown triple cockpit mahogany speed boat bursting out of the store’s outside wall wasn’t there the first time I drove by the Murray’s Auto Parts store on the corner of Maple Road and Pontiac Trail in Walled Lake, Michigan.   No, the wall was bare when I passed  Murray’s  during the June 2011 running of Walled Lake Thunder, the two day American Power Boat Association (APBA)  inboard hydroplane races our local club, the Marine Prop Riders, holds each year on Walled Lake.  It had rained and was cloudy on Friday, our set-up day, but on race day Saturday the sun came out so fiercely it motivated me get some protection.

I left the boat launching pits located in the parking lot of the Bayside Sports Bar and Grille at the northern end of Walled Lake.  I went up Pontiac Trail, the city’s main drag to find a drugstore to buy some sunscreen.  I turned left off of Pontiac Trail on to Maple Road about a half mile north of the race site, hurried into the drugstore, bought my sun protection, and got back to the pit area to man my position as Risk Manager for our race.  I did note in the back of my mind that across the street from the drugstore was a large Murray’s Auto Parts Store, a tidbit of local knowledge important to us boat racers who are always in desperate need of some motor part or a tool which we find necessary or lacking as we push our hydroplanes up to and many times beyond their limits.  Things in our sport break.  Often.   Too often.
Fast forward.  Each December as part of our wedding anniversary remembrance, my wife and I go out for dinner, and for the past several years we have gone to the Bayside Sports Bar.  The food is excellent, and I always make it known to the owner that we appreciate his sponsoring of the summer hydroplane races, and patronizing his restaurant is one way of showing our appreciation.  I decided to go home a different way, up Pontiac Trail and turned again on Maple Road.
On the wall this time to my surprise was a mural of a triple cockpit runabout with a happy couple in each set of seats. The mural invited the viewer to go to Walled Lake Park, the Picnic Wonderland.   In the background was a roller coaster and Ferris wheel.   OK, yes.  But, there is no present Walled Lake Park.  There WAS a Walled Lake Park which I went to as a little kid, but I vaguely remembered that it closed down a long time ago, in the 50’s or 60’s.  So what was this mural promoting?  Time for some historical detective work.
Good ol’ internet search engine came through.  I typed in some key words, and verified that there was a Walled Lake Amusement Park, which was operational from 1919 through 1968. It had a Dance Hall, the Casino, a world class roller coaster, a picnic area, all sorts of amusement park rides, and some water/beach attractions. It was located on the south end of Walled Lake, to take advantage of a natural swimming area, and then in one paragraph of the article I was reading there it was, buried at the end of a listing of Park attractions, “. . .and speed boat rides for fifteen cents .”
Another reference revealed that “Extending out from the point were two 500 ft. boardwalks where thrill seekers could get a speed boat ride for 15 cents.”  A third writer thought that the speed boats were “criscrafts.”  So that’s what the mural was promoting, these speed boat rides and picnicking.  But . . . the mural is not old and faded; it is fresh and vibrant and, well, sort of retro-modern.  What’s the story here?

Another internet search found a local November 2011 newspaper reference headline stating “Murray’s Gets Historic Mural.”  And, according to the newspaper account, the mural was supported by the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority and a Federal Façade and Sign Grant, to replicate a popular poster of the old park.
Now the recent stories on Woody Boater about the thrilling rides in triple cockpit runabouts continued to whet my interest in this big brown boat on the side of the auto parts store, so at this point, I thought it would be worthwhile to talk to the owner of the Murray’s to get a feel for his reasons for placing the mural on his building.  The owner, Karl Blair, now retired, met with me for a half hour or so and gave his side of the story.  He said he looked at the vast expanse of blank wall facing Maple Road as a location for some auto parts store type of advertising signage, but was told by the city that he couldn’t use it for this purpose.   Not giving up, Karl suggested the placing of some sort of community spirit message on the wall.  How did he come up with the boat mural?  It just came to me, he said, after reviewing some historical pictures at the Walled Lake City Hall.  And, he stated that he bore much of the cost of the painting of the mural himself – and, that it wasn’t cheap.
Who painted the big brown boat mural?  Peter Flores ,a commercial sign painter from Dearborn, Michigan, who had a contract to paint the signs for many of  the Murray’s Auto Parts stores, a well-known chain in Michigan, now absorbed by O’Reilly Auto Parts to a great extent.  Peter related that it took about two weeks last fall to paint the mural to the wall, and that he copied the theme from an old poster given to him by Karl.
Aside from the grandeur of this mural, my biggest disappointment in this search is that although I found many pictures of the Park in its heyday, there were no pictures of the thrilling “criscraft” speedboats.  I’m guessing that although WE like to think that riding in a triple cockpit runabout is beyond description, the operators of the park and attendees were more enthralled by the conventional rides – the Green Dragon Rollercoaster, the Tilt – a-Whirl, the Dodge’em Cars, and so on.  The references state that many of the rides at the park were sold to other amusement parks when Walled Lake Park closed – the Roller coaster was demolished and the Dance Hall burned – but what happened to the boats?  And, is this big brown boat an accurate rendition of a Chris Craft triple cockpit speedboat?  Is there any meaning to the three stars on the burgee?
A personal note:  My own boats include a restored 5 Liter conventional inboard hydroplane, White Lightning, built in 1972, and a 1955 Lyman Islander under restoration.  Is there room in Woody Boater Land for the hydro?  It’s a wood boat, painted not varnished.  I’ve shown it at several classic boat shows in the area as a static display– Algonac, Presque Ile, Toledo, and Port Sanilac – and have been warmly welcomed by the show organizers and attendees.  It’s not at all similar to the Chris Crafts, Gar Woods, Centurys, Hackers, and other varnished mahogany beauties, but it is wood, it is vintage, and it is very cool.
Paul Poledink

And this fun report from the road in Ontario. take it away Cobourg-Kid

How Cool is that?

“Took a quick trip to Brockville Ontario last weekend to visit relatives. As an antidote to eastbound highway 401  (Canada’s version of  I-95 hell)  I decided to detour along the beautiful Thousand Island Parkway . While swinging through Rockport ( trying to sniff out old boats in the bulrushes— weren’t any) ) I happened upon a fantastic mural painted on the south end of the Andress Boat works winter storage shed. Thought the sons of Varnish would like to see it.
According to their website Andress has been in business  since the 1920s, initially as a boat-builder and later as a full service marina.”

Thanks for the fun pics and stories. This is what road trips are all about. All you need is a good slice of pie and all is well in the world.

1954 26’ Greavette Streamliner

Here is an update on the Martin Smith Collection from the wonderful folks at St. Lawrence Restoration who have been digging into the collections history and background. The site has many new images and articles of various boats construction and history.

This wonderful image of F.L.Smith and his Daughter fishing on the 1912 26’ Fry Launch with

You can see it all just by clicking here. We are also happy to report that the sales of these boats has been good. So if you are hanging around to see what happens, you may want to pull the trigger. This collection of fine boats and motors is a very rare thing indeed.

Dave Kinney left, Fellow Woody Boater Alan Himes right.

As many of you have already noticed, the Hagerty Classic Boat Value Guide was released a couple weeks ago. This value guide is a huge step in helping the Classic Boat world. It’s a guide for folks thinking of buying a classic boat, and a reference for folks selling. It helps restorers justify a quality restoration, and as the values adjust, we can see what is hot, and what is not. It can help you not over insure or under insure. The pricing on our beloved classic boats is all over the place since they are for the most part emotional purchases. When you want one, its whatever your heart can afford, and when you are done with them, what ever your wife will not kill you over what you sell it for. This price guide, helps. “It’s a guide, not the Gospel”, that is what Dave Kinney, the author of the guide had to say at our fun dinner the other night with David and Alan Himes a long time pal that is a big time collector and racer. These two guys know more about how the collector car world operates than anyone else I know, and are a hoot to hang out with to boot.

We had the dinner in order to give you all the behind the scenes look at what it takes to heard the “value” cats of classic boats. Dave is a loooong time appraiser of all things cool, mostly cool cars, and now boats. Dave’s company is US Appraisal  for cars only, and the Hagerty Price Guide published 3 times per year, and cover cars from 1946 forward, makes him the  perfect guy to put all this together. It took hundreds of hours to complete, and it’s always changing. He studied sales trends, auctions, spoke with sellers, brokers and collectors and a myriad of other things that appraisers use to value things.  We talked about regional differences, conditions of boats, and values of certain restorers. We all know a restoration by  Dan Nelson is far more valued then one by Lenny is the back of the local marina.. A guarantee like at Katz’s Marina, or  Water Certified boat from Antique Boat Center adds a bunch..A fiberglass bottom done at Sierra Boat Co. vs anyplace else. Was the motor done by Van Ness, or the local Napa dealer? Is it the Real Golden Pond boat? or one of the 500 fake ones out there? All are different value adds. We all commented on how the pre-war boats  have not grown like the post war boats. And brought up the issue of the 25 sportsman price that just seemed way out of whack. That is being addressed.. Alex… One can image the complexity of such an undertaking. All over the world classic boats are being restored, bought and sold daily in many subjective ways. Now thanks to Hagerty and David, we have a value guide to help us.

SS Keewatin Image - Courtesy Sean Conroy

Fellow Woody Boater Sean Conroy shared this great story of “SS Keewatin” – The 105 year old wooden steamship that’s been close to his family for almost 50 years now, and his brothers journey to get her back home to Port McNicoll, Ontario. This story was originally written by Sean for Classicboat Magazine, the Toronto Chapter ACBS quarterly publication. Our friend Kathy Rhodes, Editor of Classicboat Magazine, received permission from Sean Conroy to also share his story with Woody Boater. (Thanks Kathy!)

At 350 ft, this boat is slightly larger than we usually report on here at Woody Boater, and that’s what makes the story so cool…

SS Keewatin: Bring Her on Home
By Sean Conroy

In 1964 and 1965 I was but a toddler while my family spent the summer camping at Little Lake Park in Midland, Ontario. My eldest brother, a teenager at the time, found an opportunity to escape the traditional family vacation for a summer job adventure he would never forget.

The Canadian Pacific Edwardian Steamers, “SS Keewatin” and “SS Assiniboia” were based out of Port McNicoll, but a stone’s throw from Midland. These beautiful ships were built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland and launched in 1907. At 350’ in length, 43’ 3” in beam and with a displacement of 3,856 tons, they were powered by “scotch” coal boilers that fed quadruple expansion engines producing 3300 HP to a cruise speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 16 knots.

“Keewatin” and “Assiniboia” had a wooden superstructure with four decks in total, eight watertight compartments and a double bottom. “Keewatin” took her sea trials in the river Clyde (alongside the RMS Lusitania) and then sailed to North America where she was split in two (at Quebec City). She was towed to the great lakes for reassembly as her sister “Assiniboia” preceded her.

“Keewatin” entered service in 1908. She carried 288 passengers and 86 crew as well as packaged freight goods and grain on her regular 2 ½ day run from Port McNicholl to Fort William and Port Arthur for close to sixty seasons.

1929 Great Lakes Steamship Brochure

These sisters were the pinnacle of luxury travel boasting a grand staircase, ladies and men’s lounges, public galleries and a large luxurious dining salon. The ships featured electric lighting and running water. There were 105 luxury staterooms (later 112) on two decks and seven deluxe suites which offered private baths. The dining salon featured walnut walls and mahogany side pieces. The floor was surfaced in an intricate herringbone parquet pattern fashioned from several exotic woods. Gold leaf adorned the trim around the dining salon as did most of the public areas.

The Men’s Lounge featured hand carved oak paneling. Amidships a vaulted ceiling provided a bright and airy public area between the main deck and the promenade deck. This lifted ceiling was surrounded by stained glass windows hand crafted in Italy. Luxury was not all that was considered, as the cutting edge of technology featured a Marconi Room exactly like the famous steamer Titanic had. Later the “Keewatin” and “Assiniboia” were amongst the first ships on the Great Lakes fitted with radar.

My father worked for the Cunard Steamship Line as a Sales representative, and one might assume he orchestrated this rare opportunity for his eldest son to work on a steamship for the summer. But it didn’t work out that way. In his own enigmatic way and through his uncanny ability, charm, and people skills, my eldest brother Eric landed a job as a waiter on these ships. There’s much more to this teenage waiter story than you might think, and it has been published in my brother’s book A Steak in the Drawer, but, for my purpose here you must know that the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) discontinued the passenger service of these ships with the departure of SS Assiniboia from Port McNicholl on November 28, 1965.

Thereafter the sisters ran one more season strictly as freighters and retired in 1966. The CPR sold them shortly afterwards. The “SS Assiniboia” was to become a floating restaurant but was consumed by fire during the refit and pronounced a total loss. The “SS Keewatin” was sold to be broken up for scrap. My brother Eric shifted his summer job efforts to being a cross-Canada tour bus guide as the “Keewatin” faded into history.

Vintage SS Keewatkin Postcard

Fast forward to the early 1990s, and the teenage waiter (my brother Eric) had moved on to become a high school teacher, promotions salesman, advertising executive, restaurant owner, founder of a chain of automotive stores, General Manager of the Canadian National Exhibition, public affairs consultant, founder of the largest children’s magazine in Canada and a 29-year volunteer selling sponsorships for Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade.

The “Keewatin” never far from mind, Eric commissioned a scale model of the “SS Keewatin” as he attributed much of whom he had become, and a significant part his life accomplishments to his experiences gained and lessons learned on board this ship. During research for the model, it was discovered that the “Keewatin” had actually escaped the scrap yard destruction orders and had been existing since 1967 as a floating museum on the Kalamazoo River at the small town of Douglas, Michigan. She had been purchased from the scrappers by marina owner and historian, RJ Peterson. Eric reunited with his old ship, “Keewatin”, and annually volunteered for museum duty, giving tours and regaling visitors with sea stories as one of the last surviving (and the youngest) crew members. During these years Eric became quite close with the “Keewatin’s” owners Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.

By utilizing the very same qualities that landed him his first job as a waiter, and combining them with an entrepreneur’s career worth of experience, a new chapter in “Keewatin’s” life is currently being written. Eric has been instrumental in creating a deal between the Petersons and Gil Blutrich of Skyline Investments to purchase the surviving luxury liner and bring her home to a now re-developing Port McNicholl. In September 2011 the deal was penned. Gil has worked through his development company to secure permits and zoning as well as covering many of the details to ensure the grand ship’s homecoming.

The “Keewatin” will be owned by a charitable foundation along with a mooring site and a three acre park in the town of Port McNicholl almost on the spot where she tied up to collect and disembark passengers. Tay Township has welcomed back the ship that once was the lifeblood of the town to stand sentinel and witness the resurgence. The “Keewatin” will reopen in her permanent home as a major feature of a modern deep water marina, and there are many ideas to integrate this attraction to be a living part of the exciting new development of the resurging Port McNicholl community.

Image Courtesy www.sskeewatin.com

I was fortunate enough in the fall of 2011 to accompany the Marine Surveyor while inspecting “Keewatin”. I crawled over every square inch of the ship exploring all areas, and I must say I felt like a kid. I held the light while the surveyor crawled through the double bottom cavity, and it was bone dry. I believe the remark was “better shape than a lot of current lake freighters” or words to the effect. The steering has been lubricated annually as has the silent engine. The original boilers have been cut up and removed save for a cross-sectioned portion to demonstrate how they worked. We inspected the windlass and the hull.

Overall the “Keewatin” is “ship shape and Bristol fashion” as far as the trip home is concerned. However, there is other areas of the ship that require restoration that will be forthcoming. The new arrangements should provide for “Keewatin’s” repair, restoration, and maintenance over another 100 years onward.

The actual move from Douglas, Michigan is no easy task. When “Keewatin” arrived in 1967 the Army Corps of Engineers had just dredged the Kalamazoo River to a depth of 18 feet which was deep enough for the liner to traverse. Apparently that was the last time the river was dredged and as of 2011 the average depth is closer to 5 feet with some spots only 2 feet deep. The mild winter helped crews get the big boat floating once again freeing her from the silt that had built up around her. This spring has seen the dredges clear a channel where the ship can be turned around and towed to the entrance of Lake Michigan.

The journey home will take several days and happen in two phases. Attached to tug boats both fore and aft, the “Keewatin” will make her way from Douglas, Michigan to the Mackinaw City ferry docks. Here she will wait for a few days for inspections, customs, and the like to clear before the second leg of the journey. The trip up Lake Michigan will be exposed to westerly winds and be difficult with no breaks and but a few areas available for safe haven. The second leg will be planned to have the ship arrive at Port McNicholl at her scheduled time. (You can click on the map / image below to enlarge it)

Image Courtesy of www.sskeewatin.com

I joke with my brother that my first boat restoration was a 22 ft Greavette and he has chosen a 350 ft Edwardian Steamer. But then again he has always set his sights high. “SS Keewatin” is scheduled to return to Port McNicholl at 3 p.m. on June 23, 2012. It’s an exciting story for such a grand Lady of the Great Lakes. I would urge all those interested in marine history and steam powered ships to follow this story as it unfolds over the next few months and maybe even plan to greet her at the pier on the 23rd.

If you see “Captain Rick”, well… that’s the teenage waiter. He has retired from his business to devote his time and energy to “Keewatin”. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to show you his ship or spin a tale and maybe, just maybe, tell you how he went from waiter to Captain.

Co-incidentally my latest restoration, an 18 ft Greavette should be getting wet after a four-year refit… must be something in the blood.

You can find more on the SS Keewatin at: www.sskeewatin.com
And even more at Eric’s (Captain Rick) blog: http://drone-on.com/
There are also a number of interesting YouTube videos on the above website, or you can check them out by simply entering SS KEEWATIN on YouTube.

Special Invitation!
From the Friends of the Keewatin

Please join us on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 3 p.m. to welcome home the Keewatin!

Sean Conroy

Thanks for sharing this heart warming story with us Sean, I can’t imagine what it would be like to pull up to Canadian Customs with a 350 ft 105 year-old boat and ask to cross the border! Please let us know when you re-launch your freshly restored Greavette.

Texx

Kathy Muller and Mike Corrigan teaching staining and varnishing next to 'Pardon Me'

Last weekend the Antique & Classic Boat Society & Antique Boat Museum teamed up to host another successful symposium / workshop at the museum’s facility in historic Clayton, New York. ACBS Past President Dick Werner’s enthusiasm and passion for the hobby is reflected in these workshops, and we all appreciate the hard work and dedication by Dick and his team, and the ongoing support for these events by the ACBS.

The “Class of 2012″ gathered outside of the Museum’s Stone Building Work Shop for a group photo.

The ACBS / Antique Boat Museum Workshop - Class of 2012

To offer a different perspective on this post-symposium story, we have three individual reports, from Dick Werner (symposium organizer), Don Danenberg (symposium instructor) and fellow Woody Boater Matt Fine (symposium participant). Images for this story were provided by Lora Nadolski – Director of Public Programming for the Antique Boat Museum.
______________________________

From Dick Werner – Symposium Organzier

This symposium turned out to be one of our better ones so far. We had an outstanding line-up of speakers; Dan Danenberg, Kathy and Bo Muller, Dave Van Ness, Tony Mollica and Mike Corrigan.

All antique boaters love a good meal and we certainly had a fabulous one at the Clipper Restaurant to kick off a very informative weekend.

On Saturday the 52 attendees broke up into several small groups and rotated around several of the workshops at the museum. We were led through restoration topics such as; repairing deep gouges and splits with “dutchmans”, removing broken plank fasteners and replacing with new fasteners and bungs. Kathy Muller and Mike Corrigan demonstrated techniques of applying stain and then brushing on varnish.

Everyone had the opportunity of trying it themselves. David Van Ness explained general marine engine maintenance, adjusting a slipping transmission and did a pretty in depth description of marine electrical systems. We had a very enjoyable talk at the end of the day given by Tony Mollica on the beginning of the Chris-Craft Boat Co. and explained how they became the leading manufacture of wooden boats.

Sunday Don Danenberg gave a very informative discussion on the studies of that have been and are still being done at Case Western University on the comparative strengths of older mahagony versus new. This scientific work may help us in deciding whether to reuse the original planks or replace them with new wood. As Dan explained, so much is dictated by where the wood is located on the boat and how much stress it will receive when moving through the water such as bottom and side planking as compared with deck planking.

Bo Muller and Mike Corrigan finished up with the things we must do when laying a boat up for the winter so we will have a boat ready for use and pleasure the next summer.

We were also treated to a private tour of the museum boats in a storage facility that the public rarely gets to see.

Everyone came away feeling that it was very worthwhile attending. Several commented that there was a lot great information packed into 2 days and that we should have made it a 3 day workshop. This was so well received by the over 50 attendees that I think I feel a sequel coming up next year.

A big thank you goes out to the speakers who took the time to give such informative presentations and also to the Antique Boat Museum for being our host for the event and helping to organize the workshops.

Dick Werner

Noted Author and Restorer Don Danenberg - Sharing His Wealth Of Knowledge

From Don Danenberg – Symposium Instructor

Texx – After speaking at such symposiums for more than a decade, I found this one to have been the most successful and well received. We all tried to make this more “hands-on” experiences than prepared presentations. All presenters have received only sincere messages of thanks. The only complaints anyone has heard was that every session should have been longer.

I myself wish I wasn’t too busy to attend the other presentations! 

Don Danenberg

And also from Matt Fine – Symposium Participant

Texx – I went to the ACBS / ABM symposium with a couple of goals.

1. The first was to get a better idea of what I could probably learn to do myself vs. what would be smarter and perhaps even cheaper to hire out to a professional.

2. The second was to pick up some tips and techniques that transfer so much better in person and hands on verses from text and photos.

In both regards, the symposium was a huge success and then some. All of the instructors were excellent. It was a “dream team” of top talent with decades of hands on experience and it showed in their knowledge and passion. There was really only one complaint I had, and that I heard over and over from the other participants. The sessions were way way too short.

My first session was on basic engine troubleshooting with Dave VanNess. Two hours into the two hour session it felt like we were less than a quarter in to what would be a short intro to the subject. Dave could have given a full two day symposium just on engines and I think we would have benefited from every minute of it. We are not talking about in depth engine rebuilding, but general maintenance and what to do when you turn the key and the engine does not start. Given my experience with modern marinas, it is becoming more and more important that we become our own mechanics for anything that does not say Mercruiser and come with a factory repair manual.

David Van Ness Speaking On Vintage Marine Engines

The session on wood working with Bo and Don was perhaps the biggest attraction for me when I decided to sign up. These guys could have taught a 2 week class and I would have been sad to see it end. Bo introduced us to the use of hand planes as an alternative to many hours of sanding. He demonstrated the use of an old compass plane to get a smooth curve on deck planks and to blend in his Dutchman repairs on the curved covering boards. It was simply brilliant and afterwards I identified the tool as a Stanley 113 compass plane. I now own a pair of them!

Don covered a variety of topics on framing and planking, and also gave a talk on Sunday on testing the strength of various wood samples. Old, new, oil soaked, water soaked, and CPES treated. I think he must be on the payroll of a sawmill or the life jacket industry because if I could sum up four plus hours of Danenberg into a single word, it would be SOBERING. Understanding that the wood in my boat may have lost 2/3rds of its strength IN THE GOOD SECTIONS, not including the cracks, splits and hidden rot will definitely play a big role in my decision making going forward.

Mike and Kathy covered staining and varnishing, both spot repair and full finish/refinish. This is an area that is definitely more art than science and where experience is king. Once again, they could have put on a full two day symposium themselves and it would have been too short. More hands on time would have been great, but I think I could spend a full decade apprenticing with them and still be learning.

Finally, the Antique Boat Museum staff did a first rate job of keeping us fed and cared for. I can highly recommend the ABM as an ideal location for any future courses and symposiums due to their facilities and more importantly the people.

Thank you to ACBS and ABM for putting this together, I will certainly attend more of these in the future and advise others to do the same. Great job guys, and a BIG thanks for the boat rides!

Matt “m-fine” Fine

Noted Author Tony Mollica - Matt Fine Sporting His Sons of Varnish Shirt

We noted at the top of the story that Kathy Muller and Mike Corrigan were teaching staining and varnishing next to “Pardon Me” the famous John Hacker design runabout that’s currently being restored at the Antique Boat Museum. Lora Nadolski noted – “Pardon Me’s restoration will be on display again this summer, as we finish the work on her this year and relaunch her in 2013.

Pardon Me - John Hacker Designed Runabout Going In For Restoration

Antique Boat Museum Collection

If you are in the Clayton, NY area, make a point to stop in to the Antique Boat Museum and check it out, it’s an amazing and memorable experience. You can click here to go directly to their website.  You can also click here to go to the ACBS website to learn more about this organization if you are not already a member.

Thanks again to Dick Werner, Don Danenberg, Matt Fine and Lora Nadolski for contributing to this story.  You can click here to go to Danenberg Boat Works website, and Van Ness Engineering website by clicking here.

Texx

Florence - MII, 1925 Stephens Image Courtesy Tahoe Maritime Museum

Dedicated to preserving the rich maritime history of Lake Tahoe, California – The Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood, California is a must visit if you are in the Lake Tahoe area or planning a trip to the area. The ever changing exhibits and immaculate boats take you back to the earliest days of wooden boating, leaving you with a genuine understanding of the history of Lake Tahoe and the significant impact wooden boats had, and still have, in the area.

The museum website notes – “The Tahoe Maritime Museum hosts a vast collection of photographs and objects that span Lake Tahoe’s maritime history. Our memorabilia reach back into the late nineteenth century. The Museum’s boat collection rivals many maritime museums in the nation. Currently there are over 25 vessels, which are historically significant not only to Lake Tahoe but to the maritime community in general. Many of the boats are lake-worthy and see service on Lake Tahoe’s crystal blue waters during the summer.”

“Our Mission To stimulate an interest in, increase knowledge of, and maintain watercraft and marine artifacts significant in Lake Tahoe’s maritime history through the highest standards of historic preservation, innovative interpretation and public education.”

Florence - MII 1925 Stephens Image Courtesy Tahoe Maritime Museum

The Tahoe Maritime Museum “Woody 101 Series” of Seminars

Greetings! – The Tahoe Maritime Museum is excited to announce that sign ups are now open for the “Woody 101 Boating Series.” This informative and interactive series will be held on three dates throughout the summer by experienced industry professionals. The series is designed for boat lovers of all experience levels, whether you are a new boater or a seasoned captain, all can learn from these boating experts. Space is limited so sign up early. See below for class details.

Start Your Engines
Saturday June 2, 10:00 AM

Engine expert John Allen of Allen’s Marine Engines along with Tahoe Maritime Museum’s Christine Shook will talk about what it takes to get your boat ready for the summer season. The presentation will take place in the museum’s Truckee Annex (in nearby Truckee, California) while Allen activates the museum’s ride boat engine, other engines, and answers questions about engines in the museum’s collection.

John Allen On Board Houston Girl - Lake Tahoe Concours 2010

Wooden Boat Care
Saturday, July 7, 10:00 AM

Professional restorer Tony Brown, of Western Runabouts, in Auburn, California will talk about the unique peculiarities of wooden boat care. Learn about important safety and care tips for all boats. Tony will walk participants around the Truckee Annex(the museum’s storage facilty) to share his experience with restoring boats in the collection and sharing stories.

Tony Brown On Board Miss Tahoe - Lake Tahoe Concours 2011

Woodies on the Water
Saturday, July 14, 10:00 AM

Tahoe Maritime Museum Ride Boat Captain – Don Leutz will talk about how to start, safely maneuver, and basic etiquette of Woody Boating at Obexer’s Marina. From fueling up to leaving the slip, there are right and wrong ways of doing things. This will be a great time to ask Coast Guard Certified Captain, Don Leutz, any boating questions you may have. Each participant will get to take a short ride out on the Tahoe Maritime Museum’s ride boat, “Lemme Go First”, a 1929 Garwood, and experience the difference of boating on a woody.

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“Lemme Go First”
1929 28 foot Gar Wood Runabout – Hull Number 117

“Lemme Go First” is a fine example of the classic raised-deck “Baby Gar” Model 28-40 manufactured by Gar Wood in the 1920s. “Lemme Go First” was originally purchased from Jake Obexer of Obexer’s Boat Company and was the first Gar Wood delivered and sold at Lake Tahoe.

The original owner was Edwin Letts Oliver, who named her “Hey There III”. Three of these 28-foot, raised-deck “Baby Gars” were delivered to Lake Tahoe. The other two raised-deck boats are “Jim Jr.” and “Navaho”. Oliver, who was the Tahoe Yacht Club’s first Commodore, raced “Hey There III” from 1929 until 1938 when she was sold to Henry J. Kaiser Sr., who named her “Lemme Go First” and campaigned her in Tahoe Yacht Club races for several years. During Kaiser’s racing campaigns, she received new power in the form of a Scripps Model 302 V-12 engine. When finished with racing, “Lemme Go First” was heavily modified and did service as a work boat and fire boat at Lake Tahoe.

She was acquired by Alan Furth and in 1991 passed on to Lou and Martin Smith, who researched and did a complete restoration project in the mid 1990’s. In December 2001, Lou, Lee and Martin Smith graciously donated “Lemme Go First” to the Tahoe Maritime Museum to assure her permanent participation in the California boating scene. “Lemme Go First” has been repowered with a Scripps Model 202 6 cylinder marine engine.
(story reprinted from the Tahoe Maritime Museum website)
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2012 “Woody 101 Series” of Seminars

The three class series is $75.00 for members and $125.00 for non-members. Sign up today by calling or e-mailing Katena at (530) 525-9253 ext. 103 or katena@tahoemaritime.org.  You can also visit the museum website by clicking here.

Museum Photo of the Famous 1924 40' Nevins - Teaser

If you have the opportunity to attend any of these informative seminars throughout the summer, or simply stop by the museum for a few hours, it’s time well spent and your support for this great facility will certainly be appreciated.

Texx

Part of the parade into the service

This past weekend while the gang was all over the world reporting in from Texas, Washington State, New Jersey and even Monte Carlo, we were right at home in Reedville VA, our wonderful home on the Bay. This web stuff is mind blowing sometimes. I recall a time when we thought that technology would make life less personal. And yet, we are all making pals across the planet. Amazing stuff. One of the main reasons that we were not zipping around all over the place was because of the Annual blessing of the fleet in Reedville. It’s a church service held at the old Fish stack that the community just rebuilt.

A church service on the water!

The stack represents the rich culture and history of the area. Reedville is still a working fishing village. In fact, I think its the second largest fishing port in the US next to some town in Alaska. If your wife uses Omega fish oils. Look on the back of the box.. Reedville VA..

a part of the Omega Protein fleet, not wood by the way, there are spotter planes, all very very cool stuff.

The town is frozen in time. IN A GOOD WAY! Stunning homes from the 1920′s that line the water, and small coves in protected waters. Everyone gets around by boat. Like a lake, but with the freedom to take off and go as far as you like.  Most of the folks that live there are full timers, waterman and retired couples. This weekend is very special in the area because the blessing its a ritual that has been going on for decades. Waterman and regular folks like yours truly all go out into the mouth of the Great Wicomico and gather. Then parade back in to the Stack and the service starts. Seems rather simple. And it is, in a true Virginia understated way.

A small part of the parade

Yet deep in emotion and respect for the water and the summers future harvest. By the way.. this is going to be an amazing year if you love crabs..

Note the tiller steering, very cool stuff

As a wood boat lover it’s especially moving, since 80% of the boats are made from wood. Old and new Deadrise fishing boats. Buyboats, Small wood skiffs, still being built by local folks like Randy Cockrell, and George Butler. It’s real here, authentic, this is no re-enactment, or show for tourists. It’s a way of life that is self sustaining that has been going on for over a century. As I travel around the country I am always in search for rituals and things that embody the location that are real, and built over time, and ring true to the area. I can not imagine a more wonderful way to start out the boating season than with this Bleesing of the fleet.

Right rear tire shredded

It was bound to happen, we all knew it. Yes, Reporting in LIVE from the side of the road. In MONTANA again.. Between Billings and Sheridan Wyoming….Our trusty reporter. Paul “Broken Down By the side of the road reporter” Harrison is reporting in. With a shredded tire.

In the middle of no where, wear, where..

Technically according to the GPS see below.. NEXT EXIT 530 Miles.

Closest gas station 42 miles. Now, for all of you nit pickers, this is a two year old trailer. And not a cheap one or cheap tires. Its just being driven by …you know who.. so.. The combo of Montana and Paul is not a good mix. And its not like anyone from Wyoming is going to help. Inside joke by the way.. We have 0 readers in Wyoming.. The tire shredded and tore up the fender, which Paul is trying to separate from the wheel or tire.. Dang..

UPDATE: Paul is back on the road and will be checking the wheels every ten miles now..

The Inland Empire Chapter and their dedicated members work very hard throughout the year to promote and expand the antique & classic boating hobby, and are very excited about hosting the 2013 ACBS International Meeting and Show at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

One of the best parts about spending the day the Resort Boat Shop is having the opportunity to tour through the huge facility and see first hand, what projects Eric O’Brien and his crew are currently working on – and we are never disappointed… This restored Chris-Craft cruiser (shown above and below) is now in the final stages of a multi-year restoration and looks great as she soaks-up in one of two wet test areas on site.

A few beautiful examples of recently completed projects completed by the Resort Boat Shop… These guys get it!

“48 Calibre” An immaculate 1948 Chris-Craft 18′ Deluxe both inside and out – owned by Bill Schueck.

How about a Chris-Craft / Stan Craft hybrid – According to the literature, “Hot Diggity” is a 1930 Chris-Craft hull that was modified with a new hull and decks, and sold as a Stan Craft boat in 1995. Powered by a Chris-Craft 327.

I spotted this very cool Yellow Jacket on display with fins, a curved windshield and a big Mercury 6 outboard…

This is one of those boats that would be a blast to go for a fast ride in, on a calm summer morning, now if I can just find out who owns it and where he lives…

Getting a chance to learn about another rare Post-War Chris-Craft 20′ Custom Runabout for the first time is always fun, this 1946 model Custom “Lizzy” is currently being restored and is owned by Bob & Anne Henshaw. These are great looking boats. In the back ground, Steve & Linda Zwarg’s multi-award winning 1942 Chris-Craft Custom 19′ Barrelback “Killer”.

A very cool (and very large) 1966 30′ Lyman that was listed for sale. Not sure if this twin powered brute is a Lyman Sleeper or a Lyman Cruisette – but I’m the lapstrake guys will set me “Strake”.

One of the boats in the boat shop being preserved was this traditional Chris-Craft Capri, waiting for some fresh varnish.

The Resort Boat Shop also specializes in the design and construction of modern contemporary wooden boats, which are cold molded from cedar, mahogany and teak. “Jefe” (shown below) is a 34′ Coeur d’Alene Custom Design which has been featured in publications such as the Robb Report and Yacht International.

The particular boat recently won a class award at the 2011 ACBS International Boat Show in Geneva Lake last September, and it turns heads where ever it goes for it’s stunning beauty, design and performance.

“Jefe” is powered by Twin 550 HP LS7 Corvette 550 Fuel Injected V-8′s with thru drive exhaust driven by Mercury XR1 drives, capable of top speeds in the 60 to 65 MPH range.

Shop manager Eric O’Brien explained to us that they are currently in the process of completing two more similar Gentleman’s Runabouts, using the same successful design formula as “Jefe” only slightly shorter in overall length. Below is the 29′ Coeur version which now has her new interior and ready for the power plant and running gear to be installed.   Eric explained that each boat is unique, with very subtle changes to it’s design.

The second Gentleman’s Runabout in the shop is this 30′ version of the Coeur design.

This 30 footer also has some unique one-off design elements throughout the boats design, most noticably in the stern area. The brand new 450 HP big block Chevrolet based Mercruiser power plant was there, and is ready to be installed, which will also incorporate a through drive exhaust system to minimize noise levels under power. The amount of engineering, combined knowledge and modern technology that is incorporated into these modern contemporary wooden runabouts is truly amazing.

But the most remarkable part – Is that fact that both these boats are scheduled to be fully completed, water tested and delivered to their new owners by June 15th – period. With a staff of more that 18 full time, qualified people at the Resort Boat Shop, as Eric says “Things come together quickly here, with no compromize in terms of craftsmanship and quality.” This 30 footer will also perform with top speeds in the 60 MPH range.

Another Lyman getting her water test and summerization procedure after winter storage at the boat shop.

Below – From left to right, three Inland Empire Presidents caught in a freindly Presidential Debate on Saturday – Past President B.K. Powell, Immediate Past President Larry O’Leary, and current President Michael Boge. A tip of the Woody Boater Hat to everything these three fellows have accomplished over the last many years, setting the Inland Empire Chapter on a course to success for the future. Nice work guys.

Michael Boge and the Inland Empire Chapter are now working a new and interesting concept for the chapter named the “Ambassador Program” The purpose of this program is to promote the interaction and support of the ACBS Chapters of the Northwest Region and to enable our members to attend other boat shows in our area. Michael commented “Our goal is to encourage our members to attend the Chapter Boat Shows of our Region and to encourage other ACBS Chapters and their members to reciprocate by attending our local sanctioned ACBS boat shows.”

You can read more about the proposed “Ambassador Program” on the Inland Empire Chapter ACBS website and also in the most recent Chapter newsletter (which is a fantastic publication), prepared by Editor and Fellow Woody Boater Wes Yandt by clicking here.

“American Pride” is the theme for this years 10th Annual Classic Boat Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho which is hosted by the Inland Empire Chapter ACBS.  If you are planning to be anywhere near the Pacific Northwest in ealy July, this is a “must attend” event for both classic boat owners and spectators. 

Poster Image Courtesy - Inland Empire Chapter ACBS

Thanks again to The Resort Boat Shop for inviting us to this great event and to the Inland Empire Chapter and their members for making it a fun day for all.

Texx