Comments on: Stanfords Marina – A Barn Find Marina?

By: matt

matt — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:27:28 +0000

It’s a very rare deal here at Woodyboater to have such fondness and good feelings poured out for anyone or anyplace. This place as i said, is far far more than just another marina. It has all the good vibes from a good life put into it. It’s almost impossible to capture such things in stories like this. WOW, the web makes this a very very small world indeed.

By: Jim Schafer

Jim Schafer — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:51:02 +0000

The Standford’s entered my life in 96 when I was introduced to my first wooden boat. Looking for a cheap way to live at NAS Patuxent River while testing the MV-22, I was convinced that buying a 1964 40 foot Owens for $3,500 that needed a little bottom work was the way to go. Clarence told me she could be rebuilt. As I power washed the barnacles off, I blew a 5 foot hole through the starboard quarter. As I was trembling in my shoes, Clarence assured me that everything would be fine. There was nothing Clarence could not construct, reconstruct, manufacture, re-manufacture, weld, rebuild, fix, repair, tune, tighten. As a master craftsman, he was equally talented as a carpenter and machinist. Clarence took me under his wing and taught me how to re plank and rebuild a wooden boat. As a boat builder/shipwright, he was the equivalent of Chesty Puller to the Marines. Under his careful watch, 9 months later (oddly enough, yes 9 months), my Owens saw water again.
Without question or any uncertainty, all knew who ran the Marina. Mary Virginia is all of 5’6,” however, you would rather cross a 6’5” rough neck before crossing Mary Virginia. My first week there, I made the mistake of calling her Mary. She allowed me to do this twice before hanging myself. She stopped me in my tracks and said in a very bold tone, “My NAME is Mary Virginia!” I settled with “Yes Mam” for a good while. When Clarence had his stroke, Mary Virginia was a power house. She looked after her soulmate and ran the yard without skipping a beat. I asked Clarence if I could take his bride out on a date, and he gave me his blessing. Mary Virginia looked like a million dollars when I picked her up. Betty White ain’t got noth’n on Mary Virginia. We went to Claiborne’s in Fredericksburg and had dinner and even danced.
I grew fond of their grandson Stephan as I watched him develop as a craftsman from his high school years until is tragic passing at the age of 27. I wanted to see him carry on with the Stanford legacy.
Lastly, I am very blessed with all the friends I made over the last 16 years of visiting Stanford Marine Railway and Colonial Beach and will not even try to make a list of names.

To Clarence and Mary Virginia – thank you for being my friend and taking such good care of me! Love You!

By: kfd

kfd — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:23:30 +0000

I spent my childhood there, my family and I lived on a 1948 Trumpy. I couldn’t ask for a better upbringing. The famed author Sloan Wilson lived there as well. In fact, I think you fellas might have passed by the forlorn 23′ 1961 Chris kit that resides on the south side of the storefront. I have been meaning to pick that thing up for the past fifteen years now! I am glad to know Mary Virginia is still around. I remember Clarence, and yes, he had a real wry sense of humor. Thanks for the nostalgic trip down memory lane!

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:41:07 +0000

Call it the Marina Mall. Put the U-22 on the roof as a display (don’t ever cover it and allow the leaves to rot inside, hey didn’t a town do that to a famous persons boat already?) and use all that extra mahogany piled in the workshop to panel the food court.

By: matt

matt — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:56:37 +0000

What joke, thats another matt.. and steve martin, and well.. is that my wife i hear.. Yes dear.. gotta go

By: Big Black Hole Where You Dump Your Tax Dollars

Big Black Hole Where You Dump Your Tax Dollars — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:54:55 +0000

Mr. Smith. Taxman here. That joke you made? We’re looking into it.

By: matt

matt — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:30:34 +0000

This reminds me of the old saying from Steve Martin regarding making a million Dollars without paying taxes..

You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. “Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?” First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, “Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, ‘You.. have never paid taxes’?” Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: “I forgot!”

By: matt

matt — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:06:36 +0000

The crowds are gathering now. Sorry john, no more room for you.. All the slips are full, you had your chance.. What a cool place for meetings and working on your boat..

By: John Rothert

John Rothert — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:00:09 +0000

I feel like Matt sent the world the map to heaven. Many of us in Virginia, and in the Tidewater Charpter of the ACBS…back in the day…Know Stanford’s well and cherish the place. We used to have meetings there because our fearless leader, Bill Bowman, kept his boat there (still does I think…) and knew Clarence and his family. Sadly, Clarence’s grandson that had an interest in continuing the tradition, died quite young.
The sheds and parts and especially the atmosphere and the TOOLS are breathtaking to the WoodyBoater.
That railway could pull multiple boats end on end up into the covered shed. When they got new stationary tools they just shoved the old ones against the wall and carried on. Unreal early stationary tools there. Colonial Beach was once a rockin place, boats brought DC types to gamble on the pier…it was out OVER the Potomac, thus in Maryland…Va. did not allow folks to gamble….same today. Great place to cruise. (and I cruised again this weekend on the Bay!!!). We should have a Boat Buzz Unplugged event there, in the spring perhaps??? Get you cold bloods back to Virginia. Clarence built himself a really cool personal yacht that stayed there for years, he intended to cruise more than he ever got the chance to. Soud familiar? Go BOATING….try Colonial Beach!
Thanks Matt….I guess ? secret’s out
John in Va.

By: Tim Fuhrmann

Tim Fuhrmann — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:55:07 +0000

I wish I had a million bucks AND was 30 yrs younger…

What a place to build a life.