Real Photo Of Tsunami Hitting Austrailian Coastline!

Fellow woody boater Michael Guthrie of Noosa Dream Boats in Australia had made all the preparations for the incoming Tsunami, the classic woody was all tucked away and the family had all moved to high ground. Woody Boater was in constant contact with Michael, asking for photos of the event. Just like CNN we were prepared.. cameras pointing at the coast. And then it hit...shockingly it all happened right in front of there home. The crew of this woody sail boat were saved. We can all rest easy now. Everyone is fine. Below is the only known image of the event.

Classic Boat T-Shirts, Caps, and Water Bottles. We Are Almost There.

The Northeast is getting a pounding of snow today, and I thought... lets look forward. Lets look forward to Lake Dora, to sunny days, SPF 40 and the glorious sounds of flat heads gurgling through the warm waters of summers gone by.So I thought I would give everyone a peak ahead.. We are almost ready to unveil the new 2010 Woody Boater line of swag. The Captains hats that were ordered a while back are almost ready. We are already taking orders for the next round. We need 6 more orders. You can read about the search by clicking on the hat banner on the right side of the page here. The baseball caps are being done up for delivery here in 2 weeks, in Black, Khaki and off white with New Old Stock Patches made by Lancaster boat company. Thirst Aide - Thirst Extinguisher 20 oz water bottles designed from vintage fire extinguishers are here in the office in a barn find brass color ready for Mt Dora. Nothing is for sale yet. The grand sale will happen in Lake Dora. Now... T shirts. As many of you know, we made 25 T Shirts each year and handed them out at Lake Dora to loyal readers. last year they were gone in about 5 minutes. Who would have known? All you did, but not me... So this year We decided to make roughly 75. In three designs, and offer them for sale to cover all the costs... All the stuff we are making is done a cost, plus what it took to get it done. Obviously not a money making venture here... But I suppose in the tradition of Classic Boating, it fits... I am asking for feedback on the tshirts though before we print them this week. I have more designs than need be. So here goes. They will all be two sided by the way. One side with the art, the other with the Woody Boater logo.

Win All Your Chris-Craft Arguments With One Push Of This Button.

One of the charms of these classic boats that we love so much, is that each boat was, and is a work of art as much as a mass produced vehicle for use in the water. For every argumant about work standards and design elements there are exceptions. "Well in this photo it says it suposed to be like this" and then some body chimes in.. "Well I worked at the plant, and let me tell you that it was not that way" And then a restorer says. "Hey I don't care what you say, I have an nail here were there is supposed to be a screw, and I am the first to touch this boat"... the debates are endless, and will be forever... Now, if you are like me, and all you have is... well nothing...and don't have a weapon in your arsinal of back up for that dry wall screw holding down a cleet. You can now, thanks to eBay, whip out your Chris-Craft Corp VISITOR button and go at it.." Well, you see when I bought this boat at the plant I demanded dry wall screws from Home Depot to be used on the boat." and since you have the visitor button, you have proof! That's it, no Danenbergs, Nelsons, McCalls, no Ayers... Robinsons... even Herb Pocklington can't ague with you... The button is all powerful because YOU WERE THERE..... All they have is years of experience...you my friend have a visitor button and 2 days left on eBay... Click on the button and it will take you there.. See it's already is working for you..

Calling All Chris Craft Geeks!

Fellow woody boater Dan Nelson of Nelson Boat Works is in the process of restoring another show stopper Chris Craft 1941 Barrel Back. Dan has found what looks like an orange dye on the back sides of the ceiling boards. Dan has figured that they might have been dipped into a aniline dye, and then stained on the front side. Can anyone confirm this? Chris? Are you out there Chris.... I have my Ouija board out... I am ready...Dan is ready... Chris... Chris... stop looking at your new statue...it's not done yet... Chris we need you here...Chris.....

More Snow On The Way In Woodyboaterville. We Need Some Bob!

During the last spell of snow drifts.... Trapped behind my keyboard was all not that bad because of the fun email and comments I got.... One stood out though and I went back to it several times. Fellow Woody Boater Bob Kays sent me this video of a boat ride on Lake Hopatcong...Funny thing, when one shoots these videos, they seem silly at the time. No action, no topless women or explosions, nothing but a ride on the lake. It's only in the dead of winter, buried in your office behind your computer that simple things like a warm nice uneventful boat ride is just the ticket. With more snow coming this weekend I thought it might be nice to share the kindness of Bob and his brilliant forethought.

Today Makes 900 Stories... Dang!

Two and a half years ago, on a cold day in October, I sat down at my computer and decided to journal the restoration of my beautiful 1941 Barrel Back. No big deal, just a story a week on the progress. As many of you know by now, I can't write worth a lick, and my spelling is at a 4th grade level. It gets worse, I can barley read, it's something about the way my eyes track copy. Not kidding.. I could be reading a lust note from Pam Anderson and it would take me an hr to read it all. I would read it all by the way.... At some point, I am not sure when, I decided to do a story once a day. It just felt good to be doing something for my self. I know it seems odd to be broadcasting ones thoughts across the planet as something one does for them selves. But this is what I do, I do marketing for folks that ask me to broadcast for them... So this in a way is my way of using what I know how to do for me. I know how to broadcast. Not write though, this has been a very therapeutic way for me to feel more comfortable with writing. I also have learned a great deal about how the web works. Shhhh don't tell my clients... I have experts here at the company that laughed at me with my clumbsyness on the web. But they are not laughing anymore.....In fact I am now coaching folks on blogging and social media. I use Woody Boater as an example about owning a niche. And how mass marketing is dead.. POWER TO THE NICHE! Sorry... I have left the topic of Classic Boats and wondered into marketing... Today Woody Boater is reaching readers all over the world. With over 900 stories, and 12,000 readers a month, sponsors, and reporters across the US. Crap..that all sounds too big when I say it that way... Dang! We are also about to announce some new things. A new more robust web site, T-shirts, hats, and water bottles, all being launched at Mt Dora in 35 days. So if you are going to be there, stop by and say hello, hey, howdy, ahoy!

Stan And Chris's Eyes Met From Across The Marina....

Stan walked into the boat shop one day and there was Chris, all dressed up in his Cobra outfit. Stan could not take his eyes off of Chris Crafts Cobra fin. It was perched up high glimmering in full gold plumage. Chris had known about Stan Craft for years. Stan's "Torpedo" was very well known in the area.... Oh god this is getting sick... You can see there love child here. Be warned, you must be over 18.. OK more like 60....

Mr. Gar Wood, And Mr. Christopher Columbus Smith Request Your Presence At The Dedication Of Their Statue On June 27th 2010.

If you are alive on June 27th this year, then you need to be in Algonoc Michigan to celebrate the unveiling of a way over due dedication to the two men that started it all. As well as the 25th Anniversary of the Algonac Chris Craft plant Jamboree . "Where it all began" June 25-27

Sculptor Sergei Mitrofanov and the clay mock up and the start of the statue in pink.

Gar Wood, and Chris Smith will be there in spirit for sure. There will also be a celebration put on by the Michigan chapter of the ACBS with a boat parade and drive by. If you are into these speed boats. It will be like visiting mecca. We will find a wall someplace that you can bang your head on if you like... Obscure reference yes... but to those of you that got it..thank you for the chuckle.. Anyway.. This is going to be a very emotional moment for the hobby. And all the stars for a brief moment will be channeled in one place. Now, if you can't make it.. What can you do to feel the love? What else... PAY UP!

Here is your chance. Click on the image and it will blow up.. Wait.. Not like an explosion. but larger.. No gas fumes here...

A check from you will buy you a spot in Classic Boat heaven... Enough dough and you got yourself a skybox in heaven... With Hooter girl waitresses and flat screen TV's showing 24 hrs of boat shows and a classic boat that needs nothing right there at your beck and call.... All for just writing a check. That is a deal for sure... I guarantee it... If you get to Woody Boat heaven and it aint so, please let us know, we will refund your check.......Chris and Gar will be there to talk you out of it though... Below is a list of Hotels in the area. Just click on it.. And well, stand back...Rooms are booking up, so make your move. See you there!

Snow Boat Disasters. How's That Insurance Policy You Have?

As annoying as shoveling 50 inches of snow out of my way can be. I would rather be doing that then dealing with my pride and joy at the bottom of a mountain of snow and roof material. It seems like only a month ago... wait.. it was... that we did a story on just this sort of thing. Some of these shots are in here in the mid - Atlantic after the Snowmageden.... Ugh! A very nice Trumpy yacht... Please make sure your insurance premium is caught up on.. Now is the worst time of year for disasters...Here, I will help you.. Just Click here.. It's that easy.. One Click.. Now enjoy some pictures.. Rubber necking is encouraged on the Internet Highway..



Just one click... Really.. Click...

2009 ACBS International Classic Boat House Tour

Woody Boater's Paul & Karen Harrison also attended the Boat House Tour at the 2009 ACBS International Boat Show, here's the story......and don't forget, click on any image and it will double in size.

As a prelude to the 2009 ACBS International Boat Show and General Meeting at Gravenhurst, the Toronto Chapter arranged several days of pre-event activities for show attendees and participants, and by far the most popular were the private boat house tours. There are three lakes which make up the Muskoka area, and for over 100 years these lakes have been extremely popular destinations for families looking to escape the heat and congestion of the city. Always home to elegant and grand summer homes and resorts, the Muskoka Lake region has also been a mecca for recreational boating since the earliest days of tourism and summer travel.

There is very seldom a chance to peer into any of these grand structures, and the chance that we had, to visit roughly 15 of them over two days (in a classic wooden triple cockpit runabout), is an exceedingly rare opportunity indeed. In our case, we had the good fortune to be invited to join outgoing ACBS President Dick Werner and his wife Louise on board "Crusoe", a beautifully restored 1937 24' Greavette Custom owned by Alan Cranfield of nearby Torrance, on Lake Muskoka. Alan has been a lifelong summer resident of the Muskoka area, and he knew most of the people and the boats extreamely well. Alan was a most excellent tour guide!

Click on the little arrow and watch a video tour as well.

Many large homes and lakefront estates boast very elaborate boat houses, in some cases multiple boat houses with dockage of from two to three boats and up to, on occasion, well over 10 boats.

The often heard sentiment from the tour participants was that there was absolutely nowhere else in the world where such a collection of the best boats of this era could be viewed. Most of these boats are not publicly exhibited and most are very seldom seen. Some are truly one-of-a-kind historic boats that we have only read about. It was only through the extraordinary efforts of the Toronto ACBS Chapter and generosity of the owners that we mortals were afforded the opportunity to view this rare collection of timeless wooden boats.

Thanks Paul & Karen for sharing this experience with us - Texx.