Going To The Warner Auction In Winsted Alone?

For gods sake bring a side kick... One that knows how to keep you out of trouble. And for those of you that are planning on dropping some major coin.. Bring a professional. You need a person that is objective and knows what they are talking about, and will help guide you through this.. After all that $1,000 25 ft Sportsman could end up costing you $135,000 in the end because you thought that original wood is like orig metal. Or that $75,000 one of a kind original boat you bought should actually not be restored and used with the kids. These are subtle things that will keep you out of trouble and divorce court.  Now is the time to get your help. We contacted Antique Boat Center on Friday and they are already getting calls for representation. They will have folks there at the show, Lou Rauh, Joel, Dennis and Jeremy will be there ready to help. If not Antique Boat Center, think about if you have a restorer that you like.. Dan Nelson of Nelson Boat Works one of the countries top restorers and a great guy is a local there. If you live out of town and have a local person you trust.. Fly them there.. The cost of an airplane ticket is nothing in the grand scheme...This is a very honest crowd, but your emotions and dreams can get the best of you.. And the boats on the list have some very subtle unique qualities...or not...Here are some points to consider..
1. Knowledge is you best friend...
2. Antique Boat Center for example has a professional approach with 20 years of experience at this. Ask about a process with whomever you take.....It really helps
3 A consultation can be the voice of reason for evaluation, you pal Mel who likes boats to may not be your best voice of reason..
4. At Antique Boat Center, Lou Rauh, wrote a book, published by the Chris- Craft Antique Boat Club on how to buy a wood boat you may want to get one of those if you are new to this.
You will also want to consider if you buy something.. Transport, insurance. ( We will do a story on Hagerty later) Financing? Appraisals... There will also be a bunch of stuff that relates to classic boating that you may want help on.. So now is the time to book your new pal.. Once they are booked on a certain item or person you may run out of pals.. And then all you have is me.. ME! And I love everything and talk you into anything just for the story.. Except for that 25 ft sportsman... That's mine.. I am not bringing up $1,000 for nuth'n...

Live-ish From Lake George New York

There are lakes, and then there are lakes. And this is Lake George the second kind of lake.. The stunning kind, the post card kind... Hands down one of the most magnificent settings on the planet earth for classic boats. This weekend was your chance to bask in the glory of both. And for those of you.. and me.. that were else wear. Through the magic of the web, you can be there. Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Kent O. Smith you can now sip on your cup of coffee in Woody Boaterville. The 37th Annual Lake George Rendezvous was hosted by the Adirondack Chapter on Saturday, August 28th at the Lake George Village docks. The morning’s chill air gave way to a near picture perfect day with pleasant summer temperatures. 59 boats were registered and about a dozen non registered boats showed up as well. Local Adirondack Chapter members rafted their boats together to accommodate new arrivals. The mix of boats was one of the best ever in recent years.

  1930 Gar Wood 28’ limosene, Scripps 208, “Teddy Bear”.  Owned by Jean Hoffman.

 1930 Gar Wood 28’, original Scripps 202, once owned by Gar’s brother Logan Wood.  “Two Palms”.  Owned by Roger & Maria Johnson.

1960 Lyman 15’, Honda 30hp, owned by Bernard LeMay.  “Wood Vibrations”

 1926 Rochester 28’, Scripps V-12, owned by John Perkins.  “Mr. Benny”.  Restored and previously owned by Wayne Mocksfield.

 2000 Vintage Marine replica CC Racing Runabout, 315hp Mercruiser.  “Blue Chip”.  Built by Tom Hilliker, owned by John Kovac

 1936 Gar Wood 20’ utility, Chrysler Marine 6 cylinder.  “Even Swap”.  Owned by John E. Kelly III

 1926 Hacker Dolphin 26’, Mercruiser 454.  Recent restoration by Fish Brothers.  Owned by Bob Woodward.  “Rowena V”

 1929 Dart 26’, Kermath Sea Wolf 225hp.  Owned by Steve Heitman.  “Temperance”
 

 1917 George Lawley & Sons launch, Chris Craft Model K engine.  Owned by Mark & Linda McCollister.  “The Only One” has been on Lake George since the early 1950s.

 1954 Chris Craft Racing Runabout 19’, original MBL 158hp.  Hull number 500.  Owned by George Badcock.  “The Little Man” was restored by Cutwater Boatworks (yours truly)

 1929 Chris Craft 28’ upsweep, Marine Power 454.  Owned by George & Kathy Badcock.  “Kath II” still has it’s orginal sides and bottom.  Maintained by Cutwater Boatworks

Gone Fish'n!

It's a beautiful day here in Reedville Virginia Water is flat as a pancake...mmmmm breakfast.... and I am not on the road. I'm on Betsy and prepping for the big Reedville Antique Boat Show on the 11th of September. We need boats if anyone is so inclined. It's a small fun show that takes over the town. So get out the sunscreen and turn off your computer.. Everything can wait...Unless it's Warner Auction stuff, then for gods sake drop everything..

Picture Of The Day. Towing $700,000 Worth Of Classic Boat Goodness.

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Brian Robinson, we have this fun shot of what it takes to ship three of the finest Classic boats out there. These are the three boats purchased at the recent Mecum Monterey auction. All headed to one location in Minnesota to ONE buyer. We are with holding his name for privacy reasons. But we can report that the boats will not be alone and will feel right at home. DANG! I can't even afford the shrink rap these days..

There Are Other Auctions Going On... You Can Practice Bidding Now!

If you are new to the Auction world, you can test out the waters today! eBay! For some reason this week is a good juicy week in the classic boat listings. I suppose it's getting close to the end of summer and the deals are starting to come out of the wood work. Rim shot goes here... Here are some that called to me.
A nice original patina Peterborough Speedster..


A very colorful Larson All American..

A over the top 1957 Speedliner  M-314

Location Of Warner Collection Auction Published!

Here ya go. The Date October 15-17, 2010 The Location - 423 State Hwy 261 Winsted, MN
Hotels are spotty and a distance away. WoodyBoater gotten a group rate for our Woody Boater readers. The Country Inn in Buffalo MN just 17 miles away has the best local recommendations and Rooms are $89 a night for a two night stay and $99 for one night. Just mention Woody Boater. Friday night we are trying to work out a fun dinner.. Chime in..

Wyoming? A Road Trip To Meet Our Readers...Reader..

That's a lot of sky and tall grass.. yes sir re....

Wyoming. Why? Why have we only had one reader one time since we started this web site.. Why..oh...Why...ming? So. we hopped in the Woodyboatermobile and decided to investigate.. and ask around......turns out.. They like motorcycles there... Big time, and trucks.. And cows..Old wood speed boats.. not a one to be found.. mobile web... cell phone coverage.. Anything.. Nope.. Just a lot of stunning vastness of air and tall grass.

Water, grass, and a hat....

I wish I could go on and on and explain that certain boats were... blah blah.. But it really is not that hard to understand once you actually get there.. We did wander into South Dakota on the way home... Ohhh there we have 9 readers this month..

Mt Rushmore, and a hat...

Now I know.. I get it.. And to be honest.. miss it.. Now back to the Warner Collection frenzy...

How To Tell Your Spouse You Just Bought A Boat At An Auction..

This may on the surface look like a funny header. But, it's a real issue...I did some work for a major marine engine manufacturer years ago.. Their main interest was getting the spouse of the boat nut to buy into boating, ALL the images shot of boats, had to include families and spouses..This is nothing new really..The image of boating is either one of a happy day out on the water with your family, or that you will make a family on one if you get a boat with a huge motor and bow..Sex, love, whatever you want to call it, have been a main stay of boating.. As one pal says, if the spouse is there when they are looking at a boat for sale, it's a done deal... My wife says, I am making love to my boats out in the barn.. So with the up coming Warner Auction, many of us are making the trek up to St Paul.. Cash in our pockets... And with a weak promise of, oh don't worry honey...I am going up there for the show...Now if this were a movie.. I would do a hard CUT.. and the next scene is you with a paddle bidding like you have billions in your account.. But that Roman Numeral Chris Craft is to much, and at $300,000 its a steal.. The good news is that you stopped bidding at $1,500.. But you did buy that Harley Davidson boat for $7,500.. And now what.. Jesus.. What have you done, you don't even like motorcycles.. And now you own a boat with...Here are some simple strategies as starters to follow...

1. What in the hell were you thinking... Sorry, it had to be said.. And your spouse will say it eventually, AND several times by the way. So get used to it..

2. The Cop Out...Try and sell it on the way home..There is an eBay app for that now, and since you live a zillion miles away.. You can offer free delivery.

3.The At Least I am Not Dead Strategy...Call home and tell your spouse you don't feel well.. That you feel faint and have been in bed at the hotel. That you are going to see a Dr today to make sure everything is all right.. The auction has one more day, and you will go by and just look...Now... a day later, you feel great! The Dr says you are healthy as an ox, and you bought a boat.. A cool Harley one of a kind boat...Your spouse will be so happy that you are not dead, she wont kill you...

4. The I am going to make a fortune call. This one is tough.. This may require some research.. Find out that a similar Harley boat sold for 25K.. It does not matter that yours is un restored and in pieces.. And the one that sold is a Tahoe show winner owned by the Harley family and came with a brand new bike.. Those are just details.. Tell your wife,, you just made this years Christmas gift money.. Only later when you spend next years Christmas money on the boat will she realize what an idiot you are.. again!

5. The It's Got Your name on it move...This is a very common move and is a proven winner.. Normally reserved for restoration projects.. It's usually good for about 20K is bottom work though.. But in an auction situation, will require some fast thinking. Woody Boater may have a sign painter on location, Give him your wife's name, and bingo, you have a Riva with Tami Sue on it... It can even be aged, and no doubt everyone will back you up on this one.. .There is a code of the road...What gets bought on the side of the road.. Usually gets sold back on the side of the road..

6. The It was only 100 bucks lie! Now, this is a tough one. if you are lying to buy a boat, you need help... But, who are we to cast dispersions.. This requires having a secret stash.. The money you have set aside from all the buying and selling, you have done.. You are living a secret life. But you know that if you told her, that you had $15,000 sitting around it would have been turned into a sofa and wallpaper for the foyer.. So i suppose the problem is two sided

7. The We did it call. This is the best one. Boring yes.. But in the end the best... Tell your spouse before you go you are hoping for the best, that you have sold a ton of stuff for the event, and you plan on only spending X amount and stick to it. Call her and say, we did it. We got the 25 sportsman for just $25 bucks. And that you wont eat on the trip home to make up for it.. This one requires that you actually include your spouse in the details.. Refer to the other ideas if you blow it and by the Flat deck for $200K..

If any of you have some tried and true ones. Please comment away. We are all about creativity here..

A WoodyBoater Word Association Test

Anyone in the mood for a WoodyBoater Word Association Test? A few weeks ago when Matt and his wife were travelling through West Jefferson, Ohio they discovered a restaurant that served up some fresh, home made pie that Matt described as "Mind Blowing."

After reading the story and the comments about how much everyone liked home made pie, it got me to thinking about how peoples tastes for pie and boats are so different. Is there a connection between flavors of pie and flavors of boats? An architect once said to me, "Texx - Everyone has a different idea of what looks and tastes good, and what appeals to their senses, like with food, some people like Italian food and some people like Chinese food." In WoodyBoater language, some people like Utilities and some people like Runabouts, Chris-Crafts vs Century's, etc.

Those five senses are Hearing, Taste, Touch, Smell and Sight. Wooden boats appeal to at least four of those five senses and maybe even taste when the varnish is fresh and thick in the air. And we all know how fresh, home made pie effects our senses.

According to the results of a study in the Nations Restaurant News (Sept. 12, 2005) the Top 10 Pie Flavors in American Restautants are 1. Apple, 2. Chocolate or French Silk, 3. Coconut or Coconut Cream, 4. Pecan, 5. Berry (all types), 6. Key Lime, 7. Lemon, 8. Pumpkin, 9. Cherry, 10. Banana or Banana Cream. They also noted that there are 500 different pie flavors!

So I decided to try one of those Word Association Tests where someone says a word (in this case a flavor of pie) and you have to say the first thing that comes to mind - in this case what antique boat the word makes you think of, based on how that particular boat simulates your senses. OK - Here we go, starting from the top flavor....

1. Apple

2. Chocolate or French Silk

These both popped into my mind at the same time, not sure why...

3. Coconut or Coconut Cream

4. Pecan - Three choices...

5. Berry (all types) - Blueberry...

Wild Blueberry...

Huckleberry...

Blackberry (Old School Blackberry)...

6. Key Lime - Give me a Double!

7. Lemon

8. Pumpkin - Two Versions... Filling

and a traditional crust...

9. Cherry - One from Tahoe and One from Clayton...

10. Banana or Banana Cream - One of each...

Also - Shepherds Pie...

Cinnamon Pie...

Do they make Pie in Italy? Of course they do, it's called "Torta della Nonna"
a Classic Tuscan Dessert...

Famous for their Ho-Made Pies, the Thunderbird Restaurant is in Mount Carmel, Utah just outside the the northern entrance to Zion National Park.

Pies, Pies, Pies - A popular print from 1961 by Wayne Thiebaud

(Courtesy of the Crocker Art Museum)

OK - There's some guys wearing white coats knocking on the front door, not sure what they want but I hope they brought some pie...

Texx

"The History Of America's Motor Boats Is Here" F.Todd Warner

Now that we can all get a peek at just part of the Warner Collection it is becoming clear that October in Minnesota will be a defining moment in the hobby of Antique & Classic boating. The list includes a roman numeral Chris craft... A Dodge Water car.. Completely original by the way.. down to the engine paint.. Lots of one of a kind racers.. Motors not on the list that are to DIE FOR! It just goes on and on...and on.. I spent about a half hour on the phone with Todd Warner and he is pumped about this.. Todd is a very.. VERY knowledgeable man about these boats.. In some cases these are his personal items that he hand picked and tucked away for a moment like now.. Todd has a point of view regarding his collection and the way he has gone about collecting for the past decades.. Purity, leave the dings, Dutchman and Patina.. "Those are the evidence of history and once they are restored over, that history is gone". That in combination with one of a kind and rare boats. Makes this collection museum worthy.. Hell.. This is a museum.. A museum you will be able to walk through and buy.. And at NO RESERVE..... It will be sold..IN A BARN.. AHHHHHHH It doesn't get any better! Now you say.. I will just watch on TV and bid.. That ain't gonna happen Mr sit on your ass and eat Cheetos while you just watch pants........ This event will be in a series of barns in the country outside of St Paul, web is also highly suspect.. So this is a live event and in a fun way.. A happening.. Our Woodstock! Mahoganystock!
So, how does one prepare? First go to the Mecum website here and fill out the proper documents.. Sell the crap car in the driveway that you aren't using anymore, sell the house.. pimp out your kids, and go down to the blood bank and sell your blood. Forget the 401K you used that up last year trying to eat... Bring yourself ONLY.. No spouse! Unless you are John, then bring Kim..or better if you are Kim.. bring John..... Bring everything!
My personal feeling is that I won't be able to compete for the top one of a kind boats, and to be honest shouldn't.. My barn is not set up for that.. Big money collectors and Museums should rightfully own those.. But for me, that 25 foot Sportsman that will be near the end of the auction..Oh! All the money will be gone in the room.. And I will whip out my $5 bucks and BAM! I will have won a Sportsman for the price of a Big Mac!.. Wooohoooo! And then I will wake up! Hey, I can dream..

Breaking News. Partial List Of The Warner Collection.

The following list is not by any means a complete list. But it is official and will give us all a glimpse into the treasures that await us in Minnesota.. It's not even on the Mecum site yet, but will be shortly... This event will NOT be broadcast and Internet service will be highly un-likely since we will be in barns in the country side. So being there is a must. Live..