Complete with a Project Update from Robin's Nest!
March, 2025

Register now for Keels & Wheels, Launch Crew Needed

Registration is now open for the 2025 Keels & Wheels show to be held the first weekend in May. See the website at keels-wheels.com for information and to register.

The registration process will occur in two parts this year.

 

 

When you initially sign up, go to the "Entrants" tab and select "Concours Application". You will be sent to an external app called mygarage. You will input your initial information there.

Once the committee approves your application you will be sent an e-mail with a link to put in the remainder of your information, make your other selections for additional tickets and dinner reservations and the like; and make your payment.

If you have any questions about or difficulty with the process, please call Lindy Robinson at 281-732-2081. 

This year, the car folks are highlighting "Exotic Cars" and on the boat side we are highlighting "Texas Made Boats" with specific focus on Glastron, Yellow Jacket, Lone Star & Chrysler, Holmes, and Helton boats.

If you have a boat that is of a different make but manufactured in Texas please indicate that when you do the initial portion of the registration.

We have just four more openings on the launch crew. To serve on the launch crew, please send David Kanally an email. Launch crew members report on Thursday, May 1 by 6 p.m. for the briefing. Work on the ramp begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

April 12 Lake Conroe Rendezvous Sign-ups Underway!

Lisa Robinson has the 2025 Lake Conroe Rendezvous scheduled for April 12th at the Seven Coves Resort on Lake Conroe. This date was set following a poll of WBA and SWACBS members. You can download a detailed description of the event here.

You can download the Conroe Registration Form here. If you have any questions, you can call Lindy Robinson at 281-732-2081, or better yet, you can contact Lisa at 281-732-3741. This will be the fourth annual Conroe Rendezvous. Let's have a great turnout for this early season event! Photo at right shows participants at last year's Conroe event.

 

 

Shop Dudes Make Trip to Belton for Donated Yellow Jacket!

 

 

Gordon Spriggs (l) stands in front of the 1947 Yellow Jacket Riviera donated by Jim Bob Airhart (r) at Jim's storage unit in Belton. Gordon made the trip with David Kanally on February 5. The duo fitted new wheels, tires and lights on the trailer before making the return trip.

The boat belonged to Jim's grandfather and has been in storage for many years. It sports a Merc 75, 6-cylinder 60 hp motor, which will make it fly! Special thanks to Jim Bob for making the donation. Restoration is underway at the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop in Lucas. Updates below.
Sterlacci Presents Facts on Insurance at February Meeting

 

 

The February 20 meeting of the WBA was held at Two Guys from Italy, and on Zoom. The agenda included a review of the Club's cares and concerns, upcoming events including Lake Conroe, Keels & Wheels and a number of great events sponsored by the Heartland Classics ACBS chapter. In addition, shop updates and other regular business were covered.

WBA member Chris Sterlacci gave the presentation, which covered interesting facts about the insurance industry, with a focus on insurance for antique and classic boats. Chris is part of a long-standing family insurance business in Dallas, and his insights were well received.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, March 20 at Two Guys. Don't miss it!
Project Updates from the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop!

(Above) Seb Borrello tries a heat gun and scraper to remove old bottom paint from the donated Yellow Jacket.

(Above) John and Ann Hallam came out for a visit recently to check out the donated Yellow Jacket.

(Above) David Kanally and Gordon Spriggs plane a plank for the Glen-L's engine hatch cover.

(Above) Chris McKeehan sands the engine box for their 1959 Continental, so it's now ready for upholstery.

(Above) Carl Lapiska uses a cabinet scraper to fair the gunwales of his Super Sport.

(Above) Phil Wolff reports that with the help of Rhett Yeary (l) and Jim Wolfe, the bottom planks of his Coronado are now rough cut and fit.

(Above) Alan Oppenheimer continues the stripping of the donated Yellow Jacket's bottom with chemical stripper.

(Above) Joel Odom removes old upholstery from the Yellow Jacket's seats during a recent work session.

(Above) Gordon and David bed the planks on the engine hatch cover and make sure everything fits.

(Above) Bo and Uncle Greg McIlvoy apply the final coat of varnish to the hull of the Coronado.

(Above) Carl also use a jack plane and, later, a pneumatic sander to get his gunwales good and fair.

(Above) The bottom of Phil Wolff's Coronado may even be better than new! Phil attributes the quality of the work to good skills and good friends.

Next Monthly Meeting March 20, Featuring the Art of Bob Adair

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, March 20th, at 7 p.m. at Two Guys From Italy in Dallas. Come at 5:30 and join us for the pre-meeting dinner. You'll receive an email reminder for the meeting a few days prior. We'll be continuing our door prize tradition, giving out an e-book, or print book of the lucky winner's choice, or a complimentary design of a boat show placard. Our presentation this month will be by David Kanally regarding the WBA's donation of a collection of Chrysler Boat artwork by the late Bob Adair to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY. David made this presentation at the museum last August. He'll feature the history of Chrysler Boats, and highlights of Bob's life, and photos of the gallery display of Bob's artwork that ran all season at the museum.

If you can't join in person, you'll be using the Zoom application for your cell phone or your home computer. To make things easier at meeting time, it would be a good idea for you to go to your normal smart phone app store to download Zoom Cloud Meetings, or go to Zoom.us on your home computer and sign up. Prior to the meeting, you will be sent an email with a link to join the meeting, and further instructions. Those who wait to download Zoom will also receive a link to do that just before the meeting starts. If you are among those who need a few attempts to be successful with technology, you may want to get the downloading taken care of ahead of time.

Our meetings are a great opportunity to socialize with fellow WBA members and to talk shop on questions on everything from paint and varnish to carburetor kits. Please join us on Zoom to be a part of our monthly fellowship!

Shop Talk and Musings: KTEN Airs TV Story on Yellow Jackets

Texoma area WBA members Dennis Cheatham, Chuck Pool and Barney Gulley have been active in keeping the Yellow Jacket name and the WBA's activities in front of the public. Recently, local television station KTEN broadcasted a story on Yellow Jacket boats, featuring Chuck's '56 Catalina, which has been on display in his store, Main Street Lumber, for over a decade. Dennis and Barney are also coordinting the Yellow Jacket display at the Denison Fall Festival on October 4, 2025. You can watch the KTEN story here. Also, for those who missed it, here's a video of the Denison Fall Festival Yellow Jacket Display from two years ago.

And finally, please take a look in the shed or garage for leftover parts or other salable items you would like to donate to the Club. Contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com for more info.