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

Keels & Wheels This Weekend!

 

 

It's time for Keels & Wheels! Registrants are hooking their trailers to their tow vehicles and making their way to Seabrook for the internationally renowned Concours d'Elegance at Lakewood Yacht Club.

The WBA Launch crew is full, and will be gathering on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the SpringHill Suites for a briefing on their task of launching the many beautiful boats that are registered for the event. The launching begins at 7 a.m. Friday at the Lakewood Yacht Club ramp.

The show runs Saturday and Sunday, when thousands of visitors will turn out to view the hundreds of classic cars and boats on display. This year, Texas-built boats are featured, including such marques as Helton, Holmes, Chrysler, Lone Star and, of course, Yellow Jacket.

There's still time to decide to take in the show, whether you're a first-timer or seasoned K&W veteran. The event supports important local charities, and is one of the finest shows in the country. Hope to see you there!
Wood, Waves & Wheels Just Around the Corner, May 10!

Join WBA and Eagle Mountain Classic Boat Club members and bring your boat to the Wood, Waves and Wheels show on Saturday, May 10. WBA Secretary Trey Bull spearheads the boat side of the show, and it's always a good time!

 

 

Registration is free and can be done by clicking on this link.

Download the flyer here! Hope to see you there. Bring friends!
Jay Emerson Recounts Training at Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building

 

 

The April 17 meeting of the WBA was held at Two Guys from Italy and on Zoom. A record attendance of over 30 members was recorded. The program was provided by our own professional restorer, Jay Emerson of Emerson Boat Works in McAlester, OK, who spoke of his experiences receiving his training in the craft at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in Seattle, WA.

From basic use of hand tools to the most advanced techniques in boat construction and restoration, Jay's learning was profound, and paved the way for his current career bringing beautiful boats back to better-than-new condition. Thanks, Jay, as always, for sharing your experience and skills with our Club!
Project Updates from the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop!

(Above) Pat Vinson holds the starboard fin of the '57 Yellow Jacket Riviera she and Alan Oppenheimer are restoring. The fin is about to be sanded for refinishing. Aftermarket reproductions of the Riviera decals are available for application once the fin is varnished.

(Above) David Kanally uses a jack plane to fair the edges of the deck plywood with the hull on the Yellow Jacket. Rub rail to follow.

(Above) Chris McKeehan greets Seb and Bonnie Borrello who stopped by the shop recently for a visit. Chris has been working on the interior trim pieces for her Continental.

(Above) Jim Donovan provides color commentary as Carl Lapiska brings his Super Sport out into the open for some careful cleaning. The engine will be going in soon!

(Above) Gordon has completed all the deck seam grooves in his Glen-L. Final sanding and fairing prior to staining are next.

(Above) Century Partners Chris Sterlacci, Craig Godfrey, Phil Brosseau and Alan Oppenheimer prepare to launch the Sabre on its latest water test.

(Above) Alan Oppenheimer sands floorboards for the Riviera. This boat was donated by Jim Bob Airhart, and will soon be restored to its original condition.

The WBA has restored over a dozen Yellow Jackets!

(Above) Alan Oppenheimer and Bill Mott fill nail holes with mahogany colored Famowood prior to sanding. Next step will be fitting the sanded toe rails and king plank.

(Above) Mark McKeehan discusses the finer points of assembly of a 283 V-8 with Scott Wasikowski, who owns a similar Continental.

(Above) Gordon Spriggs uses a trim router with a fence to cut a deck groove in his Glen-L. Carl Lapiska has used this technique, and gives Gordon appropriate guidance.

(Above) WBA president Phil Brosseau brought out his Cavalier last Saturday to use as a chase boat for the splashing of the Century Parners' Sabre.

(Above) Chris Sterlacci checks for leaks around the shaft log plate and stuffing box. Sure enough, he found some! The Partners have been persistent, and will prevail!

Next Monthly Meeting May 15 Featuring May Event Recaps. Don't Miss It!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, May 15, 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 video recaps of Keels & Wheels and Wood Waves & Wheels, so if you didn't get a chance to attend these events in person, you'll at least have a good idea of what went on. If you did attend in person, maybe you'll see yourself in the movies!

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 about 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: Let's Keep up the Momentum!

What a joy it was to be a part of our latest monthly meeting with over 30 members in attendance, both in person and via Zoom. Yours truly was on Zoom in the middle of the night in Paris, France, and enjoyed every minute of the proceedings. We're now entering our high season, with Keels & Wheels and Wood Waves & Wheels happening in rapid succession. Let's keep the momentum going with good turnouts at both shows. When you show up at a WBA event, you're not only in store for a real treat, you're also serving as a goodwill ambassador for our club. Check out our Calendar of Events!

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.