Complete with a Project Update from Robin's Nest!
May, 2026

Wood, Waves & Wheels Coming May 9!

 

 

Wood, Waves & Wheels is this season's first, and one of the best, car and boat shows in DFW, so register your boat now for a fun day at the event. The WBA has been well represented at this show for many years, and we'd like to carry on that tradition this year.

To register for the event, please drop Trey Bull an email and let him know about your boat. He'll fill you in on any necessary details.

This is a one-day event on the lovely lakeside grounds of the Fort Worth Boat Club on Eagle Mountain Lake. A wonderful, varied array of classic cars grace the expansive grounds, while antique and classic boats from canoes to cruisers are on display along the docks and on land. Since this is the first local outing of the season, come early and take your boat for a run on Eagle Mountain Lake.
WBA Brings Home the Hardware from Keels & Wheels!

WBA members are grinning ear-to-ear following a very successful showing at this year's Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance, held at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX, April 25 and 26. The WBA team also provided the launch crew, helping to get a wide variety of boats, from small outboards to 20+ footers into the water for display in Lakewood Yacht Club's inner harbor.

The group enjoyed a welcome dinner together with members of the Southwest Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society on Thursday, April 23. After a full day of lauching, they sampled the great seafood at Tookie's in Seabrook on Saturday night. Boat judging and awards happened on Saturday, the first day of the show. To see more photos and get information on individual awards and categories, check out the WBA Facebook page. Congratulations and thanks to all our WBA volunteers and winners!

 

 

Jay Emerson Shares Restoration Techniques at April WBA Meeting!

 

 

During the April 16th meeting of the WBA, President Phil Brosseau reviewed the standing agenda items, including upcoming events and activities of the club. The meeting also included Treaurer and Secretary reports, and project updates.

Jay Emerson gave an excellent presentation on a Carter 21-footer (see photo at left), a boat he has restored multiple times, including the initial refurbishment, repairs to a heavily damaged transom, and a full rebuild of the top deck using new planks. It's clear this boat holds a special place in his heart!

The WBA's meetings are informative and well attended. If you happen to live out of town, you can still attend via Zoom, which is a great way to stay connected to the club.
Updates from the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop and Beyond!

Alan Oppenheimer and David Kanally attached a pair of trailer guides to the frame of the Oppenheimer/Vinson Yellow Jacket and declared the project complete.

The very first coat of black gloss paint on the gunwales and covering boards of Carl Lapiska's Super Sport gave us a good indication of its eventual appearance.

Joel Odom uses a random orbital sander to take the outer veneer of the '55 Yellow Jacket Capri down a little further to try and lighten the dark spots.

Chris McKeehan uses the club's new mouse orbital sander to reach into the tougher spots of the Capri's hull side. The original finish on the birch hull was clear varnish, no stain.

David Kanally uses an injection needle to force some thickened epoxy behind a bubble in a piece of birch veneer used to repair a section of the Capri's inside hull.

Nothing says, "My project is complete" like winning a best-in-class trophy at Keels & Wheels, then coming home and moving your boat into your own storage space.

Since then, Carl has sanded the brush strokes out of the first coat and used scotch pads on a random orbital sander to make the surface ready for coat number two.

Chris McKeehan sanded the other side of the Capri with the same goal in mind. There will still be some patina in the birch veneer.

Mark McKeehan does some spot treatment with stripper and a fine wire brush to coax some old white paint out of the grain of the Capri's starboard side.

Like any doctor, doctor Dave is very careful with his needles. He used a thin piece of mahogany and a curved block to apply pressure to the repaired area while it dries.

Next Monthly Meeting May 21, 2026

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, May 21st, 2026, 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. This month's presentation will be videos of both the Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance and the Wood, Waves & Wheels shows.

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: The Passing of Mark Danielson

We have recently been informed of the passing of our member Mark Danielson, following a valiant and private struggle with cancer. Mark left us on November 5, 2025. Mark and wife Lyne owned "Havaiki", a lovely Chris-Craft replica, now in the care of Steve Seale.

The Danielsons moved to Tennessee a few years back to be closer to family. Mark was a pilot as well as a skipper, and fully enjoyed the joys of viewing the world from the air. He was a meticulous craftsman and kept his beautiful boat in show condition. He kept up with our club activities from afar on Facebook, and often commented on our project work. Our deepest sympathies go to Lyne and the family.

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.