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

Flurry of Activity as Century Partners Prep for Tahoe

Following a shake-down run last week, the Century Partners found that the engine in their Tahoe-bound Sabre had a head gasket issue.  After some quick action and fast phone calls, they were able to get the engine to an AMC engine specialist for repairs. They then repainted the engine.

 

 

In these two photos, Chris Sterlacci and Craig Godfrey get the repainted engine back into the Sabre using the shop's gantry and the ready help of Chris and Mark McKeehan and David Kanally.  From here they headed to Sterlacci's air-conditioned shop to reassemble and attach engine parts.
Shop Safety Presented by Coast Guard Auxiliary at July Meeting

During the July 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.

For the presentation, Joel Beal of the Grapevine Coast Guard Auxiliary shared shop safety topics ranging from respirators to eye protection to first aid to heat illnesses. The Robin McGeorge Boat shop crew generally works in a safe manner, but the information presented by Joel provided additional incentive and details for improving safety practices on several fronts. View a PDF of the presentation here. 
Updates from the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop and Beyond!

David Kanally is caught by surpise by Mark McKeehan's camera as he removes the oldwater pump cartridge from the lower unit of the Mark 55f Mercury outboard.

Carl Lapiska tapes off the seams of the foredeck of his Super Sport so he can seal them with varnish prior to caulking them with black 3M 4200.

Bill Mott is nearly finished with buffing out the '55 Yellow Jacket Capri.  The flush deck and bold color scheme lend themselves well to this mirror finish that Bill achieves.

Mark McKeehan trims a half-inch from the lower end of the fuel tank filler neck from the Continental using a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel.

Jeff Hill, after working with the shop crew to flip his 1926 Disappearing Propeller Boat onto tires, begins sanding the bottom in preparation for a fresh coat of red paint.

Ted Dysart has replaced some planks on his Century Sabre, and has stained and varnished them. Now he's ready for bottom paint and the boot stripe.

David holds the new cartridge, which include a stainless steel cup insert and a new oil seal to keep the lower unit oil out of the water pump.

Carl says this phase of his restoration is the most challenging yet, having faced frustrating issues with the caulk, which bubbled from trapped air from unsealed wood.

Chris McKeehan trims a bit of 4200 sealant around the exhaust pipes of the Continental, making ready for the installation of the exhaust trim rings.

The fuel cap fits perfectly now.  The McKeehans took the Continental for a quick dip in Lake Lavon to check for leaks around through-hulls. Minor seepage was corrected.

Phil Sims and Scott Carr wet sand the cowl of the 1955 Mark 55 that goes onto the '55 Yellow Jacket.  The cowl is now painted and ready for decals.

Phil Wolff, with help from Jim Wolfe (seen spraying bilge paint) and photographer Jim Donovan, seems pleased that this milestone for his Coronado has been reached.

Next Monthly Meeting August 20, 2026

boat

Our next meeting will be Thursday, August 20th, 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 made by Laura Plunk of the North Texas Municipal Water district, concerning the Lake Lavon watershed. 

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: Seb's Tree

Following the passing of our cherished member Seb Borrello in January, we contacted the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York to see if we could arrange for some kind of memorial there for Seb on behalf of the WBA.  After some brainstorming and consulting with their board, the museum came back with the idea of a memorial tree, planted in place of an ailing elm that the museum needed to replace.  In July, this young red maple was planted in Seb's memory.  

Seb and Bonnie volunteered at the Antique Boat Museum for many years duiring the summers.  They shared a lovely cottage right on the banks of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, and enjoyed many hours looking out their large picture windows at the many ships passing by.  They were active members of the community.  Bonnie has decided to sell the cottage, but this tree will stand in memory of Seb at one of their favorite places in the world.  The plaque will read: This Tree Planted in Loving Memory of Seb Borrello 1935-2026. Craftsman, Volunteer, Mentor, Friend. by the Wooden Boat Association of North Texas.

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.