Project updates and exciting boating events!
September, 2014

Ride 'n Show Now at Lewisville, Pier 121, Sept. 12-14! Register now!

Due to low water on Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall has cancelled its boat show on September 12-14. So we're moving the Ride 'n Show to Pier 121 on Lake Lewisville, where there's plenty of water and a nice venue for our event. The show this year will have both in-the-water and land displays, so if you had planned to display a boat on land at Rockwall, please bring it to Pier 121! We'll have our welcome barbecue at Spring Creek Barbecue, 571 E. Round Grove Road, Lewisville, at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Saturday, we'll launch at Pier 121 beginning at 8 a.m.

 

We'll enjoy Saturday lunch at the show, sponsored by our friends at MarineMax, and the Saturday evening party will be at Angelina's Mexican Restaurant at 4851 Main Street in The Colony. We'll do our Sunday morning run, followed by brunch! You have your choice of hotels, all in the same area at the intersection of I-35E and Hwy 121, including Courtyard by Marriott (972) 316-3100, Hampton Inn and Suites (972) 315-3200, and Hilton Garden Inn (972) 459-4600, and others...all under $100 per night. Let's make this year's Ride 'n Show the best ever! Register now!

White Rock Lake Event Slated for Saturday, September 27!

The White Rock Boat Club has again offered to host boats from the WBA on the shores of historic White Rock Lake on September 27, 2014. We'll be featuring our North Texas-built Willis and Yellow Jackets on shore, and our Chris-Crafts, Centurys and other marques in the water.

 

The members of the White Rock Boat Club are a fine group of folks, and there's always at least one surprise awaiting us! If you are able to bring your boat to this enjoyable day, please let Steve Griffitts know at sdgriffitts@charter.net.

"Tailgating with the Classics" Returns to Pier 121 Oct. 11!

 

The WBA is once again invited to show our antique and classic boats at Pier 121 together with our friends from the car world, who will be putting their gorgeous antique and classic cars and motorcycles on display in the parking area adjacent to the marina.

The show runs from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, at Pier 121 Marina on Lake Lewisville. The event is free to all participants and to the public.Come on out for a fun day with your WBA friends and take the opportunity to meet some new folks who love their cars the way we love our boats! For more information, please contact Katina Real via phone at 972-977-0613 or email: commodore@pier121yachtclub.org . Download the flyer here!

Lake LBJ Show Details Set, Oct. 17-19!

 

Our friends and fellow members Scott Reichardt and Jim Frechette have been nailing down some of the details for the upcoming Austin Hill Country Boat Show, which is slated for the weekend of October 17. As usual, Scott and Pam Reichardt will host a Friday evening welcome party. The show will return to Horseshoe Bay this year, providing a beautiful and much-frequented venue for the event. There will also be a Saturday dinner in Marble Falls and the traditional donuts and coffee at Jim and Cindy Frechette's place at Sunrise Beach on Sunday morning. If you have never attended this fabulous show, this year should be a must for you. Please email Scott Reichardt at hsbadmiral@hotmail.com to let him know you can come!

Donated Motor and Canoe Sell, Help Keep Shop Afloat!

Ricky Starr (l) of Marshall, TX drove all the way to Lucas on August 27 with his sister and brother-in-law to pick up the 1976 Chrysler 55 hp motor donated to the Lucas Shop Fund by WBA stalwart Bob Adair (r). The motor is almost identical to the one that Ricky's late father had on their Gator fishing boat. Ricky's family is restoring the Gator in his dad's memory. Sometimes things just work out.

 

The 17' fiberglass-on-cedar strip canoe donated to the Lucas Shop Fund by Steve Phillips of Lake Texoma in memory of Tom Ferguson has been purchased by WBA member Scott Reichardt of Horseshoe Bay, TX. Scott is coming to the Ride 'n Show, and he'll have the canoe on display there, so you can have a look at it before he takes it home. Thanks, Scott!

Don Ayers Talks Rivas at August Meeting!

Don Ayers, President of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club and noted Riva researcher, took time from his busy schedule to share his Riva knowledge with the WBA at its regular monthly meeting on August 21, 2014. Connie, Don's wife, accompanied him to the meeting.

 

Don brought along an historic film showing the production steps in the building of Riva boats, most notably, the molded ply fabrication process responsible for the rugged and beautiful Riva hulls. Thanks, Don, for your many insights into the history of this breathtaking marque!

Four Chris-Crafts Survive Thanks to WBA Restorers!

(Above) Robin McGeorge and Troy Marshall work on making cardboard patterns for the seat bottoms in their 1936 19'Chris-Craft Deluxe Runabout. Bungs in the foredeck have yet to be sanded, making the boat look like a hedgehog with a brushcut.

(Below). Steve Griffitts reports that the aft decking and engine compartment cover have now been stripped and rough sanded. Fortunately, all the wood Steve's uncovered so far on his 1948 17' Chris Deluxe Runabout has been sound. By the time you read this, Steve and Phil Wolff will be collaborating to pull the engine, preparing the boat for flipping so Steve can begin bottom work.

 

 

(Above) Marc Hill's got some bling on that thing! The '68 Chris-Craft Grand Prix is really getting close to completion with hardware installation. Mark plans to have the boat on land display at the Ride 'n Show!

Below, Mark Wilson takes measurements for the installation of the starboard splash rail on his '68 Grand Prix. Mark can benefit from the head start Marc Hill has on him to get measurements like this. All four of these Chris Crafts were in a bad way when their owners and restorers got ahold of them, and now, they are well on their way to a new life of fun on the water. The Chris-Craft legacy at the WBA is in good hands!

Next Regular Meeting September 18, 2014

boatDon't miss our next regular monthly meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy at 11637 Webb Chapel Road, just south of Forest Road. WBA Treasurer and benefactor John Parish will be giving away one of his many boating and woodworking related books as a door prize.

An informative and inspiratonal presentation is being planned for your edification. And, as always, we'll have generous helpings of fellowship and Italian food. The meeting will be better if you are there, of course.

Join us for a light meal and moderate libation at 5:30 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy prior to the meeting. We encourage you to join us for dinner, so we'll always have the required minimum number of diners to avoid a room charge.

Shop Talk and Musings

There's so much going on these days, that there's not much more to say here, except, BE THERE! These are the two most active months of the year for the WBA, and there are events throughout the area for you to attend and enjoy. Our friends from Houston and Austin routinely participate in our Ride 'n Show, so it's the least we in the Dallas area can do to attend the Lake LBJ event in October!

The Lucas Shop has bays available for short or long-term projects, so let us know if you'd like to bring your boat out there to get that needed work done! Our shop thrives when there are major projects going on, so it's now time for yours!

And, finally: Please take a look in the shed or garage for leftover parts or other salable items you can donate to the club. Bring them to any WBA meeting, or contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com for pickup.