WBA Boat Show Participation cancelled

Due to icy, sandy and salty road conditions that would put our boats at risk, we have decided to cancel our participation in the Dallas International Boat Show, Feb 4-6 and 9-13.

We have been in touch with the boat show managers who are understanding and supportive of our decision. If you have signed up to staff the display, your participation will not be required, and the badges will not be available. For other boat show information, check their official website. Volunteers with questions can contact Mark Webster.

Annual Banquet an Evening to Remember!

Speaker Scott Self (above) presents the fascinating story of the design and building of Seawolf, a wooden 40-foot catamaran. Scott runs a charter operation with the craft. Lisa Daniels (below) presents a painting to Robin McGeorge in recognition of Robin's long service to the Club. The painting depicts Robin and his late wife Judi aboard their favorite boat, a Chris Craft barrelback named Summertime.

During the course of the evening, John Parish was

confirmed as our new treasurer, and Marc Hill was named as our new membership chairman. (Above, l-r) the Kimballs, Websters and Harveys enjoy some fellowship and good food at the banquet. Below, WBA president Jim and first lady Rhonda Wolfe benefit from the fruit of their labors in the planning and organization of the event. The couple provided decorations, gifts and master-of-ceremonies services for the annual gathering. See more!

Rare Yellow Jacket/Willis Hybrid Now in Club Care

(Above) Seb Borrello and Troy Marshall examine the workings of the boat's '68 Evinrude 40hp twin. Through a contact with WBA friend Bill Mott, we found a unique 1957 Yellow Jacket/Willis hybrid boat still in the hands of its 95-year-old original owner.

(Above: After a bath and a good going over, the boat will need no new woodwork, just stripping, staining, painting and re-varnishing. The boat is now in the capable hands of Robin and Troy, with restoration to begin soon. See the full story!

Flippin' Party, New Bottom Paint Show Progress on White Willis!

A stalwart crew of WBA volunteers took a couple hours out of their Sunday afternoon to check out the new bottom paint on Lew White's Willis runabout, and to help Lew right the boat and put her back on her galvanized trailer.

Lew will be showing his project at the WBA display at the Dallas International Boat Show beginning Feb. 4. Final sanding of the sides and decks, some rebuilding of seat supports, and refinishing remain to be done. See more.

Lucas Shop Update: Hill Super Sport Moving Well, Capri Motor Tested!

New WBA Membership Chairman Marc Hill, above, was at the Lucas shop on Saturday, checking on the curing progress of the 3M 5200 holding the deck underlayment on his 1968 Chris-Craft Super Sport. The marine plywood is held tightly against the frames with screws and fender washers while the adhesive cures. Washers will be removed after a week or so, so bottom planking can be installed.

Meanwhile, Robin McGeorge and Troy Marshall were bench testing the recently rebuild 6-cylinder Chris Craft engine from their newly restored Capri. The engine runs fine, and after some tweaking to solve a minor oil pressure issue, the boys will install the engine in the boat...but not before the boat makes its show debut at the Dallas International Boat Show, beginning February 4.

Next Monthly Meeting is February 17, 2011--Don't Miss It!

Join us at the Midway Point on Thursday, February 17th for the next monthly meeting of the WBA. We'll be discussing our plans for the year as we lay out our annual calendar of events. A fascinating program on the Nimitz will be presented by WBA member Billy Hibbs. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 17th at the Midway Point at LBJ and Midway Road.

Join us for a light meal and moderate libation at 5:30 p.m. at the Midway Point prior to the meeting.

Dues Reminder!

It's dues time again, so save us a stamp and send in your $35 for your 2011 dues to: John Parish, 4415 Rosser Square, Dallas, TX 75244. Thanks to all who have already renewed!

Shop Talk and Musings:

From the invention of high-tech sensors to monitor factory emissions to the writing of a book shedding light on the nature of gravity in the larger context of the structure of the universe, Seb Borrello's contributions to science and society are many. But we know Seb and Bonnie as just very nice people who love old boats and who participate in WBA activities during the winter months when they call Allen home. Their summers are spent in the Clayton, NY area, in a cottage along the St. Lawrence River. Bonnie does craft work in her riverside boat house shop and Seb volunteers at the Clayton Antique Boat Museum. Seb was at the Lucas shop on Saturday, and had with his creation-in-progress, a scale model of a 1940 Chris Craft barrel-back. The model is constructed in exactly the same way as its full-sized counterpart, complete with double planking, framing and interior details. He's doing a great job on the model according to Les Burton and Robin McGeorge, both fine craftsmen in their own right. Seb keeps boats both here and in New York, and can often be found working on them. Can't wait to see his model when it's complete!

Don't forget to RSVP for The White Rock Centennial celebration coming June 24-26. We've sent invitations to over 100 Texas and Oklahoma wooden boat owners, many of whom are ACBS members but not WBA members, to join us in the displays and parade. We'll be keeping you up to date on the plans as they are formalized. Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, we want to make sure we get it right. We're shooting for a total of 30 boats, which would be a record for a WBA-organized event, if memory serves. If you can bring your boat, please let David Kanally know via email or phone at 940-395-2742. See the flyer. Check out the parade route.

And, finally:

Please take a look in the shed or garage for the leftover parts or other saleable items you can donate to the club. Bring them to any WBA meeting, or contact Phil Wolff at myoldboats@gmail.com for pickup.