Including an Update from Lucas!
February, 2019
WBA Banquet Recognizes Officers' Service

(Above) Secretary Extraordinary Gay Perry receives recognition gifts from President David Sheets at the annual WBA Officer Installation Banquet held at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX, on January 19, 2019.

(Above) Banquet attendees are all smiles as they enjoy the banquet. (l-r) Troy and Pam Marshall, Robin McGeorge, Gay Perry, Lisa Daniels and Bill Mott.

(Below) Our President and First Lady, David and Loretta Sheets, did an admirable job of organizing, promoting and decorating for the annual banquet. This tradition has been longstanding and important for our club. We are fortunate to have the Sheets at the helm!

  

(Above) VP Scott Myers seems happy to serve, as he receives gifts of appreciation from the WBA, presented by our very capable and congenial President, David Sheets, at the banquet. (Rhonda Wolfe photos)

(Above, l-r) Pat Baldwin, Lew White, Jim Donovan and Ray Widmer had a chance to get to know each other better during the course of the evening.

(Below) A scale model of a Dallas-built Willis fishing boat graced the display table in front of two Chris-Craft prints donated by Pat Baldwin. The prints were auctioned at the banquet, bringing in several hundred dollars, and proceeds benefit the club. Thanks, Pat, for the donation, and to all who made the banquet successful.

2019 Calendar Taking Shape, Seeking Your Input!

February 21 will be our annual WBA planning meeting, which we will use to gain your input on the events we're scheduling for the coming boating season. Please plan to attend.

The calendar of events is already filling up, given our established monthly meeting schedule, Keels & Wheels, Wood, Waves & Wheels, and the Mahogany and Chrome Show in Oklahoma. Now it's up to us to plan the Dallas-area events that will complete the events line-up for 2019.

Don't miss our February 21 meeting. Details below.

  

Donated Hafer: Reinstalling Hardware, Engine Soon.

Following a complete West System bottom job, the donated Hafer is ready for reassembly. The skeg, prop shaft, propeller and rudder are all back on the boat. After some more interior painting, the gas tank will go in.

 

 

The foredeck already looks great from an earlier restoration. The guys have decided to paint the deck seams white, for a little more "pop". A final top coat and buff may be needed after that. (Seb Borrello photos)

Next WBA Monthly Meeting February 21st, 2019, Mark Your Calendar!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, February 21st, 2019 at 7 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy at 11637 Webb Chapel Road, just south of Forest Lane. We'll be continuing our door prize tradition, giving out a classic boating book from collections donated by Pat Baldwin and Bill McNally to a lucky winner.

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. We'll be swapping stories of our various boating and project adventures. February's meeting is extremely important, as it will be our planning meeting for the coming boating season. Please come and share your ideas for our activities for the year. And, of course, we'll have generous helpings of fellowship and Italian food.

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

As some of our members know, this issue of the Bilge Pump is coming to you from the snow-covered Appalachian mountains in northern Pennsylvania, because your editor and his boatress are looking after their folks there. This issue wouldn't have been possible without the help of Rhonda Wolfe (intrepid photojournalist covering the banquet), David Sheets (for his phone-in report on the banquet and silent auction), Seb Borrello (for his field reporting from the Lucas Shop), and Robin McGeorge (for his faithfulness in keeping the shop operation going). Special thanks also go to Jim Donovan, who stepped in to help with various club duties in your editor's absence. I hope you are as proud as I am to be a part of the WBA.

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.