Including Updates From the Lucas Palookas!
March, 2017

Keels & Wheels, May 6-7: Calling All Boats!

  

We are fortunate to be a part of one of the nation's premier boat and car shows, Keels & Wheels, scheduled for May 6-7 this year at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX, about 40 minutes south of Houston. As is our custom, the WBA will provide the launch crew for the event. This year's featured boat is the Utility, of which there are several fine examples among our membership. Please consider seriously the opportunity to bring your boat to the show (whether it's a utility or not!), and enjoy the event to the fullest.

Read more and get registration info here.

See video of last year's Keels & Wheels here!

Donated Chris Holiday For Sale at Member Price!

By now you should be fully aware of this beautiful 1956 Chris-Craft 20' Holiday utility that was donated to the club by our dear Houston member, Jacob Deegan. It is Jacob's desire to see this boat go to a club member, if possible. Watch the video of the engine running!

  

He could have easily listed the boat on eBay himself, but decided it could be put to much better use as a donation to the WBA. Please let David Kanally know if you are interested in acquiring this boat, and keeping it in the WBA fleet! Read more.
February Meeting Lays Out 2017 Plans

Our new president, David Sheets, led a fast-paced and productive meeting on February 16, outlining our ideas and plans for the 2017 season. While specific dates for the Rockwall Ride 'n Show, White Rock Lake and the Fall Festival of Yachting are still being finalized, the assembled members agreed to move forward with these popular events. Treasurer Scott Reichardt has applied for 501 (c) 7 status for the club for tax reasons.

  

Pat Baldwin is our new club Archivist, taking the reins from long-time Archivist Seb Borrello. The WBA calendar of events will be updated as soon as specific dates are set for our Dallas-area events. Meanwhile, mark your calendars for Keels & Wheels, May 6-7, and the Lake LBJ Show, October 6-8. Additional details of the meeting are contained in the minutes, which were emailed to the members last week. Stay tuned!
Shop Projects Begin to Bear Fruit!

(Above) The Chris-Craft "M" engine in the donated Holiday starts right up and runs like a champ. Watch video here. If you look closely in the background, you can see the hands of Seb Borrello as he analyzes the spark pattern of the engine's electronic ignition with his oscilloscope. Don't be surprised if Seb writes up this test for the Brass Bell, where he is a regular technical contributor. (Above, Right) Robin McGeorge, Bill Mott and David Kanally check the Chris-Craft 327 donated by Guy McCollum. Mark Wilson has purchased the engine for his '68 Grand Prix project, so the

 

 

club will deposit $2500 in its account without having to move the engine out of the Lucas shop. The engine runs like a top. Troy Marshall reported just before press time that the Chris-Craft 350 V8 donated some years ago by former member Matt Kramer has sold on eBay. Robin McGeorge, Bill Mott and Jim Wolfe spent a good many hours working on that particular engine. After rebuild and eBay/sales expenses, that sale will net another $2400 or so for the club. Thanks, Guy, Matt and Mark, for your support of the WBA!!

Next WBA Monthly Meeting March 16, 2017. Don't miss it!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, March 16, 2017 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 have a guest presenter from MerCruiser sharing information on their line of engines. Please make a special effort to be there. As always, 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

The record-breaking warmth of our February has many WBA members thinking about being out on the water. In some cases, the warm weather has allowed members to actually be out on the water over the past few weeks, including Bill Mott, who has replaced a faulty head on one of the engines in the Mott Yott, and Scott and Thuy Myers, who have had their Gar Wood Ensign out a couple of times. Before long, the boating season will be in full swing, with plenty of chances to enjoy our Texas lakes. Let's see if the WBA can break some records of its own this year, with high levels of participation in our events!

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.