Complete with a Project Update from Robin's Nest!
April, 2024
Conroe Rendezvous Just Around the Corner!

It's your last chance to reserve! Members of the WBA, SWACBS and the Antique Outboard Motor Club are returning to Seven Coves for our third annual Rendezvous at Lake Conroe on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The Landing at Seven Coves is a condominium complex within the Seven Coves neighborhood in Willis, TX. The address is 7031 Kingston Cove Lane, Willis, TX 77318. The nightly rate for a 1-bedroom unit is $211 and for a 2-bedroom unit the rate  is $248 (these prices include taxes). There is a $20 charge per day for the boat slips. Be sure to request a boat slip when making your reservation. In order to claim one of these units, please contact the rental office and speak to Sarah or Maddie, 936-856-5501. Contact Lisa Robinson for more information at llr77586@gmail.com

 

 

Keels & Wheels May 4-5 - Register Now!

 

 

We are extremely fortunate to have one of the country's finest Concours d'Elegance right here in Texas, Keels & Wheels, in Seabrook, on Clear Lake. Each year, members of the WBA spiff up their boats for land or water display at the show, and also serve as lauch crew and even judges for the event.

You are strongly urged to participate in this year's Keels & Wheels. You can find information on registering your boat, lodging, and much more about the event on the Keels & Wheels web site.

The launch crew is now full. However, if you would like to be on the backup list for launch crew, contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com

Let's have a great WBA turnout at Keels & Wheels!
WBA to Restore Greek Shipwreck!

Following months of searching for just the right project to fill the upcoming vacancies in the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop, members of the shop crew are pleased to announce the acquisition of the Greek shipwreck pictured at right. It will be the crew's first foray into steel hulled ships, and by their own admission, the crew is quite frantically looking for the metal equivalent of CPES to deal with the little bit of surface rust that is beginning to affect the patina of the ship. Also, if anyone has a shed that is 350 feet long and 70 feet high, please let David Kanally know. Phil Wolff has already found a trailer. Flipping party later today. April Fools!! (Wikipedia.com photo)

 

 

Barney Gulley Shows Aluminum Alloy Casting Technique at March Meeting

 

 

More than two dozen WBA members attended the March 21 meeting of the club either in person at Two Guys from Italy in Dallas, or via Zoom. In addition to the regular business of the club, attendees were treated to a presentation by Barney Gulley of his recent experiments with sand casting of aluminum alloy to make deck hardware for his 1957 Yellow Jacket Riviera.

Yellow Jacket hardware is custom, model year specific, and very rare. While Barney would be tickled to be able to find an original set, he's now been able to fabricate his own in order to complete his project. Pictured at left is one of the several bow handle castings Barney made at home, using commercial casting sand and a home-made frame. Thanks to Barney for sharing his newly acquired knowledge and experience in casting!
Project Updates from the Robin McGeorge Boat Shop and Beyond!

(Above) Joel Odom's Evinrude motor cowl looks great after its transformation by Bill Mott, using correct decals and paint for 1959.

(Above) Joel Odom wipes down the first coat of copper bronze bottom paint on the McKeehan's Continental to prepare for the second coat, which he and David Kanally have now completed.

(Above) Barney Gulley has the deck darts on his 1957 Yellow Jacket Riviera taped off. The darts will take Corina Blonde filler stain. The remainder of the boat will take mahogany filler stain.

(Above) Jim Wolfe lends a skilled and experienced hand to Phil Wolff for the cutting of the rabbets in the stem of Phil's Coronado.

 

(Above) Bill Mott sands some dent repairs he made to Joel Odom's outboard motor gas tank. Next step will be final fairing and new red paint.

(Above) Seb Borrello fills in a few cosmetic voids in the lower hull sides of the Continental prior to the second coat of copper bronze paint. The bottom job looks really good! Now on to sanding the deck and hull sides.

(Above) Carl Lapiska shows his characteristic focus and determination as he fairs and sands the aft deck of his '64 Chris Craft Super Sport. He's just getting warmed up. The foredeck's new planks will require lots of sanding!

(Above) Century Partners Chris Sterlacci and Alan Oppenheimer work on fitting the T-top of their Century Sabre.

Next Monthly Meeting April 18, Featuring Boat Valuation and Titling!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Two Guys From Italy in Dallas. 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. Our presentation this month will be by WBA Secretary, Trey Bull. Trey owns and operates Classic Yacht Marine Surveyors and is a boat broker primarily on Eagle Mountain Lake.  Trey is also owns a 42’ 1968 Chris Craft Commander “Classy Lady” and a 1995 18‘ Aquatron.

Trey will be speaking about the market for boats – power, sail, small and large and of course vintage boats.  This is a topic near and dear to all of us and Trey’s comments may surprise you. He will also talk about boat titling and some of the nightmare situations he has seen.

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: Boating Season Officially Underway!

As the first two articles in this month's (and the last two months') Bilge Pump remind us, our boating and show season is now underway. Please seriously consider signing up for the Lake Conroe Rendezvous and Keels & Wheels. It's always "the more the merrier" for these events, and both gatherings offer an opportunity for you to get to know your fellow WBA members better, and to meet other like-minded people from around the state and the country. Let's continue to support these events, which are the product of a great deal of organization and work by your fellow WBA and ACBS members!

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.